More effecient speakers?

Larryi yes mine are Triangle Titus XS. They sound as you describe but I find they can become somewhat shrill on some amps.

I currently run them of Bel Canto C5i digital integrated, 60w/ch. No speakers I've used sound shrill on this amp including the Triangles.  Have also used OHM Walsh 100, personally refurbed OHm Ls, and Dynaudio COntour 1.3mkII monitors.    The extra efficiency of the Triangles versus those is definitely a plus with the 60 w/ch Class D amp along the lines we have discussed here.

I recently added a sub back into that system. I needed some more bass extension with the little Triangles. Other options I considered included getting bigger Triangles, but this is in the family room where WAF matters a lot and smaller is better than bigger. SO I picked up a tiny but big hitting used Klipsch sw-308 at a local shop for a very good price and am very happy.

Larryi,

I know what you are saying. I have little Triangle monitors that are more efficient and sound best at lower volumes. Mostly because they are small and not made to go too loud.

No doubt a more efficient speaker will "wake up" sooner with fewer watts.

I would also agree in general that a lot of power is not needed to listen at lower volumes.

The only advantage of high efficiency speakers is to be able to go louder with how ever many watts. In a typical home, higher efficiency might benefit in more cases than many might expect, similar to using a more powerful amp.

FWIW I’ve never heard a lower power amp of the same design/line sound better than the higher powered ones. Whether one design is better than another is a different story and there are many wonderful sounding amps out there with a wide range of power ratings. NEWer amp technology like Class D offers great sounding higher power amps not practical for many prior which is a BIG game changer.

Digital streaming and DACs might be an area worth exploring.