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Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 6.00 votes

Price Paid:  $1516.00 from direct

Summary:
The reviews of the Newform Research speakers here are always glowing, and for good reason. They are, at first listening, very good speakers. The need for a critical and objective evaluation is highly overdue. Because no speaker is perfect, and the NFRs are no exception, it’s necessary to clearly identify their plusses and minuses. I find myself terribly torn over these speakers. Their strong points are quite strong--—their weaknesses so very disappointing. They are not worth twice their price. I’ve heard speakers for less that are as good or better, and speakers for twice that beat them hands down. The Newform ribbons are fast, detailed, and produce a large soundstage, both tall and wide. This alone will spoil anyone who has heard them or anything similar in character such as electrostatics, planar-magnetics, or Heil AMTs. The transients are very good as well as the dynamics. Spoken voices are distinct and easily understood. The wide dispersion of the ribbons provides a broad listening area. Imaging is good. The mid/bass is tight. The bass extension, though dropping off rapidly below 50hz, is well defined, but they do need a good subwoofer to complete the low end. In these areas the NFR 630s excel. Their strengths certainly deserve 4 stars. The ribbons, however, have a serious Achilles’ Heel. Nowhere has this been mentioned except for one review I stumbled across doing a web search, http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_4_1/newform.html. There is a clearly audible distortion problem primarily in the 1000-1500 hz range. This is obviously heard with a sine wave (between 800 hz – 4000 hz) and with a 500-2K white noise signal starting at a sound pressure level as low as 70 db. It occurs in all the NFR ribbons I’ve listened to including 3 of the 8" and 3 of the 30", but is not consistent from one ribbon to the next. Some produce the distortion at lower levels, and some it’s more or less audible. It appears to be inherent in the design. (I’ve also heard a similar issue with Martin Logan electrostatics, but to a far lesser degree.) Pressing on the frame around the ribbons can increase or decrease the ‘ringing,’ but never eliminates it. With music, it’s less audible, yet that depends on other factors. Busy music with many instruments playing, such as full orchestra or large jazz ensemble, will often cover it. Exposed passages with few voices, acoustic music, or soloists, will allow it to be prominently audible. It’s particularly noticeable on solo piano and vibraphone, and other instruments that play in the 1-1.5k range, such as flute, clarinet, and soprano sax. It also seems to require somewhat higher SPLs to be audible with music, 80 db or better; however, it does not have to be loud for it to occur. I’ve even noticed it at relatively low volume. Other problems I’ve noticed are in the mid/bass cabinet. One of my 630s will buzz in a narrow frequency range, around 300 hz. Squeezing the sides of the cabinet up by the mid/bass driver will stop the buzz. Again, this is only audible in exposed passages and indicates a lack of quality control in the cabinet. Another reviewer had alignment problems with the screws between the foot-board and the cabinet; so did I. These sloppy construction and manufacturing problems are inexcusable with speakers in this price range, and indicate a lack of attention to details. Also, at times, the transition between the mid/bass to the ribbons is audible as a musical line of an individual instrument runs from its lower register to the upper register going through the crossover and its sound likewise runs up from the mid/bass to the ribbon. It’s a weird effect. Imaging is somewhat unstable at times—which may be attributable to the integration between the mid/bass and ribbon. After two years of listening to the R630s and several months auditioning other speakers, they still stand out from the crowd in their price range in many respects. I’ve auditioning Magnepan, Martin Logan, Thiel, and Piega in my search for a speaker that is fast, detailed, and above all, clean. In this search, I realize how well the overall design of the Newforms are. Newforms are energetic, if not overtly forward, but just when they are really showing their stuff, as with simple acoustic music, this is exactly when their flaws are most exposed and intolerable, especially the ‘ringing.’ The NFRs leave me very disappointed. NFRs could be great speakers and a great value. As they are, all things considered, they only deserve a 3 star rating. For anyone thinking of buying them, you should be well advised. I’m replacing mine because I can no longer tolerate the distortion.

Strengths:
fast treble, tight bass

Weaknesses:
treble distortion, ribbon-mid/bass integration

Stliong

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Price Paid:  $1500.00 from Direct

Summary:
Even after the recent major price change, these speakers are still what could be the very best things on the market. 5 out of 5 without reservation. I have not had a guest or an audiophile who doesnt fall in love with the sound. Heck, if I would have to relocate to another continent, I'd haul these over other belongings. For many people these would probably be the last set of speakers they own.

Strengths:
transparency, openness, imaging. Realism comes to mind. It's just so pristine clean to the ears.

Weaknesses:
Lower extension but unless you're a picky listener or have a large room you probably don't need one. That's for the R645 anyway. There is also only one cabinet finish to choose. Need more colors. Crossover can probably be improved to provide more linear response but I'm no engineer.

Similar Products Used:
Most of the highest most expensive brands out there. Though moving to digital everything.

