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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.
128x128hilde45
mozartfan
2,143 posts
 
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.

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Thing is the real orchestral music kicks in at 160hz. 
Why the need for 20hz-40hz?? 
But we will soon find out what kind of bass a  wide really has.
2 weeks mine will be up N running.
The wide band will be going aginst dual  Seas W18's/per channel. 
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,800 posts
 
Low-sensitivity speakers — What's special about them?
I regard this is the wrong question - better to ask what is special about high sensitivity speakers. I don't find anything special about low sensitivity as thermal compression is a common problem. People that listen to high efficiency speakers know this. I can't think of an advantage of low sensitivity- its not that they might be more revealing; IME they are less so.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,199 posts
 
It's a perfectly valid question.

All designs have advantages and disadvantages.   That goes for both high efficiency and low efficiency speakers.
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,974 posts
 
I started this thread early in my system building. Jim Salk's lower priced smaller speakers provide the bass extension needed -- and you're right, Ralph -- it's not "special" in any real way, unless one is comparing what Jim is able to accomplish in his small speakers that others don't, as well. 
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,199 posts
 
If you want or need smaller speakers for whatever reason I’d say that is certainly special.   So is higher efficiency that does not ask as much of an amp.  Two different things.   Both special but in different ways for different purposes.   
I will agree though that size does matter when it comes to speakers.  It’s always a matter of trade offs. 
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