Best speaker design for low to mid volume?

In general I find that more efficient speakers are also better at low volume than speakers of lower efficiency. A minimal crossover might be the reason for that (more technically able A'goners correct me if I am wrong on that).

Also contributing to the quality of low level listening will be your amp. I will let others describe why this is and what you will want to look for in an amp. But in my experience, when I plugged in my recently acquired Butler 2250 one of the improvements I got was in terms of low volume listening.

In general, the more efficient a speaker is the better will play at lower volumes. Consequently, horns will be the best choice. Since you can sit 10 feet away from the speakers Avantgarde UNO comes to my mind though might not have a too high WAF.

Another way to get good sound at low volumes is to use a subwoofer. This is because in IMO one will not be able to get a healthy bass al low volumes unless he/she goes for very expensive speakers (often not even then). Since you are not interested in getting bookshelf's speakers you should get some smaller floor standers with a subwoofer. (As Elizabeth commented above smaller speakers do generally play better than larger ones at low levels).

Planars like Magnepan are fantastic at low volume. full range electrostatic speakers like the Quads also.

Box/dynamic designs that use rigid low mass materials (like paper) for woofer cones can be similarly very good also. Triangle is the line that comes to mind as an example.

I find the newer OHM Walsh speakers I also use can also be similarly quite good in a different way at low volume with the right amp and electronics in front of them, and these can also go as loud as needed with no signs of stress or dynamic compression as well with proper amplification, which is a big reason I prefer these over most planars or electrostats in the same price range.

Well there you, every answer is correct and no one agrees. There is no answer as far as one design being better at low volume. You'd probably be better off asking for the brand. I've built alot....alot of speakers. Generally if you can find a speaker that has a slight rise in the frequency curve in the lower region, then stays accurate through out the rest of the frequency range, you will have a speaker that sounds nice at low volumes.

Tim - too true!!! ;) although you and i did agree in our opening statements...many ways in speaker design to get there!

That said, i also would 2nd nvp's statements about subwoofer for low volume playing. I run Wilson X1/Grand Slamms...and like every single Grand Slamm or Alexandria owner i know...i run a big subwoofer in parallel...when i play at literally volume 1 on my system...the sub makes a big [positive] difference. you heard a very, very satsifying but level, controlled 'thump' even at these soft levels that means you feel like you've lost nothing at all when playing in the early am and dont wish to wake up the house.
one man's experience.