Speakers The single most critical component


I know we've been over this Q hundreds of X's over the past 20 years here on audion, You can find dozen of topics dealing with this Q <which is the ,,,,most important component...>>
well time for yet 1 more topic dealing with this,, perhaps unanswered, un-resolved issue.
I'm bringing up the old hachet due to my recent experience acutally hearinga FR in my system. 
Let me tell you, there is not even 1 traditional/conventioanl/xover design <The Boxed Type>> in the world that could convince me  , there is something that will beat out FR (caveat, FR requires  some sort of high sens =sensitivity, tweeter)  in  the Boxy world of speakers.
That is to say, FR + Compression Horn is the future of 21st Century high fidelity. 
One lab has already brought us these ~~~SHF~~~ aka SuperHighFidelity  single drivers. 
The code word here is ~~SHF~~~ which can not never be employed when describing xover/trad/conventioanl style  aka The Box designs. db level under 91 are _<<IN-EFFICIENT>> , = dysfunctional, out dated, old school , = Dinasaurs. 
For amps, I only consider tube amps (PP and SET) as ~~SHF~~~ I can not include ss amps in this topic. 
IMHO all well made tube amps sound very close,
 a  kt88 in brand X will sound  close to brand Y. 
So amplification takes a  distant 2nd place in critical component.  No need to break the bank buying amp A vs  a  lower priced kt88 amp B
CD players, nearly all  tube DAC's , tube cdp-ers sound  close. No need to braek the bank over X vs Y.
My Jadis DAC is  only miniscule gain over the Shanling,
 the Shanling
only a  miniscule gain over the Cayin CD17. 
Now as for  best source  , phonograph is the ideal playback medium vs cds. 
I have some LP's now , but my main collection are classical cds, most not on LP version. Cables , I did note some gains employing silver/copper wiring throughout my entire system including inside the Defy.
Tweak worthy.
New Mundorf caps in all componets, tweak worthy. 
Yet the main central component remaisn the speakers.
Here is where  the entire audio resolution either rises to Nirvana or falls to <<distortion/muddy waters,/pollution/anti-fidelity  voicing  issues.
Your system's fidelity is ultimately dependent on what speaker  you have chosen to employ.
Forget all you've learned over the years, 
The new mantra is <,The speaker is key component>
All else is just extra tweaks/nuances. 
To sum up, a  ~~SHF~~ driver will match even the top of line Wilson weighing in at hundreds of lbs priced $$$$$$$ overa single FR driver. 
FR beats out any/all xover box design speakers. Mostly due to that key specification ~~db level~~~ which is everything in speaker design and thus in resolution/fidelity. 

mozartfan
Yes those olde FR drivers are legendary and have served well. Perahps as good as the newer labs models, who knows.
How many audiophiles would gladly give up their xover/traditional low db speakers once they listened to a high quality wide band FR driver in their system. 
Tahts the point of this topic.
Past 40 yaers , xover low db has been center stage , talk-of-the-town. Just look at Audiogon's speaker forum,. 
For every 1  topic/posting on wide band/FR, there are 1000 posts for the xover model speaker. 
Look at the sellers page, I've yet to see even 1 FR used driver for sale here, There are a  few on ebay. Folks just do not part with their wide band driver. 
Hopefully this topic which has been Audiogon's #1 views topic and will most likely remain #1 for some weeks. 
Awareness, this is the main goal of this topic. 
Awakeness, awareness, there does exist another speaker other than brank x,y,z xover traditional design. 
You do have options to the xover low efficiency speaker.
I just feel xover have become so dominate  a  design,  weve been brainwashed, its like propaganda now. 
Full Range drivers exist and are a  reality, 
FR high efficency drivers represent a   dangerous threat to xover traditional speakers sales. 
Wide band/FR is the speaker choice for the 21st century discerning audiophile.

Only people that own them know they are great fun and not the holy grail. Get some perspective man.
Mozartfan,

Your last sentence is ridiculous and simply one person's perspective. I think a very strong case can be made that FR speakers have more weaknesses than strengths. I know of few experienced enthusiasts that havent heard good FR designs and moved on from this type for some very obvious reasons. Enough of the blathering! 
Mute , not adding anything to the converstaion. 
Lets pretend the new developments in wide band single source drivers, do not exist.
Lets continue in the 1970's AR/Bose/B&W speaker journey. 
Those who decide to switch over will be richly rewarded. 
I have not heard even 1 complaint concerning FR speakers,  descriptions of only the highest accolades , experience gushing  with shouts of joy and praise. 
Still not 1 taker on my Seas Thors, which just so  happen to be the King of all speaker designs in the low db range. 
Hows that for demand in  ya old designs.