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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?

128x128daveyf

Showing 1 response by simonmoon

simonmoon's avatar
simonmoon
468 posts
 

Not very important. 

The best speakers I have ever heard, and the best I have ever owned (not in the same set, I could not afford the best I've heard), have all not been very efficient.

My old Koss Model 1a full range electrostatic speakers were 87db. But the clarity, detail, attack/decay, soundstage and image they produced are better than pretty much any high efficiency speaker I've heard. 

 I can think of a few exceptions, like the Acapella Audio Arts Hyperion, with their plasma tweeter, and their built in amps for the woofer section. 

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