BEST low volume speakers!

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Playlist of original reviews for Low Volume champions!! • Low Volume Champions

[@av24]

Kanto Speakers They have Kanto passives and powered versions 5.25 inch woven Kevlar driver Silk tweeter Usually around 229$ On sale on Amazon at times for 179$ Impressive sound Sound great at low and high volumes No distortion I run my pair flat with my onkyo receiver Worth the look Kanto passives

[@chrislj2890]

I have a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 12.0 speakers I got on sale for $250 from Crutchfield. I originally had them in an A/B setup with my Yamaha A-S3200 and they were very good. They are now in my secondary system with a Cayin 10 wpc tube amp and perform excellently at low volume. And I currently have a pair of Zu Audio DW6 speakers in my main rig and they are awesome. Nice video.

[@johannjohann6523]

A "Low Volume" speaker is Sacrilegious and against all things holy in the stereo world. Music is meant to be felt, not just heard. Just ask your neighbors. lol

[@NemoPropaganda]

you must work for Klipsch :) jk jk

[@350125GOW]

and you call yourself johann jahann cause you are deaf. lolly

[@donnowak4304]

Dude, you and this channel are underrated.

[@NemoPropaganda]

I appreciate the kind words!

[@aceofspades6667]

Low volume listening is super important for many of us. It’s also a very specific challenge for many drivers where they struggle to perform at sub 75 db.

[@NemoPropaganda]

for what its worth high quality amplification and absorbtion at the first reflection points will greatly help any speakers low volume performance.

[@Constantin1020]

Bought my speakers only based on Low listening Volumen quality 😂

[@skzeeman007]

I can second Nemo’s opinion here. I just upgraded from a $1500 AMP to a $3000 AMP. The difference is massive at low volumes. I’m hearing a full bodied sound at 60-65 dB

[@MadLadsAnonymous]

@@skzeeman007Which amp did you get?

[@skzeeman007]

@@MadLadsAnonymous I had a Peachtree Nova 150. Upgraded to Peachtree Carina GaN. Using this AMP with LS50 Meta and REL T7/X using high level connection.

[@Nutz0]

this is such an important subject for us apartment dwellers

[@robk5745]

I’ve had 10 pairs of speakers(focal, wharfedale, klipsch, Maggie, arendal, kef, Harbeth etc…) the last several years and the Zu DWX is King of the hill for low volume and high volume listening alike. If you can accommodate the size it can play anywhere in your room right up to a wall too. Danny’s measurement mean nothing, the speaker is great.

[@Skipow10]

I'm glad you mention Danny's review. I gotta say it is concerning. I have strong interest otherwise

[@robk5745]

@@Skipow10 yea don’t stress instruments sound real and they have so many strengths most speakers don’t.

[@NemoPropaganda]

don't believe a man simply because he speaks with a smile. He owns a company, it's in his best interest to dog on others, it's an extreme conflict of interest and I strongly suggest you take his words with a heavy grain of salt.

[@NemoPropaganda]

brother, dannys words mean nothing, the dude literally has his own hifi company, how could his criticism of another brand have any weight. Imagine if Focal said B&W is bad, nobody would believe a word they said, we would all laugh but for some reason people believe in danny because he speaks with a smile, personally I get conman vibes from him, I don't trust him one bit.

[@robk5745]

@@NemoPropaganda I mean he’s selling DIY style speakers with simple build and cheap parts for pretty high prices, so just cause they measure well on a diagram doesn’t mean a whole lot. So yes, there seems to be a serious Con going on somewhere there. Either way, I know this with great certainty now, measurements only tell a small story of what a speaker really sounds like and wether or not it’s good to listen to. My Arendal towers measured great, but they went back for many faults and overal being very boring and rather lifeless overall.

[@slidetek]

Back when I was freshly divorced, living in a townhouse and the ex had my system (Thiels not remotely suited to low level) I was looking for low level speakers. Luckily things changed and I had some Kanta 2’s not long after in my large house (previous rental). But low level can definitely be nice, yet hard to achieve. I dig French speakers, I’ve been so impressed with Triangle. I haven’t auditioned Dali for ages, and totally unfamiliar with the new Focals. Is that a W driver? Need to go back to your review. Zu is a lot of bang for the buck, so fast! The MON’s are better than KEF LS50 by miles IMHO. Those Carbon 7’s are stunning. I could see the PlatiMon edging out the Kanta No1’s, but the Focals can be found for under US MSRP, which is indeed on the high side. I got mine in the color I wanted half price from somebody that traded his in after 2 months for Sopra 3’s, perfect condition and broken in! 😂 thanks for a great breakdown!

[@lsaideOK]

My musical taste has changed over the years. My days of listening to Led Zeppelin at 90 plus DBS are long past. Though I still play Kashmir occasionally maybe in the mid 80s db peak range.

[@NemoPropaganda]

same here, mid 80's is about my peak these days :)

[@seanb3303]

I’ve noticed that the DSP volume controls on Chinese DACs are terrible…kills the body of the music…RME DAC doesn’t have that issue.

