2. speakers
  3. 192648-112139

BEST SPEAKER THAT COMES TO LIFE AT LOW LISTENING LEVELS

My system is as follows:

  1. Martin Logan 11A Impressions hybrid electrostatic speakers.
  2. Bryston 4B3 cubed power amp 300 per channel into 8 and 500 into 4.
  3. Bryston BP-19 preamp, Chord Qutest Dac & Lumin U2 mini stream.
  4. SVS subs-pair of SB-4000
  5. I listen at 55-60 dbs. Can anybody recommend a speaker with a budget of $15,000.00 per pair that sounds alive and dynamic at low listening levels. My dealer sells, Totem, Triangle and Proac.
  6. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Due to age and ear issues I can listen comfortably at 55-60 dbs and not much louder. 
  7. Thanks in advance for any help that you can provide. 
128x128kjl1065
singintheblues
98 posts
 

As others have already said, FLETCHER MUNSON

 

Oh how I wish I’d known about Fletcher Munson when I was flipping speakers! I went through everything from little Harbeth P3ES to their biggest M40.1 to giant Tannoy FSM with 2 x 5” cones per box! From Focals to Transmission Lines…

I never found a speaker that satisfied me at low volumes!

IMHO, the options are :

- Adjust your Subs to your taste. That’s what I do.

- Get an amp with a Boost button or get some form of EQ.

- Use Headphones.


Or….if you never listen above 60db, have you ever tried something like a Cambridge Audio EVO One or Naim Muso?   Single box with speakers inside.   You might be pleasantly surprised & be quids in when you sell your existing kit.

 

Good luck!

jeffreyw's avatar
jeffreyw
275 posts
 

@kjl1065 

A little of "out of the box thinking," do yourself a favor and try a home audition of either Shunyata's Everest or Typhont T2/Denali combo conditioners. I do listen at a low level quite frequently and was astonished at what my Typon/Denali combination did to my system; the low-level presentation was undoubtedly one of the many highlights. I never understood what a 'blacker background' meant in audio parlance; now I do!

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hk_fan
484 posts
 

I've heard MC Audio TL-12's at low volumes and they sounded excellent.  Worth a listen if you're near PA as they offer auditions.

ricco275's avatar
ricco275
89 posts
 

I’m in the same boat as the op. I have tried many options. Now I have TAD ME1 speakers, TAD C600 preamp, TAD M1000 amp, Lampi Baltic 4. Shunyata delta hydra 6 conditioner, Skogrand Tchaikovsky cables. I will demo Dutch and Dutch active speakers and may save a lot of money with not worse results considering I listen to 60 to max 75db due to neighbours. 

sfgak
125 posts
 

+1000 Fletcher Munson

It's settled science. 

I bought a Schiit Loki Max a while back. I use one preset that resets everything to zero change, where I can twiddle the knobs to adjust poor recordings.

The other two I have programmed in different versions of the Fletcher Munson curves, corresponding to ~55-60 dB listening and to ~65 dB listening.

It has fundamentally changed my enjoyment of low level sessions.

 

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