Most high-quality loudspeakers are 4-Ohms

A lot of high quality speakers rated 6 or 8 ohms overall seem to have impedance curves that in fact go to 4 ohms or lower at lower frequencies in particular. I haven't counted so I don't know if most do, but a significant % certainly do.

Of course there are other high-quality designs that are well above 4 ohms as well.

I don't think impedance alone is a reliable indicator of "high quality", assuming you take proper matching of the amp into consideration, which I suspect many do not in practice.

My guess is that most speakers being built today with impedances of greater than 8 ohms (a significant minority overall I suspect) are high-quality whereas speakers designated 8 ohms or less are more hit or miss in general.

I suppose another way to look at it is that higher impedance speakers are a safer bet to be able to be driven properly with a wider range of amplifiers.

So if you do not want to have to worry as much about matching an amp to speakers, 16 ohm speakers may be the way to go. However, given the current state of the high end audio market today, expect to pay a premium for those high impedance speakers compared to those "higher risk" designs with lower impedance and similar performance potential that may not sing with just any amp.

"Most ss amps aren't at their best into 16 Ohms. "

I'm operating under the assumption that a higher damping factor is in of itself a good thing, all other design factors aside.

Of course we all know what happens when one assumes.....

I suspect different amps will still sound different into 16 ohms and not play as loud, however there is less downside potential along with this as well, if not optimally matched, hence 16 ohms is safer, as I indicated, but not necessarily a lock alone for optimal performance.

Elviukai,

WHat you said regarding relative sound of speakers with various impedances intuitively sounds right to me.

So then can it practically be said which is higher quality? I do not think so. Different flavors will appeal to different people.

The higher impedance speakers would seem to have less potential to offend, but perhaps are also harder to get a big thrill (in terms of dynamics) out of?

"Most high-quality loudspeakers are 4-Ohms"

Its a reasonable question though I'm not sure how much value an answer provides.

Saying neither 4 8 or 16 is objectively better may be true but does not answer the question. That only indicates that 4 ohm speakers can be high quality, not whether most quality speakers are 4 ohms.

Not sure why some are put off by the discussion? I am finding it informative even though I am doubtful a conclusive answer to the question will result.