NewForm Research R-630 Brochure

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction ...........................................................................1

Design Philosophy & Pure Audio vs. Home Theatre..................2

Technology................................................................................3

Frequency Response Charts.........................................................4

Room Optimizer ............................................................................5

Room Examples................................................................................6

System Set-Up ....................................................................................7

Model Specifics & Getting it Right in your Room ...................................8

Electronics.................................................................................................9

Factory Direct Economics 101.....................................................................10

The Right Speaker...........................................................................................11

Our Guarantee ....................................................................................................12

Newform Research produces an array of finished loudspeaker systems and kits all based around our new

technology Ribbon midrange/tweeters. These new drivers capture the transparency, openness and detail

of the classic design Ribbon and electrostatic speakers while being far less demanding in terms of

placement and specialized and expensive amplification.

Our Ribbon speaker systems are suitable for virtually any home application from

dedicated high end, pure audio to very musical home theater systems. Whatever

the size or application, Newform systems all share the dynamics, smoothness

and musicality which are hallmarks of our new Ribbon technology.

From the R58 to No Holds Barred Ultra, our loudspeakers offer superb

fidelity and soundstaging previously available only from vastly more

expensive and less practical designs. For those new to upscale

audio, the sound will be a revelation. Experienced audiophiles,

used to mortgage like price points, will be astonished at how

affordable the state-of-the-art has finally become. All users can

obtain excellent results very easily and very quickly.

Newform Research loudspeaker systems have been widely

reviewed and highly praised in numerous international

audio publications. The bare Ribbons themselves are being

integrated into systems and custom manufacturers in

many parts of the world. This brochure covers a

comprehensive range of topics from the fundamental

advantages of Ribbon drivers to product applications to

setup suggestions for your specific room. It will answer
many of your questions. For those it doesn’t, please

phone, fax, e-mail or write and we will do our best to
help you identify your optimal solution in the rapidly
changing world of high fidelity in the home.

TECHNICAL OVERVIEW 1999

For Model Specifics see our 10 page Product Brochure, “The Starting Lineup”

R645

R630

NHB 45

R58

HIGH RESOLUTION AUDIO

The Technology behind the Music

Cathy - Proof #5 22/09/99

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY PURE AUDIO VS HOME THEATER

NATURAL RANGE LOUDSPEAKERS

The Newform Research family of Ribbon loudspeakers was
developed around a very simple goal: don’t compensate for
errors, eliminate them. This required a clean sheet design of
Ribbon drivers with broader ranges, smoother frequency
response and more ideal dispersion than either conventional
dome/box speakers or existing planar designs could offer.

Our wide bandwidth Ribbons cover both the critical mid-range
and treble allowing the woofer to operate within its natural
range where its distortion is the lowest, dispersion is the
widest and frequency response is the smoothest. Operating in
its natural range, a woofer stays quick and clean enabling it to
fully complement the transparency of the Ribbon.

Why Ribbon drivers?With extremely low mass and driven
over their entire diaphragm area, Ribbon drivers avoid many of
the problems inherent in their cone and dome siblings. Not
only do cones and domes have greater mass, they have far less
directly driven area, (the apex of the cone and the perimeter
of the dome) with which to achieve perfect control. Ribbon
drivers are also inherently phase coherent over their entire
bandwidth which is a major contributor to their ability to
reveal a tremendous amount of the music’s inner detail.

Why Newform Ribbons?The Newform design is a modern,
clean sheet design benefiting from both 20/20 hindsight on
30 years of film driver development and a clear vision of future
applications beyond pure 2 channel audio. The Newform
Ribbon is a wide dispersion monopole (sound emanates from
only the front) whereas all other panel (film) speakers are
narrow dispersion dipoles with sound emanating from both
front and rear (dipolar). This is of major importance in both
room setup and any move to surround sound.

The Newform diaphragm is very narrow (3/4”) and is
positioned at the front of a swept-back magnet structure,
minimizing diffraction and baffle bounce, thereby improving
soundstage depth and focus. The inner detail of the music is
then free to emerge. Newform Ribbons are higher
impedance, easier loads than the older designs which
significantly reduces the stress on the amplifier and these new
technology Ribbons deliver the dynamics that the music
demands. In addition our Ribbons offer superb fidelity and
soundstaging that will fully involve you with the music and
lower the entrance fee for true high fidelity in terms of both
equipment costs and listening room requirements. Those who
have experienced the transparency and musical truth of the
classic design panel speakers will never be satisfied with a
conventional dome system again. Now, with the practicality of
the Newform Ribbon, music lovers can have the fidelity they
cherish in a system that accommodates their room, electronics
and future home entertainment trends.

A RIBBON FOR EVERY APPLICATION

Newform makes Ribbon drivers in four different sizes; 3”, 8”,
30” and 45”. This array of Ribbons provides an ideal solution
for virtually every application that home audio installations are
likely to involve. The benefits of the larger Ribbons are found
in the areas of sensitivity, maximum output, depth of
soundstage and vertical coverage. The smaller Ribbons offer a
wider range of placement and decor integration options.
Whatever size of Newform Ribbon you select, be assured the
clarity, smoothness and musicality will remain consistent.

