How important is the efficiency of a speaker to you?


I went to an audio meeting recently and heard a couple of good sounding speakers. These speakers were not inexpensive and were well built. Problem is that they also require a very large ss amp upstream to drive them. Something that can push a lot of current, which pretty much rules out most low-mid ( maybe even high) powered tube amps. When I mentioned this to the person doing the demo, i was basically belittled, as he felt that the efficiency of a speaker is pretty much irrelevant ( well he would, as he is trying to sell these speakers). The speaker line is fairly well known to drop down to a very low impedance level in the bass regions. This requires an amp that is going to be $$$, as it has to not be bothered by the lowest impedances.

Personally, if I cannot make a speaker work with most tube amps on the market, or am forced to dig deeply into the pocketbook to own a huge ss amp upstream, this is a MAJOR negative to me with regards to the speaker in question ( whichever speaker that may be). So much so, that I will not entertain this design, regardless of SQ.

Your thoughts?

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Showing 1 response by jonwolfpell

High sensitivity speakers w/ true bass extension necessitates large volume cabinets which can mean more $ & potential room / aesthetic placement challenges. That said, as John Atkinson often points out, high sensitivity drivers have substantially less distortion at higher output levels because of the much lower current flowing through their voice coils which generates much less heat & are “ working” much less hard. That said, some may not like the sound of the driver type used to create that high sensitivity ( horns, AMT’s etc). Every method has trade offs.

My own personal preference that to me sounds closest to live music is high sensitivity horns w/ tube amps but not “ flea powered” if you like to listen up loudly in a big room. Very difficult for just about any  lower sensitivity speaker at any price w/ even w/ heroic amplification to match the speed & instant dynamics of a quality horn loaded one. 
 

Volti Audio Rivals do it for me….