Single driver speakers have a unique sound. That sound comes from a lack of a conventional crossover. In a two-way speaker, the acoustic phase of each driver rotates in opposite directions around the crossover point. While the combined phase may be correct at the crossover point, away from that point, the phase will be constantly changing. Again, with a normal two-way speaker, the crossover point is usually in the 1500-2000Hz range, which is smack in the middle f the frequency band where humans are most sensitive to phase changes. By not having a crossover and the attendant phase problems, a single driver speaker sounds much more natural.
Also, a good single driver speaker is more articulate and detailed in the bass and midrange that a multi-way speaker. Because the driver in a singe driver speaker must work up to 10kHz and beyond, the cone is much lighter than the cone of a comparably sized driver in a multi-way speaker that be crossed out by 2kHz. Less cone mass means faster response to the electrical signal and better transient response. The lighter cones also promote higher efficiency. While my speakers don't qualify as "high-efficiency", all except the FTA-2000 are rated at 92dB/w/m or better, making them good matches to all but the smallest tube amplifiers. (Don't worry, they work great with high-powered solid-state amplifiers too.
You can't fool Mother Nature. ANY tall, thin ported speaker is a quarter-wave resonator. Ever since the beginnings of hi-fi, designers have been building floor-standing speakers with ports thinking that they were designing bass reflex speakers and then scratching their heads trying to figure out why they were getting spiky bass response. The answer is simple. The dominant resonance is not cavity resonance (helmholtz) but quarter-wave resonance. Understanding this, it is relatively easy to get a smooth bass output without peaks or boominess.
Using the full potential of quarter-wave resonance, it is possible to get seemingly impossibley low bass with relatively small drivers. The 6" and 8" drivers I use can easily produce bass notes below 40Hz. This means that for acoustic music and electronic music based on a 4-string bass guitar, no subwoofer is necessary. Of course, a 5- or 6-string bass guitar or serious organ music, a sub will help alot.
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First and foremost, I offer ready to play speakers in furniture grade cabinets. These speakers will be custom built to your specifications. You pick the veneer spieces and the stain that will go best with your decor. While most customers select the oak or mahogany veneers, I will use anything that I can get. You will be asked to pay my cost difference between the "standard" veneer and your choosen premium veneer. The same polity applies to the electrical components. I use the standard offereings of Parts Express or Madisound, but I will install any premium parts you request for only the cost difference of the parts.
For the DIY'er, I offer plans for all of my commercial speakers. I offer flats packs for those who cannot cut up a sheet of MDf on their own. I also offer raw MDF cabinets ready for finishing. I tend to discourage the purchase of raw cabinets on the presumption that someone who cannot build up a cabinet is also less than likely to get a decent finish on a previously completed cabinet. However, if this is what you want, you've got it!
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