In the future, a home theater system will be a superb audio
system played in conjunction with video. Pure audio will be
the same system with the video turned off. Home Theater will
be the path that will lead many future audiophiles back to
music. Although home theater and pure audio have been
polar opposites in the past, they are certain to merge with
enormous benefits to both audiophiles and neophytes.

Dolby Digital, DTS and the new high-end audio standards for
DVD are the technologies which will give a focused vision to
both audio and home theater providing a clear upgrade path
that is reconnecting the high end of audio with the mass
market. Dolby Digital and DTS produce 5 full range, fully
discreet channels plus a sub channel. They represent a move
to full, high fidelity surround sound while the high end audio
standard (96kHz/24 bit for now) approaches the fidelity of
master tapes.
intended for use with mono-pole speakerssince the back
wave of a bi-polar arrives 5 to 15 milliseconds after its front
wave. This delay in arrival will degrade soundfield coherence
and the source localization effects.

Newform Ribbon speaker systems are designed with the both
pure audio and home theater environments in mind. Using
R630s or R645s as the front left and right may make subs
unnecessary for many people. For home theater the ideal
speakers will be tall to match the size of our growing screens,
narrow, to minimize diffraction and minimize decor and
placement problems. These systems must have very high
definition to exploit the large improvements in recording and
production techniques which are now being broadly
implemented.

Precise time arrival, broad horizontal dispersion and
transparency are the factors which contribute to a a focused,
coherent soundstage and true high fidelity. Newform Ribbon
systems meet all of the sonic requirements demanded by both
2 and 5 channel formats. Also of critical importance when
building a system, is the mix and match capability of our
Ribbon speakers since they all have the same sonic
characteristics and similar dispersion patterns. An excellent
soundfield can be set up in surround systems without a centre
channel speaker. Set up the Ribbons for a great soundstage
and then select the “Phantom” mode (centre off) on your
processor. For most people, eliminating the centre channel will
produce a more coherent, more natural soundfield. Have the
speakers as far away from the TV (large reflective surface) as
possible. Always make sure the seated listener’s head is in the
“sweet strata”. A great soundstage in audio makes for a
coherent soundfield in video. Optimize first in stereo since it is
easier to identify the best setup. Newform Ribbons produce a
coherent, vertically directional waveform, naturally, with no
cancellations to limit soundstage degrading ceiling and floor
reflections. Whatever the format true fidelity and musicality
are the ultimate objectives.

The Dolby Digital and DTS specs are clearly

BUYING STRATEGY TIPS

Given the onslaught of digital technology don’t spend large
amounts of money on amps, processors and speaker cables. Why?
These are about to be taken over by digital technology which
means better performance at half the price every 12 months. This
also applies to video projectors and line doublers. See our website
www.newformresearch.com for a digital amplifier perspective.

THE RIGHT SPEAKER

You have probably purchased quite a
number of stereo components in your
lifetime. You know your musical tastes
and your aesthetic requirements. Using
the Newform R630 as a central
reference point of value, performance
and simplicity, let’s see where we go
from there to satisfy other priorities.

MORE BASS

Only a very good sub will improve the
on the bass performance of the R630.
The big Paradigms, HSU, M&K, Bag
End and the larger Velodynes are a few
examples.

HIGHER OUTPUT

No Holds Barred Ultra, R645
and NHB 45

HIGHER EFFICIENCY

NHB ULTRA, R645 or NHB 45 with one
of the powered subs above.

SPEAKERS THAT CAN’T
BE SEEN EVEN WHERE
THEY’RE OFF

Newform Ribbons disappear when the
music is on. If you still don’t want to
see them when the music is off, it
sounds like a custom job. Call us.

Since all Newform loudspeakers share
the same transient capabilities,
horizontal dispersion and timbral
balance, there is a tremendous family
resemblance in their sonic character.
This is a critical consideration when
expanding into a 4 or 5 channel system
where soundfield coherence is
dependent on the integration
capabilities of all of the loudspeakers.
The mix and match capability is so great
with our Ribbon systems, the only
limitation is physical fit and SPL output
requirements. Otherwise, any of our
systems can be put in any location. This
improves flexibility and eliminates the
possibility of wasted expenditure. Every
audio system and every person is
different. Keep in mind that helpful,
expert advice is only as far away as your
telephone, fax or keyboard.

How do you pick the right speaker
system? Start by thinking about your
music. Understand how you listen and
the room you will be listening in and the
right speaker choice will become clear
to you.

The Right Loudspeaker

for your music,

for your ears,

in your room.

SPEAKERS THAT CAN BE PUT
NEXT TO THE TV.

Don’t do it unless you have no other
choice because of strong reflections off
the TV screen. Standing Module 30s
with a shielded Vifa.

SURROUNDS

The R630 and the R645 will allow you
to avoid a rear sub in a surround
system.

GREATER HEIGHT

Do you like to walk around when you
listen? Then the R645 or NHB 45 are
for you.

A REALLY BIG ROOM

If you want to “Light Up” a room of
over 400 sq. ft., then you will need a
sub-woofer and possibly the
R645 or NHB 45.

R58

R630

NHB 45

R645

THE ECONOMICS OF BUYING FACTORY DIRECT

OWNER COMMENTS

I would like to congratulate you on your
Ribbon design. I have never heard
reproduced music like this before. Details,
details, more details.

