One humble recommendation for the Von Schweikert VR-2. I have owned this full range speaker for 3 months now and am consistently impressed at the resolution I get a low volumes. Also, I will second the recommendation for what a good "loudness" (equalization) button can do. My McIntosh 6900 integrated has such a button which boosts the lower frequencies -- it makes quite a difference at the lower volumes. Good Luck,
Which speakers excel at low volume?
I do much of my listening at lower volumes than I imagine most of you do: 60-70db for me much of the time. I understand why many speakers are designed to sound correct at live-music levels, and the hell with how they sound at lower levels. But that doesn't work for me. I need a speaker that resolves details, conveys proper tone and timbre, expresses microdynamics, and has a respectable balance, including a sense of weight, even at low volume. (Low volume does not mean low amplifier power.) This is an aspect of loudspeaker performance that is rarely addressed in reviews. It must be that most audiophiles don't care about it, or that reviewers feel it is not a criterion that loudspeakers are or should be designed for. Fair enough, but I still want what I want.
I used to have original Quad electrostatics, which were terrific at low volume. My ProAc Response 2.5s aren't bad (though they don't resolve detail too well even at high volume). The Thiel 1.6 is pretty good, the 2.4 less so.
What have you heard, particularly in dynamic speakers, that fits my requirements?
I used to have original Quad electrostatics, which were terrific at low volume. My ProAc Response 2.5s aren't bad (though they don't resolve detail too well even at high volume). The Thiel 1.6 is pretty good, the 2.4 less so.
What have you heard, particularly in dynamic speakers, that fits my requirements?