When using a subwoofer, what exactly do you get by putting more money into your main speakers?
Let me clarify my question by being a bit more explicit:
It seems to me that the proliferation of the subwoofer has created a "sonic division of labor" allowing your main speakers to concentrate on reproduction above the subwoofer crossover point.
Now, since all DECENT speakers seem to give what is essentially totally flat frequency response above, say 80 Hz, what, if anything, is gained by going to very high-end speakers when employing an 80 Hz crossover. (80 Hz here is just picked as an example.)
So, why 340s over 170s if my crossover is at 80 Hz? Or, why Revel F52s over Ascend 340s? Do you just get to set your crossover lower? Is that it? Is there more to loudspeakers than frequency response, efficiency and dynamic range that I am missing? It seems like if you pay an extra $6,000 that should get you something other than setting your crossover 40 Hz lower (or whatever it is.)
On a related note, what is this business of "timbre matching"? If two speakers have a flat FR, then aren't they by definition timbre matched?