How do Newforms sound?

I had the opportunity to listen to them at the New York show last May. I thought they were excellent. Then, after listening to them a couple times, my opinion changed. You see, I thought they imaged really well. Detail was nice too. Even the bass was well defined and better than some have suggested. What I noticed about them eventually was that the music had little to no weight. There was no impact, no three dimensional illusion. In other words, they were great in terms of height and width, but there was no depth, or no focus that I attribute to "depth". I know that I'm in the minority here when I say this, but it is my experience that most ribbons and electrostats do this. Sure, the first time you hear them, it's bewitching. But then you realize that no one's voice is that HUGE. It's just unnatural, and at these prices and this level of committment, I want truth.

Hey Patmatt: Sorry to see you lump Newforms with other ribbons and electrostats. After 10+ years with both, I don't find your truth to be mine. But that's hi-fi.

I'm grateful for the input; please keep it coming. I'm not much given to relying on opinions from owners' groups--they have a vested interest in liking what they bought. And the opinions offered on sites like audioreview often lack weight and expertise.

I'm not a fanatic for pinpoint imaging. I don't hear that in the concert hall and I don't need to hear it at home. My concern is for absolute crystal clarity and lucidity in the midrange. I don't have to know precisely where the second desk violins are sitting but I absolutely have to know what sound they are making. I don't need to be able to spot the stool the guitarist is sitting on within 10cm but I do need to hear every overtone off the E string.

The issue at hand is only Newforms so please let's not get off into a wrangle about Maggies and Quads and MLs and the virtues of estats versus dynamics. All worthy topics but I need expert advice.

Go out and listen; Take a 30day trial.And quit telling people "what" you want to hear in their replys.If you ask-- you gotta take what they give you. Speakers sound different with different amps etc.

What a stupid post:

"I'm not much given to relying on opinions from owners' groups--they have a vested interest in liking what they bought."

I own 645's and my experience is just the opposite of Travis'.

They are one of the best speakers I have ever heard at any price, and I can assure you, I can afford whatever I want. I wouldn't possibly keep these speakers if they weren't great and your attitude toward the Yahoo group is condescending. There are many audiophiles there who own a lot of high-end equipment. Maybe you should hang out there a while and make your mind up based on experience rather than pre-conceived notions.