[mysticaldodo]

I have a 16 feet x 9 feet rectangular room size. with 8 feet to the ceiling. All plaster walls with windows and drapes facing one end. My room is a bit on the acoustically dead side.

I was thinking of getting a floorstander but wonder whether my room will be too small. I currently have an EPOS ELS3 and bass is not loud enough though this could be the fault of the speaker itself. I have not tried a bigger standmount (mine is considered small it seems) so not sure whether that would solve all my problems. Also I can't get any home loans too so I could never get the definitive answer I need

I prefer not to have a subwoofer but might consider it.

I'm asking this more as a guide rather then a definitive advice. Most dealers said it should be ok but I've thought I better asked your opinions.

I'm currently using Cambridge Audio 640A version 2 and play mostly at moderate to loud volumes (sometimes). My cambridge dealer said it would not be able to handle Sonus Faber floorstanders to their best but can drive AE floorstanders pretty good so thats another thing to consider when auditioning. Will driving mid level bookshelfs be easier then floorstanders in general?

Thank you.  

[Upstateaudio]

A small floorstander should do OK.  My room is 11 x 12 and  has a mixture of plaster and sheet rock walls.   I have used floor standers for most of the 17 years I have lived in this house.   I have used the following speakers in the room with varying degrees of success, Paradigm minis (OK), B&W 520s (they sucked!!!!!), Paradigm 7se mkIIIs (OK), Paradigm reference studio 60V2s (pretty good) and Totem Hawks (great).

I did install some eighth nerve room treatments a few years ago (After living with the Paradigm 60v2s without treatments  for a few years) and that made some improvements and eliminated the boom that I had.

[mysticaldodo]

Were they all around the same height? I think the Totem Hawk is 90cm. Perhaps size is not the only influence on sound in my room size

[JLM]

Your question is too vague to be useful, but your concern (can a small room support bass) is valid.

Some standmounts can reach down to 40 or 50 Hz while some floorstanders are bass wimps.

Generally standmounts are less efficient but image better.  They tend to be cheaper and can be adjusted mounted to be at ear height.  One advantage with having a small room is the ease of adding a subwoofer that can be adjusted to a future bigger room.  One big advantage of a sub is that you can locate it where it sounds best (typically a corner) while the standmounts can stay where they sound the best (away from corners).

In a small room (which tend to be crowded, especially if you feel it's acoustically dead) small floorstanders can get "lost" behind furniture.  BTW I've own both standmounts (with sub) and floorstanders and have owned several of each over the years.

Try to get a hold of a test tone CD and a Radio Shack sound pressure level meter (about $60 for both) so you can learn exactly what you're talking about.  This is very educational for anyone who takes audio seriously.  Then try to audition speakers at home (the store may require you to hold the price of them on your credit card).  Look for a local audio club (ask here or at Audio Asylum for instance).  Listen to live, unamplified music (as the only true reference) to learn what "real" music sounds like.

Properly choosing new speakers could take months/years, but that is the "fun" of being an audiophile gearhead.