VMPS Loudspeakers
VMPS Super Tower III SRE
$20000 pr.
For those who found Anthony Cordesman's Audio Magazine Aug. 98 review of our Special Ribbon Edition Super Tower III ($20,900pr) fascinating but beyond their means, VMPS now makes available lower cost, high performing ribbon versions of the formerly all-dynamic Super Tower/R, FF-3 and FF-1 systems.The 75" ribbon panel covering three-fourths of the spectrum (99Hz to 7kHz) has been shrunk to a more manageable 52" spanning a 124Hz to 6 kHz range. In tandem with the latest spiral ribbon tweeters (good from 6kHz to 30kHz), the shorter panel provides nearly the same level of performance in the critical mid-and-upper bass, midrange, and treble regions as its big brother, which Audio found to be a new "Absolute State of the Art" for midrange reproduction.All three smaller ribbon systems retain the powerful bass complement of their dynamic originals. In the Super Tower/R, a 15" passive radiator is propelled by a 15" polypropylene active lowbass and 10" woven carbon fiber midbass with a 6dB per octave passive crossover at 124Hz. The Special Ribbon FF-3 retains its dual 10" woven carbon fiber woofers and 10" slot-loaded passive radiator, and the FF-1 boasts two powerful 12" woven carbon fiber bass drivers and 12" slot-loaded passive.In all three systems, three spiral ribbon tweeters provide treble definition second only to our free-swinging 6" SRE/ST3 tweeter. Cabinetry is extradinarily stout: 3" thick MDF fronts and 2" sides on FF-1 and 3, 1..5" fronts and 1" sides on ST/R.Single amp or biamp operation is possible with all three systems, although the biamp version with outboard electronic crossover (same as on the SRE/ST3 with a somewhat smaller power supply) is recommended due to the low crossover frequencies. While it is perfectly feasible to make a passive 124Hz 6 dB/octave filter with high quality parts that gives good performance, the 24dB characteristic of the active crossover gives the listener increased definition and bass speed by removing more of the dynamic woofers' output. Thanks to dual 10-turn pots, the electronic crossover provides level matching accurate to 1/100th dB, and crossover frequency is adjustable on a Hz-by-Hz basis. Of course, a second amplifier dedicated to the bass is required. Due to the efficiency of the mid and treble sections (20W rms in 4 Ohms minimum power required), bass amps of 100W/ch to 400W/ch are recommended, whereas the mids and trebles can do their work well with much less power. Tube amps in the 20 to 60W/ch or higher range often sound especially felicitous with these ribbons.
VMPS Super Tower III NEO
$20900.00 pr.
The VMPS RM 40 --
2002 BEST OF CES
AWARD WINNER
This 240 lb, 66” tall floorstanding speaker boasts the 10” Woven Carbon Fiber Megawoofer lowbass and 10” WCF midbass from our acclaimed FF3 SRE in a symmetrical array with four 8” Neodymium midrange ribbon panels (166Hz to 10 kHz) and two 1” spiral ribbon tweeters (flat to 25 kHz) in a column only 12.5” wide and 17” deep. Thin dimensions and full driver symmetry guarantee pinpoint imaging and a soundstage both wide and deep, with layering and detail that is simply breathtaking. Cabinetry is one and one half inch thick MDF baffles ( plus 1 1/8” sides and top) treated with Soundcoat for 10dB less panel vibration.The result is 24Hz bass with ultraclean 115dB/1M output levels at an unprecedented low price of $4600pr. Neodymium is a relatively new alloy that can hold eight times the charge (i.e. magnetic field strength) of our old strontium ferrite panels while providing sufficient energy to extend the light, quick ribbon (1.25g moving mass) down to its 166Hz cutoff, which is fully utilized in this design. As a bonus there is no stray field from the Neo magnet structure, linearity is nsurpassed, and fidelity to source outstanding, far beyond the capacities of even the best cones and domes regardless of shape, size, or diaphragm material.The RM 40 was the centerpiece of our 2002 Consumer Electronics Show demonstration room which won “Best of CES” from TechTV, the media arm of the Electronics Industry Association, host of the Show. The RM 40 won as best High End Audio product in a field of 261 exhibitors (of all High End products, not just speakers, although our competitors in that regard all ran 5 to 20 times our price) with 35 total products nominated. The finalists were the RM 40, the ER Audio $35,000 tube power amp, and the ARCAM AV-8 preamp/surround processor ($4,000). A field of 26 judges canvassed the Show for winners, giving VMPS the nod in High End Audio.Inspite of stiff competition the final vote was unanimous for the RM 40 as Best Product.
