Newform Research R645 Floorstanding Speakers
Newform Research R645 Floorstanding Speakers
[Oct 18, 1999]
Christopher Brodersen
Audio Enthusiast
I first became active as an audio “hobbyist” in the mid ‘60s, when I put together some Dynaco equipment during my freshman year in college. Since then, I’ve gone through many different systems, with multiple representatives from the three “food groups” (dynamic, electrostatic and planar-magnetic), many in the form of DIY projects. |
[Feb 09, 1999]
Russell Lichter
an Audiophile
Music for me is a source of pleasure and wisdom. And a good stereo makes it relatively easy to submerge myself into the illusion of live music. Depending. There are days it does not pay to try. When I was in the market to upgrade loudspeakers from my KEF 101s, I was careful not to sojourn to high end stores on such days, lending a certain degree of psychological consistency at least to my auditioning. |
[Aug 27, 2001]
Jack P.
Casual Listener
Strength:
imaging, center focus, vivid and natural mids, smooth and balanced highs, tight bass
Weakness:
bass below 40 I was going to wait until I had tweeked the positioning of these speakers and upgraded my cables before submitting a review, but after reading the prior review, I felt I should go ahead and put in my $.02 worth. Similar Products Used: legacy signiture III, focus |
[Jul 25, 2000]
mark ongg
Audiophile
Strength:
As an audiophile personal service by John Meyer (he owner)is very appreciated. He really go out his way to answer questions you will throw at him.
Weakness:
Not a pleasing looking speaker. I think he is an engineer and I think he need a desinger like to to make it more pleasing to eyes. After all it will be part of the permanent furniture in the room and important pieces due to its size and appearance. . This is the first speaker I heard that was able to blend the characters. Believe me because I own Maggies, Apogee, B&W before I came across with this speaker. It does not take up the space like the planars but it need free space around it. I have mine set about 4 ft away from back and side wall. At this combination you are in for a full soundstge wider than the speaker location. The sound often times sound its coming outside of the speaker and the depth of sound stage is also awesome. You really can hear Frank Sinatra singing in front and the band is at his back and I can even hear tier of the band member sits. Well if you are not impress by this wait until you hear vocals!!. It really will knock your feet off. It sound so real that you think the artist is right infront of you when you close your eyes. Similar Products Used: none |
[Oct 29, 2000]
Richard
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
dynamic range, easy to drive, easy to modify, incredible value, and of course, the sound.
Weakness:
Earthquake safety? I looked at many reviews in this site for what I'd consider good speakers. All of B&W Nautilus, Legacy, Tannoy, Magnepan, Vandersteen, Thiel, Dunlavy (not in any particular order). I admit that I didn't look through all of them. I don't have that kind of time. From the ones I looked at, I couldn't find a SINGLE reviewer for these other fine speakers who mentions Newform. On the other hand, many reviewers of Newform speakers have listened to or owned many other fine speakers. I have nothing against these other speakers. Well, okay, I do. $11,000 for what? $23,995 for THAT? And I never found Martin Logans sound appealing for some reason. You can come up with a reason why all the reviews are one-way. For me, I wouldn't have given Magnepan 1.6QRs the review I did if I heard these before them. Similar Products Used: Magnepan 1.6, 3.6, Martin Logan SL3, Snell, B&W, Vandersteen (I think it was anyway), and some others I can't remember. |
[Aug 23, 1999]
R Farner
an Audiophile
Well after having my 645's for only one week now this review may be a little premature. I have noticed an improvement in sound quailty as each day goes by so they might not be up to their full potential yet as far as being fully broken in yet. I am just so excited & satisfied with there preformance that I couldn't wait to pass the word on to anyone looking for speakers in this price range, or well above it for that matter. Having owned Celestion SL 600's & SL 700si's, Thiel 3.5, Martin Logan Aerius's & B&W 801's I can finally say I have found what I have been looking for with the 645's. Being a musician I am well aware of what sounds real & am very picky about getting that sound right at home. These are the most natural sounding speakers I have owned. |
[Oct 19, 2000]
Doug Best
Audiophile
Strength:
soundstage, dynamic range, efficiency, balance, accuracy, value.
