What type of speaker still sounds good at low listening levels?
- Thread starter Ricky64
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a.wayne
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Hahahahaha 
Dr Morbius
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stereogeek
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Last time I really cranked it up, I set off the burglar alarm. The wife was not happy`. The Volti's get loud and dynamic as heck on 25wpc....lol. But, they are also really good at low volume too. Cheers.
Swen Hornsolutions
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Of course fully horn-loaded horn loudspeakers, where the entire driver is acoustically coupled to an exponential or tractrix horn, offer distinct advantages over direct-radiating or hybrid designs, particularly at low sound pressure levels (SPLs). This superiority stems from their exceptional efficiency and acoustic loading, which enhance both macro- and microdynamics.
At the core is efficiency: Horns achieve conversion rates of 10-40% of electrical input to acoustic output, far surpassing the 0.5-2% typical of conventional dynamic drivers. This high sensitivity (often 100-110 dB/W/m) means that for a given low SPL—say, 40-60 dB—horns require minimal amplifier power, often milliwatts. Conventional speakers, with lower sensitivity (80-90 dB/W/m), demand more current to reach the same volume, driving the voice coil harder and introducing nonlinear distortions like intermodulation (IMD) and harmonic distortion (THD), which mask subtle details.
This leads to superior dynamics. The horn’s acoustic impedance match provides back-loading to the driver, stiffening its response and reducing cone excursion at low levels. Consequently, the system maintains a wide dynamic range (up to 120 dB) without compression, allowing effortless transitions from silence to peaks. At low volumes, this preserves transient accuracy, as the driver’s damping is enhanced, minimizing resonances.
Microdynamics—the nuanced rendering of small amplitude variations, like a pianist’s subtle touch—benefits most. Low-power operation keeps the driver in its linear region, where voice coil mass and suspension exhibit precise control, capturing micro-inflections without veiling. In contrast, direct radiators at low SPLs suffer from partial cone breakup or magnetic hysteresis, blurring these subtleties.
In essence, fully horn-loaded designs transform low-volume listening into a revelation of texture and space, ideal for critical applications like classical music reproduction.
Best Regards S
At the core is efficiency: Horns achieve conversion rates of 10-40% of electrical input to acoustic output, far surpassing the 0.5-2% typical of conventional dynamic drivers. This high sensitivity (often 100-110 dB/W/m) means that for a given low SPL—say, 40-60 dB—horns require minimal amplifier power, often milliwatts. Conventional speakers, with lower sensitivity (80-90 dB/W/m), demand more current to reach the same volume, driving the voice coil harder and introducing nonlinear distortions like intermodulation (IMD) and harmonic distortion (THD), which mask subtle details.
This leads to superior dynamics. The horn’s acoustic impedance match provides back-loading to the driver, stiffening its response and reducing cone excursion at low levels. Consequently, the system maintains a wide dynamic range (up to 120 dB) without compression, allowing effortless transitions from silence to peaks. At low volumes, this preserves transient accuracy, as the driver’s damping is enhanced, minimizing resonances.
Microdynamics—the nuanced rendering of small amplitude variations, like a pianist’s subtle touch—benefits most. Low-power operation keeps the driver in its linear region, where voice coil mass and suspension exhibit precise control, capturing micro-inflections without veiling. In contrast, direct radiators at low SPLs suffer from partial cone breakup or magnetic hysteresis, blurring these subtleties.
In essence, fully horn-loaded designs transform low-volume listening into a revelation of texture and space, ideal for critical applications like classical music reproduction.
Best Regards S
still-one
Active member
I can tell you that Wilson's, MBL, B&W, Von Schweikert, and Focal to name a few do not sound good at lower volume levels. They may not sound bad but I never found real enjoyment until a certain sweet spot was reached on each.