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How important is the efficiency of a speaker to you?

I went to an audio meeting recently and heard a couple of good sounding speakers. These speakers were not inexpensive and were well built. Problem is that they also require a very large ss amp upstream to drive them. Something that can push a lot of current, which pretty much rules out most low-mid ( maybe even high) powered tube amps. When I mentioned this to the person doing the demo, i was basically belittled, as he felt that the efficiency of a speaker is pretty much irrelevant ( well he would, as he is trying to sell these speakers). The speaker line is fairly well known to drop down to a very low impedance level in the bass regions. This requires an amp that is going to be $$$, as it has to not be bothered by the lowest impedances.

Personally, if I cannot make a speaker work with most tube amps on the market, or am forced to dig deeply into the pocketbook to own a huge ss amp upstream, this is a MAJOR negative to me with regards to the speaker in question ( whichever speaker that may be). So much so, that I will not entertain this design, regardless of SQ.

Your thoughts?

128x128daveyf

Showing 1 response by ghasley

ghasley
2,434 posts
 

@atmasphere well said as usual

 

@lonemountain everything in the hifi hobby requires evaluating a set of tradeoffs. What "this" you may be willing to trade off for "that" is a personal decision but make no mistake, we each must make a decision of what we are willing to give up in order to get what we value most (and will miss the least).

 

For me, I prefer no negative feedback and appreciate the delicacy, dynamics, tone and texture that many find in single ended amplification and the speakers that showcase that. YMMV but to describe "limp noodle" as your definition of a given topology leads me to believe you haven't likely heard it done properly.

 

Many can find what they are after but being open minded helps.

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