What type of speaker still sounds good at low listening levels?

Ricky64 said:
Which amp was this?
Thanks
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It's the mc 611's driving the Blades. With the Hegel h360 they needed some volume for the bass to come to life. The mc611's off the 4 ohm taps (only option I tried) not just woke the speakers up but added a good measure of detail even at low volume with the meters bouncing around .6 of a watt
 
Puma Cat said:
Q: What type of speaker still sounds good at low listening levels?

Quad or Martin-Logan electrostatics. For dynamic driver speakers, my Buchardt S400IIs are excellent as well, one of the best dynamic speakers I've ever heard and the best I've ever owned.
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I've had both QUAD and Martin Logan electrostatics {Expression 13A) in my system and certainly they are good at low volume levels. However, even better are good quality horn speakers, such as Avantgarde. All these will provide more "sparkling" detail than conventional box or most other types when playing at low levels.
 
Hear Here said:
I've had both QUAD and Martin Logan electrostatics {Expression 13A) in my system and certainly they are good at low volume levels. However, even better are good quality horn speakers, such as Avantgarde. All these will provide more "sparkling" detail than conventional box or most other types when playing at low levels.
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Instead of the Avantgarde I went with the Klipschorns, incredible detail and not that crazy looking. (I know my wife).
 
Making first contact with the monolith!


And still waiting for my caps!………..hopefully tomorrow?
 

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The Fritz Carbon 7 speakers that I have on loan from Fritz sound good at lower volumes. But electronics play a role as well.
 
Hear Here said:
That looks more like a home-made bomb! Have you a target in mind!
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Hear Here said:
That looks more like a home-made bomb! Have you a target in mind!
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Har-Dee- har - har………….I was so excited when I finished that I installed them before I took a picture. That’s why the second one is on the dark side. So far those Jantzen Superior-Z capacitors are “The Bomb!”.
 
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Well, the Jantzen Superior-Z caps are in and there’s a huge improvement in the sound, as there should be as the original caps were almost 50 years old! They look sharp in the corners, I think.
 

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Dr Morbius said:
Well, the Jantzen Superior-Z caps are in and there’s a huge improvement in the sound, as there should be as the original caps were almost 50 years old! They look sharp in the corners, I think.
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It's not like you have a choice. They call them corner horns for a reason.
 
mep said:
It's not like you have a choice. They call them corner horns for a reason.
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Au Contraire dear sir, but the last few years has seen the Klipschorns modified by Klipsch to move more into the room than before!
 
Dr Morbius said:
Au Contraire dear sir, but the last few years has seen the Klipschorns modified by Klipsch to move more into the room than before!
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This applies only to the AK6 model, but it comes with caveats:

"While a snug corner placement is no longer strictly necessary, placing the speaker in close proximity to a corner is still recommended for optimal performance."

In other words, if you want optimum performance from the AK6 version, they still need to be in the corners.
 
Indeed, for top performance it’s best to leave them in the corners. I believe it’s the only speaker in the world that is designed that way.
 
Dr Morbius said:
Indeed, for top performance it’s best to leave them in the corners. I believe it’s the only speaker in the world that is designed that way.
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Nope:

"Beyond Klipsch, other manufacturers like Voight, JBL (with speakers like the Hartsfield), and ElectroVoice have also produced corner horn designs. Smaller companies, like Pi and Decware, have contributed to the market as well."
 
Randy Myers said:
I am not a high volume listener. Medium level has always worked best for me. I also found British speakers a long time ago. Low efficiency, high accuracy. Warm smooth sounding with incredible sound stage and imaging.

I started with KEF and for years thought they were the best. I have tried other manufactures over the years; Magnepans were very nice but are quite unruly in my small room. I have heard about them for years and I finally tried Harbeth in my home. They very much are the current holder of the crown of the British sound in my view. Amazing speakers and still hand built in England!

One caveat is that these type of speakers really appreciate quality amplifiers. I certainly don't mean how much power, but high quality power. I have tried several; some of my favorites have been T+A, MBL; ARC and Audio Mirror for tubes. My favorite over many years of trying others is McIntosh.

I have found that McIntosh and British designed speakers are a match made in Heaven! I believe that my McIntosh amplifier and Harbeth speakers are a tremendous combination for low to medium listening levels. They definitely can get up and run at a much louder level, but I rarely play at those levels.

One component that I believe is very over looked in this discussion is the pre-amplifier. Over the years I have found that the pre-amplifier makes huge differences in all volume levels, but especially in low volume listening. I have tried and personally believe that counting on a source component such as a DAC or Streamer as your main control unit, even if digital is your primary source, is a big mistake. A quality pre-amplifier affects the over all performance of your system as much as almost any component.

For tubes the finest I have tried is ARC and McIntosh; solid state, which is my preference, there are two that have stood out for me. McIntosh is my favorite both in functionality and performance. There is very much something to be said about synergy between your amplifier and pre-amplifier. The other is the surprising and amazing Wyred 4 Sound STP-SE Stage 2. The Wyred is fantastic, but the synergy of the McIntosh components won out for me.

A good friend of mine has recently replaced his tube amps and pre-amplifier with Luxman solid state components. These are top notch rated components and he feels they are fantastic. I have not had the opportunity of listening to these in my home, but I am confident they would work very well with my Harbeth.
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Couldn't agree more regarding Harbeth speakers. I have the Harbeth Super HL 5+ 40th Anniversary speakers. Also, try any Klipsch for low level listening. Very sensitive and great sounding speakers.
 
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