Meadowlar Osprey...How does it sound???

Sedona: If high volume freedom from congestion or compression is your priority, why do you recommend first-order speakers at all? (Asked as a Thiel owner, BTW...)

This response is targeted to Zaikesman's comment specifically:

Wait a minute! Do be careful when making a generalization such as that! If you wrote that sentence to ellicit a response, you got it!

I have Green Mountain's C1.5i 3-way floor standers. These are also 1st-order speakers & I cannot hear any high volume congestion! High volume congestion might be a "feature" of Thiel & Meadowlark speakers (from what Sedona & you state) but it is NOT a "feature" in GMA 1st-order speakers. I also suggest to audition/listen to one or more GMA products to convince yourself, if you haven't already.
IMHO.

Actually Bombaywalla, it's all relative. My Thiels (2.2's) don't offer quite the high-volume ease I would like in my current room, but it wasn't an issue in my previous smaller room. I know I could remedy this by moving to a different Thiel model. But I also know that no first-order speaker I've heard is going to be capable of the unfettered high-level dynamics of a Wilson, fr'instance (driver complement and cabinet size being equal). That's pretty much the nature of the beast, but to me some other sonic qualities that first-order designs can excel in (such as coherence) are more important for the kind of listening I'm realistically comfortable doing in my house.

Gotoma8:

I have gone thru chronolically:

Whatfedale Modus 8, bleh!

Platinum Audio 808's...great bass and surprisingly good sound.

Mission 773e's...I enjoyed them quite a bit,,,very lively with that nice aerogel driver.

Mission 774's same just more of it.

Pinnacle Classic Gold Aerogel,,,Best I heard up to date,,,midrange to die for, as well as low and solid base.

and now I have some vintage JBL L-96's...

Gee, I didn't know I would have to defend myself.
To Zaikesman: I wasn't recommending first-order crossovers, which isn't to say you wouldn't find them to your liking. I'm simply saying that I've heard two speaker co's with first-order crossovers (Meadowlark and Thiel) and I PERSONALLY didn't care for the sound of either one of them.
However, I have read glowing reviews about various Meadowlark, Thiel, and Green Mountain speakers, they are just not my personal preference. I guess that's why we are so fortunate to have so many speaker manufacturers to choose from.
I've owned two speakers that I've enjoyed: Innersound Eros and Von Schweikert VR4 Gen III - one an electrostat and the other a 'box' speaker.
I'm glad we are all talking about American made speakers.
Happy Listening - no matter what speakers you own!!!