Choosing an integrated for low volume listening


Is there anything in the Amp - Speaker combo that makes one combination better for lower-volume listening? I would guess the variables are Class A vs A/B, speaker sensitivity, and current.

Room: 13’ x 13’

Stand mount - Aerial 5T (I think)

Integrated options: Pass Int-60, Lux 509X, ML 5802, Lux 590ax II

Overkill for the space - nope, love it. 

 

smoothtech

Do any modern integrateds offer a variable loudness control?  I've seen that feature occasionally on much older units.

I've owned Aerial 5T's for about 5 years w/a Luxman CL38Use and a Bryston 3B cube amp. I play a lot of music early in the morning and lat at night and the music is detailed. The Luxman integrated's would be an excellent choice. I would also check out the new 507Z as it has Luxman's new advanced volume control.

I assume you like the 5T then? I’ve love that line from their beginning. Those or a 20 year old pair of Linn 5040 (?) - those were the speakers that sold me on 2-channel. LOVE that sound.

+1 on variable loudness

ryder, use a crappy meter on my phone, but 50 was my sweet spot while still being able to read, whiteboard, and email. I can push that to 60 comfortably, 40 probably a minimum. 

And you nailed it, I turned up a bit to what seemed ideal, meter showed 71 db. 

The Yamaha A-S801 has a variable loudness feature.  It’s not as fancy as the options listed by the OP, though. 

Recently sold our house and now residing in a nice apartment. System consolidated somewhat. Recently picked up a Simaudio Moon ACE that I was really impressed with. So much so that I then turned around and upgraded to the Simaudio Moon 340i D3PX which has a DAC and phonstage built in. The first 5 watts are class A which provides me the low level listening performance I was looking for with my Dynaudio Heritage Specials.