L.L. Florida

The imaging is remarkable. I shall forbear a
rhapsody in the awful style of
“Stereophile”: sufficient to say that one can
hear separate voices in the choir on the
Bach B Minor Mass we have.

D.B. Colorado

The imaging and detail from these Ribbon
speakers is stunning.

R.B. Manilla

My R8-1-30 continues to be a great
pleasure and the strong point of my stereo
set-up. Let me tell you about the sound.
It’s wonderful.

J.R. Buffalo

Thanks again for a superb product. They
make me just listen to the music again.

L.S. Nova Scotia

I have had my speakers since March and
they are superb!! I am constantly stunned
by their imaging and clarity.

mg Cyberspace

After 10 years of trying, your Ribbons have
finally gotten rid of the “squonk”
(“box sound”).

Thank you! D.A

I finally ended up keeping the R8-1-30s at
the front and moving the Quads to the rear.

NJ

These (R8-1-30s) are great loudspeakers
and I don’t mean just for the money.

About a year ago I bought a pair of R8-1s
and couldn’t have been more pleased.
Now I am thinking about a pair of NHB
Essentials.

The Standing Mod 30s and Sub 1 we
purchased last January are just fine. So fine
that several colleagues have indicated
interest in obtaining their own.

I just love these speakers (R8-2). I have
rediscovered music after 15 years. Last
night my teenagers came downstairs at
12:30 and yelled at me to turn it down.
I also want to thank you again for your
patient advice regarding my hifi setup.

Another testimonial that counts is the used
speaker market place. Try buying a used
pair of Newforms. It is next to impossible
because there are hundreds of owners out
there who aren’t selling. Find out why they
feel they can’t improve on their Newform
Ribbons. Also check the audioreview.com
owner reviews.

VALUE VS. COST

The benefits of New Technology
Sold Factory Direct

The high end audio industry is continuing
to undergo many changes. At the retail
level, high end dealers are continuing to
disappear while custom installers are
thriving. People are looking for verifiable
performance, not fads.

The dealers are being hurt by a changing
market and by being undercut by mail
order operations. In many cases, it doesn’t
pay them to demonstrate products to
individuals who aren’t doing business with
them already. This corrosive atmosphere is
clearly leading to a mutual loss of
confidence in the dealer / high end
manufacturers relationship.

With the decline of Asia as a vital market,
these manufacturers are urgently looking
for more stable, expanding channels of
distribution. Many are examining direct
sales and we at Newform have been asked
by many companies recently about the ins
and outs of this approach.

Some are putting a toe in the water of
factory direct sales with refurbished,
cosmetically damaged or low end product
sold over the web. However, the reality is
that you either sell through dealers or you
sell direct. You can’t do both effectively
and responsibly.

Newform Research is very small but very
healthy. We spend far more on product
development than we do on advertising
and promotion.

This is possible for a direct sales
manufacturer but not for dealer based
distribution. We price our product on a
cost up basis not on a list price down basis.
The list prices we show in our price list and
in the various audio equipment directories
(“Almanacs” for you, AIG) are strictly
nominal. In fact, if we had to sell product
through a dealer network (never mind a
dealer/distributor network) our list prices
would have to jump substantially above
those listed on the last page to allow for
heavier promotion, bad debts (a biggie)
and wildly extended payment times.

An indication of how the true factory direct
cost structure stacks up against that of
normal retail distribution can be seen
clearly in our models using the renowned
ScanSpeak 8545 carbon fibre pulp cone
mid-bass. There are virtually no systems
using this superb driver listing below $3000
per pair. Even at much higher prices the
high frequency driver is an off-the-shelf
dome (although almost certainly of very
high quality). Contrast this with the R630
which costs $1516 per pair delivered and
includes a very large and very expensive
30” Ribbon.

You will continue to see many small
companies adopting the factory direct
approach. Some larger companies will
attempt the conversion as well but it is a lot
harder to grow down than it is to grow up.
The high end audio industry is continuing
to live in interesting times but we feel that
whatever may happen, the flight from fads
towards value will continue.

The bottom line is:don’t pass over our
loudspeakers simply because they cost far
less than what you would expect to pay.
Our loudspeakers will stand-up to anything
on the planet in terms of soundstaging,
transparency and musicality regardless of
price.

THE NEW 1 YEAR 100 %
TRADE-IN UPGRADE POLICY

Concerned that you might not end up with
the right loudspeaker? Maybe you are
buying too much speaker, maybe not
enough. Maybe its just plain not
appropriate anymore. What about the
cost of upgrading?

To take some of the worry and risk out of
buying loudspeakers, Newform is offering a
1 year 100% trade-in policy. If you buy a
Newform product and decide you want to
step up, Newform will apply 100% of the
original purchase price to the new
speakers. A $50 handling fee applies and
you must pay return freight on your trade­ins.

This can apply to any product except bare
RIbbons and kits. All shipping, taxes, duties
etc. are included as usual. This will allow
audiophiles to buy the minimum they think
they might need and upgrade if they feel
they need to do so up to a year later. Since
Newform owners tend to hold on to their
speakers for a long time, depreciation is not
really a big issue here. The upgrade policy
is designed to make sure you settle down
painlessly with the right speaker for the
long haul.

