Is the most efficient speaker the best speaker?


Is the most efficient speaker the best speaker -- all other things being equal?
pmboyd
Hi Ngjockey,
My experience with pro parts is not what you are referencing above.
6 inch are usually 93 to 99 sensitivity, next doubling 8 ohm drivers will add 3 db, but if your amp does not double its power to 4 ohms, you won't get a 6db gain. Same with the drivers you have labled from 10 to 15 inch. Typically the price paid for sensitivity is low end extention.
If you will look at a few parts from Eminence (they make some hi eff stuff for bag end), Audax PR series, some B&C, PHL & others you'll find plenty drivers that are mid to upper 90's in a single driver. I have participated in a few threads on Agon on this subject. I hope this helps,
Tim
Atmasphere, are you referring to some horn speakers you've heard that are so exclusive that I couldn't have possibly heard them?
Timlub,

The 84 to 90 dB drivers would NOT be pro drivers. More typical of brands like Scanspeak, Morel, etc. Mentioned "pro" to illustrate higher sensitivity drivers in a separately listed category.

You're right about the gain for 4 ohm. Wasn't being specific.
Unsound, I don't know. I can tell you this- one of them got "Best Sound at Show" at CES a few years ago, from Jonathan Valin of TAS. He followed up at the succeeding RMAF by saying that the new version of that same speaker (being played at that show) was the biggest improvement he had ever heard in any speaker!

I can add that I had an opinion similar to yours in the past- I thought all horns sucked. Boy was I wrong. Now I am of the opinion that horns, like all other speaker technologies, have unique pitfalls which can be avoided. If this is done they can be as musical or more musical (without coloration) as any of the best of competing speaker technologies.

Given your stance, I have to conclude that if you are being truthful about your position then you simply have yet to hear the speakers I'm talking about.