Your right there is new and old school.

Xmax is easier to get these days- and smaller drivers can be used.

My opinion-use the best driver for the task!

A linear 12" of lab12 specs will perform very well on a horn of limited bandwidth and high efficiency.

ML util program asks for this driver with given 30hz horn!
Hornresp models it up well!

The high BL drivers do the high end more effectively but require a long horn to achieve the same lows as the lower Bl drivers like lab12

All that remains is -is there any sound difference between these 2 drivers? i would say in theory no.

high/low Qms,BL,Moving mass, some say you can hear a difference,i dont see any AES articles on it..

with a lab12 driver you can have a small rear chamber which provides some linearity to prevent relying on the driver spider linearity alone!

Also reactance annulling can happen.

Cheers!
Mike.e

• diy basshorn info