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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?

128x128daveyf
toddalin's avatar
toddalin
298 posts
 

You can also make a more efficient speaker by "tightening up the tolerances" (i.e., tighter fitting voice coil/gap) and increasing the number of windings within the same area (e.g., using flat-wound wire), without causing other problems.

BTW, a lighter cone will also allow the driver to play to a higher frequency without break-up.

My "Merman" speakers are extremely efficient, and sensitive, without horns, and can easily do "live concert levels" and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Remember that the volume control is nothing more than a "focus knob" and sometimes you really need that volume to bring the cut into focus.

Also, I feel that an "immersive experience" takes realistic volumes to achieve.  You can't immerse yourself in a tub of water if it only covers your toes. 

immatthewj
2,224 posts
 

If you want/like 8 ohm 86 dB sensitivity speakers you will most likely have to go with a high watt output solid state amp (>150 watts). 

It takes 150 wpc plus (ss) to drive a speaker rated at 86 db?

grislybutter
3,318 posts
 

75 Watts is fine for 86dB speakers. (Dynaudio) Just my experience

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toddalin's avatar
toddalin
298 posts
 

If you want the peaks to be at realistic levels, yeah, 150 watts is probably about right to get you to about 107 dB or maybe only a bit over 100 dB when you consider thermal compression.

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