Speaker Efficiency


   I have been listening to my Decware 300b tube amp for a few months now. At 8 watts, I have them paired with Klipsch Forte IV at 99db efficiency, and this set up has been sounding great. This morning I connected a pair of Sonus Faber Electa Amator speakers, 6ohms at 88db of efficiency. They sound fantastic, with more weight  and depth. I understand there is a huge price difference in the two speakers, but aside from that, if I am getting 80db of volume at my chair, 8' away, what is the draw back of using lower efficiency speakers with SET amps, so long as the volume is sufficient? I did notice turn the Pre amp, the tube amp and the Roon volume towards the highest setting, it starts sounding terrible....

 

128x128marktheshark

@knotscott My current setup will remain as it was. The 300b amp with Forte's in the living room, with Dac. The Sonus Faber's in the bedroom with a Hegel Integrated and turntable. I agree, I love the sound of the Electa Amator's, and they look really nice, so the wife doesnt mind them in the BR.

    I'm spending the weekend swapping components of the two systems around out of curiosity. I do think at some point I may swap out the Forte for another speaker. @mapman suggested fritz, they are very interesting, and not hugely expensive. I have also listened to Devore, Audio Note, Spatial Audio, Zu Audio, all seem like a good match with the Decware amp. maybe even a Decware Speaker.  

@bigkidz I agree, the less expensive amp, may sound better depending on all other parts of the system. Trying to compare a myriad of components, matching speakers, down to the minutia of cables, cartridges and tweeks can be daunting. I listened to Devore O/96 this week at dealer and they sounded excellent, but this was a well treated room, with very expensive Dac and amplification. I thought, how would these speakers actually sound in my mediocre room, with my equipment?

                            

I am using a 300B amp to drive Klipsch LaScala IIs. Of course the LS II is one of the highest sensitivity speakers one can buy, but I can drive them with 9 watts to levels greater than I can stand in a 400 sq. ft. room. I can listen to any genre of music to great effect,  no loss of volume, dynamics, or bass control.

@hotei Wrote:

Then why even make speakers in the 80db range if higher impedance is better?

One reason a four Ohm speaker will play louder then an eight Ohm speaker. See my post above. 😎

The video below explains impedance and the differences between efficiency and sensitivity.

Mike

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNfpYncOQRc

Roadcykler, when I wrote that post Iam thinking about my viva 22 w , and my Andra  1 ? I was not able to to get the dynamic I want. 

Thank you @audioman58 , I like the Decware 300b, so that's not going away. I would not leave the Sonus Faber's on that amp, it was more of an experiment, and that prompted my post. I certainly have a better understanding of speaker matching with all that has been written here. Regarding the Forte's, I like them, the pairing sounds very good. I'm sure upgrading the Forte's could result in a better sounding system, but what is the "cost / reward" ratio ?