Is my room too small for the Wharfedale Diamond 9.5?

[pimvda]

Hello,

I'm thinking about auditing the Wharfedale Diamond 9.5's, since I own the 9.1's and I'm looking for an upgrade.

I can get it for a really good price at an internetstore, the only problem is that I have to pay for the transport fees.

I have the feeling my room is too small for these floorstanders.

It's 3.10 m by 3.55 m and the Wharfedale Diamond 9.5 is recommended at http://www.wharfedale.co.uk/images/ranges/brochure_3.pdf for room is 12m2 and greater.

What can I expect if I place these speakers in my room? Too much bass response or will I be fine most likely?

I don't feel like wasting 50 euros to spend on an audition at my place.

Any advice would be really appreciated...

 

[pimvda]

Does anyone have any good or bad experiences with floorstanders which are theoretically too big for a small room?

 

[twoksl2]

i have a pair ov vienna acoustics beethoven's in my bedroom. they're prolly a bit to big for the room, but they don't sound it.

i suppose a pair of wilson audio's in the closet or something might be exreme, but in most cases i think that you'll be just fine

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

If you've got the floorspace for placement........ then they're not too big. Not upgrading to better speakers due to room dimensions doesn't make any sense because better speakers will be better in any room.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I have Def Tech BP10s (and BP8s) in a 10' sq room. They look huge, but sound great.

 

[pimvda]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm scared of a couple of things.

• The bass response could be too big for my small room.

This is what the some guy from the Wharfedale website told me through email. He advised me the 9.4 since my room is smaller than 12 m2

• The internet vendor doesn't let me audition the model. The transporting fees are mine, even if I want to send the model back. Possible costs 50 euros.

Also the online brochure specifies the 9.5 to be used in rooms bigger than 12 m2.

Mine is 11 m2 so I have the feeling that it could be done.

I just don't want to take any risks, since it could cost me 50 euros at the end.

 

[dem beats]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm scared of a couple of things.

• The bass response could be too big for my small room.

This is what the some guy from the Wharfedale website told me through email. He advised me the 9.4 since my room is smaller than 12 m2

• The internet vendor doesn't let me audition the model. The transporting fees are mine, even if I want to send the model back. Possible costs 50 euros.

Also the online brochure specifies the 9.5 to be used in rooms bigger than 12 m2.

Mine is 11 m2 so I have the feeling that it could be done.

I just don't want to take any risks, since it could cost me 50 euros at the end.

This is the wrong forum if you think you can have too much bass. Now that said it's not all gangsta shoot cops etc etc... and most people don't want to just overpower music/HT sound with bass, but it's almost impossible to have too much headroom for conventional bass response. it may be punchy or boomy or something due to placement... but nothing to do with too much bass overhead. You can always adjust anyway.

I think you should be more concerned with if you need all that bass in a small room. I can't imagine not. I am of the philosophy that you can never.. ever have too much bass overhead. the ability to have less drop off in low HZ is amazing. It brings you that much more to the real thing. for example... ever hear a pipe organ play real.. real...... reeeeal low? I haven't heard the ones that dip into the 10ish range but they exist, and man could you imagine that working on your chest and lungs.. nose hairs tremoring.

Groups like Kodo(japonease drums) playing the massive drum rolled out on stage with a truck bed... these sounds will bring a feel to the music. Most of the time it's called visceral, and that works as it's a priman deep feeling. Nothing like more bass headroom.

Just my .02

If you can afford more bass do it. The cleaner the better and the lower.. even more so.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

If you can afford more bass do it. The cleaner the better and the lower.. even more so.

Unless, of course, you live in an apartment.

 

[Warpdrv]

Naaaa If you can fit them in your room, and you like the sound....

Why Compromise... Bigger is always better.

 

[dem beats]

Unless, of course, you live in an apartment.

I do understand your point so don't take this the wrong way....

