2. speakers
  3. 1141841032

What makes a High Efficiency Speaker

Can someone explain the “high efficiency speaker” as opposed to a “regular speaker”?
Are there certain recognized parameters that a speaker has to meet?
If so what are those parameters.
And some pointers in what to look for in this type of speaker.
Who is the recognized leader in this field and which companies make them?

I would presume Wilson Whamm's are in there but I was more interested in a slightly lower priced item.

(I spent my lunch money on the new Buggatti)

Thanks
punkuk
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
Duke- you have said it all. Thanks for taking the time to put it all together so clearly for all of us. That is one posts that should be put into an FAQ. Anyone from Audigon listening/monitoring?
r_f_sayles's avatar
r_f_sayles
872 posts
 
Just as a point of reference, my Coincident Total Eclipse are 94db 1Watt @ 1m, 14ohms, 24hz-25khz. No horns here except on the vinyl! Happy Listening!
warrenh's avatar
warrenh
2,299 posts
 
Opalchip, assuming these tests are accurate, could the speakers tested, being that it was 4 years ago, be different? It seems incongruous with the Zu boys work ethic, that their 101db would not be correct. At least it seems that way to me. With my 18 SET watts my Definitions produce some very serious spl levels in a large room. Granted this is not a scientific method, but my tympanics, from experience tell me they are pretty darn close to 101db. fwiw, warren :-)
etbaby
138 posts
 
Great discussion. But note that an eight ohm speaker that is 1% efficient in converting electical energy into mechanical energy will output a sound pressure level of 94db. Boy are we waisting a lot of energy!!!
inpepinnovations1e75
395 posts
 
Not really, Etby. If the speaker only needs 1 watt to output 94db, the you are 'wasting' 0.9 watts per hour! The parasitic losses on your microwave are about 5w/h.
And at 84db, the loss is 0.09w/h. Don't sweat it!
More to discover