What is your take on high efficient speakers vs. low efficient speakers?

@jfuquay 

After decades of close listening, what if you learn you prefer a low-sensitivity speaker, like Magnepan in my case? Then I say you find the electronics to drive it and just enjoy it

Pure logic and experience clearly confirms this. Stubborn dogma isn’t persuasive or necessary. Choose what works and sounds best to you and pursue to the best of your ability.

Your approach is the opposite of mine. Does not matter, we both have found what individually suits best.👍

Charles

You can get "absolutely sound" with SET.

For example, 300B SET and ~95dB sensitivity 15" JBL or Tannoy in medium size room. If 300B SET build properly you can get enough dynamic headroom for any kind of music. From small jazz to symphonic music and rock.

The problem is - 99% of SET amplifiers designed and built for Lowther like speakers.

The critical distance for medium size room at 1KHz less then 2m. Actually 2m is the worst case. 

So, the pik volume can generate the system with 300B amplifier is -

spikers sensitivity + 9db (8w) - 3db (2m critical distance) + 3db (two speakers).

For example for 95dB speakers we get at least 104dB.

@mijostyn wrote:

we have to disagree about something. Try driving an ESL with a SET amp. Do I smell something burning?

And it ain’t the toast. No, SET’s for when they make sense; with high to very high sensitivity speakers to take advantage of the less than 1 watt where the distortion levels found in these amps are extremely low here, just like with the speakers they’re feeding that efficiently turns electrical power into acoustic energy. Think about the power that’s wasted as heat with low sensitivity, passively driven dynamic speakers, not to mention the poor cone/diaphragm to air coupling - waste upon waste, really. It’s all about the most efficient transfer, and lastly from the speakers to the ears and how to "capture" the acoustic ditto here, which is also a reason why I’ve never dug heavy absorption - it potentially makes matters worse energy-wise:

@phusis

No, SET’s for when they make sense; with high to very high sensitivity speakers to take advantage of the less than 1 watt where the distortion levels found in these amps are extremely low here, just like with the speakers they’re feeding that efficiently turns electrical power into acoustic energy.

Yes, this accurately describes my copacetic listening scenario. 8 watt SET mono blocks driving 94 db sensitivity /14-ohm impedance speakers. My typical listening levels sitting 10 feet away are  C-weighted 65-75 SPL

Can dip to the mid 50s (softer passages) most ofren peaks (mid 80s).. I can listen at louder levels comfortably, but no need to.

At these very satisfying listening levels the SET is far below 1 watt of power (Small fractions of one watt) and doing so at a very low level of distortion (As you note). The sound is very tactile, resolved, pure, natural and quite emotionally engaging. Key take away is the amp and speaker must form a compatible match.

Charles