TECHNOLOGY

Loudspeakers are merely air pumps. The speaker with the
greatest fidelity is the air pump producing the fewest
errors. (room interactions aside). Film drivers have the
greatest potential for making the fewest errors given their
low mass and virtually 100% driven diaphragm. The low
mass and excellent diaphragm control can also produce
the near absence of diaphragm resonances which is a
major source of harshness and listening fatigue in cone
and dome drivers.

The Newform Ribbons take film drivers to their next level
by eliminating the well known problems of classic designs
and taking advantage of new advances in our
understanding of what constitutes true high fidelity to the
human ear. Our new technology Ribbons improve on
existing Ribbon and electrostatic designs by representing
high, purely resistive loads that any amplifier can drive to
the best of its ability. At the same time, the higher
sensitivity further reduces amplifier stress and allows the
greater dynamics of our systems to be exploited. Newform
Ribbons provide extremely smooth and extended
frequency response with unmatched horizontal dispersion.

Why do our new designs compare so well to the classic
electrostatic and Ribbon designs? Newform Ribbons have
narrow (3/4”), tightly suspended diaphragms that
inherently provide extremely good horizontal dispersion.
As one of our kit customers pointed out, “Newform
Ribbons simply store less energy than any other design I
have heard.” The less stored energy, the cleaner the sound.
Once we have exploited the benefits of film diaphragms to
create a superior soundwave, there is the question of
delivering that wave to the listener’s ears with maximum
integrity.

Diffraction is a critical performance factor. Our Ribbons
have the smallest acoustic profile of any driver operating
from l kHz up. When it comes to acoustic profile, the less
you see, the more you hear. The entire structure is only
3-1/4” wide and 2-1/4” deep. It is heavily beveled at the
front and the diaphragm is within 1/8” of the front of the
structure. Given the narrow width of the diaphragm
(dispersion is a function of diaphragm width and
wavelength), there is very little to interfere with extremely
even off-axis response.

Conventional system manufacturers are coming to this
conclusion as well as can be seen by the emergence of
systems in the higher end featuring dome arrays. These
arrays produce cancellation patterns which effectively
reduce vertical dispersion. Newform Ribbons produce a
naturally limited radiation pattern which does not rely on
cancellation patterns for vertical control (see diagrams on
page 4). These spectral delay plots illustrate why Newform
Ribbons have such a transparent character. The more
quickly the sound decays, the cleaner the sound and
greater the ability to define subtleties in the music.

What the Ribbon design does for our mid-bass drivers is
also extremely important. By crossing over at such a low
frequency, the Ribbons allow the mid-bass drivers to
operate within their natural range, before resonant cone
breakup and beaming degrade both on and off-axis
response. With conventional systems, crossover points are
above 2 kHz and as high as 3.5kHz. These high crossover
points move cone breakup into the audible zone no matter
how complicated the crossover and create large off-axis
suck-outs which severely degrade the focus of the
soundstage and mask detail.

•Narrowest acoustic profile

•Widest, most even

horizontal dispersion

•Unsurpassed soundstage,
focus and depth

•Minimal baffle bounce
equals superb music detail
at high or low levels

Wide and very even off-axis dispersion patterns are prime
contributors to a deep and well-focused soundstage. The
clarity, which is created by our narrow film diaphragm, is
maintained by the absence of anomalies as the waveform
moves beyond the loudspeaker structure and into the
room. Once into the room, the sound field will not be
degraded by ceiling and floor reflections because as broad
as our horizontal dispersion pattern is, our vertical
dispersion is conversely limited. This line source
characteristic is of extreme importance to soundstaging
focus and depth as well as to soundfield coherence in
home theater.

NHB 45

FREQUENCY RESPONSE CHARTS

The Finest High End in Audio

R8

Height 8.5” – Width: 3.3” – Depth 2.5” – Weight 6lbs.
Frequency Response: 1.2 k - 20khz + / - 3db
Nominal Power: 20 watts
System Power 100 watts
Sensitivity 85 db at 1w, 1m
Impedance: 9 ohms Straight Line
Capacitor Value to Obtain Lowest
Recommended Frequency: 10uf
Termination: stranded wire form end cap.
Recommended Users: any 2 way system with 8” or smaller
woofer. In wall custom installations. Centre channel or rear
channels in Dolby Pro Logic or AC-3 system when used with a
mid/base driver extending response down to 100hz.
Give them air and a world-class soundstage will be yours.

R30

Height 30.8” – Width: 3.3” – Depth 2.5” – Weight 24lbs
Frequency Response: 1000 hz - 20khz + / - 3db
Nominal Power: 60 watts
System Power 200 watts
Sensitivity 88 db at 1w, 1m
Impedance: 7 ohms Straight Line
Recommended Lowest Frequency: 950 hz
Capacitor Value to Obtain Lowest
Recommended Frequency: 8 uf
Termination: 5 way gold plated binding posts.
Recommended Uses: any 2 way system with woofer smaller
than 8”. In wall custom installations. Any channel of Dolby Pro
Logic or AC-3 system. Small to medium permanent sound
reinforcement systems stacked in line source arrays. Give them
air for a truly superb soundstage.

