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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.
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atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,800 posts
 
I prefer low sensitivity speakers. Mine are listed at 91,
@arcticdeth  91dB isn't low sensitivity. Its more of a medium sensitivity.

To put this in perspective, the low eighties is near-criminal inefficiency (its very hard to find an amp that sounds like music and has the sort of power needed unless you are nearfield). This would make them nearly impossible in a larger room.

About 89dB is the bottom of what might be considered 'medium sensitivity. 94-96dB is about the top of that range.

97dB might be considered the very bottom of what is considered 'high sensitivity'.

 
They seem very warm to me, which is what I love. Never any ear splitting/searing/molar grinding treble at all!
The quality of 'ear splitting/searing has nothing to do with efficiency and everything to do with distortion caused by either the amp or breakups in the speaker. So this can happen even if the speaker is only 85dB (and often does). People often blame the speaker because that is what is making the sound, but often the electronics carry a lot of the blame.


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quanghuy147
79 posts
 

Hi everyone, 

I just got a pair of T-3.2 SP. I am pairing them with Mcintoch MC402 400 watt/channel and C2200 preamp. I noticed that I need to crank the volume to a certain level for all the bass coming out.

My listening room is small (12 feet x 15 ft). I usually listen at low volume. I wonder what amp and how many watt I should pair with them in order to have all (or most of) the bass even at low volume.

 

Also, do these speakers need to have monoblock or even biamp or it's just a "good to have" feature?

I found very little discussion about Classic Audio in other forums when googling so any help here is greatly appreciated!

oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,832 posts
 

Sounds like you need a sub. That is not a very big room.  In a room i have that is similar size, my Sonus Faber Concerto play at pretty decent levels clearly with a 40 watt amp .   They have decent bass as low as they go down but they need a sub to really have a decent low end.  Those are rated at 86 dB and reviews put them more at 85 and forty watts is plenty.   

Not familiar with your speaker but i would double check all wiring to make sure the polarity is correct.   A speaker of phase can give weak bass

I doubt it is your gear , that is seriously good stuff.   I would reset the Mac preamp's processor and start from scratch.  

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal-loudness_contour

This may explain your phenomenon .....   to crank it up is relative.    This explains what the old fashioned Loudness button did.  

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