Speakers and Low-Level Listening

We often get asked if there are speakers that are especially suited for low-level listening. It is a very understandable question, but the answer is more complex than it may seem.

Why Low-Level Listening Is Challenging

With passive speakers, the crossover is fixed. It does not change with volume.
Your hearing, however, does.

Human hearing works differently at different loudness levels. This behavior is described by the equal loudness contours. At lower listening levels, our ears become much less sensitive to:

• Low frequencies (bass)

• Very high frequencies

As a result, music played quietly can sound thin, dull, and lifeless, even if the speaker itself is very accurate.

Why Speakers Are Not Tuned Only for Low Volume

To make a speaker sound full at very low volumes, it would need:

• Exaggerated bass

• Elevated high frequencies

While this might work at quiet levels, it creates problems as soon as the volume is increased. At normal or higher listening levels, such a speaker would sound:

• Bass-heavy

• Bright or sharp

• Fatiguing and stressful over time

This is why designing a speaker specifically for low-level listening is not a good overall solution.

The Arendal Sound Approach

Our speakers are designed to sound balanced and natural at normal listening levels, with consistent performance across a wide range of volumes. We do not voice our speakers for a single listening scenario, because that would limit their versatility and long-term enjoyment.

The benefit of this approach is that our speakers feature:

• A neutral frequency response

• Controlled directivity

• Excellent behavior when equalized

This makes them very easy to adapt to different rooms and listening preferences.

The Right Way to Improve Low-Level Listening

Instead of changing the speaker itself, the best solution is to adjust the electronics.

For listeners who prefer lower volumes, we recommend:

• Electronics with loudness compensation or low-level listening modes, which many modern AVRs include

• Room correction systems where you can create custom target curves optimized for low-volume listening

• Dynamic range compression features in AVRs, which reduce large jumps between dialogue and action scenes

In traditional stereo systems, a loudness button used to be standard. While less common today, some components still offer this feature.

Best of Both Worlds

By using loudness compensation or EQ when needed, you get the flexibility to enjoy:

• Full, engaging sound at low volumes

• Accurate, balanced sound at normal and high volumes

This approach avoids being locked into a speaker voicing that only works well in one specific situation and gives you the freedom to tailor the sound to your listening habits.

If you need help setting this up, our team is always happy to assist.