[@NemoPropaganda]

oh yeah! the cheaper the gear the more narrow the sweet spot for best sound imo.

[@MisterJDee]

This is the review that I have been waiting for!

[@dimachesebastian6407]

Thank you for this video. I was expecting it for a looong time..

[@ryandunn5362]

You're smart and seem nice. I have some Zu Dirty Weekends... so I know the DWX will rock! I also had a pair of the Emotiva B1+ that were awesome for their price. My son snagged 'em and off to college they went.

[@NemoPropaganda]

I'm only kind of nice :)

[@thepickyaudiophile]

Awesome topic!! As a low level only listener, I really found the right amp is make or break and can sometimes transform speakers in that direction. Quality and price is definitely a factor, but no guarantee. Exposure are great at low level listening (take something like the 2510 and watch the S400 turn into a low listening champ), also a strong trait of Regas amps, including the more affordable ones. Hegel and Nad have been misses for me. I probably need to look into high sensitively speakers in a near future 👍

[@askara.3671]

I confirm 100% what was said about Borea BRO 3

[@mnmlist1454]

Thank you so much for this video. Very informative n helpful.

[@TD05SSLegacy]

At the end. Why apologize for ‘technical speil’? What you said is so basic it bears repeating. That is why when people get into separates they realize how important it is to have a decent preamp. And in many cases preamps cost more than the amps. Basic. Smart. Correct. 👍

[@donsimpsonshead8809]

My Definitive Technology Demand 17’s are champs at low and high volumes, but since they are sealed I added a subwoofer to extend it through all types of music. They were on clearance for $1,099 and I couldn’t be happier.

[@psyphonyxaudio]

Low volume is likely most common for a lot of people. A good topic to deal with. ... Do you find that High Sensitivity speakers do better here? That would be my preference.

[@Norman-bone13]

He said that easy to drive speakers usually sound good at low volume.

[@NemoPropaganda]

not always but generally yes, for the most part the majority of low volume champs have been high sensitivity and with linear or light bass.

[@psyphonyxaudio]

@@NemoPropaganda ... I had a feeling those would typically reveal the best results.. they do for me in all my testing. 90+ db whenever I can find them.

[@psyphonyxaudio]

@Norman-bone13 .... Thanks for chiming in. Sometimes the asking and commenting isn't because I wasn't listening or I don't know... It's because I want to support the channel by generating a conversation in comments that helps the algorithm.. No need to come in here and chirp that " he said " attitude.. Let the man I am asking.. respond ...and you can take a hike and politely ignore my question directed to Nemo. Fair play?... Okay cool.

[@Norman-bone13]

@@psyphonyxaudio whoa man. I was just relaying what he said. I had no attitude whatsoever. I thought it might be helpful. I implied no such thing. You’re being defensive. Peace ✌🏼 🎶

[@andrewgorenc9160]

Hello Nemo, I just listened to this video and the “Top Ten Keeper” video back-to-back. I absolutely love this “top ten” format - so much information packed into a 15-minute video. Thank you Sir!

[@NemoPropaganda]

thank you for the kind words my bro!!

[@nickmrt2670]

Was waiting for a breakdown of lower volume speakers that excelled at different price levels. Thanks for this!!

[@DavidLore-f6p]

Thank you so much for doing this video! I havent seen this subject covered before!

[@geoffreydebrito7934]

As a general rule, the higher a speaker's sensitivity and impedance, the more likely it is to be listenable at low decibel levels. 3 commercial 2-way speaker designs not mentioned here that possess high sens/imp. are the Hsu Research CCB-8, a constant directivity horn bookshelf speaker @ $778. a pr, the Paradigm Founder 40B Bookshelf Speaker @ $2400. a pr and the Reference 3aMM DE CAPO BE II MONITORs @ $4,289. a pr. Single driver, crossover free speaker designs that employ high sensitivity/impedance drivers are unmatched in this regard. 4 makers of fine single driver designs are the models available from Decware Audio, Omega Speaker Systems, the Lii Song Line and the Pearl Sibelius Speakers.

[@MadLadsAnonymous]

Does low impedance mean 4 Ohm 8 Ohm? I always get this confused

[@geoffreybritain8878]

@@MadLadsAnonymous 4 Ohms, the lower the number, the lower the impedance.

[@michaelwright1602]

Glad to see the Zu's! I have the DW6 Supremes, next to a pair of Maggie LRS+, and the Zu's are the king of late night listening. Another gentleman mentioned that Maggies are good low volume speakers... He must have some crazy large ears or is Superman. The Zu's are simply sweet, even the bass is retained. Put it this way, I will part with the Maggies before I ever part with my Zu's... And I have another pair of Zu Omen DW's in my bedroom, we go to sleep together every night. And someone mentioned Danny and his measurements regarding the Zu's. I like Danny, and appreciate the work he does, but in the case of the Zu's, I do not think he listened to them. If you are thinking of going Zu, and saw that video, get the Zu's, you will not be disappointed. Thanks for the video Nemo!

