What are the current "speaker trends" in your opinions?

This is something I have been tracking and monitoring closely ever since back in 1973 when I rode my bicycle to audition all the speakers at Radio Shack. Back in those days they were all paper cones, wire, and magnets. Then JBL started using edgewound voice coils and AlNiCo magnets, and the race was on. Nowadays of course we have much more exotic materials, composites, and a lot more sophisticated design criteria.

From my perspective then, and as far as current trends go, I would have to say the one that really stands out is the trend towards higher prices. 

Imo some of the best current trends are embodied in the Dutch & Dutch 8c.

They start out with excellent acoustic design and a lot of thermal and mechanical capability in a relatively compact package.

Then they use powerful DSP to shape the response and extend the low end.

One of my customers, a recording engineer, owns the very first pair that came into the US. I have respect for Dutch & Dutch but no actual association with them.

Duke

The dutch and dutch is a horrible example of a good speaker. Good sound should be affordable to everyone. The dutch and dutch fail in that respect. In terms of sound quality, theyve cheated by using a lot of dsp to overcome problems that shouldn't be there in the first place. 

Kenjit wrote: "The dutch and dutch is a horrible example of a good speaker."

Let’s see what his basis is for this claim.

"Good sound should be affordable to everyone."

The topic is trends in loudspeaker design, not trends in social justice.

"In terms of sound quality, they’ve cheated by using a lot of dsp to overcome problems that shouldn’t be there in the first place."

Let’s see you back that up, kenjit.

You have been going on about how DSP + custom tailoring to individual taste is the right way to do a loudspeaker. So, here is a speaker with DSP that can be custom tailored to individual taste, and you say "they’ve cheated"!!

So back up your claim that Dutch & Dutch "cheated" by using DSP. Tell me what problems they use "DSP to overcome that shouldn’t be there in the first place."

And I invite you to bring competent analysis to the table, rather than opinion stated as if it were fact.

Duke

@kenjit
In terms of sound quality, theyve cheated by using a lot of dsp to overcome problems that shouldn't be there in the first place.

How does that comment relate to your post below extracted from a recent thread?
"What people don't seem to understand is that if you use DSP, you could have a dozen different crossovers that you could switch between in a split second and literally be an armchair crossover designer."