I was merely having a philosophical disagreement...with absolutely no empirical evidence to back me up. The proof of the pudding is in the eating... I would suggest you listen or build a box with attentuation and listen.... to me: my main speakers are 3-ways...the full ranges are where I can give my philosophy free rein! To me, it is part of the ZEN of building a system (zen of course means only elegant, simple tweaks).

I have never done a comparo between higher sensitivity single drivers and lower sensitivity ones, with a flatter curve. My suspicion (with no empirical evidence yet) is that the attenuated speaker with a flatter curve will sound better but will lose the immediacy, in your face presence that the more sensitive speaker will have, especially if the speaker/amp combination is considered.
HUH??
Let me elaborate on this proposition: The less sensitive speaker will need a far more expensive amp to provide the same performance. This means more money for the amp to get the same performance. With the more sensitive speaker, a "budget" SET type amp like the ZEN will be able to provide performance that would cost much more dinero. PHIL...where are you? Back me up on this will ya ;-)

SO, given the real world monetary constraints on most of us, the sensitive choice may be better. Refer to the JAn 2004 issue of stereophile for why sensitivity may be good.

This is not to say that a less sensitive speaker will not have the same presence....it CAN...with a much more expensive amp. Also, it will have a flatter response, so it will provide more bass, etc. It really epends on how important the bass is to one, versus the midrange produce dby the speaker/amp combo.

I would love to listen to someone who has built an attenuated speaker and then I can comment more knowledgeably. As of now, Martin is the one who has heard both, and he definitely likes the attenuated design better. I personally asked his advice a while back, and then chose another path, but his advice was excellent, and he is extremely helpful (not to mention knowledgeable).

SO Jim, and others, if this confuses you, then all I can say is: Follow your own heart, grasshopper!
-akhilesh