Higher sensitivity - more dynamic sound?

I would think that the frequency effects of compression would be more worrying than a change in maximum output?

@deludedaudiophile Good point and one more problem to add to the list...  If the speakers are inefficient, powering them really won't help the dynamic issue. You simply need greater efficiency to get around that.

I would expect though, @atmasphere, that powerful less efficiency speakers have considerably more thermal mass at least, so more thermal transient immunity. I have no feel for their relative ability to dissipate heat though. Certainly they have come a long way. Trying to visualize some of the more advance companies, i.e. Magico, I would expect some reduced sensitivity to power compression from the design of their motor structure and the reduction of inductance effectively taking out a circuit element. I have only given it, now, about 10 minutes thought though :-) .... Is there a hardcore technical speaker designer in the house?

Higher sensitivity is better as long as its not achieved by simply paralleling drivers, resulting in a lower impedance.

Lower impedance causes amplifiers regardless of type, to make more distortion.

If the speaker is low sensitivity, one common result is something called 'thermal compression' where the voice coils heat up with things like bass notes, causing the driver to be less efficient. This is quite audible and is why people with horn speakers often talk about how much more dynamic they are.

I agree! See the article below thermal compression

Mike

Is there a hardcore technical speaker designer in the house?

@deludedaudiophile there is- his name is Duke @audiokinesis