Some people think there is a definitive answer to this question.  Fact is, there isn't one.   We all live in different environments and have different preferences when it comes to the reproduction of sound.   Since hi-fi is always a balance of give and take, it's best to focus your attention on the speakers that work best for you - and then worry about the subs later.    You can always add more bass should you need it.   Edit:  Since people want to know what my own preference is,  I tend to like towers by themselves.

Get your dream speakers and sounds system, then take the specs to a good architect and a team of sound engineers to build your new home around them. Easy...

I've been rocking bookshelf speakers and a subwoofer since the 1990s. I'm not changing.

I’ve shifted to floorstanders because the cost of furniture quality stands matching my desired bookshelf speakers offsets much of the cost of upgrading to floorstanders.

As a lifetime Audiophile who has known some of the deceased legends from Stereophile, I'm highly impressed with your clear, simple, and concise videos on what's not a simple subject for those who care about music, keep up the fantastic work!

Two channels, 2 floorstanding speakers, 2 subs. Sub on the left side only plays the left channel and the sub on the right side only plays the right channel. Never settle. You deserve it all.

I tried to get smaller speakers but ending up with the conclusion: There is no substitute for cubic inches! ;-)

I cycled through bookshelves until I finally settled on floorstanders, this has always included a subwoofer. The floorstanders brought a weight to music that still makes me happy.

tl;dw
big room = floor standing speakers
Small room = bookshelf speakers

I'd say you need a sub regardless of what kind of speaker you have. I have B&W 702 S2's and I still want a sub. No speakers that are affordable to the average man, full range towers or not, can give the kind of bass performance a sub will.

The other consideration is if you live in an apartment or condo, stands help to mitigate sound transmission to your neighbor below.

Only 1:41 seconds in and you're already nailing it. You and I have talked before and I love your no no-nonsense, no bs, style.  Buy what makes YOU happy and checks all the boxes. Not, oh, these will sound more like what I am looking for once I add this or that. Get the speaker that nails it for you right out of the gates and compliment them with subs or other electronics later.

"information paralysis" never heard that term but it describes my nature perfectly.

I used to have a set of infinity crescendo floor standing speakers.  My speakers now are a bookshelf scanspeak diy set.  I've even listened to the kef meta in that space and was very impressed with them.  I should mention I am using a css sdx12 sub.  It's very good and found bookshelf speakers can pressurize the room quite nicely.  They have to be turned up though to really hit where as a floor standing speaker doesn't.

The comments about better soundstage for bookshelf's due to less baffle area (i.e. lower diffraction effects) are spot on. Spherical enclosures make for the best soundstage for this reason.

Thanks for addressing one of the most common dilemmas in audio. For myself in my smallish room I have bookshelf and floorstanders with a sub. Depending on what music I play I like to switch it up. Its all fun

I have a situation that I'm sure not many have: a bedroom system, a bedroom shape that is not exactly square, & the only place to put speakers being a bookshelf pair on a high plant shelf. So I went with Monitor Audio 100's because of the 8" because I can't run a sub late at night. Those speakers mated to a Rotel A11 MKii provides an incredibly wide range & image. This pairing is as clean & clear & staged as any setup I have ever had & provides incredible low volume late night listening, or during the day @ higher volumes it makes you say "wow" & gives a big smile.

It greatly depends on what type of person you are. If you're an audiophile, blow the whole budget on the best pair of standmounts you can get. If your budget is high, high end towers are hard to beat. I climbed the speaker ladder from an older pair of Bower & Wilkins to a cheap, but good pair of towers, back to standmounts, but in the High End class, and jumped on a great deal on the big big brother for the standmounts later on. A nice pair of DALI Rubicon 8. Looking back now, I wish I knew now the enjoyment High End speakers give over speakers not that refined. But that's not something everyone appreciate. So if you're not an audiophile, chances are you much rather have deep bass than speakers that sound so livelike that you can't believe some of the sounds actually come from the speakers, and not the real world.

I'm done for, and will probably spend too much money on HiFi, but I will probably live 10 years extra on the enjoyment of it.

I always end up getting floor-standers thinking I don't want to lose out. But, the truth is I tend to get impressed far more often by standmounts. You know  a lot of the times when you go to audition speakers, they tend to play a lot of jazz vocals which I also happen to  like and in that realm I find standmounts tend to sound better.  It is a cleaner and more precise sound. My suggestion is to get both and just unplug speakers cable when you change speakers for different music.

Best advise, "make a leap"  I have definitely been that guy with analysis paralysis. You never truly k ow until you try something