[@NemoPropaganda]

yeah, some of this stuff is hard to know without a direct AB comaprison. I'm not surprised the Zu outdo the maggies in low volume performance. As far as Danny, I don't respect him at all personally, I think he has an axe to grind and is working an angle but since he does it with a smile and a soft voice everyones seems to think it's okay. Imagine if Focal said B&W speakers were bad, we wouldn't listen to them becuase we know they're competitors but Danny having a speaker company criticizes other speaker companies and nobody bats an eye. I think it's a massive conflict of interest and in poor taste. His content at minimum should be considered marketing.

[@michaelwright1602]

@@NemoPropaganda Valid points.

[@nickmrt2670]

I think Danny’s problem with the Zu’s was the resonance which was mostly corrected by his “no rez” dampening and of course the tweeters. Nothing I think that should dissuade a buyer.

[@michaelwright1602]

@@nickmrt2670 I agree, and Zu does make a unique speaker. Some folks love them, others, it does not work out. I find the audio gear has a lot to do with the overall sound presentation that the Zu's produce. They do best with warmer sounding gear, Class A sounds incredible with them, as do tubes. You get into that sterile gear, highly detailed and bright DACs or amplifiers, like many Class D offerings, the Zu's may not work. Love both of the pairs I own, and they are both used daily.

[@ivanfilatov7913]

I like your choices! Focal is amazing!! How do you feel about Monitor Audio and B&W speakers?

[@NemoPropaganda]

I've only heard the 607 s2 and Bronze 100, both good but not low volume champions.

[@ivanfilatov7913]

@@NemoPropaganda that's interesting. That's why I love Focal!

[@itisjustacomment]

The older bronze b2 and gold gs on stands are amazing at lower volumes and higher also. I lived with M. O B2 Bronze at £80 on wood stands and they sounded amazing. I still switch back sometimes, and the sound stage is one of the best I've heard still to this day . The gold GS are just a little better in every Aspect. I'm using some q acoustics 3050i at the moment with 91db and 6ohms they are great at low and Superb higher .

[@irisfinchmusic]

Fabulous video!! Absolutely great work!!

[@RaymondDelgado-t7c]

Omega speakers? Very efficient.

[@NemoPropaganda]

i have not reviewed them or heard them so cannot comment.

[@saberpunch]

Nice to see both Mon Acoustic speakers made it to the list. I own the Platimon and enjoy listening to that speaker averaging 65db - 70db weekly. Really great speakers and loved your review for them.

[@NemoPropaganda]

Awesome!! I bought a pair for myself also :) really is a great speaker!!

[@mrt6349]

I run a pair of triangle magellan duettos sw2 they also do a good job at low volumes i got them on the used market for 1400 euro. I run them on the Rega Aethos i got for 2000 euro used.

[@irisfinchmusic]

nice!

[@mondechristo1]

Great video! Thank you! I am sure that for many people, low volume listening is very important and the amp-speakers matching is difficult situation. I hope to see a video for amps that play at low volumes too. 😉

[@NemoPropaganda]

that will be more difficult since I have not reviewed as many amps as I have speakers :(. So far the stand out amps with the best low volume performance have been Kinki Studio including the CHoco brand and Pathos. I have a feeling the bulk of the amps that are low volume champtions are gonna be in the around $5k category. I don't think it's like speakers were there is a wide range of price options.

[@damayor62]

Thank you Nemo! As someone who lives in a condo and respects my neighbors, I listen at low volume 99.9% of the time. Finding a decent speaker that can play at low volume is difficult to say the least. I'm currently very happy with my systems but after watching this episode you have me wondering about upgrading to the Zu DWX or the Gallion TS Voyager. Thank you again and keep up the great work.

[@NemoPropaganda]

before you upgrade anything if possible I suggest absorbtion at the first reflection points, that will really help low volume performance as it cuts down on the echo and lets your ears more easily pickup on detail and expansiveness. I use GIK Gobo panels so you can move them out of the way when not in use if needed and they also make art blocks that are absorbtion if you need something more stealth.

[@HaamRadio54]

Siiiicck! Also....can't wait for the billie review oommgg

[@NemoPropaganda]

that will be next weeks video :)

[@raphaelmeillat8527]

Interesting video. Thanks for sharing. Curious to know if you've tried any Harbeth speakers, just to get a sense on how they perform at low volume. Heard good things about it

[@NemoPropaganda]

no not yet, hopefully in the future :)

[@hulotte1000]

Hi Nemo, do you know if the Borea BRO2 is as good at low volume as the bigger BRO3 ? Thank you in advance for you response.

[@NemoPropaganda]

no, BR02 is a different sound, in my experience when there are two sizes of a speaker from the same range they very rarely sound the same.

[@hulotte1000]

@@NemoPropaganda Thanks for your very fast reply! Although sounding quiet differently, is the BRO2 good for low volume listening?

[@NemoPropaganda]

@@hulotte1000 it's not terrible, it'll still make sound just like any other speaker but it's not going to perform as good as the BR03 or other speakers on this list, the BR02 needs some jucie & volume to really sound its best.

