Floorstanders vs bookshelf + subwoofer

What is a set of bookshelf speakers + subwoofer 'missing' compared to full sized floorstanders?

 

The ability to get the bass right

I am serious, one of the hardest things to get right in audio is a sub based speaker setup. Room nodes, phasing, balance, attack, integration and volume are all really tough to get right vs a well designed big book shelf or floor stander that occupies the same floor space as a small one, yet can get down to the 30s.

 

What about if you have two subs? One per channel?

 

Some say it is easier, YMMV

 

nothing if done right. problem with smaller book shelf speakers is due to their overall bass extension problems and the rooms that come with them cause, people that tend to get bookshelf speakers have smaller room which in end has more room issues to deal with in the end. it's just the integration process of things that make it very difficult. most bookshelfs won't do bass below 90-100hz well so you'll gonna have to get a ''woofer'' in the picture and crossover it high. a subwoofer is not consider a subwoofer till below 60hz. but,anyhoo, on subject the high crossover slopes can cause some room mode irregularities making things boomy and very directional in point where it's noticable in corners,cielings,side walls,ect.

you'll gonna have to either get room under control by making your own bass traps(those 4'' panels of fiberglass they sell for lots of money is not effective enough in the bass region due to their limiting thickness...need atleast 9-18'' thick to be effective in complete absorptions). or you can use the multiple sub route in each corner to basically cause cancllations at it's given frequency. or can use some type of eq for your room....

i mean floor standers on it's own is no exceptions either since they will suffer from same bass issues in itself but, then again they're usually in an overall larger room most of the time so there is probablt bit less issues with room modes but, there is always exceptions of course. it just might be easier to do subwoofer integrations in not so perfect rooms cause the floorstanders might have better extension overall so it allows you to crossover the sub lower is the only benefits i see.