Loudspeaker sensitivity and dynamics: are the two inexorably linked?

I want reflect on this aspect:

Using high sensitivity speakers requires a lot of attention to noise- grounding anomalies, other stuff that you would not necessarily hear through a less efficient system. 

If we consider that we have that sensitive speaker so that we are able to hear the noise floor of the system even if all is optimal and optimized.

 

Now considering also that that system is a constant and NOTHING else is changed except the speakers. Everything is the same.

 

With the sensitive speaker we have "found" and have verified that we can hear right down to the noise floor of the system. (Yeh it don't need to be enjoying at the sweet spot and nearly inaudible.

 

Now that would mean that when the softest and the most faint sound that is just breaking and is near the noise floor we will and we can hear it! We have just the whole system setup for being able to do that.

 

On the other hand if we have the exact same system and just swap out the speaker to a low sensitivity that is dead silent and no noise floor is nowhere to be found.

 

The question is where is the noise floor if you can't hear it. Are we 3 dB above the noise floor or 10 dB.. nobody really knows exactly.. but let us call it X dB.

But now there is a GAP of loudness (dB) the difference from the noise floor and up to the lowest sound we are able to hear at the sweet spot.

 

That GAP that is X dB of loudness range that the inefficient speaker has "wasted away" will give the inefficient speaker in total a lower dynamic range.

 

And if you have that sensitive speakers that you can hear the rest of the system noise floor. Then you also have a tool that you can find and swap out the component that generate most of the noise. And in that way lower the noise floor even lower so that you get even more dynamic range! 

 

But all opportunity to that optimizations is not there with the low efficiency speaker when it MASKS away the whole dB range and you can put whatever components in your system and even if they're better and have a lower noise floor and do a better job to play the softest sounds. 

Then you will not reap the benefits of that positive contribution in this area and those efforts of the component design to make it better is wasted.

 

Just my 2 Satoshi.

@phusis     I was really trying to deal with the idea of dynamics only. I did bring up efficiency a few efficiency issues, but tried to keep it in an understandable format.  To those that don't have a better idea of sensitivity vs efficiency.  The short answer:

Sensitivity measures the volume out vs the power in.  Example 90db output with 2.83v input or 90db output with 1watt of input @ 8 ohms. 

Efficiency measures the amount of output vs the amount of input in power or how much power is lost due to heat dissipation.  Example would be 100% of power in, 90% of power out, 10% loss.  

I tried to express in simple terms what for most is the culprit when it comes to dynamics and transparency.  We can discuss crossovers or thermal compression in another thread

bobbydd

You hit the nail on the head....High sensitively speakers typically do not have large and music sucking  crossovers. Crossovers are detractive, meaning they do not add music, rather just the opposite. I would caution you that when you have high sensitivity speakers it is best to get a smooth tube amplifier ie. 300B and your micro dynamics will shine. 

Jim

@timlub wrote:

I was really trying to deal with the idea of dynamics only. I did bring up efficiency a few efficiency issues, but tried to keep it in an understandable format.  To those that don't have a better idea of sensitivity vs efficiency.  The short answer:

Sensitivity measures the volume out vs the power in.  Example 90db output with 2.83v input or 90db output with 1watt of input @ 8 ohms. 

Efficiency measures the amount of output vs the amount of input in power or how much power is lost due to heat dissipation.  Example would be 100% of power in, 90% of power out, 10% loss.  

I'm fully aware of the distinction between sensitivity and efficiency. Now and then may use both terms in the same post, but without getting into numbers I take most get the basic idea on how high sensitivity and high efficiency relate in opposition to low one and the other. 

I tried to express in simple terms what for most is the culprit when it comes to dynamics and transparency.  We can discuss crossovers or thermal compression in another thread

I fail to see the need for that when what's brought up is interconnected. 

Thermal compression happens to all drivers, high sensitivity or low. How much depends on how well the motor can dissipate heat.  For example,  fero-fluid may dissipate heat better and have lower thermal compression ( re increasing with temp) but it is not without other issues that can effect perceived dynamics.  Same goes for the flexibility of the suspension, that can actually get "looser" with heat for less compression.   Drivers are a combination of parameters, some working in opposite directions giving a better all things considered performance than any one part looked at in isolation. 

However, all things considered, thermal compression is most likely a wash between technologies.  Other factors already mentioned ae greater.