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Audiogon member suggestions for a speaker that sounds good at low volume!!!

I am looking for speaker suggestions (new or used) in the $1000-$4000 range that sound good at low volume (45-50db).  I listen to mostly jazz and classical music late at night while everyone else is sleeping so the volume is low.  My current speakers are Vandy 2CE sigs and they sound good at higher volume levels but I listen most critically, at low volume and hope to do better.  My amp is a Classe CT-2300 with a Classe CP-800 preamp. I have a larger room 20ft X 20ft but seldom listen to music loud. Monitor of floor standing is fine.  

I understand the limitation of human hearing (Fletcher-Munson Curve) and also an appreciation of the synergy of speaker design, speaker placement and room effects.  Anyone out there have a speaker they like at low volume?

Thank you in advance.


128x1282tuby
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nonoise's avatar
nonoise
4,382 posts
 
Start by narrowing down your speaker choices to those with high efficiency (94db+) and you'll be okay. 

Two that I have experience with are Tonian Labs TL-D1s and JBL 4319 monitors. Both really come alive at higher volumes (all speakers do) but they play very well at low volumes.

All the best,
Nonoise
steakster
720 posts
 
A library is 44db. For a room that large, you might want to consider near-field listening with the speakers a few feet out from a corner. Also, the cleaner the power, the clearer the music at low level. Get the noise floor to disappear.

Once I visited a set-up where the audiophile had his Martin Logan electrostatics about 4 feet apart - facing each other - with his head in the middle. They were like giant headphones. The soundscape was phenomenal. The bass was minimal - but everything else sounded great. It was very impressive. From 10 ft away, you didn’t even know the stereo was playing.
inna
5,245 posts
 
Any good speakers should sound good at low volume , excellent at modest volume and at least very good at higher volume. But you lose bass at low volume, not all of it but enough, perhaps it's not a concern. Also, I would suggest speakers with woofers located away from the floor, at the top half of the speakers. I prefer this design, anyway.
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