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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
stereosanctity's avatar
stereosanctity
71 posts
 

I recently listened to the Cessaro horns demoed by Jeffrey and agree, it was the closest to live music that I’ve ever heard in a loudspeaker system.

unreceivedogma's avatar
unreceivedogma
919 posts
 

Forty-five years ago, when I had yet settle on my Altec 604C speakers, I went through about a dozen different models. I found myself gravitating to speakers that sacrificed some detail for a life-like you-are-there - “dynamic” - presentation. These tended to be more efficient: 95db and up. My Altecs are 101db.  For what it is worth. 

fleschler
1,929 posts
 

I do not want to own speakers under 90 db efficiency with low impedances and sharp phase angles.  The speakers I have considered have been the Von Schweikert Ultra 7, Zellaton Plural Evo, Acora Acoustics SC2, Aequo Adamantis, Rockport Orion.  I currently own Legacy Focus (original) and Legacy Signature IIIs, not as resolving but superior musicality/listenability to most modern speakers which tend to be resolving over musicality.  The problem is so many audio equipment designers do not listen to live acoustic music.  They have untrained ears for music/sound.  I understand listeners have different music taste and hear differently, but live acoustic music should be the basis.  I do not discriminate between sources, only reproduction as I am a amateur singer, amateur recording engineer and livelong listener to live acoustic music (orchestral/opera/vocal/choral/chamber/jazz)  and minimum 2 hours recorded music daily.

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