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Recommendations for speakers that sound great at lower volume levels.

I have a pair of Harbeth SHL5 Plus and they sound wonderful when I crank them up. But at moderate to low volume levels they sound disappointingly flat and unengaging - instruments are less palpable, bass has less bloom, and soundstage has less air and dimensionality. I drive my speakers with a tube integrated - a Line Magnetic 845 rated at 26 watts of power. My Harbeths are rated at 86db. Would a higher sensitivity speaker be helpful? Or how about a good quality small shoebox sized pair of speakers coupled with a subwoofer? Or not. What speakers are going to deliver music you can feel at low volume levels? What say all you wisened audiophiles?
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jbhiller's avatar
jbhiller
1,437 posts
 
Higher efficiency speakers often do sound better than low efficiency, and can do so by a wide margin. But, some lower efficiency speakers do sound pretty darn good at low volumes. 

I agree that loudness controls are a huge help--yet, as stated above--they are nearly extinct.  I have a preamp with tone controls.  I use them about once or twice per month--typically when I want to work while listening or read.  At low volumes they do not impart distortion that I can hear or that bothers me.  As I tick the dial up, I don't like them or use them as much.  It's nice to have a tone defeat. 


jbhiller's avatar
jbhiller
1,437 posts
 
+1 on the Loki.  I had one before I got a preamp with tone controls.  Very nice unit and when defeated I couldn't hear it doing anything adverse to the signal.  Great product. 
jhills
615 posts
 
Important to note that, to the human ear, high frequencies up to about 16K Hz, balance out at about 60db while bass below 50 Hz is up near and over 100db. so a good sub with an adjustable volume control is helpful to add fullness and weight to any speaker when listening at lower volumes.....Jim
johnk's avatar
johnk
1,975 posts
 
A large horn system can be one of the best choices for low-level listening. One of the reasons that conventional designs require compensation isn't so much the fault of the human ear but of the modern loudspeaker. Horns have controlled radiation patterns and have throw since they couple transducer to air column.
ps
757 posts
 
I've not read all the posts in this thread so excuse me if my question has been answered.

Can OP kindly clarify what "lower volumes" means?  What are your preferred average decibel levels? 

As an example in my dedicated listening room, approximately 80db is more than enough, and does not disturb my golden-eared wife who is sound asleep in our upstairs bedroom.  This is volume is either with Magnepan .7's or Sonus Faber Guarneri Homage speakers and all-tube gear paired with a small REL subwoofer.

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