Which speakers excel at low volume?


I do much of my listening at lower volumes than I imagine most of you do: 60-70db for me much of the time. I understand why many speakers are designed to sound correct at live-music levels, and the hell with how they sound at lower levels. But that doesn't work for me. I need a speaker that resolves details, conveys proper tone and timbre, expresses microdynamics, and has a respectable balance, including a sense of weight, even at low volume. (Low volume does not mean low amplifier power.) This is an aspect of loudspeaker performance that is rarely addressed in reviews. It must be that most audiophiles don't care about it, or that reviewers feel it is not a criterion that loudspeakers are or should be designed for. Fair enough, but I still want what I want.

I used to have original Quad electrostatics, which were terrific at low volume. My ProAc Response 2.5s aren't bad (though they don't resolve detail too well even at high volume). The Thiel 1.6 is pretty good, the 2.4 less so.

What have you heard, particularly in dynamic speakers, that fits my requirements?
Ag insider logo xs@2xdrubin
Wilson Watt/Puppy 7
Martin-Logan CLS w/ Entec or Kinergetics subs
Quad 63s w/ Entec subs
Avantgarde Duos
I would have to offer a third vote for Avantgarde Duos. Because these speakers are so dynamic they are involving at very low volumes.

- rmf
Anything that resolved low-level detail. Crossover-less speakers help in this regard and poor crossovers and poor passive parts (XO, terminals, wiring, etc) kill this. The result is having to listen at "louder than live" volume to compensate. Great speakers sound great at all volumes. No loudness button is needed.

Actually 60-70 dB SPL isn't that low, especially for acoustic music (jazz, classical, folk). I'd say 50-60dB is pretty low (night time volume). I think you'd be surprised that a lot of us aren't listening at 85-90dB SPL or louder. I don't even listen to death metal that loud (82-ish). I don't need to.
I think looking for the right amplification will do far more for you than looking for the right speaker.

With the right amplification, most any speaker will sound a whole lot more efficient, rich, detailed, and full even at lower volumes.

With the wrong amplification, it matters little which speaker you choose. Regardless of volume.

-IMO