[@b30sail]

If they were still available, woukd the Heco Celans make this list?

[@NemoPropaganda]

Yes!

[@TheNobleFive]

Coolest audio video I've seen in ages

[@NemoPropaganda]

glad you enjoyed it!

[@paulwisconsin456]

Outstanding video Nemo!

[@mocomike01]

Suprised the Heco Aurora didnt make the list considering how sensitive they are.

[@NemoPropaganda]

I try not to talk about products that are discontinued or no longer for sale.

[@mocomike01]

@@NemoPropaganda figured that might have something to do with it. Thanks for response!

[@sanonmars]

Please make a video of towers for low volume listening, because its not always that we listen towers at high volume. A low volume towers may not put out bass as desired but other frequencies are good then ok.

[@michaelwright1602]

Zu towers... I own two pair, they are fantastic for low volume listening, they even retain the bass. I have the DW6 Supremes, and an older pair of their Omen Dirty Weekends. The Omens are in my bedroom, and they play all night hooked to a vintage Sansui receiver.

[@NemoPropaganda]

I don't review towers so I don't have any information on this topic for towers :(

[@irisfinchmusic]

I have a pair of Tekton Perfect Set speakers (96dB medium towers). They're lovely at low volume (55-60 w/70dB peaks) IF you pair them to a good amplifier. (I'm driving them with a Linear Tube Audio Z10 integrated amp (10 watts) w/ the external power supply). They're particularly good for acoustic instruments.

[@fletchermunson6225]

I just sold two sets of speakers retailing for $4k and 3.5K in favor of my Zu DWX Superflys. Just incredible. I love these speakers for all the things Nemo mentioned. Effortless balanced open sound. I dont even have them set up ideally being on a shelf and they still kick butt. To add more insult to injury, I got them for $1600 used. These are very capable of playing with the big boys and they are fronted by over $10k of equipment. Love em.

[@NemoPropaganda]

Nice!! I continue to believe the DWX can be end game for a lot of people if they can accomodate the size and give them quality amplifciation. My favorite thing about them is how they love all types of music and aren't picky with recording quality yet still sound high end when fed higher end content & amplification.

[@robk5745]

@@fletchermunson6225 I just got mine and definitely agree, I only have 2k worth of gear behind them and they are exceptional and they do a lot of things many speakers I’ve tried cannot.

[@spoudaois4535]

I like KEF q 150s.

[@NemoPropaganda]

great speaker, not a low volume champion IMO but still great.

[@itisjustacomment]

Monitor audio products bronze, silver and good are just amazing at low volumes. Gold Gs are just magnificent and at louder volumes they match a lot of tower speakers.

[@user-a33kixd2wq44]

totally agree. i have silver50 sounds awesome and looks great! Bronze 50 and oberon 1 is also sound good.

[@itisjustacomment]

@user-a33kixd2wq44 I'd go with the silver rather than the gold in the newer moderns, but I'm seeing older silver selling not much less than the gold model. So in that case I'd go with gold. I've never heard the Platinum myself. I recently bought some Q Acoustics 3050i. The Monitor Audio is better in medium to smaller rooms for sure and better instrument separation in a larger room. Got to admit I like M.A. better

[@DG-rc6rr]

This could be the most practical and valuable and complete video Nemo Propaganda has made. Thank you

[@NemoPropaganda]

I didn't realize it was an important topic to so many :) I'm just happy people find it helpful.

[@DG-rc6rr]

@@NemoPropaganda Me neither....until I watched...twice. Helps a ton that you have all the individual speaker reviews too....this content does not exist anywhere. Thank you.

[@jake46467]

For those interested in a low end data on a couple of the speakers mentioned, I recently ran low volume tests (level matched at 65db in REW) on the Sony CSS5 and the Klipsch R50M. In my room the Sonys got down to 50 @ 65 db, 40 @ 60 db, and 35 @ 55 db. The Klipschs hit 52.5 db @ 65 db, 44.5 @ 60 db, and 40 @ 55 db. And for those looking for a bargain, I bought both sets of those speakers open box at Best Buy - The Sony at $75 for the pair and the Klipsch at $205 for the pair. The Sony set had a few slight dings that didn’t impact performance and the Klipsch set was like new. Nemo, respect for doing a low volume listener video; it’s a segment that not many reviews pay attention to but I’d guess it’s a lot of people. Keep up the excellent work.

[@valkyrieorion7200]

Great video and I think really relevant for people. I have loved my Comete 40th for low volume gaming and listening (Ragnarok 2) never disturbed My kids sleeping. Playing through rdr2 the music score, bullets zipping by you and sound effects in general are amazing. I am moving them to the living room for a few reasons and going with some ELac Carina BS. Will see how they do my 2nd time around with a better amp. One other speaker that I’ve had in my office was the Dali Menuet SE. if you need a great small speaker it does very well, especially if you need to be near a wall, it’s rear port is angled and it fits nicely on a desk or probably most stands. Great video and really enjoying your channel.

