The Low Volume Loudness Dilemma

@yesiam_a_pirate 

It doesn't appear you have a subwoofer in your system.  I have a pair HSU Research TN 1225 with his Model 500A amp.  This system allows me to have easy access to the volume for the subs since the amp is with the rest of my gear.  That has worked well over the years for me to turn up the sub when I am at low volumes.  That approach would be the simplest and not affect your overall sound signature.  I cut my audiophile teeth with a B&K preamp about 20 years ago.  They put loudness on their preamps and it was nice to have that option for thin recordings and low volumes.  This is not very common and unlikely to be the deciding factor for how you choose a preamp.  

@mapman 

My listening experiences tell me that a higher sensitivity speaker (especially horn loaded or OB) does respond better than a typical ported box speaker system even driven by a robust powerful amplifier. 

A given ported box speaker does respond to better amplification but never quite gets there.  

Something about horns and OBs with their near 100db sensitivity that makes them have dynamic punch and effortlessness.    

My Magnepan's are played at quite low volumes about half the time when listening as my wife is nurse and works nights, so I have to keep it quite low when she is sleeping.  I also have two REL subs and I am truly amazed at the clarity of the Maggies and low bass response of the RELs when listening at very low volume.  I have had other people comment on exactly the same when hearing my system.  I've never had a system do this before. 

Class A Accuphase  and Harbeths are a great low volume combo.  It blows away my McIntosh tube gear with high-end Focals for 70db listening with fullness and ooomph.   And no fatigue.  In the 90+ eb range the Mac Focal sounded good, but it sounded so thin at anything below 85 Db.  Almost harsh. 

I built speakers with multiple drivers and that makes a big difference. Each speaker does less work and you put more music in the air. Some people cry comb filtering but I’ve yet to hear it if it’s there it’s so small you can barely hear it or you can’t hear it would be the case. Not sure what brands do multiple drivers like I do. I do usually for tweeters and four midranges one large woofer and the same size subwoofer all on the same unit. It puts a lot of sound in the air and it’s not distorted sound it’s really beautiful. So far I’ve sold eight sets  This year and everybody’s all very satisfied. It does exactly what you’re asking for it puts a lot of music in the air at low levels. DM if you want to talk more