This technology was inevitable. However, it can really only be of use in close monitoring situations. For big bass waves to fill your cavern, one will still need a large bass transducer to pump out the subs. That means the sheer physical size of the speaker will continue to be a requirement for powerful sound. I would like to see an audio revolution where large boxes are not required to create detailed, realistic and powerful sound, but that ain't really happenin' yet.

Back when I was just a kid they developed the transistors that freed us from the old tubes that were notorious to have a great deal of distortion. Music could now be amplified nearly distortion free. It also opened up up for much lower power requirements for portable battery operated music players.

Although speaker technology had not changed much in the last century or so, having still suffering 5% to 10% distortion. Which is why sets of speakers will sound so very different from another set played on the same sterio. If they had very little distortion you would not be able to tell the difference in sound between different speakers.

The piezo tweeter was one of the more amazing developments in the last few decades, with it's high wattage handling capability and low power requirements compared to the conventional tweeters with an electro-magnet, but experts debated about how well they like the sound these produced.

I have been pretty impressed with the amount of base they have achieved with very small subwoofers over this last decade, so I can see where there is room for new technology in recorded sound production. I am just waiting for some decent speakers that sound as good as a quality set of headphones. That would be a huge achievement!

Bose's sound systems have always been revolutionary and quite high in sound quality. They have also been exceedingly expensive for a lot of people. That's understandable, given their strict control of all Patents.

However, I agree with the second comment given by Mr. Ashoka:

One of these days someone is going to invent a small set of speakers to use with one's home sound system that will rival the exceptional sound quality of a great set of headphones. That would truly be incredible. But can they also make it affordable?

The one thing that brings prices down is competition. With Bose, that will likely not happen soon. They are deservedly proud of their product, but competition not only lowers prices, it also opens the door to others' improvements, right? So, instead of Patenting everything, why not just Patent the core ideas and mete out the rest of the information is small packets? For a price? It's been done before to great effect.