R45

Height 46.5” – Width: 3.5” – Depth 2.75” – Weight 44lbs
Frequency Response: 950 hz - 20khz + / - 3db
Nominal Power: 80 watts
System Power 250 watts
Sensitivity 91 db at 1w, 1m
Impedance: 4.8 ohms Straight Line
Recommended Lowest Frequency: 950 hz
Capacitor Value to Obtain Lowest Recommended Frequency: 12 uf
Termination: 5 way gold plated binding posts.
Recommended Uses: any 2 way system with woofer smaller than 8”. In wall
custom installations. Any channel of Dolby Pro Logic or AC-3 system.
Small to medium permanent sound reinforcement systems stacked in line
source arrays. Give them air for a truly superb soundstage.

Frequency Response Charts: The above charts consist of four curves each. The top curve is the on-axis curve. The bottom three curves
have been done with a single capacitor in series. These curves are taken at 0 degrees, 30 degrees and 60 degrees off axis. All curves
have been subject to 1/3 octave smoothing. Impedance curves are not included since they are straight lines for the unfiltered driver.

Call for advice on your application from a center channel to your own “No Holds Barred”.

ELECTRONICS

The choice of electronics is completely
‘open ended’ since Newform Ribbons
represent such a benign load. Our systems
are being driven by everything from home
made 7-1/4 watt, 300B tube amps to 200
watt Levinsons and 500 watt monoblocks.
If lower to medium levels are all that is
needed a good 20 to 50 watt amp along
the the lines of a small NAD or Rotel will
provide remarkably musical results. The
Bryston B60 is a sweetheart. In the end,
your favourite amp will be able to deliver
its best performance so don’t be restricted
by conventional guidelines.

Since our speakers will work with with any
commercially available amp, base your
amplifier decision on sound quality and
output level in your room. The chart below
will help you quickly arrive in the right
ballpark. These power ratings are for most
of our speakers which are medium
sensitivity. For the R58 double all of the
power requirements. For No Holds Barred
and the R645 models only half of the
power is required. Also, the use of a

fatiguing nature of this speaker, they were
ideal for overall voice reproduction. The
R8-1-30s are some of the best speakers for
home theatre that I can think of at
anywhere near this price. The result was
thrilling. Furthermore, I felt no need for a
subwoofer at any time.

Starry Eyed ... The R8-1-30 offers aspects
of performance that outclass many
speakers near this price. As previously
noted, the high level of performance is
mainly due to the ribbon unit. Within the
ribbon’s range, the speaker compares to
other speakers costing upward of two,
three, or four thousand dollars. The
performance in the lower frequencies is
very good, but not outstanding in the
same way and is more in line with
speakers selling in the sub-$2000 range.
Taken as an overall package, the R8-1-30
is a star performer. At $1236 the R8-1-30
represents superb musical value and is
simply a steal for someone contemplating
setting up an outstanding music/home

theatre system.
powered sub-woofer will cut your power
requirements by up to half.

AMPLIFIER WATTS/CHANNEL

FOR DESIRED VOLUME LEVEL

ROOM SIZE SQ. FT. LOW MED HIGH VERY

Small 100 sq. ft. 5 20 50 100

Medium 200 sq. ft. 10 40 100 200

Large 400+ sq. ft. 10 80 200 500

REVIEWS AND OWNERS
COMMENTS

Soundstage, April 1997
R8-1-30, Spectron Doug
Schneider www.sstage.com

This ribbon’s sound is exceptionally
transparent, revealing, with wonderful
body and weight. There is an incredible
amount of detail and a fabulous sense of
transparency. At the same time, this
ribbon retains its composure and unlike
other ribbons I have heard is never, never,
never harsh.

If it sounds as though I am raving, it is
because I am. The ribbon has extremely
good horizontal dispersion resulting in
good off-axis performance. As well, they
handle a lot of power and are capable of
producing near ear-splitting volume levels.
Where many speakers begin to choke, the

Newforms begin to sing. ... the R8-1-30

captures and conveys the “soul” of the
music. As well, with the detailed yet non-

HIGH

the acoustic end of a very fine high end

audio system, and a quartet, well, they

make up as good a home theatre system

as I’ve ever heard. These speakers will

handle power like few others, the ribbon

having tremendous dynamics and no

breakup modes whatsoever.

Because of excellent lateral dispersion, the

individual speakers tend to disappear, but

very exact imaging is provided by each line

source. The other aspect of the Newform

ribbon that should be emphasized is its

speed: the dynamic capabilities are lead by

extraordinary transient capacity.

I’ve lived with the Newform quartet now

for a couple of months, and have come to

appreciate their honesty; next to them

most other home theatre systems are

decidedly coloured sonically. It took living

with and then measuring the R8-1-30 for

me to objectively realize how really good

these speakers are and how superbly well

suited they are for high end home theatre

systems. Simply put, reference quality.

Audio Ideas Guide,Spring 1997
R8-1-30 x 4 in home theatre,
Andrew Marshall, Canada

The R8-1-30 achieves a superb
+/- 2dB tolerance between 40
and 10,000 Hz. The 30” Ribbon
is as well a behaved treble
reproducer as I have seen. A
pair of these speakers can form

Soundstage, Montreal Audio Show
Report Soundstage, Montreal Audio
Show Report - No Holds Barred
Doug Schneider www. sstage.com

The Newform ribbon is one of the finest
midrange/tweeter ribbon drivers I have
ever heard. It is exceptionally detailed, yet
smooth, with excellent dispersion
characteristics. The NHB sound at the
show was very detailed with an excellent
soundstage. Newform Research deal only
factory direct which makes their speaker
prices very competitive.