I think the ability to got louder in the low with more clarity brings most music especialy jazz and rock to life, and I can then turn the actual DB of the sound down. Again not overpowering but able to brign to life the low lows of deep tones in music. No there isn't a ton of information down there, but it makes all the diference and I for one turn the volume down when the bass comes up to actualy fill in that gap. I also seam to be specificaly sensitive to high frequencies. Pluss most vocals are in the midbass range I would say on a conventional crossover. I should clarify.. I got over sealous. I'm not saying a dual 18" sub set up will be needed but I think to bring out the true sound of a bass guitar and the deep sounds from drums etc the bass is the most essential peice. I see it like headphones... I have some top end sure headphones.... and though when I get the perfect seal on my ear there is some bass in there... but it doesn't have the same feel at all and I can tell the difference between the punch of some great 6.5 inch mids across a room over the little driver in my ear... but for highs... I cannot tell as much... maybe it gets lost... maybe that is my preferance too..

I just know that it's more about a point of diminishing returns.... I see my speaker selection a budget limiting factor. I would have full towers throguht my HT if I could afford it... I like that sound better, it does make a difference... but I'm not rolling in the dough so I don't. If he can afford the step up and has interest to do so, it wil physical fit in the space.. I say go for it,you will be happier in the end.


Also... I have come a long way to have understanding neighbors by inviting them over and having a relitavely open door for them if they want to watch a flick. Apartments sometimes you are more limited... but if they feel involved.. man they won't mind half as much. If there is a little noie through the wall. Again we aren't talking a Bag end theme park 4x 20" 4500 watt sub. Just a bit more extension down into the realm of further excursion and more bass(mid bass may be more apropriate).

 

[dem beats]

Naaaa If you can fit them in your room, and you like the sound....

Why Compromise... Bigger is always better.

Good aplication of the KISS method!

I wrote a novel.

lol

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Good aplication of the KISS method!

You mean "Wear makeup, use lots of pyrotechnics, spit blood."?

 

[dem beats]

You mean "Wear makeup, use lots of pyrotechnics, spit blood."?

LOL even better. that is the proper method to really keep away the neighbors. I was thinking keep it simple stupid, but I like this one better!

 

[pimvda]

Thanks for all the replies.

it may be punchy or boomy or something due to placement...

That's what I'm afraid about. Also I don't want to have speaker which are way of balance throughout the highs/mids and lows due to my room size.

You can always adjust anyway.

How exactly?

 

[dem beats]

Thanks for all the replies.



That's what I'm afraid about. Also I don't want to have speaker which are way of balance throughout the highs/mids and lows due to my room size.



How exactly?

#1 It sound slike you may be looking for something to be wrong. Remember by getter a beter speaker you are only alowing yourself to better replicate sound better. Again I am only asuming that the larger speaker is better due to it's ability to handle a larger range of Hz without struggling. You have to remember if the speaker sounds better period(i'm workin on this asumption) you are in controll of the rest of the issue. You controll the volume and the EQ. I think I stated earlier, usualy you will find youself turning the volume down the more you truely enjoy the sound of the speakers. Unless you snug she speakers into corners they should be relatively ok. Maggies do need a lot of room I know first hand but generaly speaking a few feet from the corner/wall is enough to satisfy any issue you may have.

#2 about your question you can adjust anything. the quick and easy, but not idea fix is to adjust the EQ on the receiver. The other fix is to do room treatments.

I'm not in your room so I cannot know, that's my shameless obvious disclaimer. I can just about garuntee however that unless you are really poppin of that new fiddy cent album or something engineared to force speakers into extreme excursion you will have NO issues. I had a set of nice speakers in a 10 x 10 x 9 foot room speakers on one side about 4 feet between the speakers and a bit more than a foot from the wall. I couldn't make anything in the room sound punchy whatso ever. Not even when putting the speakers in the coreners. The imaging was just less than ideal in that position and it made the listening experience feel off somewhat.

If you added a sub... well then you may have an issue, but most music won't go that low. And reproduction of most instruments never will require that much power again, if you want to do a hair trick listening to blueberry yum yum by luda'... then I wouldn't even recomend the speakers you have. And I garuntee most people here will demolish your ego and burn you alive for an admision of actialy enjoying rap.

My point here is if you think the bigger better speakers do sound better and will provide a wider range of Hz... then get them. It will also satisfy your upgrade bug for a much much longer period of time. The room and "too much bass/volume" should be a non point in this issue.