Low Volumes

I would think about some classic Quad 57's, 63's or the newer 988/9. A Quad tube amp, or Rogue, Cary 120s would work well, and stay within your budget. That's some great sounding stuff there.

Hi,

I've had quite a bit of kit through the years, and I'm currently in disbelief of my current system: Cardersound Tybone Vs. 1 (Saburo cabinet with Planet10 EnAbled Fostex FE126E drivers), Cardersound Morgan, and the latest Miniwatt amp (N3). Due to the nature of a single driver covering everything, and the Morgan covering 85hz and below, low level listening is the best I've ever had. Any speaker with a crossover will have a sweet spot where the sound comes together. With the Tybone/Saburo, the sound is complete and organic from a whisper to very loud in my 8' X 14' X 9' room.

I've had horn systems that do loud better than any box/cone speaker, but I've never enjoyed low-level listening through them. I have a little over $1,600 invested in amp and speakers, and it is the most involving system I have had. Doesn't matter what type of music, if there is emotion and nuance involved, this system lays it out. When I want to get loud (Green Day - American Idiot), the drums are in the room, and the soundscape is huge.

There had been a pair of homemade Saburos on Audigon a few weeks back - it's a great secret and nobody had scooped them up ($365?). If music is what you chase, try a great single driver and cabinet...

I have another Agon buddy who is quite enamored with his Omega speakers, and I have spent some great times with Ed's Hornshoppe Horns. I think all of these speakers need bass augmentation to be full-range systems.

Good Listening!

>Do I need better speakers? Model 1s crossed my mind. Better amp? A Luxman 505u crossed my mind.

A digital preamp with a decent loudness control would be ideal. Some form of equalization to increase the bottom end would be a step in the right direction.

The equal loudness contours (SPLs at which different frequencies sound like they have the same volume) vary with level so recordings have a range in which they sound right.

If you want to listen at lower volumes, you're going to be out of luck.

Speakers: yes..
I keep my sound level well below 80dB using a radio Shack SPL meter at seated position. usually down around 72 dB.(one thing if you have complaining neighbors: get a rat shack sound pressure level meter. Then you can argue exactly what you sound level is from the seared position, and REPEAT it for a manager etc to hear it. if your music is not measured, you cannot argue and the other person will always be right)
I live in a senior only over55 apts, and I NEVER want to have any complaints ever. So I keep it quiet at all times.
I have Magnepan 3.6, with Bryston 4B-SST2 and other stuff, an additional VAC standard pre.. The big thing is getting the tonal balance at low volume.
Another thing I just got is a great headphone amp. I have Senn HD800s and the 'Notorious' Singlepower (they expode, they kill!) headamp. Love it, using it right now.
Anyway, planar are THE sort of speaker, because they do not push bass through the walls the same as box speakers. (for the same apparent bass performance) I don't know why.. they just do not. I had B&W 805s and at the same volume the low notes would go through the walls. With the Maggie 3.6 i have now, the lows do not travel through the walls.
The very best would be quads, $10,K new, but the new Magnepan 1.7s at $2,000. new. or Magnepan 3.6s $5K new
Maggies take up a LOT of room. i have mine so I can use the space behind them for stuff. You may not have the room for planar speakers in a studio...
The other thing I would mention is small, or really big. The small box speakers may give you the SPL without the bass. then use a sub to CAREFULLY dial in the bass, which, with almost any self-powered sub you can easily adjust. The big thing is Rock you have to cut the bass to survive noise complaint-free, then for classical chamber, folk or Jazz you can turn up the bass in the sub for realistic lows.
Some really big speakers have the ability to run a low levels with a big sound. Klipshorn come to mind, It's IMO the medium and mid-small that cannot, because they ARE smaller, and are designed to play LOUD, they just do not have the right sort of design to play quiet.
So you need really small that are designed to play softly.. or really big, that do not have the design limitations to play softly.
This does not give you very many items to look at, but i hope it helps.
Also, for low volume use tubes.. at least in the preamp. It will give you a more natural sense when playing at lower levels.

The problem is not your amplifier. I had the same experience with Totem Model Ones. They needed a good amount of volume from my Krell KSA 80B for the sound to become balanced.

When Robert Reina reviewed the Cayin A-50T he reviewed it with Monitor Audio Silver RS6 speakers. He said "the Cayin's midrange reproduction was that of an amplifier able to resolve an extraordinary amount of inner detail". "With every recording I played, the highs were pure, extended, airy and delicate, with no trace of coloration."

This detail is what you are missing with the Totem speakers at low volume.

Maybe you should try the Monitor Audio Silver RS6 speakers. They seem to be a good match with your amp.