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  3. 1144664306

Listening at very low volume

Having owned many different speakers after 30 years of audiophoolishness, I own, for the first time, a pair of very efficient speakers. My Zucable Definitions are 101db! I have never been able to listen at such a low volume to music and experience the micro detail that I can with the Defs. Maybe it is because I'm getting older?--the fact that I enjoy listening at such ridiculously low levels? Of course, I can still go to earbleed levels with some good Marley, The Stones and the like, but the satisfaction of a four string bass in a jazz trio, quartet, etc. at low volumes was never in the equation with my previous speakers. The combination, as well, of SET with this efficiency is quite incredible. There are oodles of other wonderful characteristics regarding the Defintions, but after a long listening session last night, I was so taken back that I was not itching to crank my rig up because I was missing things. Anybody relate? peace, warren :)
warrenh

Showing 2 responses by dlstephenson

dlstephenson
121 posts
 
High efficiency speakers with set amps are the best period. I have not ever enjoyed music as much as I now do. I also am perhaps older at 47. I recently converted to single driver high efficiency 95db and a set tube amp. I just dont think it gets any better than this. So I second your opinion.

I also have a push pull EL34 amp for high energy music as I do listen to new music in the rock venue. This also sounds incredible at the louder listening levels. It has perhaps a intangeable "Punch" that the set amp does not convey with this type of music.
dlstephenson
121 posts
 
Warren, I can attest for the Headphones, try a otl headphone set out or a good pair of Grado. It truly is a experience. I however found the phones gave me a truly great sonic experience the speakers gave me something intangibly more. Perhaps the room acoustics or just the way the tubes interfaced with the transducers, it is hard to quantify but I sold my headphones and have not looked back.

With my amps I have tried a high end speaker switcher, a self made all copper switch (essentially dead men’s switches) but I have just gone back to all copper speaker banana plugs and just exchange them from the backs of the amps. Its just become so routine now that I don’t really think about it.
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