Audiogon member suggestions for a speaker that sounds good at low volume!!!

Much prefer near-field lower level listening to headphones. For the imaging and soundstage. A very nice experience. Besides headphones hurt and you crank the volume too high. Maybe listen 5 hours a day to my desk top system and half an hour to my (very loud) main systems so makes it wiser to spend most money on the desk system (which I havn't...). 

I don't have the time to read all of the responses to this question. Please forgive me if someone has already mentioned what I am about to discuss. The real issue you are asking about is called "power balance". The frequencies to be produced by a speaker are based on the driver and crossover design. At a given frequency, more or less power is required to produce that frequency. Usually this manifests itself when the bass disappears in relation to the other frequencies as the volume is turned down. To listen at low volume levels, the bass must remain at the same level as the rest of the frequency spectrum. We normally talk about the frequency response of a speaker. Power response goes a little farther in that the frequency response curve of the speaker may actually vary with the volume level provided by the amp. This is not a desired condition in a speaker system! Regardless of volume, the response curve should remain the same.

I suggest that you listen to a number of speakers and listen for the balance of highs and lows at low volume that it had at normal listening levels. As you turn the volume down, the bass should maintain the same level relationship with the rest of the music as it had at normal volume levels. Once you are satisfied that the power balance is correct, then determine if you like the sound of the speaker!

I caution against using devices that "correct" the balance of frequencies as they usually introduce additional noise and distortion into the playback chain. A well designed speaker should not need external equipment to "correct" its balance. If the rest of your equipment is capable of reproducing the full spectrum of frequencies and the speakers are designed to reproduce those frequencies also, you should not need additional equipment to get you there. 

Paradigm is going to do a Trade-Up Promotion on their Persona Speakers starting February 1st.  If you’re considering trading or selling your current speakers, you should take a listen to their 3F’s.

You need way more transparent loudspeakers especially for low volume listening. Vandy 2Ci are not good for this. The Vandy 2ci is a lovely for the money loudspeaker they have a distincly warm tonal balance and use a good but not state of the art tweeter therefore detail will be lacking.

At low volume levels you are going to have to overcome background ambient noise if any and at a lower volume you have to listen harder to make out details that would be easier to hear with greater volume.

So you need speaekers with tremendous detail, for your price range you can get a pair of Quad Z4 which use a fantastic ribbon tweeter tthat has unbelievable detail and speed, the speaker also has a huge soundstage, and has a warm midrange and good deep bass reponse which is tight.

You can then add a good subwoofer later on to augment the missing deep bass at lower volume levels due to the ear's inefficeny at hearing bass at lower levels. 

You should try to find a pair to listen to they are amazing loudspeakers for the money.

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ Quad dealers

Another vote for 'phones. Listening at 45-50 dB allows almost no room for decent dynamics. Forget speakers, unless you listen at realistic levels (65-85 dB peaks).