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Efficency- Low vs. Hi?


Im trying to figure out the point in speakers with very low efficency, for example my speakers which are 4ohm and 86db. As far as im concerned they have no benefit besides being able to spend much more on an amp to get them to move. Right now they sound shut in, boring and thin with my Cambrdige Integrated amp, which is rated at 65 watts 4 0hm. I do not really have the budget to spend hundreds MORE on a power amp just to get these speakers to sound as good as a high efficent design on a lower powered amp, such as my current cambridge. So what are the benefits to having power hungry speakers? Why should i have to spend tons of money just because my speakers are designed with poor efficency?
dave123456a1b3
miklorsmith
146 posts
 
Your taste is pretty bass-heavy. Grinding, crunching, woofer-throwing music isn't generally regarded as the stuff hi-eff is made for. Inexpensive, hi-eff, big bass? Hmmm. . .gonna have to think about that one.

For that musical taste, I'm thinking a used 150-watt+ amp. I don't think your amp is gonna push the power you need with any speaker. Just one opinion.
dave123456a1b3 OP
17 posts
 
Danner,

The midrange is actually MUCH too forward, anything with distorted guitar and/or yelling vocals is utterly unlistenable. Much too grainy ,harsh fatiguing whatever you wanna call it. This type of music takes up about 90% of my music collection. Its not the room either because i tried my system in two different rooms, one being large and one being small, and in both rooms the sound was almost identicle. However, what i meant by "shut it" was that the soundstage, imaging and detail sound restrained, almost "lazy". The bass is also very lean and weak sounding, even in a small bedroom. Im really confused on what the problem might be. Thanks for your response.
jeff_jones
418 posts
 
Dave123etc. - I'm not reccomending tubes per se. I've got similar musical tastes to yours and also low efficiency speakers. Tubes were part of the answer for me, but a lot of folks would like solid state just as well or better and would be able to find a more cost effective solution going that route.
Back to your original question, I went with a low efficiency speaker only because that was the one that happened to knock my socks off. Ida preffered it if I fell for a higher efficiency speaker, just didn't work out that way.
Good Luck!
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