When designing a driver, its a choice you make: efficiency or bandwidth. This choice doesn't change if the driver will be used in a horn or infinite baffle,
Low-sensitivity speakers — What's special about them?
I'm building a system for a smaller room (need smaller bookshelves), and I did a bunch of research and some listening. I am attracted both to the Dynaudio Evoke 10's (heard locally) and the Salk Wow1 speakers (ordered and I'm waiting on them for a trial). I have a Rel 328 sub.
Here's the thing — both of those speakers are 84db sensitivity. Several people on this forum and my local dealer have remarked, "You should get a speaker that's easier to drive so you have a wider choice of power and can spend less, too."
That advice — get a more efficient speaker — makes sense to me, but before I just twist with every opinion I come across (I'm a newbie, so I'm pathetically suggestible), I'd like to hear the other side. Viz.,
QUESTION: What is the value in low sensitivity speakers? What do they do for your system or listening experience which make them worth the cost and effort to drive them? Has anyone run the gamut from high to low and wound up with low for a reason?
Your answers to this can help me decide if I should divorce my earlier predilections to low-sensitivity speakers (in other words, throw the Salks and Dyns overboard) and move to a more reasonable partner for a larger variety of amps. Thanks.
Here's the thing — both of those speakers are 84db sensitivity. Several people on this forum and my local dealer have remarked, "You should get a speaker that's easier to drive so you have a wider choice of power and can spend less, too."
That advice — get a more efficient speaker — makes sense to me, but before I just twist with every opinion I come across (I'm a newbie, so I'm pathetically suggestible), I'd like to hear the other side. Viz.,
QUESTION: What is the value in low sensitivity speakers? What do they do for your system or listening experience which make them worth the cost and effort to drive them? Has anyone run the gamut from high to low and wound up with low for a reason?
Your answers to this can help me decide if I should divorce my earlier predilections to low-sensitivity speakers (in other words, throw the Salks and Dyns overboard) and move to a more reasonable partner for a larger variety of amps. Thanks.
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- 106 posts total
@lonemountain Your answer is so simple and logical. I suppose if some of the good stand mount speakers out there didn't try to do it all, they would be easier to drive and more easy to match with a variety of amps. It would be hard, though, for a speaker manufacturer to tell the consumer to get a sub with it if they want full bass. |
Low-sensitivity some design for such have complex networks or need a small size. But in general, it means cheap low-powered magnets undersized transducers, and cabinets. It means the loudspeaker and owner of such has to purchase a massive power amplifier thus putting that speaker's cost savings back on the owner since now his amp costs more is larger and uses more energy. It also means thermal compression in most designs since amps heating VC. |
The benefit if done well (like Dynaudio in general) is more bass extension from a smaller box, but you need a beefier amp than otherwise typically to be able to deliver that bass. Power needs increase exponentially with lower frequency. Its easy to have a very efficient speaker. Just skimp on the bass extension. Most cheap speakers with limited bass extension are very efficient. THey have to be much larger to bee both efficient and have good quality extended bass. Or just offload the bass to a powered sub or two or 4 and most any decent quality speaker can cut it. |
johnk1,596 posts07-14-2021 10:37amLow-sensitivity some design for such have complex networks or need a small size. But in general, it means cheap low-powered magnets undersized transducers, and cabinets. It means the loudspeaker and owner of such has to purchase a massive power amplifier thus putting that speaker's cost savings back on the owner since now his amp costs more is larger and uses more energy. It also means thermal compression in most designs since amps heating VC. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~Smack Down~~~~One punch knock out I just tried this just today with my Defy 7 100 watt amp, The more I pushed the gain, the less I got out the 87/91db speaker = distortion, coloration/unlistenable. |
- 106 posts total