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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.
128x128hilde45
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,835 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. 
winnardt
169 posts
 
I listen to music using Magnepan 20.1s, which are a 4 ohm and 85 db sensitivity speaker. Yes, they require some power to drive, especially if you don't want your amp to overheat. But you don't have to pay a fortune for an amp that can drive them. Emotiva has the A-300 amp for $400 right now and it has 150 wpc at 8 ohms and 300 wpc at 4 ohms. The 300 wpc is enough to make the Maggies sing.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,574 posts
 
What it comes down to is... really good mids with any type of top end extension without cone break up is hard to find in true high sensitivity speakers.
The Classic Audio Loudspeakers use a beryllium diaphragm with Kapton surround in their compression drivers; the first breakup is at 35KHz. The model T3 which I have at home is 97dB and 16 ohms, flat to 20Hz owing to dual TAD 15" woofers.
alexberger
853 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. 
melvinjames
416 posts
 

@hilde45 .. I should have been more specific. I have a pair of Mark & Daniel Ruby speakers which the manufacturer specs at 82.5 - rather inefficient. The Rubys are a small monitor (2-way design with an AMT tweeter) which puts out a tremendous amount of bass - love them. I’ve run these with numerous amps including a 100 wpc class d and a 110 wpc class a/b. Both amps could drive them to ear-bleeding levels in my room but for late night and early morning listening the drivers simply needed to be played louder than wanted to come alive. I had the same experience with other inefficient speakers as well. Perhaps spending more cash on a bigger/badder (at least 200 wpc) amp would have worked but, ultimately, I chose a different path.

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