What are the advantages of electrostatic versus floor speakers w/wo external drivers?

Very different technologies: compared to cone drivers, electrostatic speakers:

Advantages:
Very fast, transparency, clarity, realism

Disadvantages/differences:
Requires a lot of power
Takes up a lot of space 
Has subpar/poor/non-existent bass/sub-base because tech cannot push enough air
Subwoofer integration very difficult/disappointing- matching fast electrostatic w slower cone subs 

However, I believe Magnepan is working on a project “Magnepan for Condos” for matching their electrostatic w a different custom fast subwoofer- preliminary concept sonic reviews were really positive 

Sokogear wrote: " I like to be able to be in different locations since my system is in my den that is open all the way back to my kitchen seating area - probably a total of 44’ x 18’ with some openings in the back. "

Disclaimer: I am a dealer for a brand that I’m going to mention, so take this post with as many grains of salt as you see fit.

If you want to enjoy essentially the same sound quality throughout that large space, imo there are three things you should be aware of:

First, for "hybrid" speakers which combine a tall panel with a woofer, the tonal balance will change as the listening distance changes. This is because the sound pressure level falls off more slowly with distance from the line-source-approximating panel than from the point-source-approximating woofer. I measured a 5 dB in-room shift in the relative loudness of woofer and panel when going from 1 meter back to 8 meters. At 1 meter, the panel was 1 dB softer than the woofer (using pink noise). At 8 meters, the panel was 4 dB louder than the woofer. Therefore, I suggest you use full-range panels which do not rely on a woofer for the bottom end.

Second, the line-source-approximating radiation characteristic of a tall fullrange panel means that the falloff in SPL at the back of your room will be considerably less than with normal speakers. So the loudness will be much more even throughout the room.

Third, the further back from the speakers you are, the more their off-axis response will influence and/or dominate the perceived tonal balance. (This is because the direct-to-reverberant sound ratio decreases as listening distance increases, and the off-axis energy dominates the reverberant field.) So if you want the tonal balance to be the same from essentially anywhere in the room, like it is with live music, then in my opinion you want speakers whose off-axis sound is virtually identical to their on-axis sound. Maggies do this better than flat-panel electrostats, but imo the big SoundLab faceted-curved-panel electrostats excel at this because their radiation patterns are the most consistent over the widest arc.

I’m a SoundLab dealer because the things they do well are, in my opinion, things that matter. I’m also a speaker manufacturer and my designs try to mimic some of the things SoundLabs do well, such as having good off-axis response.

So among panel speakers, my suggestion is Maggies or SoundLabs.

Duke

I'm a huge Martin Logan fan. There's a spectacular end to Beethovens 9th. The full orchestra and the choir and all 4 soloists at full throttle and from nowhere the piccolo sounds over them all. I want to be able to pick out the piccolo not just it's sound but in its physical position within the wall of sound. Electrostatics produce a holographic, 3D sound like no other. The advantage of the Logans is they have a panel plug an active base until. Best of both worlds 

Can't stand the sound comming from Electrostats, Hate that speaker line. I also hate that speaker line that has a  driver sitting on top the cabinet,, You know which lab i am refering to. 
So yeah big thumbs down for both designs. 
The perfect design is a MTM, Mid woofer + mid tweet + mid woofer. 
Best ever design.  All the bass you want, Full rich and glorious.

I owned Magnepan 3.5Rs with the true ribbon. Might have been happy in a much smaller room, but mine is ~ 20 x 40 x 12. I have 2 SVS powered subs (Plus and Ultra) but could never get them to interface smoothly

I also owned a bunch of box speakers, but most of the cost goes into the cabinet and especially stopping it from resonating, which has to affect the internal XOs: same problem with active speakers

What to do? OPEN BAFFLE. Emerald Physics makes excellent OB speakers with carbon fiber woofers and midranges that are concentric with polyester tweeters. Seamless, dynamic, capable of throwing an enormous 3D soundstage. Simply amazing and they are under 4ft high


My 3.4s play most music beautifully, except for deep bass, but you can get the 2,8s for that

hth