Price Paid:  $0.00 from direct

Summary:
The most difficult part was the blind direct purchase. Thanks to the other review writers which eased my decision. From that point forward it was just great. After 3rd day 1. break in - Mids and Bass. after 3 weeks 2. break in - deep Bass

Strengths:
horizontal dispersion is unbelievable

Weaknesses:
for someone might be shape, for me they just gain the respect

Similar Products Used:
for this price - nothing to compare with

Price Paid:  $1300.00 from .com

Summary:
These are without a doubt in the top range of speakers. There are thousands of speaker companies with so many diff. ways of producing sound that there's no way anyone can say this or that is the best speaker ever, but if you have a typical sized HT room, lots of air to put around these babies, and a solid sub (like SVS for a matching bargain/yet super high quality example), you'll have an excellent stereo or with two pair 4.1 set up that'll stand up against anything.
Can I say they're the best I've ever heard. Not really.
I could never afford $20K Revel's or B&W's to hear how they compare side by side with the Newforms, but neither have a dome tweeter that's as fast as this ribbon, and doubtfully more detailed since speed is so tied to detail.
They both go lower than the Newforms (the 630 goes very low though!), but then again I, like most of us, use a sub in my set up, and both Revel and B&W make subs to match their top speaks so they clearly think you also need a sub for their speakers too.
It's become a running joke here it seems to say "can't buy better for 2-3 times the price", but compared to almost every store bought, marked up, cheaper driver, speakers it's true.
I can name a few companies that COULD be as good a deal as the Newforms (Norh, B-G radias, Monsoon planars, Diva Swans), but since they're all mostly only online available and I haven't bought 'em I can't say they're better or worse. Looking at the specs and details of these models I still choose the Newforms, and no regrets even after a year (and for electronics, that's a lifetime!!)

Strengths:
Incredible detail. Huge open soundstage. Perfect blend of one of the best drivers in the world (Scan-Speak 8545) and amazing Newform ribbon. No center channel needed. Value blows away every B&M store speaker.

Weaknesses:
I'm 5' 8" and that seems about the limit for how tall you can be and not have the treble begin to drop off. I have no probs. with it.
I'd like to see them with some wood vaneer cabinets. Light Maple and Dark Cherry would be smart I'd think. Maybe just the option for the face? That wouldn't cost too much to do. Oh, just wait we could all do that ourselves -heh

Similar Products Used:
Listened to Maggies 1.6 (didn't like 'em at all. Flat UN-dynamic. No bass. microsweet spot), Matin Logan's up to the Prodigys (love 'em but they weren't any better than the Newforms and you can't buy M-L for the Newform's price), Revel Studios and Salons and B&W's top 80X models (loved both the Revels and B&W's, but I'd buy a 2nd Miata first!)

Price Paid:  $1516.00 from Manufacturer

Summary:
I've had them for about a month now.

-well packed, don't worry about buying by mail. You are going to hate them if you have to move.

-Solidly constructed from an engineering perspective. Seems as if some thought has gone into making a high performance speaker while still being able to cut costs to deliver a VERY competitive price. You aren't going to find gorgeous machined fittings and terribly clever concealing mechanisms etc. Then again you won't be paying for them either.

I didn't find anything about the construction that would compromise performance but there were several details that were a bit disappointing. In advance I should point out that this IS a very good, very high performance loudspeaker but thought I would temper some of the rather gushing comments here by making note of the fact that you get what you pay for. Some manufacturers will give you great cabinetry and mediocre components. Newform gives you fantastic components and ...

1. The veneer job was a bit sloppy, especially at corner joins and there were several spots where small amounts of adhesive had spilled out and were smeared.

2. The speakers are shipped without the bases being attached. You are expected to screw on the bases. The bases have pre-drilled holes and the bottom of the cabinets have matching holes...except mine didn't exactly match ...I had to angle the screws in a bit and it was quite a job. Also, the attachment to the cabinets is simply wood screws into the cabinet. This seems a bit sloppy. I would suggest that future models have the bases attached at the factory or that a better joining method be used. The bases had nice countersunk female holes for the included spikes.

3. The ribbons' protective screen is secured by what seems to be a black plastic frame. Some type of black silicone or rubber caulking is applied behind the frame and it looks like some had oozed out and smeared a bit. The fact that the wiring to the ribbons is external may bother some people but I happen to think it looks pretty cool. The ribbons themselves perform so well that I would really be intrigued if they were paired w/ some custom cabinets.

Like I said, you get what you pay for. None of the above mentioned details compromise the performance of the speakers but it is kind of disappointing that you can't get it ALL for a bargain. You didn't think you were going to get huge ribbons, ScanSpeak drivers, Nordost wiring AND Sonus Faber construction for $1500 did you?

The ribbons themselves are MASSIVE pieces. Very solid and sound fantastic. It is pointed out in the literature that these disperse horizontally very well but don't disperse vertically at all. This means that unlike Magnepans you can sit anywhere on the couch that you want to...just don't stand up or slouch down too much. They are still a serious sit down and listen loudspeaker.

Right now I am feeling that the listening position is pretty strict but I am still experimenting w/ placement. However, when you are in the spot...they are SWEET! Make damn sure that you are ready for a sit down and listen loudspeaker before you buy. In, retrospect, I'm not entirely convinced that I was ready for this. There are still some aspects of a spherically(technically I guess that would be a half-sphere) radiating driver that I miss a bit.

Overall, you have to applaud Newform for the ability to construct something like this and sell it for a song. If you were going to buy something with these kind of components in a retail store you can be certain that you would be paying at least 3 times as much if not a hell of a lot more. It isn't the Holy Grail but it gets you a lot closer than anything else I can think of for $1500.

Strengths:
Ribbons, high quality components for a bargain price

Weaknesses:
looks(kinda), finish