Speaker Efficiency Question?


My system consists of Quad 988 electrostatics, powered by
Thor Audio TPA-150 tubed monblocks, TA-2000 Thor tubed
preamp, and I am currently looking for a speaker priced no more than $15,000 per pair. The quesiton is about speaker efficiency. When I was looking at the Tyler Acoustic Woodmere as well as the Reimer Grand Teton GS, the efficiencies were 93-94, but both speakers are 4 ohms.
I was told that if a speaker is of the 4 ohm variety that you have to reduce the efficiency rating by 5 dbs. Therefore a 93db and a 94db speaker which looks like it is very efficient is really 88 and 89 db respectively. Is this reasoning correct? I currently own the Quad 988 which
are 88 db efficient and I want to improve upon that number.
Am I on the right track with this 4 ohm vs. 8 ohm theory that a 4 ohm speaker if db ratings are equlavalent are not nearly as efficient?
kjl
A 3 dB increase in sound-pressure level requires a doubling of the amplifiers output power. A four ohm speaker requires more power to drive than an eight ohm speaker.

A loudspeaker with a sensitivity of 88dB at 1W would produce 91dB with 2W, 94dB with 4W, and 97dB with 8W, for a speaker with an 88dB sensitivity to produce a 109dB peak would require a 128W amp. An speaker rated at 91dB would only need 64W to reproduce the same peak.

That means an 8 ohm speaker will be easier for you amp to drive. The ability for your amp to achieve those peaks, which occur in virtual all music is greater when you use the more efficient speaker, so 8 ohm loads are easier to drive.

So your last sentence is correct, it will take twice as much power to drive the 4 ohm load in such a way as to reproduce all the action of the music.

This is based on the information that Robert Harley wrote in his book "The Complete Guide to High-End Audio."
Hi KJL,

I beleive you would want to use the term "sensitivity" rather than "efficiency".

Best,

Barry
Buy a 16 ohm Tonian Lab TLM1 at 98db sensitivity and don't worry about any of this... just enjoy the music :-)