PC running Spotify / Tidal > NAD M51 (USB) > Audiolab 8200MB x 2 > KEF LS50
All running in a nearfield setup. Speakers are maybe 1.5m or so away from me, so volume is generally low. I've noticed for a while though, that I need to play music slightly above my preferred listening levels or there is a loss of micro detail in the music. Softer sounds generally - footsteps, a musician taking a breath, etc. The dynamics of the music also seem to suffer - it just doesn't seem as "full bodied" as I know I've heard it before.
I've learned to live with it, but recently I've been wondering - what causes this? Is it a matter of the LS50's lower sensitivity? Are the amps not efficient at lower volumes? Is it just a function of human hearing, where louder sounds better? I'm tending towards it being the equipment, since my hearing is pretty good and I'm pretty close to the speakers themselves. Is there a way to test?
All running in a nearfield setup. Speakers are maybe 1.5m or so away from me, so volume is generally low. I've noticed for a while though, that I need to play music slightly above my preferred listening levels or there is a loss of micro detail in the music. Softer sounds generally - footsteps, a musician taking a breath, etc. The dynamics of the music also seem to suffer - it just doesn't seem as "full bodied" as I know I've heard it before.
I've learned to live with it, but recently I've been wondering - what causes this? Is it a matter of the LS50's lower sensitivity? Are the amps not efficient at lower volumes? Is it just a function of human hearing, where louder sounds better? I'm tending towards it being the equipment, since my hearing is pretty good and I'm pretty close to the speakers themselves. Is there a way to test?
