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Low-sensitivity speakers — What's special about them?

I'm building a system for a smaller room (need smaller bookshelves), and I did a bunch of research and some listening. I am attracted both to the Dynaudio Evoke 10's (heard locally) and the Salk Wow1 speakers (ordered and I'm waiting on them for a trial). I have a Rel 328 sub.

Here's the thing — both of those speakers are 84db sensitivity. Several people on this forum and my local dealer have remarked, "You should get a speaker that's easier to drive so you have a wider choice of power and can spend less, too."

That advice — get a more efficient speaker — makes sense to me, but before I just twist with every opinion I come across (I'm a newbie, so I'm pathetically suggestible), I'd like to hear the other side. Viz.,

QUESTION: What is the value in low sensitivity speakers? What do they do for your system or listening experience which make them worth the cost and effort to drive them? Has anyone run the gamut from high to low and wound up with low for a reason?

Your answers to this can help me decide if I should divorce my earlier predilections to low-sensitivity speakers (in other words, throw the Salks and Dyns overboard) and move to a more reasonable partner for a larger variety of amps. Thanks.
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Showing 4 responses by alexberger

alexberger
852 posts
 
Low sensitivity is a trade-off small size and deep bass to bigger size and not as deep bass.
Low sensitivity causes thermal compression that makes heavy, constrained, tiresome sound.
High sensitivity speakers, in contrast, produce easy going sound like a real musicians on stage performance.
It is sad, but a big part of audiophiles don't care about  thermal compression despite this phenomenon kills a real musical reproduction and makes music boring and tiresome.
Regards,
Alex.
alexberger
852 posts
 
All transistor amplifiers (except class A) have thermal distortions (similar to low sensitivity box speakers). The transistors parameters change with changing of temperature.  
This distortions have inertia. As result you can't fix these distortions by feedback.
Our brain is very sensitive to these kind of distortions. These distortions cause tiresome and decrease enjoyment from listening music.
So, if you use combination of low sensitive  sensitivity box speakers with powerful  transistor amplifiers you get thermal distortions in a square.
As a result, you have a tiring, depressed, suffocating, annoying sound.
I think this combination is the worst delusion of audio industry.
Sadly, most of audiophiles don't understand it. 
alexberger
852 posts
 
Here is a very good article about TD in speakers with examples:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/power-compression-vs-thermal-distortion-loudspeaker-alexander-wilson/

alexberger
852 posts
 
The problem is if you put more than 20 Watt to your speakers voice coil you will get huge TD.
For me it is rule of thumb, if speakers can't be driven by 20 Watt amplifier their compression level cause me fatigue.
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