John had things very well balanced and
the system was sounding very natural with
the ribbons, dynamic modules and subs
integrating seamlessly. Speaker placement
must be a breeze with these because I was
getting good imaging from just about
anywhere I stood.

Audio Review May, 1997
R8, Focal Kit
Bruno Ragionier, Italy

Translation not available but “Un grande
tweeter” perhaps doesn’t need any.

Speaker Builder, No Holds Barred
Winter 1998
Robert Greene , Joe D’ Appolito USA

But not only do the NHBs present a large,
expansive, seemingly unlimited sound
picture, they also produce unusually real­seeming instrumental or vocal images. The
whole effect is startlingly convincing. And
none of the astronomically priced box
speakers I know of do any better, nor even
as well. It won’t be easy to go back to box
loudspeakers. The song may be over but
the soundstage lingers on.

NEWFORM COMMENTS
ON THE REVIEWS

The themes running through all of the
above reviews are detail, transparency and
soundstaging. The reviewers comment on
these qualities not just in relation to
similarly priced loudspeakers but in
absolute terms. The R830 review by
Andrew Marshall is important because it
finally addresses the advantages of our
Ribbon design in a surround sound
application. The Speaker Builder article by
Robert Greene looks beyond the
loudspeaker system (NHB) to the
presentation of musical space and is a flat
out endorsement of our Ribbon
technology as the best there is for
soundstage (stereo) and soundfield
(surround sound) creation.

MODEL SPECIFICS GETTING IT RIGHT IN YOUR ROOM

R830, R630, R645 (FULL RANGE)

Designed to be placed some distance out from
the back wall (3’ to 6’) and the side walls (2’ to
4’). All of these distances are relative to the
hardness or softness of the room. More air for
hard rooms, less for soft. The ample bass output
of the R830s allows them to be located far from
the walls for maximum depth of stage. The

listening position should be between 1 and 1.5
times from the speakers to the distance between
the speakers.

STANDING MODULES, R530,

NO HOLDS BARRED, NHB 45

Exactly the same placement as for the
R630s except these will be setup for
soundstage only. The bass will come from
sub-woofers which will be set up
separately. This is the ultimate in flexibility.

SUBS

The subs should provide solid bass to
around 20Hz in room. The key elements in

integrating a sub seamlessly are picking

the location with the fewest room
modes (i.e. smoothest and deepest

response at the listening seat) and

R630

the sub. A sophisticated electronic crossover is very
valuable in this area either in your processor or in the
subwoofer itself. Experiment with reversing the phase in
every different location. This will help eliminate ‘fat mid­bass’ and maintain the speed of the system.

crossing over low enough (40-60Hz) to
avoid muddy mid-bass and localization of

PLACEMENT - THINGS TO AVOID

Avoid placing the listener’s head close to a hard rear wall.
Reflection from the wall will play havoc with both imaging
and bass response. If the listening position must have a
wall right behind it, cover the wall with Sonex, a heavy
curtain or a tapestry laid over fiberglass or foam acoustic
insulation etc. Whatever the method, the listeners ears
must not be subject to a strong, direct rear reflection.

Don’t place one speaker beside a reflective wall and one
with open space to the side. Try to make the acoustic floor
plan acoustically symmetrical for both right and left sides.
If there is open space on one side try to simulate space on
the other with absorbent material on the wall, plants etc.

Avoid putting large objects in between the speakers. If a
large TV or equipment rack (especially with glass doors is

placed between the speakers, try to have the object
recessed as far as possible. If the object is close to the same
depth plane as the speakers, both horizontal and depth
elements of the soundstage will fall short of the speakers
potential.

Don’t make assumptions or expect the speakers to work
well just because they are setup roughly the same way they
were in a friend’s sound room, Your room is unique. It has
different dimensions, furnishings and its boundary walls
are made of different materials.

Once you understand the trade-offs, the key to success is
experimentation. Try various positions and listen for the
differences on different pieces of music. Even a change of
two inches one way or the other can result in dramatic
improvements at the listening position. But be careful
when moving the speakers, they are tall and heavy! Don’t
install the spikes until the best position is found. If you run
into problems, call Newform for ideas. With the vast
majority of rooms, a 90% setup can be achieved very
quickly with the final 10% coming with small tweaks over
the break-in period.

Once you have optimized placement, it will be possible to
forget about the loudspeakers and enjoy the music to its
fullest.

Happy Listening!

Factory Direct Sales also means Factory Direct Support

from the designer. Make use of our expertise.

