Higher sensitivity - more dynamic sound?

@audiokinesis, Bravo!

Benefits of higher sensitivity- other than loudness per watts available?

Lower distortion and better low level detail.

FWIW: See the article below the importance of speaker efficiency.

Mike

http://www.lansingheritage.org/html/jbl/reference/technical/efficiency.htm

Higher sensitivity is better as long as its not achieved by simply paralleling drivers, resulting in a lower impedance.

Lower impedance causes amplifiers regardless of type, to make more distortion.

If the speaker is low sensitivity, one common result is something called 'thermal compression' where the voice coils heat up with things like bass notes, causing the driver to be less efficient. This is quite audible and is why people with horn speakers often talk about how much more dynamic they are.

I agree! See the article below thermal compression

Mike

+1 @avanti1960 

So yes, regardless of amplifier higher sensitivity can mean a more dynamic sound. 

I agree: Higher amplifier power is not a substitute for speaker efficiency, dynamics come from the speaker not the amplifier.

Mike

If all I wanted was loud, forward and dynamic I’d buy a Jukebox.....Jim

That's funny!

Mike

+2 @phusis