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Which speakers excel at low volume?

I do much of my listening at lower volumes than I imagine most of you do: 60-70db for me much of the time. I understand why many speakers are designed to sound correct at live-music levels, and the hell with how they sound at lower levels. But that doesn't work for me. I need a speaker that resolves details, conveys proper tone and timbre, expresses microdynamics, and has a respectable balance, including a sense of weight, even at low volume. (Low volume does not mean low amplifier power.) This is an aspect of loudspeaker performance that is rarely addressed in reviews. It must be that most audiophiles don't care about it, or that reviewers feel it is not a criterion that loudspeakers are or should be designed for. Fair enough, but I still want what I want.

I used to have original Quad electrostatics, which were terrific at low volume. My ProAc Response 2.5s aren't bad (though they don't resolve detail too well even at high volume). The Thiel 1.6 is pretty good, the 2.4 less so.

What have you heard, particularly in dynamic speakers, that fits my requirements?
drubin
sean
6,231 posts
 
Karls: Vandies are not so much "warm" as they are tough loads for most amps at high frequencies. For some reason, most amps take a dive in output levels above 9 - 10 KHz when driving Vandies. I don't know if it has to do with levels of reactance, impedance, specific phase angles, etc... or a combo of all of the above, but most amps simply do not load up well into Vandies up top. Finding an amp that is both relatively load stable and possibly has a slight rise up top would tend to level things out when working with Vandies.

My Ohm F's seem to hold their tonal balance quite well at low listening levels. They probably work best there or at medium levels. Once you start to drive them harder ( anything above about 92 - 94 dB's at 10' ), they start falling apart in terms of top to bottom coherence. You might be able to get them louder than that but the recording would have to be on the lean side. Sean
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darrylhifi
498 posts
 
Surprisingly "Silverline" . Their efficiency ratings are for real.
zargon's avatar
zargon
453 posts
 
The Vandy 5As are particularly good a lower volumes, I believe, due to the integrated subs. I find myself listening a lower volumes than I did with my 2 Cis and still experiencing the fullness and impact of the bass.

Sean, I have noticed a drop in the 5As above 10K, as you mentioned, using a RS meter, but how can I separate the contribution due to the amp from the contribution due to the room?

How did you make measurements to come to your conclusion?
mfkeleher
146 posts
 
I agree with both Karls and Darrylhifi. There are tradeoffs for reduced volume, but I've been happy with Silverline SR12's and SR17's at low volume. The benefit of the 17's is that you can crank 'em too. You can get satisfying bass out of the 17's too with proper stands and positioning, even at low volume levels. Not as good as playing them loud, but still enjoyable listening.
whknopp0713
179 posts
 
I would second Stenho's suggestion that this is as much (or more) an amplifier question as a speaker question. For example, I would try something that runs pure Class A for at least 5W. I also think that power conditioning can make a huge difference in low level playback, as electical noise seems to be proportionately greater at lower volumes. When I added a modest PC to my bedroom system, the bass weight and tunefulness (articulation) was virtually transformed. Produced major grins, as I had been contemplating a monitor upgrade that would have cost at least 2x. Now I'm perfectly happy with the old ones.
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