Let me shoot this question. Theoretically, why would the first engineers to design a low sensitivity/efficiency (???) (like 84dB/w/m) when ligh sensitivity/efficiency (??) speakers were available? Considering the fact that the first viable amplifiers were diminuitive (3W SETs, etc) naturally speakers that designed around those amps. Since all things being equal (and they never are) a 50W or 150W amp generally costs more than a 3W or 8W one. What would be the driving (pun not intended) reason to reduce sensitivity/efficiency (??) in a new loud speaker design.
Flatter response over wide frequency range?
Cheaper construction or cheaper R&D costs?
A different "sound?"
For example consider a $75-200 loudspeaker from Circuit City. (Essentially a shoe box with some drivers). Why should these designs be 87dB/w/m. Why not make then 97dB/w/m? Since someone that price conscience about loudspeakers probably can't afford a decent amplifier (either SQ wise or power output wise). You'd think the HT crowd would be all over high sensitivity/efficiency speakers, since you could drive 5 our 7 speakers in a big room with just about any A/V receiver.
Tubes vs. SS. Analog vs. digital. MC vs. MM/MI. Active vs. passive. 3way vs. 2way vs. 1way. I realize everything is a trade-off. And no matter what the technology or features, there are generally great executions of all of the above. And it's more about the end result than any specific technology. There are no absolutes. No "magic bullets."
This is just something I've always wondered. What do low sensivity/efficiency speakers "bring to the table" so to speak?
Flatter response over wide frequency range?
Cheaper construction or cheaper R&D costs?
A different "sound?"
For example consider a $75-200 loudspeaker from Circuit City. (Essentially a shoe box with some drivers). Why should these designs be 87dB/w/m. Why not make then 97dB/w/m? Since someone that price conscience about loudspeakers probably can't afford a decent amplifier (either SQ wise or power output wise). You'd think the HT crowd would be all over high sensitivity/efficiency speakers, since you could drive 5 our 7 speakers in a big room with just about any A/V receiver.
Tubes vs. SS. Analog vs. digital. MC vs. MM/MI. Active vs. passive. 3way vs. 2way vs. 1way. I realize everything is a trade-off. And no matter what the technology or features, there are generally great executions of all of the above. And it's more about the end result than any specific technology. There are no absolutes. No "magic bullets."
This is just something I've always wondered. What do low sensivity/efficiency speakers "bring to the table" so to speak?