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Speaker size and soundstage

Question: for floor standing speakers, how does speaker size affect sound stage, bass response, and the depth of music?

I’m searching for a new speaker, and just tested Dynaudio Contour 30 against Tekton Electrons (16x18 room with cathedral ceiling). Tekton’s are bigger (48 vs 45 high, and 10 vs 8.5 wide, about the same depth) and had a much larger sound stage and greater dynamics and depth. Tekton’s as a rule are much bigger than most other brands, which can be imposing in a room, but the size must equate to a greater sound stage. 
But can a smaller tower be designed to achieve the same sound stage and bass depth of a bigger speaker? If so, what what speakers pull this off?
w123ale

Showing 5 responses by millercarbon

millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
One of these is not like the others:

"The soundstage starts a few feet behind the speakers, and extends well out into the room, seemingly surrounding you. I've never (in a true two speaker setup) felt so enveloped by the music as I was last night."


"The imaging was so good that I felt like the vocalist was performing right in front of me and that I could reach out and touch them."


"so far above any system I had heard ...because of the detailed soundstage."


"They certainly did not image well when I heard them and I do not think you can get them beyond what I would call standard imaging."

Wonder why?

millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
You have to have heard a system that images at this level.

Indeed. You should try it some time. Redmond, WA.

https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Tektons have a terrible image. Stay away.

Those who have actually heard them beg to differ:
The imaging was so good that I felt like the vocalist was performing right in front of me and that I could reach out and touch them.   

I enjoyed hearing everything but was most shocked at Fleetwood Macs "Landslide". Hearing it so many times in the past and then not recognizing the intro because of the detailed soundstage. Then Chuck let Stevie Nicks sneak into the room and begin the vocals dead center right in front of me and the recognition set in.   

The soundstage starts a few feet behind the speakers, and extends well out into the room, seemingly surrounding you. I've never (in a true two speaker setup) felt so enveloped by the music as I was last night.

...a near religious experience.

https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Imaging is determined by the fidelity with which extremely fine and subtle details are reproduced. Sensitivity is by definition the response to an input. The lower the sensitivity the more power required for any given input, the less sensitive the speaker. Since the magic of imaging resides in low level fine detail it stands to reason the low sensitivity speaker is other things being equal at a disadvantage. Other things never are equal, but to the extent they are, there you go.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Nowhere near that simple.
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