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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 5 responses by mapman

mapman's avatar
mapman
21,819 posts
 
If you want or need smaller speakers for whatever reason I’d say that is certainly special.   So is higher efficiency that does not ask as much of an amp.  Two different things.   Both special but in different ways for different purposes.   
I will agree though that size does matter when it comes to speakers.  It’s always a matter of trade offs. 
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,819 posts
 
It's a perfectly valid question.

All designs have advantages and disadvantages.   That goes for both high efficiency and low efficiency speakers.
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,819 posts
 
The benefit if done well (like Dynaudio in general) is more bass extension from a smaller box, but you need a beefier amp than otherwise typically to be able to deliver that bass. Power needs increase exponentially with lower frequency.

Its easy to have a very efficient speaker. Just skimp on the bass extension. Most cheap speakers with limited bass extension are very efficient. THey have to be much larger to bee both efficient and have good quality extended bass.

Or just offload the bass to a powered sub or two or 4 and most any decent quality speaker can cut it.
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,819 posts
 
I think it’s a common misperception that smaller speakers mean you can have a lesser amp to drive them. The exact opposite is case if the speakers are good quality and you want to get the most out of them. 
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,819 posts
 
More and better bass out of a smaller package with the right beefy amp capable of delivering it. 
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