Higher sensitivity - more dynamic sound?

@jhills wrote:

"... it seems a bit irrelevant unless you are listening at live concert SPLs (104 - 115+ db)."

In my experience freedom from compression effects is audible at pretty much all volume levels, including low levels, which is where I normally listen.  I never listen at anything approaching "live concert levels", and only rarely listen "loud". 

Duke

Lonemountain- why did you arbitrarily start at 102 db volume for the high efficiency speaker but 86 db for the lower one? The more efficient one can also of course play @ an 86 db level using a small fraction of a watt & thus probably w/ extremely little amp distortion. Both speakers can have the same dynamic range assuming a sufficiently powerful enough amp for the lower efficiency speaker. The high efficiency speaker can achieve it more easily, likely quicker too & w/ much less required power

Last word in efficient or not, I prefer the big open and natural sound of electrostatics and planers over boxes, hands down, but that’s just my personal preference.

My favorites over the past many years was a pair of (not so efficient) Apogee Duetta Sigs. driven by a Mark Levinson 333. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but was mine.

If all I wanted was loud, forward and dynamic I’d buy a Jukebox.....Jim

@jhills --

Last word in efficient or not, I prefer the big open and natural sound of electrostatics and planers over boxes, hands down, but that’s just my personal preference.

Absolutely fair.

Being natural representatives of the (very) high efficiency segment: do you have experience with horn speakers, be that horn hybrids or all-horns? Tall large-horn speakers can have a sound reminiscent of large panel speakers, certainly akin to a limited dispersion "big open and natural sound" you’re describing, and a sound that sets itself apart from smaller, low efficiency box speakers in general. Not trying to convert you into being a horn freak (I suspect that attempt would be futile), but just to break down more stereotypical assumptions of their characteristics as being in every case from the same piece of sonic cloth. With horns in particular, size matters, but few want to accommodate that in their homes.

If all I wanted was loud, forward and dynamic I’d buy a Jukebox.....Jim

I hope that’s not your condensed takeaway from what high efficiency is necessarily about. By contrast a jukebox is only representative of that: a jukebox.

+1 @phusis 

The snarky misguided jukebox reference adds nothing to what is a good and informative thread. Different opinion and perspective can be contributed without condescension for sure.

Charles