2. speakers
  3. 167757-93216

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
ronetna
1 posts
 
As mentioned before, high efficiency speakers tend to keep a better tonal balance at lower volume levels (around 45~50  dBA  SPL). In my case, a friend who was visiting mentioned that the Tonian 12.1s I had installed in my living room sounded good at a very low levels. They are about 97db/W/m.
invalid
1,109 posts
 
As mentioned before, high efficiency speakers tend to keep a better tonal balance at lower volume levels (around 45~50  dBA  SPL). 


Must be different for planar speakers, my apogee duetta 2's sound great at low SPL's. 
ottablue
17 posts
 
Devore Orangutan o/96 powered with 8 watts tubes are perfect for very low level listening. I tend to agree that high efficiency speakers is the way to reach your goal. 
unreceivedogma's avatar
unreceivedogma
922 posts
 
As a general rule, a high efficiency speaker. Over 95DB. 
neptune123's avatar
neptune123 OP
23 posts
 
Interesting idea, buddyboy1!  At a couple of hundred dollars it's definitely worth a try.

On the other hand, higher efficiency speakers are probably the way to go at the end of the day. Yes, I wish I could afford the Devore's. What say you audiogoners about the Klipsch Cornwall IV? Not cheap, but half the price of the Devores and they're rated at 102 db.

More to discover