Since so much is being said about xovers, I'll throw my 2cents.
This could be a long story but, I'll do my best to be pify. For years, 25 or so, I've always had a very hard time finding a speaker that didn't become hard,glassy or distorted in the 3k hz-4.5 hz area. I'm talking about price from about $1500- 5 figures. The worst of the 5 figure speakers are Avalons. Can not make it thru 2-3 songs listening to that noise. B&W forget it. I run when I see those. Theil, another one to stray from.
The Wilson W/P was the only one of the 4 expensive speakers I could enjoy. I heard them at the same place I listened to my Stages. I thought they where dead even on vocals and I loved the low end on the Stages. They are about 16db high at 40hz compared to a 1khz. But man what a sound. I purchased the Stages that day. I also have two different pairs of Clements hybrids from the 90's. These have been the only speakers I could listen to all day into the night. But I'm tiring of setting in the sweetspot. I want something I can have a little room to move w/o killing the sound.
So, recently I been thinking of going for an omni type speaker or a speaker that will give me a little more freedom of movement. But, I'm thinking about those daunting frequencies that I have a problem tolerating.
So I ordered a pr. of Gallo Classico CL 2's. Little stand mounts. No xover at all and can handle a good amount of power for such a design. To say they have a larger sweet spot is an understatement. I gues it's the 180 degree peizo tweeter that's responsibile for the larger sweetspot. And no problems at the previously mentioned frequencies. I'm impressed. And placement was so easy to get good sound. All for $800.
I'm not positive about this, but maybe the CL 4's are what I'll end up with. Still want to hear the omni's, Ohm and Decware. And the VSA 22's.
Does the Gallo sound so good to me because of the xoverless design? I do think that is a major part of it.