Fortunately I have a listening room that's quite isolated and I dont have to worry about how loud I listen to music.
And I do prefer listening at slightly elevated levels rather than at background levels, its just a bit more involving and interesting.
However, many are constrained by having to share their stereo system with family, neighbours etc and turning the wick up isn't always possible.
So what are the best speakers for listening at lower levels and obtaining the maximum resolution , detail and enjoyment?
I suppose 80% of speakers are moving coil box speakers with efficiency around 80-90dB.
Typical of this design are my Lipinski studio monitors.
When I finish a preamp build I always test them on the Lipinskis, primarily because they are very accurate , and because they closely resemble what 80% of my customers will be using themselves.
The Lipinskis will quickly tell me if a preamp is operating at 100% quality ; its a very capable tool that is also very engaging and nice to listen to.
But its not so good at low listening levels , which is typical for all medium efficiency box speakers.
They sound a little "veiled" , hindered in dynamics and detail.
Higher efficiency speakers however have an ease , a directness that does make them more listenable at lower levels.
Not always the most accurate of speakers, which is perhaps a compromise they make for dynamics , but always interesting.
My Supravox field coil drivers are up in the high 90's for dB and while I wouldn't call them the most accurate drivers they certainly are fun to listen to, at any level.
Horns are of course the highest efficiency speakers and dynamics are unriviled , the softest sounds come through loud and clear, although they can be coloured and take up room, and perhaps not the prettiest speakers. I've always had a pair of horns, and although I dont have these anymore I have another pair waiting to be configured.
Similarly,big panel speakers which have a driver surface area many times higher than a box driver , can throw a much larger soundstage even at lower sound levels.
Some of the really low efficiency panel speakers are exceptions as they struggle to use power, but get a good medium efficiency panel and you are enveloped in sound.
My Acoustat 2+2 are each 8 feet tall and 2-1/2 Feet wide - with high power amps they fill the room with a vast soundstage and are just as exciting at low sound levels.
What to do if you are confined to box speakers and lowish listening levels?
A good dynamic pre, usually with high gain,will help greatly, the more dynamics you can get the better and a good pre with a highish power solid state or tube power amp will sound alive and interesting.
Any topics you would like covered ? Email me at supraATsupratek.com.au
But please no gurus who want to argue, these posts are intended for the average audiophile and are deliberately basic in concept.