[@markovlasic1978]

2 ohms DIY speakers in transmission line boxes are the best low volume speaker because of its high sensitivity , above 96db

[@bruceandt]

Low volume listening… we all do this more than we all realize. To hear massive sound stage and separation without having to turn that knob. Sensitivity in the speakers would have been interesting to know with each offering. The DWX at 95 db sensitivity should be a stand out. Great segment and thanks for thinking about the subject

[@lisar3944]

I have had the comete 40th speakers for a couple of months now, and I agree these are very nice at low volume. Is it strange that a French company would be cognizant of the fact that many of us in the EU live in apartments, with smaller rooms and neighbors all around? Loudness is not on my menu, for sure :D I don't know if they actually factored this into the design, but they sound very nice at my lower listening levels and I am very happy with my choice so far. True about the EU vs US pricing too. These go for 1500 euros in the EU, and I recently saw an "open box" deal for 1100. We get banged in the other direction too, though. I would have a hard time spending $2500 on these speakers, not because they may not be worth it (I don't know, honestly, as I have not had the luxury of comparing speakers at that pricepoint) but because you will probably find something just as good for a lower price on your side of the ocean.

[@shipsahoy1793]

🤔If you want a low volume speaker, you can't use any typical loudspeaker, you have to use a "piano" speaker!!👍😉😂

[@acousticillusive]

Enjoy Nemo's concise, informative, consistent paced, smooth presentation of these vids! Keep em coming!

[@wolfgangpohlmann5952]

I recently had a presentation of a vintage speaker with a large bass (12"). Don't quite remember what it was, maybe Pioneer or Technics. But the presenter made the point that it would sound better a low levels with a powerful amplifier. He had an older Vincent amplifier, which put out 200 Watts. And he was right. So, the loudspeaker may be only part of the equation for satisfying low level listening.

[@Arizonacomet]

The super mon mini was incredible at Axpona 2024

[@starker1971]

Right now at crutchfield the RP-500M II is on sale for 399 which matches the non sale price of the R-50M I would recommend anyone consider the pricing of RP models in comparison to the R- option.

[@joekool5676]

Hello Nemo, love your videos. I learn a lot. Can you explain more about quality amplifiers or integrated amplifiers that are worth spending more money for. I am looking for recommendations or specs to look for when buying or considering an amp. I know that current is most important, but most only list watts per channel. Thx

[@NemoPropaganda]

unfortunately not, truthfully I don't know what attributes to look for to find the amps that are best at low volume, I just have to listen. So far Kinki & Pathos have been among the best. I've heard Luxman and Accuphase are also excellent but have not demo'd them personally. My amplifier experience is very low compared to my speaker or subwoofer experience.

[@engseong857]

I think it’s underrated how useful the low level listening ability of a speaker is, and more ppl than we may assume needs to know these type of speakers, so thank you for this video. I have a question though…does a good low volume speaker directly translate to be good at dialogue clarity when watching tv? If not, what are the differences in terms of the sound characteristics that either should have?

[@NemoPropaganda]

There is a correlation but not all low volume champs are dialogue champs. I'm not sure what makes a speaker great at dialogue honestly my bro. I think of the MA Bronze 100, theres nothing particulary special about anything it does but it's a damn dialogue clarity champion yet its music performance is nothing out of the ordinary that would indicate it has great dialogue clarity.

[@Drackleyrva]

My Dynaudio Special 40s play very well at low volumes.

[@NemoPropaganda]

many speakers are good at low volumes the ones on this list are just as good low as they are high where the Special 40 tends to sound better with a little more power behind it, figure 75+dB in a small room.

[@Drackleyrva]

@@NemoPropaganda Yessir, they do like power. However, I did try them once with a 25w class A and they still sounded good!

[@NemoPropaganda]

@@Drackleyrva oh yeah, class A power hits different, the Pathos 28w Class A drove speakers like it had at least twice that!!

[@daniannaci3258]

Surprisingly not mentioned here, but as a group, all electrostatic loudspeakers are the absolute champions at very low volumes. There are many reasons for this, both electrical and physical (no box!). Fitting right into the price window of this video is the Martin Logan Electromotion ESL at $2800/pair retail.

[@NemoPropaganda]

I don't review towers my bro.

[@vwr32jeep]

I have the Klipsch R-50m and will say they really shine in the bass dept when you can move them away from the wall. Of all the speakers I have, from vintage Pioneer CS-A700 to Klipsch RP-600m II, my favorite low volume speakers are the Yamaha HS8 (active speakers). They’re fantastic at low or loud volume. There’s a matching subwoofer for the HS series, but I don’t feel it’s necessary. And that’s coming from someone who pairs SVS subs with my Klipsch home theater. Very underrated and overlooked speakers IMO.

[@AudiophileTommy]

Low volume ? What the 🎉 is that ?😜😂🤣😂🤣😂😂🤣😂😂😂😂😂

[@miladinseratlic5984]

You went to 1000+ & 2000$+ w/o mentioning Triangle Espirit Comete Ez or Titus Ez both bellow 1000$ and they perform *quite impressive* !

