Just how many options does 1 need in a 2 way bookshelf design?

I remember "back in the day" when the designers of high quality British compact 2-way monitors discovered something interesting. How their speakers actually sounded -- in the room.

They determined that the "average" listening room was not very large and definitely not acoustically treated. So, side reflections were a factor. The wide dispersion characteristics of those small mid/woofers were actually a detriment to sound quality. Taking the driver size up a notch, thus intentionally limiting dispersion actually produced more detail, focus and imaging in the average room than the smaller diameter drivers. Thus was born the next generation of polite British 2-way monitors.

@waytoomuchstuff Okay but how big? Can we have some examples? 

@kokakolia 

From 5" +/- to 6"-7"ish

The wide dispersion characteristics of those small mid/woofers were actually a detriment to sound quality. Taking the driver size up a notch, thus intentionally limiting dispersion actually produced more detail, focus and imaging in the average room than the smaller diameter drivers. Thus was born the next generation of polite British 2-way monitors.

I could see some truth to it. The design of Tannoy HDF series from Eaton (10"), Cheviot (12") to Arden (15") may carry that trend.  These speakers do not throw huge soundstage like B&W (take 805s as an example) but focused in image.  

Graham LS5/8.  It may not look it, but that's a 12" woofer.

And now something old that's new from Wharfedale (Dovedale), with a 10" woofer.