What is your take on high efficient speakers vs. low efficient speakers?

@tomic601 

@charles1dad, it is not the amplifier distortion…. take another run at it…. with equal moving mass and motor a pistonic cone has lower output…..why is that ?

Okay, I have no idea what this is in reference to.

Charles

@phusis

Sounds to me like you’re hitting the right notes, so to speak, from your descriptions.

I have had this SET set up since 2009 and can honestly say that I appreciate it more than ever.😊

@mijostyn 

You are dogmatic and presumptuous in your dialogue.  Let's just agree that you and I have very different experiences and perspective and leave it there. We both have found over the course of time what hast proven to satisfy our respective audio/music listening goals. We are both quite happy with our audio systems. Some on this thread can relate to my perspective and others here relate to yours. That's fine with me.

Charles

@phusis

No, SET’s for when they make sense; with high to very high sensitivity speakers to take advantage of the less than 1 watt where the distortion levels found in these amps are extremely low here, just like with the speakers they’re feeding that efficiently turns electrical power into acoustic energy.

Yes, this accurately describes my copacetic listening scenario. 8 watt SET mono blocks driving 94 db sensitivity /14-ohm impedance speakers. My typical listening levels sitting 10 feet away are  C-weighted 65-75 SPL

Can dip to the mid 50s (softer passages) most ofren peaks (mid 80s).. I can listen at louder levels comfortably, but no need to.

At these very satisfying listening levels the SET is far below 1 watt of power (Small fractions of one watt) and doing so at a very low level of distortion (As you note). The sound is very tactile, resolved, pure, natural and quite emotionally engaging. Key take away is the amp and speaker must form a compatible match.

Charles

@jfuquay 

After decades of close listening, what if you learn you prefer a low-sensitivity speaker, like Magnepan in my case? Then I say you find the electronics to drive it and just enjoy it

Pure logic and experience clearly confirms this. Stubborn dogma isn’t persuasive or necessary. Choose what works and sounds best to you and pursue to the best of your ability.

Your approach is the opposite of mine. Does not matter, we both have found what individually suits best.👍

Charles

If you can close your eyes and feel like you are at a small jazz club you are on the right path. Cable elevators excluded

This is precisely what led me to SET. Very frequent attendance at local jazz venues for the past 30 or so years.We all find our own paths. I respect everyone’s road to Rome.

Best wishes 

Charles

SET amplifiers are about as silly as cable elevators.

Silly statement. 
Fortunately the easy solution is to avoid them if that’s how you feel. We can respectfully disagree with one another and just leave it at that.

Charles

The main design issue is weak power supply and weak driver tubes. The only SET amplifier I know (probably there are another) that don’t have these issues is Coincident Frankenstein

Agree completely!

All low power SET amplifiers are not created equally. Some will succeed admirably where others will fail, and for the very reason you eloquently state. Robust high quality power supplies and appropriately chosen driver tubes are critical steps that have to be taken.

As far as I’m concerned, the contribution of a component’s power supply can not be overstated. In the best sounding/performing components this is where the money and attention is wisely committed. The Coincident Frankenstein is a good example but there are certainly others as well.

Charles

@grannyring 

I have not heard the Horning Aristotle speakers. I have heard their larger sibling the Eufrodites on 2 separate occasions. So I understand your enthusiasm.It doesn’t require much power to make them sing. More importance placed on the quality of the watts driving them. 🙂

Charles

@grannyring I also find higher efficiency speakers sound more real and lifelike, at least to my ears. Here is a link

Pretty much the same conclusion I arrived at quite some time ago. Yet, I can respect /appreciate the different approach and opinion of @mijostyn and others. When it’s all said and done, It is what moves you the most.
 

Anyway that’s my philosophical stance with constructing a home audio system. I try to achieve as much realism within my means.

Charles

• Its why I said IME…

👍

@mijostyn that is interesting…it’s the polar opposite of my experience 

@johnnycamp5 

This is the beauty of open discussion forums,  a broad expression of numerous listening experiences from a diverse group of music lovers/audiophiles. I’ve had the fortune of hearing quite a few electrostatic speaker based audio systems. Some were quite good.

however, if given a choice between that type of system compared to a high quality higher efficient speaker driven by good quality low power tubes, I’ll choose the latter every time. It is not a proclamation, my ears and taste  are not superior to another’s. It is just simply after many years and much exposure to various systems, I just know what suits me best and sounds best to me.

On the other hand I can easily understand why electrostatic speakers and big transistor amplifiers would have enormous appeal to another listener. This is an extremely personal endeavor without question. The vast spectrum of choice in High End audio is precisely what makes it so special.

Charles

y’all understand distortion counts as output..in the overly simplistic efficiency measurement…. right ?

Overly simplistic? Nah , I think people recognize that it is just providing a generalization of the lower power demands of higher sensitivity speakers. People get that. Very little distortion concerns if a 5 watt amp is only providing fractions of 1watt of power at desired SPLs. Well within the low watt amplifier’s sweet spot.

Charles

 If you music is cruising along at four watts, the 94 db speaker will need 40 watts, and the 84 db speaker will need 40 watts 

For many listeners typical/average listening volumes fall in the 70-80 db (C-weighted) range. A 104 db sensitivity speaker is probably using 1/100 of a watt. The 94 db speaker roughly 1/10 watt. Either way, minuscule power draw from amplifier at very reasonable listening SPL.

Charles

@sbank 

Duke is wise.

Agreed, and humble.

Charles