babi8987 wrote:
I did some research on the speaker brands that you suggested to me.
Based on what I read about these speaker brands, the sensitivity rating
for these other brands did not reach the numbers quoted by KLipsch. The
Klipsch models that I mentioned well exceeded 90db for their
sensitivity rating. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't there a
relationship between the sensitivity rating and the clearity and
quality of the sound produced by the speaker? I was under the
impression that the higher the sensitivity number the more clear the
sound and the more of the ablilty to distinguish the variety of
different sounds.
You're a bit wrong.
Sensitivity is usually meant to mean how loudly a speaker will react to
a specific load to the amp.
"Highly sensitive" speakers, such as Lowthers, or original Klipschorns,
are loud with very few watts of amplifier power.
Speakers with low sensitivity, such as original 1970s vintage Advent
Large speakers, take a lot of amplifier power to play equally loud.
I forget the exact measurements, but the Large Advents really required
an amplifier with at least 60 watts per channel, and were presenting a
serious load to the amplifier there. They sounded better, much better,
with a 400 watt amplifier.
The original Klipschorns and Lowthers provide real world loudness with
10 watts or less of power.
Now before folks get too wrapped up about it, I'm talking about
realistically loud for natural settings, such as a jazz group or a
bluegrass band, not AC/DC in a stadium.
You also have to realize that a full orchestra playing FFF is really
very loud in real terms, as is a 'big band' jazz group. It is not just
rock and roll that is loud.
It is much easier to design a speaker that sounds good if it is
inefficient. And many great sounding speakers are inefficient in one way
or the other (Quad ESLs are 'difficult' loads, even though they don't
require all that many watts, they require a lot of current and have a
wicked impedance curve.).
There are good speakers that take very little power, and good speaker
that take lots of power. There are good amplifiers that deliver lots of
power and good amplifiers that deliver fairly small amounts. The 'flea
power SET' tubes amps often cost a thousand dollars or more and provide
5 or 8 watts.
This complexity is where a good retailer earns their fee.
The key is to match the components against your budget and musical
tastes. (and not just to suck your wallet flat as the cynics say).
--
Pat
http://www.pfarrell.com/music/slimserver/slimsoftware.html
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