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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

Showing 1 response by jeffreybehr

jeffreybehr's avatar
jeffreybehr
805 posts
 
Interesting question that's been asked before. SEARCH for more info.

There's no particular benefit to low sensitivity in moving-coil speakers that I know of, and low sensitivity is never a design GOAL, AFAIK. A designer may fall in love with a particular midrange driver that happens to be low in sensitivity; everything else has to be built around it. A designer sets as a goal high power-handling capability; that requires higher-order crossovers, which as a negative affect consume more energy than single-order crossovers.

There are lots of reasons speakers are low in sensitivity.

I must ask--why did you buy those unnamed speakers?
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