Single vs Multiple driver loudspeakers...

There are some single driver systems that very nearly cover the entire 20 Hz - 20 KHz range with reasonable linearity. The drawback here is that they typically lack sensitivity and are SPL challenged. If one can provide them with suitable quantity and quality of power and aren't too bothered by a lack of "raise the roof" volume levels, the things that they do well can many times more than make up for the things that they don't do. I know that my perspective changed quite a bit when i heard my first "full range" single driver system several years back. Then again, these aren't really conventional or even planar type drivers, so there might be something to that aspect of presentation too. Sean
>

PS... Sounds like you're taking for granted that "single driver" means Lowther or Fostex type drivers according to much of what you wrote. They aren't the only game in town.

Find yourself a store that sells some single driver speakers and give them a listen with your fav music.
I own a pair made by Ocellia and another pair that use the famous Diatone driver, and am VERY happy with them. I have owned many speakers in the 30(!) years I have been an audiophile.
If you need a specific recommendation, however, try the Omega brand of single driver speakers. They are great sounding, and relatively cheap, or Cain and Cain Abbys.
The imaging of the single driver speaker is awesome.
With both speakers and electronics, usually the simpler, the better. It makes it easier to maximise the quality of the parts used, and that often leads to better sound.
Best of luck.

I'm waiting on a pair of single driver speakers to arrive in a day or so.This will be my first adventure into the world of single drivers.I've owned planars and multi driver speakers.Now it's time to see how these stack up. Nearly everything I read and heard about these speakers are positive. I'm planning to run mine with a battery powered T class amplifier. The benefits are low noise floor, lightning fast dynamics, no power cords and no power conditioning. Here's a link to checkout the amplifier Clari T Amp.
It only cost $429.00 including shipping. With the right speakers this thing is said to musically give a $6000.00 Art Audio Jota tube amplifier a run for it's money. This is coming from an owner of both!

Good Luck!

You may consider an active speaker as one or more single drivers powered by separate amplifier for each.

For low volume and music where powerful bass and high frequency are not important (or if you are an old fart who can't hear those high frequencires) a single driver can be a good choice.

However, although a full range speaker is called "single driver" I question the appropriateness of this name. The high frequency response is enabled by cone breakup where the small center area of the cone vibrates independently of what the rest of the cone is doing. Many full range drivers have "whizzer cones" to enhance this behavior. One might say that the driver really consists of a woofer area and a tweeter area, driven by a common voice coil. It is very tricky (some say impossible) to get this to sound right. You need to design a mechanical filter for the crossover, and this is a lot more difficult than an electronic one. Personally I prefer my tweeters to have their own voice coils.

Interestingly, my Magneplanar MG1.6 speaker somewhat resemble full range speakers, because the tweeter is just one area of the same mylar diaphram that serves as woofer. However, that tweeter area does have its own independent drive wires.