Recommendations for speakers that sound great at lower volume levels.


I have a pair of Harbeth SHL5 Plus and they sound wonderful when I crank them up. But at moderate to low volume levels they sound disappointingly flat and unengaging - instruments are less palpable, bass has less bloom, and soundstage has less air and dimensionality. I drive my speakers with a tube integrated - a Line Magnetic 845 rated at 26 watts of power. My Harbeths are rated at 86db. Would a higher sensitivity speaker be helpful? Or how about a good quality small shoebox sized pair of speakers coupled with a subwoofer? Or not. What speakers are going to deliver music you can feel at low volume levels? What say all you wisened audiophiles?
128x128neptune123

Showing 3 responses by steve59

Did i mention the persona b yet? Probably, for good reason tho’ $7k for bookshelves is ug, but they can be found for nearly half that including stands and with your front end they should excell, if there’s any way you could home demo a pair?
A guy with Harbeth's driven by tube gear asking for advice? Do they sound dull in the evening listening in the nearfield?  Maybe too much of a good thing with tubes at low volume. Try a ss int at low volumes?