Recommendations for speakers that sound great at lower volume levels.

(Pardon me if someone mentioned an idea below first.)

emrofsemanon:  I'd say you are right about pretty much everything you mentioned. I have an extension cord between my fridge and the wall so I can unplug it (a tiny reminder light goes on when I do) for evening low level sessions (even 40 feet away). It is so true how brown noise wrecks low level (or moderate level music, or high level with intricate details). Thank heaven I no longer have force air heat; ugh on that fan.


cakyol, mwinkc: I agree with the ability to use a loudness or other bass control when listening at lower volumes. Bass does disappear. I used to be a purist before I realized it got in the way of enjoying the hobby...  The DSPeaker Anti-Mode 2.0 easily enables a bit of bass or treble boost that is easily defeated as well.

mtbiker:  I'd call avgs in mid-70s 'low volume' (for me). I'm more in the mid-80s I guess (unless real happy about some music I'm playing :-)

Tannoy mini autograph...but for a mid to small room

For times when you need to listen at low levels, why not get headphones?

+1 on the headphones or just use the loudness control. That’s what it’s for. 

A great low volume speaker is a pair of stand mount Fritz Carerra BE Speakers. I recently picked up a pair and they are fantastic.

i agree 100%, low medium high volumes... fritz’s are superb standmounts

Every single loudspeaker you will ever own will do the same thing. Actually, it is not the loudspeaker. It is your ears. Better yet , it is everyone’s ears. Google Fletchur-Munson curves.

not so simple, nor absolute

while fletcher munson always applies in a technical sense, in the real world, some speakers are at their best when playing at somewhat louder volumes, based on their design... for example, buchardt s400’s have a rear mounted passive radiator that really works well at medium to higher volumes, the bass then becomes full, powerful, room filling, all around terrific... at lower volumes, not so much...

...in contrast, a terrific smaller monitor like a ls3/5a has very limited absolute volume capability, and is best listened nearfield, semi nearfield, and at lower to medium volumes