SUGGESTED HOME THEATRE SYSTEMS

For a world-class home theatre system depending on the
room, one of the following configurations should be ideal:

MEDIUM TO LARGE ROOMS

1.4 x R630 (add a first-class sub-woofer)

2.2 x R645 up front
2 x R630 in the rear
(add a first-class sub-woofer for the bottom half octave)

SMALL TO MEDIUM ROOMS

1.2 x R630 and sub-woofer
2 x R58

2.4 x R58 and sub-woofer

ROOM OPTIMIZER

YOUR ROOM LAYOUT

Why settle for a poor seat in your own theater?Next to the loudspeakers themselves, proper room setup is the most
important factor in the listening experience. Describe your room to us and we will help you to achieve the best results.
You will need a tape measure and about 15 minutes of your time. Each of the squares in the box below represents 1 foot

i.e. 1/4” = 1 foot.

Draw in the outline of your room to the nearest foot. Sketch in doors, windows major furniture, large plants etc. Indicate
what each side wall is made of. Please add your own comments and make your own specific answers.

Please provide the following information: Check off appropriate choice and feel free to make your own comments.

Type of Building Listening Rm. LocationWall Material Floor Type Floor Covering Ceiling Type

❑Single House ❑Basement ❑Concrete ❑Concrete ❑Broadloom ❑Concrete
❑Attached House ❑Main Floor ❑Dry Wall ❑Wood Joists❑Hardwood ❑Wood Joists
❑Apartment ❑Second Floor ❑Wood Paneling❑Tile ❑Area Rugs ❑Suspended Glass

Type of Amplifier Main Music Source Main Type of Music Typical Listening Level

❑ CDs ❑ Classical ❑Low

Make_____________________________
watts/channel______________________

❑ LPs ❑Rock ❑ Medium
❑ Tuner ❑Folk ❑High
❑ DAT ❑ Jazz
❑ Laser Disc (video)

Name:__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Address:________________________________________________________________________________________________
City:Prov/State:___________________________________________________Postal/Zip Code:_________________________
Tel:______________________________ Fax:___________________________ E-mail:___________________________

ROOM EXAMPLES

Our goal is to deliver a true high fidelity experience in your room quickly and easily. This will avoid frustration and
unnecessary furniture movement. Virtually any room can produce good sound with the right setup. The following
diagrams will assist you in achieving optimal sound performance.

Listen for:

• soundstage, depth and focus

• bass extension and clarity

BASIC SETUP RULES

Strong reflections foul the soundstage and upset tonal balance and must be avoided whether from the front, side or rear
wall. This can be accomplished by moving the speakers away from the walls and/or putting something on the walls,
bookshelf, tapestry, plant etc. to break up the reflecting wave. Toe-in can also be used. Once the reflected waves are in
balance the soundstage will become very well defined with excellent depth and focus. Bass becomes stronger and usually
less well defined as the speakers are moved toward the walls and corners. As they are moved toward the listening position,
these tendencies are reversed. Changes of as little as several inches can produce dramatically different results. Your room
is unique. The key to success is experimentation and simplicity.

WHY THE EXAMPLES WORK

1. This large rectangular room with no obstructions allows the speakers to be moved well away from the front and side
walls and the listening seat is well forward of the rear wall. The reflections are weak and well delayed relative to the
direct wave.

2a. Typical apartment setups can be done like this or as per 2b. The speakers have plenty of air and the right side wall is

treated in some fashion.

2b.This setup quite a bit of air but requires a large amount of sound absorbent material behind the listeners head to

damp the reflected rear wave.

3. Going diagonally across a room breaks up the reflections and gives an excellent soundstage in what otherwise would
be a very compromised installation. No wall treatment was used but the speakers were toed in.

4. Placed on either side of a large opening into another room, depth of soundstage is excellent due to a weak front
reflection and room re-arrangement is minimal. Side walls need some treatment (plant and bookcase, etc.).

5. If you are set up well for stereo, you can be just as well set up for home theater if you can locate the rear speakers
behind and off to the side of the seating position. The object here is to create an enveloping soundfield as opposed
to being blasted with noise from the four corners of the room.

Helpful, expert advice is only as far away as your telephone, fax or computer keyboard.
You know your room and we know our loudspeakers. Let’s talk!

SYSTEM SET-UP

Assembly consists of taking the mid-bass enclosures out of
the cartons, attaching the bases and setting them up. For
the smaller speakers, no assembly is required as the
Ribbons are attached to the bass enclosures.

For the systems using the R30 and R45 Ribbons, the
Ribbons are packaged separately and must be bolted onto
the brackets on the top of the mid-bass enclosures. This is
done by first inserting the two smaller bolts bottom rear of
the Ribbon structure and sliding their heads into the
keyhole slots in the bracket. These smaller bolts do not
have to be tight as they are there for alignment and
stability. The larger bolt should then be inserted and
tightened finger tight. A light twist with the Allen key
(included) will complete the mechanical installation.
Connect the Nordost interconnects from the binding posts
on the top of the enclosure to those on the back of the
Ribbon and installation is complete.

Warning, the Ribbons are heavy and smooth so handle
with care so that you do not drop them or put pressure on
the screen in front.

R30 Ribbons attached as they may T

Do Not Move Speakers with R45 or

opple Over.

SPEAKER PLACEMENT AND ROOM SETUP

After the loudspeakers themselves, proper placement in
the listening room is the most important factor in your
listening pleasure. Due to their exceptionally wide and
consistent horizontal dispersion, Newform Ribbons are
capable of presenting both unsurpassed soundstage depth
and focus. The best room setup sacrifices the least of their
potential.

