I've heard many different speaker types, and many different systems employing ful-lrange drivers, many of which I really liked, but, I would hardly say that such drivers beat out all others. I've heard many single driver fullrange systems, as well as full-range drivers used as a wide-range driver in multi-way systems. The full-range drivers ranged from cheap, but quite good Tangband drivers to field-coil drivers that cost about $30k for a pair. The best commercial single driver system I've heard is the Charney Companion with the AER driver, followed by a Voxativ system and then the Cube Nenuphar. I have heard, and liked systems with full-range drivers plus woofers and full-range driver plus tweeter, and full-range driver used as a wide-range midrange in three way systems. My favorite multi-way system with a full-range driver is an open baffle system employing a Jensen M-10 full-range driver and a Jensen RP 302 tweeter (custom-made system). An example of a good commercial full-range driver plus tweeter speaker is the Soundkaos Wave 42. Similar to the full-range plus tweeter system are two way single-driver coaxial systems such as those built by Tannoy and Trenner and Friedl.
Of course there are many other kinds of drivers in many other kinds of systems that can deliver great sound, including many others that avoid complex crossovers, such as full-range electrostatic speakers. I don't think any particular kind of speaker corners the market on great sound.
While it might well be the case that speakers matter the most when it comes to determining the basic character of a system, it is hardly the case that "all well made tube amps sound very close." There is an incredibly wide range of differing sound characteristics among well regarded amps. I heard a comparison of two very fine amps where a relatively modest pair of speakers was employed to show how differences between amps matter.
Of course there are many other kinds of drivers in many other kinds of systems that can deliver great sound, including many others that avoid complex crossovers, such as full-range electrostatic speakers. I don't think any particular kind of speaker corners the market on great sound.
While it might well be the case that speakers matter the most when it comes to determining the basic character of a system, it is hardly the case that "all well made tube amps sound very close." There is an incredibly wide range of differing sound characteristics among well regarded amps. I heard a comparison of two very fine amps where a relatively modest pair of speakers was employed to show how differences between amps matter.