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
Oceanway is a relatively new player to studio monitors, Alan Sides always "built his own" when he owned Ocean Way. He was from the old school days of large format horn loaded 2 ways soffit mounted, a type of speaker most studio people call "bigs". Now's he's entered the consumer speaker building business and he has Phil Hendrickson, who is a really great guy BTW, talented as heck, working for him. Phil is a highly experienced transducer designer who's developed several new ideas like vented gap technology in EV's early "DL" woofers. I first met him at Electro Voice in the 80s. He later went to Bose, now working for Alan. I think Alan has something going and is getting some studio sales but is really targeting the international market for consumer. Oceanway has significant brand recognition. |
Mr. Augspurger still designing horn monitors today! http://proaudiodistribution.com/augspurger-monitors/ http://www.lansingheritage.org/images/jbl/reference/technical/efficiency/page01.jpg |
- 106 posts total