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Recommendations for speakers that sound great at lower volume levels.

I have a pair of Harbeth SHL5 Plus and they sound wonderful when I crank them up. But at moderate to low volume levels they sound disappointingly flat and unengaging - instruments are less palpable, bass has less bloom, and soundstage has less air and dimensionality. I drive my speakers with a tube integrated - a Line Magnetic 845 rated at 26 watts of power. My Harbeths are rated at 86db. Would a higher sensitivity speaker be helpful? Or how about a good quality small shoebox sized pair of speakers coupled with a subwoofer? Or not. What speakers are going to deliver music you can feel at low volume levels? What say all you wisened audiophiles?
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dougthebiker
212 posts
 
I have a pair of Tekton 2-10 Perfect Sets which I drive with a pair of Schiit Aegirs - 80 watts each heavily biased to Class A.

They are amazingly good at low volumes.

About $2k/pair for the Tektons.  Great dynamics, detail and when you sit down to listen, it’s very hard to leave - even at low volumes.

If you’re not bothered by big heavy speakers, get the Tekton Moabs-even better.
oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,880 posts
 
Heresy , Forte, Cornwall.... all sound good at low volumes
jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
quad esl57’s, wonderful as they are, have their issues too, which are manifold

there is no perfect speaker, perfect component
beatlebum
184 posts
 
My Dynaudio Heritage Specials powered by my Naim Supernait 3 integrated amplifier sound full and extended at 70 to 75db's sitting about 10' away. When I was looking to upgrade my speakers this was one of the most important criteria in my search.
pedroeb
493 posts
 
What you need is an amplifier with the good old fashioned loudness control.

Those old fashioned loudness on/off controls where at best only correct at a specific volume. Audyssey has a terrific loudness control that follows the Fletcher Munson curve (Dynamic EQ) and is adjusted according to volume below the reference level. It can be adjusted by setting an offset below the reference level.

I have found Audyssey can at times introduce a ringing around 2k, so I keep its curve filters set to operate below 500Hz. I believe the response filters are independent of Dynamic EQ as I have never had an issue with ringing.

Here's an interesting discussion: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/device-for-equal-loudness-fletcher-munson-curve-do-any-speakers-adapt-to-this.10949/
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