loud speakers
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There are many types of loudspeakers
I'm going to deal with the following 3
cone, horn, planar
cone speakers
 
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First a word on efficiency:
When Radio was in it's infancy single ended class A amplifiers were the norm. Power outputs were commonly in the 3 watt to 8 watt range. Up untill the early 50's even movie theater amps were typically only good for 20 watts. Speaker designers were forced to design for high efficiency because of the low power output.
It wasn't untill Williamson in England & Halfler & Keroes in North America that amplifier out put exceeded 50 watts.
When Radio was in it's infancy single ended class A amplifiers were the norm. Power outputs were commonly in the 3 watt to 8 watt range. Up untill the early 50's even movie theater amps were typically only good for 20 watts. Speaker designers were forced to design for high efficiency because of the low power output.
It wasn't untill Williamson in England & Halfler & Keroes in North America that amplifier out put exceeded 50 watts.
1. single full range/extended range speakers(freq. resp. 20hz/20khz)
90% of recorded music falls in the midrange, for most people thats where the magic is!! Most audiophiles I've spoken to have had at an early age, an experience of hearing well reproduced music. To the degree that having a good stereo became an obsession. My experience came at the age of 13 14 listening to Elvis, Little Richard, The Beatles & the Stones & the Animals at a family Christmas. My uncle had a new console stereo with a Garrard turntable. The amp was vacuum tube. Magic!!! There is a movement in audio that I believe grew out of a generation maturing & looking to recreate that same magic moment I had.
I was able to duplicate that sound when I purchased a Dynaco St70 in 1998. The speakers I used were Tannoy D-635's (8" dual concentric plastic cone driver).
 
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2. Horn loudspeakers, back loaded & front loaded
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3. Planar
Loudspeakers, electrostatic, ribbon, magneplanar