Which Component Has the Greatest Affect on Low-Level Listening


I'm looking to get out of HT 5.1 and go strictly to 2 ch.  I generally have music playing all day, often just sitting done to listen to certain tracks.  

I've read that "some" speakers don't sound "good" until high listening level, and also an integrated such the Luxman 505 don't sound good at low levels (is that the reason they include loudness?).

Which component, the amp or speaker, has the greatest impact on low level listening quality?
bgm1911

Showing 2 responses by boothroyd

If I were to name a single component, I’d have to agree with yyzsantabarbara that a very well executed line preamp with attention paid to stable linear gain attenuation will have the most dramatic impact of fullness at ALL playback levels. 
Which makes me ponder if maybe the Loudness button on my old NAD 3140 back in the early '80s didn't have a buffer-amp in the circuit?

There's a truth in what several are describing here, and I really appreciate Raymon's comments about convincing dynamics at lower volumes making the experience enjoyable.

I've heard Preamps and similar buffer amps (taking the upstream VC out of the equation) make such changes in a system. Fullness of dynamics, tone & spacial characteristics at all volumes.