Recommendation all-rounded speaker (small room)

I have imported ATC for a along time, I have never experienced break in with them. ATC beats the HECK out of them before they ever get shipped-7Hz at 20Volts for LF drivers! Massive excursion is part of the normal QC for every single driver. The fly in the ointment of break in is that if true:

1) any older speaker would sound very different from any newer speaker of the same model.

2) how does a driver "know" when to stop breaking in? The break in argument is the glue and the paper or materials gain in flexibility, then how does that driver magically stop "breaking in"?

3) There’s precision in how flexible the glue and paper is?  IF you design a speaker to sound a certain way, post break in,  why ship ANY speaker that does not sound like that? Meaning you have to ship and test only broken in speakers?  Why would not every speaker maker break in his or her own speakers prior to shipment?    

4) If speakers break in, then a replacement or a recone would never ever sound like the other speaker in the pair. Why has no one every called me and said "wow, the repair sounds different compared to my other speaker". I have precision mastering houses using these speakers, they hear a faulty cap. Why would they not hear two drivers sounding different?

Brad

That sticky stuff on some drivers is a dampening material, like a tar if you will, that is used to improve the driver response.  It is tacky on purpose, as you sort of paint it on the cone.  You cannot clean it- dust is a problem-but fortunately dust doesn't affect driver performance.   So best not touch it.  

TO fix it cosmetically, you have to recone the driver (start over with fresh parts and fresh dampening material) or replace the driver.  Both are not cheap.  If it bothers you, then Id get both drivers reconed so they look the same.  Use an air cleaner (not an ozone generator which destroys rubber) to reduce dust in the room.

Don't beat yourself up, about it, I did it myself years ago before I understood. 

Lone Mountain Audio

Brad 

Next step is first reflection absorbers-this will improve imaging quite a bit.  Get the 4 inch deep panels if you can.  Just get two and start with that. 

I forgot to ask about stands -very important.  High mass ones work best.  

Brad