Efficient also means the drivers don't have to work as hard to make music...It's been scientifically proven that efficient drivers are happier. Also factually true is a 500 watt or so amp into efficient speakers might be using 1% of its mojo. And yes, the correct term here is "mojo."
How important is the efficiency of a speaker to you?
I went to an audio meeting recently and heard a couple of good sounding speakers. These speakers were not inexpensive and were well built. Problem is that they also require a very large ss amp upstream to drive them. Something that can push a lot of current, which pretty much rules out most low-mid ( maybe even high) powered tube amps. When I mentioned this to the person doing the demo, i was basically belittled, as he felt that the efficiency of a speaker is pretty much irrelevant ( well he would, as he is trying to sell these speakers). The speaker line is fairly well known to drop down to a very low impedance level in the bass regions. This requires an amp that is going to be $$$, as it has to not be bothered by the lowest impedances.
Personally, if I cannot make a speaker work with most tube amps on the market, or am forced to dig deeply into the pocketbook to own a huge ss amp upstream, this is a MAJOR negative to me with regards to the speaker in question ( whichever speaker that may be). So much so, that I will not entertain this design, regardless of SQ.
Your thoughts?
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My thinking is that efficiency is a product of both reactance (impedance and phase angle) and sensitivity. The reactance relates most toward 'easy to drive' while sensitivity relates more toward size of room to be pressurized. Since the Fritz speaker has been mentioned, I will add that Fritz speakers are easy to drive having a benign reactivity. A sensitivity around 88-90dB allows them to be played in smaller rooms with low wattage amps. As room size increases power requirement also increases however I can't imagine anyone needing more than 100wpc to drive them to their maximun output. If one is playing them that loud their room size/listening level likely is better suited toward a larger speaker. |
I prefer speakers with a sensitivity range between 86-88 dB; I dislike those with a sensitivity higher than 88 dB because I want to avoid any hiss from the speakers. Contrary to the belief that high-sensitivity speakers perform better in low-level listening, the key lies in how you adjust the equalization to achieve a proper ELC. Another misconception is that people believe high-sensitivity speakers can be driven by lower-wattage amplification and produce equally good, if not better, sound quality. There are a couple of reviews demonstrating that the Klipsch Cornwall IV (102 dB) can be driven with a higher-power amplifier to achieve better sound quality with more control throughout the frequency range than lower-power counterparts. |
@daveyf Wrote:
The importance of speaker efficiency: The article below is from 1962 and is as relevant today as it was then. In my opinion, a high powered amplifier that can drive lower impedances will never be a proxy for a speaker's lack of true efficiency. Mike
https://www.lansingheritage.org/html/jbl/reference/technical/efficiency.htm
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