Higher sensitivity - more dynamic sound?

@realworldaudio 

"to reduce the errors made by the additional amplification" 

Nonsense.  Why should high power amplifiers have more 'errors'?  Presumably you mean distortion.

Fact is the flea-power single-ended single-figure watt valve amplifiers have far higher distortion than properly designed high power amplifiers.  In many cases more than 1% distortion compared with 0.01% in high power amps.

But some people don't mind listening to distortion and in many cases say they actually like it.

In many cases more than 1% distortion compared with 0.01% in high power amps.

In the vast majority of cases these very low distortion figures are achieved by judicious application of NFB which can often result in other sonic compromises. I agree that some listeners may strongly prefer the 1% (Or higher) distortion (2nd order predominantly) amplifier with little or no utilization of NFB.

I believe that we can agree it’s purely a matter of what type of sound quality and presentation a listener seeks and desires. Choices abound for either direction. Which in my opinion is a good occurrence.

Charles

Having owned less sensitive speakers and high powered amplifiers, e.g. 84db and 86db with up to 300 WPC, they could not match the dynamics and spontaneous pop of more sensitive speakers.  

Even with lower powered amps, e.g. 25 WPC, a set of 90db and 93db were significantly faster and more exciting.  

So yes, regardless of amplifier higher sensitivity can mean a more dynamic sound. 

Benefits of higher sensitivity- other than loudness per watts available?

Lower distortion and better low level detail.

FWIW: See the article below the importance of speaker efficiency.

Mike

http://www.lansingheritage.org/html/jbl/reference/technical/efficiency.htm

Higher sensitivity is better as long as its not achieved by simply paralleling drivers, resulting in a lower impedance.

Lower impedance causes amplifiers regardless of type, to make more distortion.

If the speaker is low sensitivity, one common result is something called 'thermal compression' where the voice coils heat up with things like bass notes, causing the driver to be less efficient. This is quite audible and is why people with horn speakers often talk about how much more dynamic they are.