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Loudspeaker sensitivity and dynamics: are the two inexorably linked?

Have been listening to quite a few speakers lately, and increasingly I've noticed that more sensitive speakers tend to have better microdyanmics - the sense that the sound is more "alive" or more like the real thing.

The speakers involved include my own Magico A5's, Joseph Audio Pulsar 2's, and  Wilson Watt/Puppy 7's, as well as others including the Magico M3, Wilson Alexia V, various Sonus Faber's, Magnepan's,  Borressen's, and Rockport models (Cygnus and Avior II).

A recent visit to High Water Sound in NYC topped the cake though: proprietor and vinyl guru Jeff Catalano showed off a pair of Cessaro horns (Opus One) that literally blew our minds (with a few listening buddies).  The Cessaro's sensitivity is rated at 97 db, highest among the aforementioned models.  That system was very close to live performance - and leads to the topic.

I'm not referring to maximum loudness or volume, rather that the music sounds less reproduced and more that the instrumentation and vocals are more real sounding through higher sensitivity speakers.

Is this a real phenomenon?  Or is it more the particular gear I've experienced?

Thoughts?

bobbydd
ditusa's avatar
ditusa
1,751 posts
 

In my experience with two channel audio, dynamic range is a function of both efficiency and power capacity. When high efficiency and high power capacity are combined, the result is the wide dynamic capability of a loudspeaker. Also having a flat frequency response, flat power response, excellent directivity, very low power compression, wide dispersion and low distortion will contribute to the loudspeakers realism of a live performance at high and low levels. See articles below: 😎

Mike

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/power-compression-vs-thermal-distortion-loudspeaker-alexander-wilson/

https://mynewmicrophone.com/full-guide-to-loudspeaker-sensitivity-efficiency-ratings/#Loudspeaker-Sensitivity-Vs.-Efficiency

https://www.thebroadcastbridge.com/content/entry/7125/loudspeaker-technology-part-2-the-time-domain-and-human-hearing

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parker65310
210 posts
 

Not necessarily. My Apogee Acoustics Duetta Signature full range ribbon dipole planar speakers (fully restored/upgraded a year ago) are quite inefficient. To sound their best they demand a lot of current. When properly matched with components, particularly well matched speaker cables (Symo LS4X or their equivalent in production today - Artech Prism Time compensated cables), the dynamics are stunning and effortless across the entire frequency range. 

larryi
3,757 posts
 

I like some high efficiency speakers for how lively they sound at LOW average volume.  That, to me, is more important than dynamic range—the ability to play at both extremes.  There are not that many high-powered amps I like a lot, in particular, I don’t care for most high-powered tube amps because they tend to sound hard and have an unpleasant “glare” (sharp upper midrange peak) I don’t like.  High efficiency speakers and the modest volume levels I prefer allow me to use the 10 watt or less tube amps I like the most.

james633
918 posts
 

Bobbyd,

“I'm not referring to maximum loudness or volume, rather that the music sounds less reproduced and more that the instrumentation and vocals are more real sounding through higher sensitivity speakers.”


this is my exact experience when moving to horns. I don’t see myself going back as I have learned that dynamics is what I was missing. 

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