I'd like to weigh in on the "fast woofer" question with some observations.
Back in the 70's when I used to sell audio, woofers generally ranged from 8 to 16 inches in most popular lines. I personally never took as well in general to speakers that used 16" and often even 12" woofers. They seemed to almost always sound muddied and unrefined compared to models in the same lines with 8-10" woofers.
My thoughts are that larger woofers are perhaps not a bad thing, if done well of course, however they are often more demanding in regards to amplification. Back then, we used mostly receivers up to 120 w/ch or so that perhaps did not have the current delivery or damping necessary to control those big drivers properlty, or at least that is my theory.
Today, I think there are many amps that are up to the task. That is one of the reasons I am willing to perhaps investigate mixed driver horn or other systems that use larger woofs to see what might be possible these days. I'm strongly considering giving a pair of Klipsch Heresy's a try in my wifes sunroom where I run a pair of very nice Dynaudio monitors currently. These are tiny but deliver almost too much bass in that room. The Heresy's running off my high current, high damping factor Bel Canto ref1000 mono blocks is a combo that I think the price is right to perhaps at least give a try.
Back in the 70's when I used to sell audio, woofers generally ranged from 8 to 16 inches in most popular lines. I personally never took as well in general to speakers that used 16" and often even 12" woofers. They seemed to almost always sound muddied and unrefined compared to models in the same lines with 8-10" woofers.
My thoughts are that larger woofers are perhaps not a bad thing, if done well of course, however they are often more demanding in regards to amplification. Back then, we used mostly receivers up to 120 w/ch or so that perhaps did not have the current delivery or damping necessary to control those big drivers properlty, or at least that is my theory.
Today, I think there are many amps that are up to the task. That is one of the reasons I am willing to perhaps investigate mixed driver horn or other systems that use larger woofs to see what might be possible these days. I'm strongly considering giving a pair of Klipsch Heresy's a try in my wifes sunroom where I run a pair of very nice Dynaudio monitors currently. These are tiny but deliver almost too much bass in that room. The Heresy's running off my high current, high damping factor Bel Canto ref1000 mono blocks is a combo that I think the price is right to perhaps at least give a try.