Most high-quality loudspeakers are 4-Ohms

Like I use mass market drivers.

Unsound you said [I suspect that many speakers that are designed to be more effecient are in fact not so due to inherently superior drivers or other design parameters but, done so that they can better accomodate particular amplifiers and that course of action might just very well compromise the ability of the very speakers themsleves] You can have this opinion all you like but if you understood even a wee bit about transducer or loudspeaker design you would understand how wrong you are.

JohnK, not that I thought you used mass market drivers, but how the heck would I know what you used. Are you a speaker manufacturer? Another speaker manufacturer who on this very thread has posted that what I suggested is part of his decision making. Is he so wrong too?

"Most ss amps aren't at their best into 16 Ohms. "

I'm operating under the assumption that a higher damping factor is in of itself a good thing, all other design factors aside.

Of course we all know what happens when one assumes.....

I suspect different amps will still sound different into 16 ohms and not play as loud, however there is less downside potential along with this as well, if not optimally matched, hence 16 ohms is safer, as I indicated, but not necessarily a lock alone for optimal performance.

% wise I would say that no large speaker company puts in cones
as expensive as what KCS does in relation to how much the speakers actually sell for.
I personally prefer speakers that are hi-eff and that do not need enough power to illuminate New York to get a whisper of sound out of them.
Enjoy your preferences fellow goners'............
I also think that the most expensive speakers are erring down to 4ohms (I maybe wrong on that one though).......
Doesn't mean they are of the most highest quality.