A system with speakers that are very detailed at low volumes is generally highly regarded. According to a particular renegade audiophile whose opinions are dogma, the best way to evaluate a system is based on low volume detail retrieval.
I have had the experience of battling my attraction to very analytical components. The system was highly resolving.
In the end it had an almost undefeatable downside, fatigue. This becomes especially problematic when you turn it up. Fortunately Tube power amps with a miraculous little pre came to the rescue.
To address your question, the best speakers for times when when I can't play my music at enjoyable volumes are AKG 701 headphones. When used in combination with a superior dedicated headphone amp they are great.
I have a Singlepower audio "Extreme" an OTL headphone amp. I used to get up early to read the Gon every morning . My family did not like any genre of music at 5 am.
I really think you should consider it instead of going through a complete revision of a system you like otherwise. Headphones are not something everyone, including myself, love but it is a potential solution. This is a thought only because this new breed high end* custom made amps make true high end tubed sound possible. These amps are incredible, if you haven't heard them you should see if you can audition a couple.
I can tell you that they are anything but mass produced and virtually always a one of a kind, made to meet your likes and wallet. SinglePower amps start at about $800 and go up to about 3K but others are less. Mapletree audio out of Canada for instance is less $ and you can get it as a preamp to boot. He offers amps which use the plain old 6SN7 which I like, or 12SN7 or XX SL7 or with a switch to let you pick between two tube types... for about $500.
Believe me the OTL modern tube amp I got, with just a couple of upgrades to the base model, absolutely crushes than that old headphone plug on your old integrated or 1970's receiver.
*(Excluding Stax which have been around a while.)
I have had the experience of battling my attraction to very analytical components. The system was highly resolving.
In the end it had an almost undefeatable downside, fatigue. This becomes especially problematic when you turn it up. Fortunately Tube power amps with a miraculous little pre came to the rescue.
To address your question, the best speakers for times when when I can't play my music at enjoyable volumes are AKG 701 headphones. When used in combination with a superior dedicated headphone amp they are great.
I have a Singlepower audio "Extreme" an OTL headphone amp. I used to get up early to read the Gon every morning . My family did not like any genre of music at 5 am.
I really think you should consider it instead of going through a complete revision of a system you like otherwise. Headphones are not something everyone, including myself, love but it is a potential solution. This is a thought only because this new breed high end* custom made amps make true high end tubed sound possible. These amps are incredible, if you haven't heard them you should see if you can audition a couple.
I can tell you that they are anything but mass produced and virtually always a one of a kind, made to meet your likes and wallet. SinglePower amps start at about $800 and go up to about 3K but others are less. Mapletree audio out of Canada for instance is less $ and you can get it as a preamp to boot. He offers amps which use the plain old 6SN7 which I like, or 12SN7 or XX SL7 or with a switch to let you pick between two tube types... for about $500.
Believe me the OTL modern tube amp I got, with just a couple of upgrades to the base model, absolutely crushes than that old headphone plug on your old integrated or 1970's receiver.
*(Excluding Stax which have been around a while.)