@analogluvr
I've got a pair of Focal 936's and a pair of first gen ESS AMT1's that I restored. Hands down, without any doubt, the bass from those Focals is far more accurate throughout the volume range than those 10" paper/alnico woofers even though the aggregate size of the cones is very similar. They are roughly similar in efficiency as well. The ONLY thing the ESS really yield is more air to the soundstage, but at a tremendous cost to tone and response, and with a fairly narrow volume sweet spot that's quite loud. They're also inordinately fussy about placement. Maybe in large spaces ideal for giant baffle speakers where their less-than-ideal projection can be mitigated they have some advantage, but in the spaces I listen they're absurd, impractical, and would fail to produce the imaging that I hold in high regard.
