Full detailed sound at 30 - 40 - 50 dB

@leemaze I have also had to be volume conscious and found that a more sensitive speaker and tube amp make a big difference. I can listen at very low volumes and get all the detail and bass. Speakers are tekton di and they do remarkably well at low volumes.
regards,
greg

If you are wanting full detail at lower volumes, this is an area where tubes rule. This is because they tend to have a lot lower distortion at lower power levels. Something to think about...

If you are wanting full detail at lower volumes, this is an area where tubes rule. This is because they tend to have a lot lower distortion at lower power levels. Something to think about...

Hi @atmasphere 

Given your statement, at what decibel level do you consider the volume to be something "higher" than lower volume? The essence of the question is at what power level do tubes no longer "rule" over SS because of power concerns. Thank you. 

Tubes rule! Or not, but I didn’t know tubes were better for low volume (I learn something from Atmasphere about once every 4 and a half days), but I prefer tube amps anyway so I don’t recall the difference since I’ve had a tube amp in the rig for so long…I have noticed better low level sound since I put a pair of efficient horn speakers in the rig, but the tone issues with lower levels are always there so you’re going to need loudness compensation for that anyway if you want the highs (and lows) to get to your earballs…hense my Schiit Loki usefulness. One thing about the Loki is it’s single ended RCA only so balanced "pre to amp" users have to run it through a tape loop or something (although not all preamps have those these days). Maybe the Schiit-heads next EQ (Loki Maxi?) will be balanced. Also the immediate slam and general snappy response of a great tube amp (mine is a lowish powered Dennis Had Fire Bottle HO), along with the inherent tonal "rightness" (an official audiophile term), makes tubes at least "seem" balsier than most SS amps at higher volume when paired with appropriate speakers.

For sure tubes are FAR better at low level resolution than any SS .
 Only you know what loud is to you .Atmasphere is the THE tube expert on
here but from the maybe 6 tube amps and 30 SS amps I've owned I would say a tube amp with GOOD transformers putting out 30 watts is at least equal to a 100 watt SS .