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

I never owned them, but tested every model in their line for about 2 years now, everytime I go the shop,,,I cannot get into their sound unless its the larger model with the treated paper scan speak drivers...the name escapes me...

They always feel like there is a curtain in front of them...does that mean recessed midrange?

Do you mean the Blue Herons? the first version?
I have the Shearwaters and it has the paper scanspeak...
I don't experience the "curtain" feeling, just that they are a laid back sound, that's for sure!
So, what do you own Jsujo?

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.