Best speakers at low volume

[Solypsa]

I think I will go for the Pure Audio Duet15. High efficiency and barely WAF proof.
View attachment 111523

Ime with Pure Audio low volume performance is good but still they like some power from the amplifier. Not huge but not 6w either...

Did you chat with Martion?

 

[Ricco275]

Ime with Pure Audio low volume performance is good but still they like some power from the amplifier. Not huge but not 6w either...

Did you chat with Martion?

I’ll go for at least 30w class. Who’s Martion?

 

[Solypsa]

https://martion.de kind of a hidden gem

 

[Pokey77]

Raidho or Borreson. Designed for small Danish homes in quiet villages where neighbours frown on loud noises. I have heard the Raidho at low volumes, and they sound good enough not to need cranking the volume up.

My personal experience as a TAD Evo1 owner is they come alive at 80+dB. During my auditions before settling on the Evo1 (and as an ex Sophia 3 owner), is that the Sabrinas sound best playing loud. Ditto for ATC SCM50A. The active ATC were good soft, but great when playing very loud.

I too have volume constraints after 10PM. Housing complex rules dictates so. After 10PM, I switch genres to Sinatra and Jobin from large scale, and turn the volume down low. Still enjoyable on the TAD.

@Serenade
I'm curious what amp and preamp you are using, maybe wire as well. I have the original E-1, and using the TAD M2500 amp and matching C2000 amp, music begins to sing around 30-32 on the volume control. I usually listen at 34-36 and that produces volume levels in the 50-70dB range. This is a very good volume level and I really don't feel the need to go louder, the system is really on song at this level.

I agree that the Sabrinas have to be pushed to come alive. Before I heard the TAD E-1, they were my first or second choice, but after my first audition of the E-1, I just could not unhear that. IMHO, the E-1s are on-another-planet better.

 

[Folsom]

Have you looked at Decware? They seem to specialize in this. Also Lii Audio. There's many vintage speakers that do well also at low volumes. When it comes to typical cone+dome Piega comes to mind but not much else.

 

[Gregm]

Unfortunately they look too much like speakers to be pass the WAF

Not even the Pearl?

https://www.stereonet.com/uk/images/uploads/4214/pearl_akoya_floor

 

[Ricco275]

@Serenade
I'm curious what amp and preamp you are using, maybe wire as well. I have the original E-1, and using the TAD M2500 amp and matching C2000 amp, music begins to sing around 30-32 on the volume control. I usually listen at 34-36 and that produces volume levels in the 50-70dB range. This is a very good volume level and I really don't feel the need to go louder, the system is really on song at this level.

I agree that the Sabrinas have to be pushed to come alive. Before I heard the TAD E-1, they were my first or second choice, but after my first audition of the E-1, I just could not unhear that. IMHO, the E-1s are on-another-planet better.

@Pokey77 can you please

Not even the Pearl?View attachment 111592

https://www.stereonet.com/uk/images/uploads/4214/pearl_akoya_floor

no way

 

[Pokey77]

@Ricco275
I'm not sure what you are asking?

 

[Ricco275]

The die is cast. Now will need to evaluate if the Vitus will stay or go and then fine tune with cables.
big improvement at low volume vs Avalon Idea.

 

[Kingrex]

Have you looked at Decware? They seem to specialize in this. Also Lii Audio. There's many vintage speakers that do well also at low volumes. When it comes to typical cone+dome Piega comes to mind but not much else.

Decware????? They are like 4 years out to ship anything. His speakers are for the most part a single driver in an.open baffle direct coupled to a driver. But that does beg a question. A direct couples driver on a board or in a transmission line cabinet fed with a 10 watt or less amp might be stunning as a low volume stereo. I think the Decware forums are full of.people talking about building their own single driver open baffle.

 

[Kingrex]

FWIW. I really like my speakers. They really shine at about 50db to 70db. I'm listening now at about 34db and I'm very happy.

 

[Kingrex]

Mark, you need to try the coax 10.

 

[Serenade]

@Serenade
I'm curious what amp and preamp you are using, maybe wire as well. I have the original E-1, and using the TAD M2500 amp and matching C2000 amp, music begins to sing around 30-32 on the volume control. I usually listen at 34-36 and that produces volume levels in the 50-70dB range. This is a very good volume level and I really don't feel the need to go louder, the system is really on song at this level.

I agree that the Sabrinas have to be pushed to come alive. Before I heard the TAD E-1, they were my first or second choice, but after my first audition of the E-1, I just could not unhear that. IMHO, the E-1s are on-another-planet better.

SPL Audio Elector/Performer 1200S for now. All signal cables by Studio Connection and all power cables are Ansuz Ceramic. I have my eyes cast on the TAD M700s as my next move.

I am a head-banger by nature to "feel" the music. My Sophia 3 were played regularly at 90+dB on rock with ARC Ref3 and Karan power using SME30 as source.

With TAD Evo1 mk 2 and SPL, I have toned down to 80+dB and still can "feel" the music. Either the speakers are better, or I have grown older. Probably both

 

[jbrrp1]

Usually as we age we need higher SPL's to "feel" the music. That's what my wife and daughters are reporting to me!

 

[Ricco275]

Just to update you that the TAD with the Vitus are simply amazing. It's fantastic pair for my taste. It actually sounds better at my place with all the missing acoustic treatment and the average cables than at the showroom where I have listened the TAD with Audiaflight amplifier. Perhaps I just need to tame down a bit the sound, will need to fine tune with cables. I am looking at Tara Labs Forte for speakers (already have them as IC) and will keep Shunyata Delta NR V2 as PC which I believe being quite neutral.
Oh, and I am about to add the Anthem SRT preamp for acoustic room control.

 

[Folsom]

Decware????? They are like 4 years out to ship anything. His speakers are for the most part a single driver in an.open baffle direct coupled to a driver. But that does beg a question. A direct couples driver on a board or in a transmission line cabinet fed with a 10 watt or less amp might be stunning as a low volume stereo. I think the Decware forums are full of.people talking about building their own single driver open baffle.

4 years? Yikes. I thought it was like 1 year and probably counting down... I guess that speakers to the popularity.

 

[Serenade]

Just to update you that the TAD with the Vitus are simply amazing. It's fantastic pair for my taste. It actually sounds better at my place with all the missing acoustic treatment and the average cables than at the showroom where I have listened the TAD with Audiaflight amplifier. Perhaps I just need to tame down a bit the sound, will need to fine tune with cables. I am looking at Tara Labs Forte for speakers (already have them as IC) and will keep Shunyata Delta NR V2 as PC which I believe being quite neutral.
Oh, and I am about to add the Anthem SRT preamp for acoustic room control.

I did audition the Vitus SIA030 with DeVore O/96 as the alternative to TAD Evo1TX. However when I was ready to place order, the local dealer had no more stock (demo units sold) of both. When next stock would arrive could not be committed to (it was during the time when Covid disrupted all shipments). Hence I bought the TAD as the speaker was available immediately.

The Vitus/O96 sounded as enjoyable as TAD Evo1 with TAD electronics. Different sounds, but I did not mind either combination.

 

[Ugc]

As a former devore user(096), I highly recommend it.

 

[Robh3606]

I don't get why any speaker would be better at low volume than another unless they have a tailored response that approximates Fletcher Mulson. That is a characteristic that I certainly would not want. At low volume nothing is stressed so there should be no challenges at all for any decent speaker system.

Rob

 

[jbrrp1]

Listen to a bunch and hear what you hear. I definitely hear this differentiation between speakers, and the ones that seem to bring a better "aliveness" even at low volumes are usually (but not always) higher efficiency models.