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Loudspeaker sensitivity and dynamics: are the two inexorably linked?

Have been listening to quite a few speakers lately, and increasingly I've noticed that more sensitive speakers tend to have better microdyanmics - the sense that the sound is more "alive" or more like the real thing.

The speakers involved include my own Magico A5's, Joseph Audio Pulsar 2's, and  Wilson Watt/Puppy 7's, as well as others including the Magico M3, Wilson Alexia V, various Sonus Faber's, Magnepan's,  Borressen's, and Rockport models (Cygnus and Avior II).

A recent visit to High Water Sound in NYC topped the cake though: proprietor and vinyl guru Jeff Catalano showed off a pair of Cessaro horns (Opus One) that literally blew our minds (with a few listening buddies).  The Cessaro's sensitivity is rated at 97 db, highest among the aforementioned models.  That system was very close to live performance - and leads to the topic.

I'm not referring to maximum loudness or volume, rather that the music sounds less reproduced and more that the instrumentation and vocals are more real sounding through higher sensitivity speakers.

Is this a real phenomenon?  Or is it more the particular gear I've experienced?

Thoughts?

bobbydd

Showing 3 responses by steve59

steve59's avatar
steve59
1,849 posts
 

Paul Klipsch gets quoted for saying he just wished somebody would make a quality 5 watt amplifier, (hopefully I didn’t butcher that quote too bad) I’m not sure how the math works, but I would think the difference in sensitivity can be evened out by using more powerful amps to compensate. Say, a pair of kilowatt amps for 86 db speakers could have the same dynamics as a horn design being driven by your favorite 12 watt tube amp?  Having no educated qualification I would think heat would have to be addressed when designing for maximum spl? 

steve59's avatar
steve59
1,849 posts
 

I would agree with our op on this topic. dynamic impact helps recreate detail that in turn fills the soundstage that pulls me into the music. That said adding power and dynamic headroom to less sensitive speakers can balance things out and considering high sensitivity speakers often sacrifice low bass to get those high numbers sometimes it's worth the investment in source instead of integrating a subwoofer.

steve59's avatar
steve59
1,849 posts
 

phusis, 

I don't believe my typical boxes will match the spl or dynamic capability of a lascala or K horn by adding a couple 2 kilowatt monoblocks to them, only that adding headroom helps bridge the gap. I had a really close friend that wanted to sell me his LaScala's when he bought the K-horns, but while being dynamic they didn't really appeal to me. different strokes I guess.  The K-horns sounded much different and to my ears much better.

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