THE IDEAL SCENARIO

Under ideal circumstances, the bass response will be tight
and deep and the soundstage will exist in three dimensions
with precise 3D location of all of the music sources. The
soundstage will extend to the sides of the loudspeakers
themselves and the speakers will “disappear”.

ROOM PLACEMENT ISSUES

Bass response will vary with the distance between the
speakers and the back and side walls. Bass depth and
output will be reinforced by backing the speakers into
corners or up against the back wall. Such locations
typically produce too much bass and sacrifice depth of
image. Corner placement may also degrade the horizontal
image.

Soundstage has three variable components; breadth,
depth and focus of image. There should be an even
distribution of sound across the soundstage with no holes
in the centre (i.e. where sound can be distinctly heard to
be coming from the individual left and right speakers).
Depth of image is usually the hardest to achieve but when

it is achieved, musical sources extend back into space
behind the speakers. The curtain goes up! The precision of
the location of the instruments within the soundstage
should develop as the horizontal and depth properties are
improved. Generally speaking, the further out from the
front wall, the greater the soundstage depth. Consider
moving them out for critical listening sessions when it is
not possible to have them out in the room all the time. The
depth effect is highly variable from room to room. As
always, experiment.

Newform Ribbon Series Loudspeakers are made for the
seated listener. When the listener’s head is significantly
above or below the plane of the Ribbon drivers, high
frequencies will be reduced. If you like to walk around
when listening, then the R645, NHB 45 or NHB Essential
should be considered.

Strong wall reflections can degrade the soundstage but
fortunately the solutions are simple. A strategically placed
plant, bookcase, tapestry etc., will reduce sidewall
reflections. Make sure both sides of the room are as
balanced as possible. With all Newforms, the best results
are usually obtained with the speakers facing directly
forward. Toeing in the speakers results in less information
being reflected off the side walls which can be beneficial
in some rooms. Toe in may also be necessary if the listening
position is close to the speakers. The advice above holds
true for most loudspeakers. Newforms are actually easier
to setup than most due to the lack of ceiling bounce and
rear wave.

Do you think you have a soft (acoustically absorbent) room
because of the carpets and couches?
the walls above the 2 foot level.Walk around the room
clapping your hands to judge the echo. If you get lots of it,
you will have to take greater care in the room setup.

The Ribbon sees

TIPS

•Placing subs in close proximity to the listening seat often
reduces room modes.

•Corner placement and using both a front and rear sub
may also reduce strong modes.

•Allow 3 weeks for the Ribbons to break in but you
should notice a significant difference in 3 days.

•Avoid strong rear reflections.

•Don’t over damp the room. Keep it simple.

•Make sure the ribbons cover the seated listener’s ear.

•Put the sub in the listening seat and then walk around

the room to find where the bass is the best. Try sub
there.

•Ideally the surrounds should be behind the plane of the
listener so they aren’t pointing in from the sides.

SATISFACTION GUARANTEE

NOW AND IN THE FUTURE

How does Newform assure your satisfaction? By discussing your music taste, your room and your
system. Once we are sure we have a good match, we can guarantee your satisfaction. If,
after going through our consultation process, the speakers do not work with your
system, in your room, to your satisfaction, we will take them back up to 30 days after
purchase and give you a full refund of the merchandise cost. This offer applies only
to complete factory systems and not to bare Ribbons or kits.

Why has our return rate been near zero? The process and the product. The
process assures a thoughtful selection. The comments on page 10 express
how the products stand up according to the people who have paid their
own money and lived with them for extended periods of time.

Newform warrants all of the products it sells to be free from defects
in material and workmanship for a period of five (5) years from the
date of purchase by the original owner. If any unit fails under
normal use, within the warranty period, Newform will pay one way
shipping costs and all customs and duty in North America plus all
parts and labour costs to restore the defective unit to original
specifications.

SIMPLY PUT

If you experience a problem with your Newform Research
loudspeakers please call, fax or e-mail and we will quickly help
to solve the problem. Newform Research has been in business,
conducting research since 1986 and has been shipping Ribbons
since 1992. We sell factory direct Worldwide and through direct
distributors and custom manufacturers in over 20 overseas
countries.

TRANSPARENCY

DETAIL

DYNAMICS

The focus of Newform Research is on practical excellence and
simple design for the purpose of producing superb musical
experience in the listening room. We see the fusion of audio and
video systems in the home. Our objective is to offer the highest
standard of fidelity in a scalable, anti-obsolescent format. That is,
products which are state of the art from either a 2 channel, 4 or 5
channel perspective and scalable to allow for painless expansion.

Our loudspeaker systems with their new Ribbon technology have solved a
number of problems. They have squeezed the musicality of the large panel
speakers into much smaller, more practical packages. They have substantially
lowered the price of admission to high end sound. They have increased the ease
with which a synergistic, first class sound system can be assembled. Newform
Ribbons have opened up the future to seamless system expansion regardless of
what format changes may occur in home entertainment. This will assure that in the
future, the music will only get better.

NEWFORMRESEARCH

P.O. Box 475, Midland, Ontario, L4R 4L3, Canada
Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone]
e-mail: [email protected]
World Wide Web: http://www.newformresearch.com

SOUNDSTAGING