Have been forwarded an article on the history and future trend of speaker design. To me it's a very good read.
from the artcle
http://www.nutshellhifi.com/library/speaker-design1.html"This chapter opens with a quick trip through the future, the past, and the challenges of designing speaker systems in the here and now. These challenges can be met in many different ways, resulting in many different schools of speaker design. Due to the limitations of the art, no one school can "have it all," despite advertising claims to the contrary. At a more detailed level, the designer has to examine the sonic character of different types of direct-radiator driver, and know the advantages and limitations of each type.
Even designers who profess an agnostic, specification-driven approach make an esthetic decision when they decide which group of specifications to optimize. At every point, from overall system design to subtle points of cabinet construction, esthetic preference merges invisibly with engineering decisions."