RM1 RM2 Ribbon Monitor (Neodymiums)
Our 8" Neodymium 52", and 75" Strontium Ribbons were invented early in the century, no more than five years after the moving coil (dynamic) driver. A true ribbon is the simplest possible transducer: a magnetic field plus diaphragm-voicecoil-in-one. Only in recent times have ribbons lived up to their potential, however, thanks to new magnetics (Strontium 8 and Neodymium) and novel methods of etching thin "voicecoil" traces and attaching them effectively to film backing (necessary to prevent long ribbons from sustaining travelling waves which make them twist and undulate). Not that even modern manufacturing has made ribbon assembly easy. Our 7", 52" and 75" panels must be handmade from charged magnets, pesky ferrite bars which readily pinch the operator or fly apart from the extremely strong repulsive charges. Indeed our ribbons could not be fashioned from aluminum or the metal popular for stamped speaker baskets, because any less than 14 gauge steel and the panels can literally buckle from the force field. Automated production being impossible, ribbons will always be expensive and hard to make.Since various kinds of ribbons have appeared in high-end speakers over the years the consumer best inform himself about various design options. The most popular brand of "ribbon" speakers in the past decade are not ribbons at all, but single-ended planar dynamic woofer/midranges mated to transformer-operated ribbon tweeters. Single-ended (magnets on one side, usually the back) planars have very high THD, often 30% or more.We find their sound quality poor because their waveform fidelity is so poor. Thus the importance of the aforementioned push-pull characteristic, i.e. magnets on either side with equal propulsive force in both directions. Since ribbons tend toward low impedance they have almost always appeared in tandem with transformers, which dull and distort their sound.
VMPS panels measure between 3.2 and 6.0 Ohms resistive, no transformer necessary. As for output levels, sensitivity and power handling, our panels excel in all three areas, thanks to improved technology, and the magnet structure does not impede the sound output.The VMPS Ribbon Monitors are about more than just midrange, although the low, low moving mass (about the same as the air they displace) and flat frequency response of our panels (within 1dB from 166Hz to 10kHz) make for fabulous, state-of-the art middle frequency reproduction. The RM 1 mates one ribbon panel to the latest lowmass, 8 Ohm spiral ribbon tweeter, good to 30kHz, and boasts dual 8"solid injection- molded graphite cones pushing a 10" slot loaded passive radiator for 32Hz (-3dB) cutoff at levels above 112dB/1m SPL. The RM 2 improves on its smaller sibling with a 12" woven carbon fiber woofer, 12" slot-loaded passive radiator (22Hz/ -3dB), dual midrange ribbons, and dual treble ribbons for increased power handling (250W, 110dB/1m max SPL) and vertical dispersion. The quality of sound over the full frequency spectrum is unsurpassed, a giant leap forward over dynamic competitors. Note that any moving-coil driver is burdened with at least 100 times the moving mass of our ribbons. The result: high inertia, sluggish transients, and compromised transparency and definition regardless of cone composition. It can be stated without hyperbole that even the costliest cone midranges and dome tweeters are now obsolete, rendered virtually irrelevant to audiophiles who seek the best sound per dollar spent.
VMPS Ribbon FF1 and FF2 Strontium
The VMPS Ribbon Monitors are about more than just midrange, although the low, low moving mass (about the same as the air they displace) and flat frequency response of our panels (within 1dB from 166Hz to 10 kHz) make for fabulous, state-of-the art middle frequency reproduction. The RM 1 mates one ribbon panel to the latest lowmass, 8 Ohm spiral ribbon tweeter, good to 30kHz, and boasts dual 8"solid injection- molded graphite cones pushing a 10" slot loaded passive radiator for 32Hz (-3dB) cutoff at levels above 112dB/1m SPL.
