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

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.

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...