Is it possible to cover the whole spectrum, high SPL, low distortion with a 2-way?

I was just comparing figures in WinIsd and by using an added Active Radiator I can hit about 117db @ 30hz using 18H+, in a 500liter closed cab...which is shy of the 120ish I'd get with an 18H+ in a reflex but the idea that the clarity is going to be that much higher, is worth it. To use a passive radiator for an 18" driver would require almost the same investment in passive radiators than it would cost for an Active Radiator....Qtc seems largely unaffected, the power handling is raised, excursion is lowered, heat in voice coils lowered, etc.... kind of a no brainer~!
 
Yesterday I was helping friend with crossover and measured RCF 950 2" in TH4001 type horn. Room was small and tidy.
 

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J, there seems to be a little too much energy between (roughly) 1.5 and 5k. The peaks are likely to boost listening fatigue even more. There's probably also too much output in the top octave for a small room. I suggest to bring those 2 areas down, PEQ the peaks and listen again :)
 
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Sounds as if your tweeter plays some 10-12 dB too loud: even on my crummy laptop audio it sounds ear-splitting. No wonder you yearn for your ESL 57..

Levels ok, crossover from parts we had. ESL57 - very good tonality and natural timbre, try listen to clapping hands. Horns - feeling of mechanical sound. Within few weeks will repeat measurements and make better crossover.

chebum - different rooms.
 

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Some comments from another thread:

"I did try ruler flat at first but it was definitely way too bright. I took down 2k-10k by 2dB. 10-16k has a 1dB drop. Sounds the most natural on a wide variety of recordings and genres."

"I worked at a very well-known recording studio in the 80's and recall that we intentionally rolled off the high end when "voicing" a control room. I believe it was 3 db per octave above 6.3 KHz, a gentle slope that cured the "harshness" of the TAD compression drivers that were in vogue at the time."
 
Additionally, the selection (and quality of) passive crossover components can make a big difference in the "voicing" of a compression driver. It's what makes or breaks a loudspeaker system according to Tony Gee, Jürgen Strauss, Thomas Blumenhofer et al. The latter uses almost exclusively RCF drivers for his horn loudspeakers.
 
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Another interesting 2 way:
30Hz - 20kHz ± 2dB, 4" Beryllium dia on 2" throat + 2 x 15", XO @ 850 Hz and 'only' 180 kg.


The top horn actually consists of an elliptical throat transition to a BMS 2236-type mouth section (last 2 images).
 

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