It depends on the system, sometimes yes, usually no.

The sound pressure levels achievable with a hi-fi system come down to two parameters: amplifier power output and speaker sensitivity. These two parameters are inextricably linked.

Low-power amplifiers can create realistic sound pressures and dynamics, but only when partnered with sensitive speakers. This all comes down to physics. A 20W or 30W per channel amplifier can’t offer high-fidelity dynamics and realistic sound pressures with ‘normal’ sensitivity speakers, ie speakers with around 89 – 91dB/Watt sensitivity. It’s just not physically possible.

In these cases, hi-fi listening at low levels may be possible, but scale, gravitas and realistic sound pressure levels will be missing. Conversely, cranking up a system with marginal power and headroom will result in excessive distortion, clipping and poor results that may damage the amplifier and/or speakers.

Think of this as like to power-to-weight ratio with vehicles. My 1250cc motorcycle engine gets my motorcycle moving very rapidly, with a mass of around 225kg. That same engine will prove unacceptably lacking if it were installed in my 1700kg Subaru Outback. It simply wouldn’t work, except maybe at a crawl.

However, when you partner a high-quality, low-power amplifier with higher sensitivity speakers, say 93 – 95dB/Watt, then you can achieve real heavyweight dynamics and punch. Systems like this can generate crushing sound pressure levels, so it’s a sliding scale. Trade one, and you need the other.

Likewise, traditional lower-sensitivity studio speakers will need a more powerful amplifier to drive them properly. Speakers with a low 85dB/Watt sensitivity, for example, will need a seriously beefy solid-state amplifier to drive them. This is an inescapable truth; opinion is irrelevant here.

This FAQ covers the concept in more detail.