Loom II

I give Loom 2 five stars because I don't want this synth to be dismissed without serious consideration. I'm not a sound engineer or soft synth developer but I have enough experience in fidgeting with VST synths (as well as engaging in pretty exhaustive pre-purchase research) to give a worthwhile recommendation of the synths I buy. I haven't the knowledge to get deeply technical but I can say this:

If you want a synth that rewards experimentation then get Loom 2. The rewards for messing about with this strange & beautiful little beast are too significant to be ignored... and you don't have to experiment for long to get useful and interesting sounds. The breadth of sonic possibilities is surprising and will be worthy of your respect. If you lament the discontinuation of NI's absynth I highly encourage giving Loom 2 a try. Getting results can be more immediate if you wish, but no less satisfying.

It should be noted though, that Loom 2 is not for someone who just wants a saw wave, some unison detune and a low pass filter. You should want to push the envelope some if you wish to be happy with it. When you "sit down" with Loom 2 you should be ready to give it a reasonable amount of your undivided attention and time. Explore its diverse sonic landscape. I believe Loom 2 capable of rewarding both shorter and longer sound shaping excursions, depending on the richness and/or complexity you are looking for. I recommend Loom 2 as a synth that will be useful and inspiring for a long time.