[@NemoPropaganda]

I never reivewed those speakers, I don't talk about products as a guess or based on specs. I only talk about products I have reviewed and experienced first hand.

[@rosslovell73]

I have several recent lists of low-power speakers from a few YT videos I've watched recently. My note on your video, though, is ordered from cheap to expensive, with asterisks from your own "hint, hint" inputs as to what is really good for the money. I appreciate your time and expertise. As I make my entry into the modern Hi Fidelity hobby (as an old man from years past), I look forward to receiving my new Triangle Borea BR03 speakers and connecting them to my new DAC and new amp, and new ... and new ..., and new ..., and.... Excellent Video. Keep up the great work and keep telling it like it is.

[@NemoPropaganda]

awesome choice my man!! The BR03 are a great low volume performer!!

[@TD05SSLegacy]

Oh, and why doesn’t Focal like you? I bought Chora 806s based on your reviews. You recommend them so often. Focal. What’s your problem? 😢

[@NemoPropaganda]

I don't know, maybe they feel my channel is too small or I am too down market for them. Some of these companies have big ego's bro.

[@MRPC5]

I used Triangle Titus speakers for years and they were really good. The frequency response graphs may look a bit questionable but they sound great. I also strongly recommend Genelecs for low volume listening. In a bigger space at higher volumes they can be hard on the ears but sitting closer at lower volumes they are amazing.

[@NemoPropaganda]

I've heard that from a few people, i think if anyone is planning to use Triangle speakers at loud volumes like 85-90+dB should consider pairing with something like accuphase, pathos, tubes, or anything smoother & warmer. Then again many people enjoy the more energetic & exciting sound, that's how all Focal speakers are and they sell pretty well :)

[@IrenESorius]

☀😎☀

[@NemoPropaganda]

always happy to see your comment, have a great day!!

[@valentinobv]

If you want a "micro" speaker that's very good at low volume, try also the ELAC BS312.2 - all metal constrction, heavy for their small size, with a shaky bass. Or, lower in price, but bigger cabinet, the Elac Uni-Fi UB52. I drove bothe with the WIIM amp and sound really great at very low volumes, I would say. Cheers, nice video.

[@NemoPropaganda]

I do not feel elac are low volume performers, in fact they are very much the opposite often being difficult to drive, requiring higher end amplification, and higher volumes to sound their best.

[@kingie66]

hm, google says nothing for Zoo TWIX...would be nice to have list of speakers coz spoken word is not enough.

[@NemoPropaganda]

there is a link in the description to the playlist for all the low volume champions, you can see all the names there.

[@larryh9525]

Hi Nemo, here is another speaker to add to your list at $300 (on sale for @250), Paradigm Atom SE. Well worth money when building an entry to mid-level system.

[@NemoPropaganda]

I never herad that one.

[@eltonc1505]

Thanks for this awesome video Nemo... appreciate all the time and effort you put into making this video....learnt alot... 👍

[@NemoPropaganda]

Glad it was helpful!

[@drsuresh9]

Thanks for the All at one place list of Low volume champions. I wonder ATC SCM 11 didn’t make it to the list. Think you recently reviewed and bought the pair….hmmmm. Soon I am going to pick one from the list. Thanks a lot…. A very different kind of review. Keep doing this kind of reviews and audiophiles will have lots of choices when choosing amps, preamps, Dacs, speakers, Subs etc and stuff like that. Great work Nemo. Much appreciated 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻❤❤😊😊😊

[@NemoPropaganda]

I love the ATC SCM11 and I did buy it, it's extremely good but only 85dB sensitive, low sensitivity speakers generally speaking need a little more power to get going so are rarely low volume champions. It still sounds good at lower volumes but sounds even better when played louder. By contrast a low volume champion to me can sound it's absolute best even at lower volumes. Like the Zu DWX sounds excellent at 70dB and excellent at 85dB+ where the SCM11 sounds good at 70dB and excellent at 75+dB.

[@marcodevos3565]

There is no small ATC that I know of that plays good at low to medium volume... They start to sing when played louder. And they love some power to do that.

[@Slickman2006]

Heco Celans didn't make the list, I'm surprised.

[@NemoPropaganda]

I try not to mention discontinued or hard to find products. I don't know about other countries but they have not been for sale in the USA for about 1 year now. If I mention them its no use if nobody can buy them :(

[@keith6872]

Thanks for explaining volume restriction of preamp. What is a good example of a low volume preamp ?

[@NemoPropaganda]

I have not experiemented with many preamps but the Kinki EXP7 is excellent.

[@mpp9964]

I can’t remember where I heard but some hi profile reviewer swears that when a speaker sounds tonally balanced and satisfying at low volume it’s also going to be very rewarding at higher volumes.

[@NemoPropaganda]

I'm not sure I share that opinion but good for them :)

[@keithjohnson2863]

I have a pair of $180 Kanto 4" passive speakers on my desktop that I couldn't be happier with. They are driven by a Keces E40 integrated amp. I'm planning to use them until I can afford the super mon minis.

[@NemoPropaganda]

hey what's up keith, I had those at one point, they're decent, I almost included them in the video but felt the Sony SSCS5 or Klipsch R50M on sale were a better buy and had a little fuller bass.