The RM 2 improves on its smaller sibling with a 12" woven carbon fiber woofer, 12" slot-loaded passive radiator (22Hz/ -3dB), dual midrange ribbons, and dual treble ribbons for increased power handling (250W, 115dB/1m max SPL) and vertical dispersion. The quality of sound over the full frequency spectrum is unsurpassed, a giant leap forward over dynamic competitors. Note that any moving-coil driver is burdened with at least 100 times the moving mass of our ribbons. The result: high inertia, sluggish transients, and compromised transparency and definition regardless of cone composition. It can be stated without hyperbole that even the costliest cone midranges and dome tweeters are now obsolete, rendered virtually irrelevant to audiophiles who seek the best sound per dollar spent.
VMPS QSO 404
2 way 8" Bookshelf System,
dark oak vinalVMPS QSO 626
Dual 6.5" Sheilded A/V Monitor
lt. oak, dk. oak, blkVMPS QSO 626SE
Dual 6.5" A/V Monitor w/
WCF woofers, Focal domeVMPS QSO 808
3way 12" bookshelf system,
lt. oak, dk. oak, satin blkVMPS Dipole Surround
Bipolar dual 6.5" A/V side channel
surround, lt. oak, dk. oak, satin blk$
VMPS Super Tower R
Special Edition deluxe 6way dual
15"&10" floor standing sys.VMPS FF-1 Focused-Field Symetrical
Array w/ Dynaribbon Mids, woven
carbon fiber 12" lt. oak, dk. oak, satin blk
7400.00VMPS FF-3 Focused-Field Symetrical
Array w/ Dynaribbon Mids, woven
carbon fiber 10" oak, dk. oak, satin blk
5000.00VMPS RM 1 Dual 8" Ribbon Monitor
w/7" ribbon mid & spiral ribbon tweeter,
lt. oak, dk. oak, blkVMPS RM 2 12" WCF Ribbon mids,
dual spiral ribbon tweeters,
lt. oak, dk. oak, blk
w/ Mega-woofers& soundcoat optional
2690.00VMPS Megawoofer 12" WFC
High power driver for
RM 2, SubsVMPS STR/SRE 15"&10" floor standing
monitor w/ 52" ribbon midrange panel,
3x spiral ribbon tweetersVMPS FF3/SRE FF-3 w/ 52" ribbon mid,
3x spiral tweeters, single/biamp version,
optional electronic crossoverVMPS FF1/SRE FF-1 w/52" ribbon mid,
3x spiral ribbon tweeters, lt. oak, dk. oak,
blk, optional crossoverVMPS Special Ribbon Edition ST III
78" widerange w/ 4 12" WCF woofers,
Neodymium ribbon midrange,
6"FST ribbon tweeterSmaller VMPS
Dual 12"
passive compact SubwooferVMPS Dedicated Subwoofer, dual 12"
voicecoilcompact subwoofer w/ built-in
passive crossover for use w/ QSO626VMPS Original Subwoofer, dual 12"&15"
passive subwoofer, single voicecoil
version, dual optionalVMPS Larger Subwoofer,
dual 15"&12" passive subwoofer,
single or double voicecoils
w Mega-woofers & soundcoat optional
915.00VMPS Passive Crossover, 100Hz,
6dB & 12dB/oct passive crossover
for any subwoofer, one required/channel45.00
VMPS Electronic Crossover
VMPS RM-40 Floor-standign 66" tall
tower sys. w/ dual 10"
woofers [one Megawoofer],
4 8" Neodymium mid panels,
symetrical array w/ 4" FST tweeters,
240lbs. each. Single or bi-amp
oporation switchable, base cut-off 24Hz
[-3dB]. Power handling 500W, 4Ohms,
lt. oak, dk. oak, piano blk
opt:Natural cherry or Blk walnut veneers
Rosewood optional
TRT Capacitors optional
5400.00
5800.00
6200.00