Weakness:
can't find any I first heard recorded classical music in the late forties and first heard a large orchestra live in the fifties, falling in love with classical music in the process. Since becoming a teenager I have been on a quest to have the best system I could afford. As you can see from my list of similar products, I have owned some truly fine and cutting edge affordable speakers. All had really good strengths. None, at least with the equipment I could afford, could play with the dynamic range I require for the sense of scale of the music I love. (Opera, organ and chorus and full orchestra. "Power Music". The Newform Research R645's can. Similar Products Used: original Quads, Acoustat X, Acoustat 2+2, Magneplaner 3a |
[Apr 25, 2000]
Wayne Hartford
Audiophile
Strength:
Transparency
Weakness:
I don't think they would fare well in an earthquake I've had these speakers in my system for 4 months and now feel educated enough to write a review. I have always considered hybrid and planer speakers to produce, in most respects, the most appealing sound. But my amp only produces 35 watts, so speaker efficiency is a big consideration. At 92db the 645's are the most efficient hybrid I'm aware of. Since Newform Research only sells "factory direct", buying a pair is the only practical way to audition them. Although they offer a money back guarantee, the buyer is responsible for return shipping costs. But in the big picture, $200 to hear them in my room with my equipment wasn't a big deal. Similar Products Used: Too many to list. |
[May 29, 2000]
Lawrence Volpe
Audiophile
Strength:
Lifelike transparency, holographic imaging, superb rendition of live music, excellent dynamics, high sensitivity, non-critical placement for optimum sound, top-notch customer support, and all at a phenomenal price.
Weakness:
very likely to have low WAF (wife acceptance factor becuase of the high tech look of the 45" tall narrow ribbon structure. Right out of the starting gate, these speakers are the absolute, runaway steal of the millenium. I have been around live music all of my life; countless concerts beginning in 1956 at the tender age of 17, nightclub performances, piano recitals galore, big band jazz, classical symphonics, big band jazz rehearsals, acoustic classical guitar and most importantly, around piano music. Since I was a youngster, my older brother began playing classical piano when I was 7 and continued right on through college, earning his masters from the Eastman School of Music in our hometown of Rochester, NY. He is a consummate classical pianist extraordinaire, and I've probably logged thousands of hours listening to him play when I was growing up. I know what live, unmicrophoned music sounds like, especially the dynamic range of a large jazz band and the nuances of range in a Steinway grand that my brother played for decades, and is yet playing. The Newform Research 645's come hauntingly close to the real thing, folks. Rather than take my word, try them out yourself and unless you've got a tin ear, you won't be letting these babies out of your sight. The sound images float in space. The effortless clarity, even at very high levels, is like a glimpse of heaven. Awesome transparency. And for substantial reasons. This 45" tall ribbon is not only extremely narrow with rounded edges to eliminate any diffraction effects, but it's built like a proverbial tank with a very heavy magnetic structure, weighing approximately one pound per inch of height. The ribbon membrane is as light as a feather amidst an extremely powerful magnetic field. The crossover occurs at 1000 hz which makes for incredible power handling and lifelike dynamics. And what did the inventor, John Meyers use for the range below 1000hz? Only the very best midrange/woofers on the planet: the ScansSpeak 8545's. Two of them per enclosure. Try pricing out these drivers. They'll set you back approximately $143 each, and they're well worth it. To put the frosting on the cake, try integrating this killer speaker system with a good, amplified subwoofer, such as a Velodyne. Set the crossover at 40 hz and you'll have it all. And I mean all. The 645's go respectably low with accuracy, but they can't match the necessary foundation that a good sub provides. Try it out and hear what real lifelike sound reproduction is all about. And to you, John Meyers, we music lovers owe you a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Similar Products Used: Have owned numerous stereo component systems since 1964; included have been speakers such as Bose 901's, ESS Heil air motion transformers, M & K satellites with 18" Velodyne subwoofer, and large full range electrostatics which had a curved panel, were 7' tall and weighed 200 lbs. each |
[Jun 22, 2000]
Robert Wohlers
Audiophile
Strength:
Transparency, Details, Smoothness, Tight bass, very articulate across the spectrum. Also - great value
Weakness:
Only very low bass missing - augmentation with good subwoofer below 50 Hz yields state-of-the-art performance. My R645's are installed and setup within a dedicated listening room. I am currently using a Cary SLP94 pre-amplifier along with a 65 watt/channel Cary SLA-70B Signature amplifier. A first order passive line level high pass filter sits between the pre-amplifier and amplifier with a crossover point of 55 Hz. I also use a powered subwoofer with a 3rd order crossover set at 50 Hz. Cables are Tara Reference interconnects and bi-wired Kimber 8TC. No analog (next on my list). CD's played on a Cary player used as a transport, an Assemblage Ultra-Jitter Bug digital conditioner and an Assemblage 2.5 DAC with parts upgrade. The listening room is 16 ft. x 15 ft. x 8 ft., is fairly well damped with substantial acoustical damping in all corners and on the side and rear walls (behind the listening position). The rears of the R645's are placed 48 inches from the front wall while the outer sides are about 40 inches from the side walls. The R645 centers are approximately 8 ft. apart with the listening chair also placed 8 ft. from each center. Large resistive bass traps are located in the front corners of the room. The sub-woofer is located behind the right R645 at a specific position to minimize standing waves (minimize room modes). Similar Products Used: Not used, but heard - Maggies, Martin-Logans. Previous speakers - Coincident Super Conquests. |