[@Mr.BananaManYT]

I can manage to get a pair of kanta no 1's for under 4k would that be worth it at that price? Was also considering the q acoustic concept 300 as well.

[@NemoPropaganda]

half price is a pretty darn good deal as long as you like the sound, the Kanta leans more towards being detail focused/analytical with a little bit of extra presense in the midbass. It's sound is fast, dynamic, and cool like all Focal speakers. I've never heard the concept 300 and I don't know what amplification you have or what music you listen to but consider the Fritz Carbon 7, that's a hell of a steal at $2800 so you'd save some cash too!

[@truman4956]

Thanks for highlighting this…. What makes a good low volume speaker? Impedance? Efficiency? Horn? Open baffle? Active? Stand mount? Don’t forget Harbeth for low volume speakers.

[@skzeeman007]

I think high sensitivity speakers are a good candidate for low volume listening. Good AMP helps too.

[@NemoPropaganda]

I've never reviewed harbeth so can't comment. Many things come into play with low volume listening but from what I've found generally high sensitivity speakers with linear or light bass paired with higher end amps that have a low noise floor and a room that has good absorbtion at the first reflection points are the 3 biggest factors.

[@palmito22]

Excellent video my friend!!!!

[@m4nc1n1]

Klipsch The Fives, and they can get LOUD! Especially with a sub

[@NemoPropaganda]

I wouldn't be surprised if most klipsch speakers were good low vol performers.

[@liamporter1137]

Great info. Thanks for sharing.

[@carlbrown3634]

Thanks for sharing Nemo!

[@RJohnODonnell]

Would you say the Borea BR03 would also be good in nearfield?

[@NemoPropaganda]

mmm, I'm not sure brother, I don't have a nearfield setup myself but BR03 might be considered a little too big & tall for nearfield I would think.

[@condostereo]

Thank you for this!

[@careymacisaac9165]

its about time lol

[@Sir_Corgerus]

My elac debut b6.2's do not sound good at reasonably low volume levels. I'm so ready for my future upgrade.

[@NemoPropaganda]

hopefully this vid helped :)

[@Sir_Corgerus]

@@NemoPropaganda I didn't necessarily need this video but I watch all your videos. Not trying to pester you too much but if you listened to the Fyne F500SP, have you tried it at low volumes as well? I understand that the review isn't finalized.

[@Feliciano12v]

That DWX though...

[@Stephen_Tyrone]

Great info!

[@chrisjames483]

What's low volume in db are we talking about? Maybe I missed it

[@NemoPropaganda]

generally 70dB or less in a small room no more than 6-8ft listening distance.

[@chrisjames483]

@@NemoPropaganda goo dto know for reference. If you see this reply, I am on the knife edge for buying the Choc Emei. Is it really as good as your review? I trust your opinion and and looking for something that is a purest amp. Running 7000A with Sourcepoint 8s or Kef R3 Metas now and i'm looking for something more invigorating for lack of a better term. Great channel BTW

[@tg6373]

Thank you!!

[@nakkenakuttaja5224]

I would like to add Amphion speakers to the low volume list. Very good performers at any volume and very family friendly speakers. Metal grills works great to prevent elements from any damage that small hands or paws could do.

[@NemoPropaganda]

thats a low sensitivity speaker, I have not heard it but generally low sensitivity speakers are not low volume champions, I'm sure it sounds good at low volumes but a true low volume champion sounds it's very best even at lower volumes where most speakers tend to sound better as you turn them up more generally soundign best around 75-80dB in a small room.

[@nakkenakuttaja5224]

@@NemoPropaganda That's true that most of Amphions are on lower side of sensitivity, not all thou. But i have to disagree about fact, that speakers would have to had high sensitivity to sound good at the lower volumes. You do need more power, but i don't see direct correlation of sensitivity and low volume performance. Any way keep up the good work, i really enjoy your content 👍

[@NemoPropaganda]

@@nakkenakuttaja5224 This entire video shows a correlation with high sensitivty & low volume prowess. Of course correlation does not prove causation but every speaker on this list are higher sensitivity except the Voyager TL. All of my experience reviewing tons of speakers has shown me the low volume champions generally have linear to lighter bass and high sensitivity, those are the attributes they all have in common. That doesn't mean other speakers sound like crap at low volumes of course.

[@nakkenakuttaja5224]

@@NemoPropaganda I have to agree that most of "low volume champions" are with high sensitivity. I was only pointing out that, there can exceptions to the rule. Actually some of the active speakers have best low volume champion traits. It can be easier to get speaker work at any volume, when you have DSPs and active crossovers to work with.

[@NemoPropaganda]

​@@nakkenakuttaja5224 you're being oddly argumentative, my previous comment mentions a low sensitivity speaker so it's odd that you would feel the need to bring up "exceptions to the rule" despite me demonstrating that only moments ago in the comments and in the video itself. My first response to you also used the word "generally" again making it very clear I am not speaking in absolutes. I'm not sure why you're bringing up powered speakers, that's not something I typically review nor the topic of this video. Ultimately I disagree with you feeling Amphion are low volume champions, you're not going to change my mind but you are welcome to have your own opinion as this is a hobby. Enjoy it however you enjoy it, you don't need my agreement.

