What makes a speaker sound great at low volume?


Most of the time I hear music at a low volume (wifey, apartment, ....). 

I am looking to upgrade my current speakers, but in my market scanning I would like to understand, if there are certain “metrics” to look for, before I start going to stores for listening. 

Any advice? 
mtraesbo
kalali is correct, omega speakers have 98db sensitivity, like my rs8 supercone, high output alnico 96db ? Then get a nice tube  power amp.
Buy a pair of Quad 57's! Either in good working condition or refurbished. They will provide all the air and detail at low volume that you could desire! You will be very happy! I own two pairs! And a good amp match for them would be a Quad 303 (I have one, along with a 405 and a rare pair of the 50 Mono's).
I love the sound of my Ref 3A de Capos at low volume detailed

using with a 4wpc decware amp
You should go listen to any LS3/5A type of speaker. Spendor, Harbeth, Stirling , etc., etc. make this design!
My former Krell 600 - Dynaudio Consequence combo was hopeless on low volume. It would have been better to listen to a small bookshelf system. It was only on higher volume that the wolf came out of the lair, so to speak. Music started sounding great, and even glorious, but only at very high volume. My present Atmasphere MA-1 - Audiokinesis Dream Maker combination offers better sound at lower volume. Even though I could have asked for even more, in this respect. Here also - even if these amps run fairly "flat" in class A - I find that to get the sound right, I need to turn up the volume. I think that getting more sensitive speakers is the way to go, but it is not the only answer.