low efficiency speaker vs. high efficiency speaker?

bear in mind that most listening happens w/ less than 10w--run the math on an 88db speaker, and you're well into the upper 90s w/ less than 10w. do the same w/ a 93db speaker, and you're more than covered.

however, its FAR more costly to build a quality 200w amp than it is to build a quality 20w amp. all amps are not equal! if the first watt isn't first class top notch, the other 199 only get worse.

as a result, you're often best served (financially and acoustically) if you go hi-sens, lo watt (class A only). it was one of the best decisions i ever made.

Plato, thanks for the corrections & for clarifying what I was trying (unsuccessfully) to convey! As to "mikey": my idea was that a good speaker, be it efficient, will reveal shortcomings in the electronics. So, "make fun" of those electronics... i.e. despite the fact that lower amp output + hi-efficiency will produce the same db level as mega horsepower+lower efficiency, the amp quality remains paramount. Higher efficiency does not make speakers forgiving.

Sorry for the confusion.

Cheers!

Hi,
there are some very interesting answers. Maybe I can give an experience from the musical side. I used Planars, then dynamic speakers and now I use horns. Let's see it from speakers who does it right , no matter of construction.
With low efficient speakers you need some powerful amps to control them in every area. Powerful, when you want to hear every detail even with low volume. When you want full dynamic with low volume, then there is the first problem. Very difficult.
Next : Powerful amps are everywere, good sounding ones are available too, but the combination, powerful AND Good sounding is rare and normally not cheap.

With high efficient speakers there it is much easier to match this one with a good sounding amp. No matter solid State or Tube. Much more amps sound much better when they don't have to deliver all they can give.
There are people out there who believe that the first Watt is the most important, but this is another story.

So, you get much more satisfying listening results with such a combination when you want ( or have to ) listen with low volume.

You hear normally much more microdynamics and an absolutely effortless reproduction of music.
Sometimes when I listen to Radio ( MD 108 ) I am totally amazed when I hear the singer's breathing. Via Radio !
It's on the source.
My speakers have 99 dB and I use them with Pass mono amps ( 100 W per side, normally a total overkill, but it works excellent ).

The feeling of " being there " is with such a speaker really possible.

Some great responses above, and here's another point to consider. Many solid state desingers will not admit it, but quite a few designs sound better in their 1st 20% of power delivered, than in the next 80% left. In many ways this makes perfect electrical sense. One example: There are class A/B amplifiers that actually run in full class A up to a small point of the power amps rating, then "switch over" to full class A/B as they are required to deliver more power. If you had a speaker that was extremely efficient, you would then be having your amplifier run mostly in it's better sounding Class A state i.e., ending up with a better sounding system.

Thanks for thoghtful responses.
I want this thread open as long as possible to accumulate your information.
I have Totem Forest that is 87db sencitive.
I currently have Bryston 3b-st to drive them.
I've been offered to audition to Cary Cad 50M tube monoblocks which are 50W/ch. Along with that I've auditioned Quicksilver M60 monos in my current setup and they've literally outperformed my Bryston with clarity of midrange. Bass was a little-bit on the background with no significant difference in details. More clear on upper bandwidth and more musical. Dynamics havn't change at all!!!
I wonder if tube output power is more efficient than SS?
Or maybe this is just my imagination due to a transfer from SS to tubes? Another words is that true that tube amplifiers can drive with less power more efficient than SS?