[@frankd.b.9233]

It's a bit strange that the Heco Aurora 300 isn't being talked about

[@NemoPropaganda]

I can't find anywhere that sells them which leads me to believe they are no longer in production, no sense in talking about something people can't buy.

[@frankd.b.9233]

@@NemoPropaganda That's weird because I just bought this

[@NemoPropaganda]

@@frankd.b.9233where? What country? What website? Everyday I get people asking where to buy them, nobody can find them. If you know of a place plz share.

[@frankd.b.9233]

@@NemoPropaganda how many do you need and which country is it for, to calculate the cost

[@NemoPropaganda]

@@frankd.b.9233 I don't need any, I already own a pair, a lot of people leave comments on my videos asking where they can buy them. Where did you buy them?

[@DavidHead61]

I live in a condo and own a pair of Polk Audio Reserve R200 speakers. They’re $750 a pair and sound excellent at low volumes.

[@manuelsalcines5432]

Hi! What dimension have your listening room?? I’m thinking in them

[@DavidHead61]

@@manuelsalcines5432 Hi! I originally had them in a 10’ x 10’ bedroom, but I moved them out to my living room six months ago and it’s 12’ x 18’. They didn’t really need a subwoofer in the bedroom, but I have a REL T5x in the living room. The speakers sound excellent at low volumes at night and even better at louder volumes during the day.

[@slidetek]

Horns are PERFECT, it falls to how well the regular driver has been designed. I dig the thought of having a 20W amp drive speakers to insane levels though!

[@NemoPropaganda]

Polk Reserve is a great range, I have the R100, great speaker!!

[@bearclaw5115]

I own them too and they're good but do need a bit of juice to sound their best especially during break in. I wouldn't put them on this list.

[@aaronmatuszny8856]

Whatever happened to loudness knobs?

[@NemoPropaganda]

Was that actually popular? I’ve only seen it on a few vintage yamaha units that were before my time.

[@aaronmatuszny8856]

@NemoPropaganda I'm just sayin that's what loudness is for: allowing normal or high volume speakers to sound good at any level. Similar things can be achieved with a MiniDSP as loudness adjustments are just a form of EQ.

[@RennieAsh]

@@NemoPropaganda A few things had a variable loudness back in the day as such. Many also used a simple loudness switch

[@wolfgangpohlmann5952]

I just turn up the bass and treble knobs and have the same effect. I use it quite often.

[@NemoPropaganda]

@@wolfgangpohlmann5952 turning up treble & bass certainly helps but it will not make a speaker sound more effortless or have a larger sense of scale at lower volumes. EQ is great and can help a lot though.

[@JoseFerreira-zb7wh]

If you had to choose a top 3 based on value what would it be?

[@NemoPropaganda]

Value is very personal as it is strongly related to how much disposable income you have but for the most part the value champs in my personal opinion are going to be the Borea BR03 on the affordable side and Zu DWX if you got a little more cash on hand.

[@JoseFerreira-zb7wh]

@@NemoPropaganda thanks. i see your point. imo your budget is what makes that. Value is about what you get for the money. Sometimes reviewers say someting along the lines "this compares nicely with x that costs y times more." y kind of translates value. Even if i can't afford something i can recognise it's good value. I just can't afford it. Just my 2 cents.

[@NemoPropaganda]

@@JoseFerreira-zb7wh not only budget but also how comfortable you are with spending and your opinion all matter. I have a friend whos is very wealthy, he had a boat that was $165k, he sold it and downgraded to a boat that was $80k despite being able to afford a boat up to $300k. When I asked his reason he said he felt the $80k boat was the sweet spot for best value and made him feel better. So for him it's not even his available cashflow but there is also an emotional aspect to it that is difficult to explain or quantify. I think Value is among the most personal of opinions one can have.

[@JoseFerreira-zb7wh]

@@NemoPropaganda i agree.i didn't mean to say otherwise, even though my last sentence didn't go that way. just a bad example 😀 not necessarily/ only how much you have but also how much you allow yourself to spend or feel confortable spending or think it's appropriate. i also could spend more on speakers but i don't think it makes sense to go over 1000, with such good ones costing less. (+ the used market) And still, i watch your reviews. 😀 I'm actually looking to buy something that compliments my elac ubr62s. Something better with dialogue, maybe a bit livelier/ detailed and better at low volumes 😀

[@NemoPropaganda]

@@JoseFerreira-zb7wh dialogue is a tough one, the UBR should be good at that, not great or outstanding but good. The speakers that usually have the best dialogue clarity tend to have very open & expansive midranges with really great sepparation like Zu DWX, Fritz, or Mon Acoustic, any component (dac or amp) known for an expansive & open midrange should help but I don't know anything like that since that's usually a function of the speakers themselves but I'm sure there must be an amp or dac like that.