I work in a high end store, but do not care to pay the cost for anything we sell, even at half retail. So I built speakers using components from Parts Express, including their pre-fab crossovers. I used the 4 ohm Reference Series 7" aluminum cone woofer, and their 1 cu. ft. cabinet (since discontinued) with a vented alignment with an f3 of 39 Hz. With room gain, I'm measuring into the mid-30s and it sounds it...very solid not muddy at all. I settled on Morel's integrated "Twee-Mid" and made the system bi-ampable. With zero engineering, but a lot of experience in audio, I came up with something I feel closely conveys the sound I hear at Boston Symphony Hall when I play live recordings of concerts I actually attended and heard performed live. To me that's the gold standard.
I took my home-brew speakers in to the store and compared them to a variety of contenders...they held up rather well. They did not perform up to my personal favorite, the Focal Sopra No.1, but they cost me one third of what those would...at half price!
I write this to support the OP's claim that satisfying bass can be obtained with relatively small woofers. But also to remind that a reasonable cabinet volume is needed...mini monitors mine ain't...and that room size is a factor...mine is only 2000 cu. ft. (plus openings to other spaces).
I took my home-brew speakers in to the store and compared them to a variety of contenders...they held up rather well. They did not perform up to my personal favorite, the Focal Sopra No.1, but they cost me one third of what those would...at half price!
I write this to support the OP's claim that satisfying bass can be obtained with relatively small woofers. But also to remind that a reasonable cabinet volume is needed...mini monitors mine ain't...and that room size is a factor...mine is only 2000 cu. ft. (plus openings to other spaces).