VMPS speakers--Who has had great success in bringing their VMPS speakers to new heights?


The RM40's BCSE MLS speakers have become my ultimate speaker.  From the moment I heard the VMPS speakers with the ribbon drivers, I thought they were awesome.  I had been out of the hi-fi loop for a long time prior to hearing about Audiogon from a friend.  Therefore, after reading about other notable speakers and parts of systems, I tried many things to get a feel for different sounding systems.  During this time, I found out about system compatibility and how to take the sound to another level--also received many lessons in going the wrong way at times.

I actually had this exact pair earlier in my sound quest but was convinced by well meaning manufacturers that their speaker would trounce the RM40s.  Thus, I tried a couple different speakers and quickly learned that I had a winner in the RM40s.  I now will never make the mistake of selling them again--thanks also to a good friend who advised me of that when asked.  So, I became determined to see how far the RM40s could go.

It has brought me to the point that I thought they need a more organic sound with longer sustains to the notes--they were already very quick in their attack.  They've been sitting on Sistrum SP-101 platforms for a few years.  Brian Cheney told me to never put the speakers on points or in any other way lift them off the floor.  The Sistrums, after a week or so, made an immediate improvement to the live quality of the music, the clarity and transparency at all frequencies, the dynamics, soundstage clues, and it allowed me to take all bass traps out of my system--there was absolutely NO DIFFERENCE in sound, at that point, with them in or out of the system.  There had been prior to installing the Sistrums.  The only drawback to using them was the bass wasn't quite as strong as before--much clearer and more dynamic however.  

With the help of second opinions from friends who've heard my system many times on different occasions, usually after a major change, I began to finally voice the system through component upgrades and wire changes.  Getting the TRL DUDE preamp was a big improvement in bass power, dynamics and overall clarity.  I was very fortunate to have Dan at Modwright replace my MW 9100 Signature Truth which was having a problem in my system that after a few trips to MW to cure--never happened at their place all 3 times I returned it and yet it would do the same problem of a woofer not playing on one speaker while it was in my system each time.  Dan actually sent me a new, fully upgraded MW 5400 at N/C to replace the one I was having problems with.  Dan is unbelievable in customer service.  My digital section was now awesome sounding in all ways.   Nuforce Ref 9 V3 SE mono amps were added later that brought more clarity and dynamics along with outstanding bass to the 40s.   A Whest 3.0 RDT SE phono pre came after that. Excellent clarity and transparency with a balanced frequency range.

At this point I added a TRL power cord to the DUDE with even more powerful sound in all ways and more detail too, including more grunt in the bass.  Also added a Core Power Technologies 150 to run from my Synergistic Research QLS-6 power strip with all my front end components connected to a dedicated Maestro outlet.  More everything.  The other power cords used are Dynamic Design Spirit II on the MW, Mojo Enigma on the power supply to the MW, Wywires Juice II on the mono amps, and Amadi Phil Reference on the Whest.  My heavily modded Lenco TT has its own PC for now.  The arm is a loaded Trans-Fi Terminator with a Benz Micro Ruby 3 w/ myrtlewood body.  

A couple friends brought over some ICs--the Teo GC and JW Reference.  I had very nice silver wired ICs but was looking for more organic sound.  The Teo's provided the organic sound and my friend let me use the JW's for awhile.  I now have Teo GCs on both my from end components with the JW at my preamp to amps.  The JW added more jump factor to the sound.  Having 2 Teo's running CDs or phonos was good, but adding the JW for one Teo was even better.

Synergistic Research added their fantastic UEF panels and dots to my room which is a must hear demonstration at the audio shows to know all they do in a system.

I have many other tweaks and parts upgrades in the near future that will put things over the top.  I could easily live with what I've got now forever, BUT...it's become a total quest to see where these components that I love the sound of as a system can ultimately get.  Parts upgrades to my amps and the DUDE along with high end fuses--NONE so far, making my Sistrum racks shorter, R/X tube dampers from Herbie's and the SBH for CDs, and finally, putting Quicksilver Gold on all the contacts.  The 2 components getting the parts upgrades will take the RM40s where no one has ever heard them soundwise.

Needless to say, I'm having the time of my life listening to all music with the absolute certainty of massive improvements to the sound with what's coming soon.  Thank you to all who've made the products and to friends and advisers that helped me get the sound to this point.  It couldn't have happened without you.  My desire to acquire new products is over, but I still have the drive to bring each of the parts I have to their potential best and see what it becomes.

Any other VMPS owners have a good plan leading to success?







dorkwad
I never heard the ones Patrick made, BUT...I doubt they sound as good as the real VMPS RM series speakers.

Bob

Update on the VMPS RM40 BCSE w/MLS cabinets and all the upgrades except the OXO.

 

Krissy made me 4 E-boxes--one is now used on the power supply of my Modwright 5400 Signature Truth; the other on the side the power cord is on of the actual MW CD/SACD player.  The other two are used one each on the front top of the speakers right in the center.

 

The ones used on the speakers tops allowed the sound of the ribbon tweeter located about dead center in the 66" H speaker to have much effect even as you stand up.  I am 6'6" and there is next to no loss to the the highs now when standing.  I also have one of her Mats under the passive radiator on each speaker. Allow a much fuller, more dense and powerful bass which takes away any thiness to the sound and makes for a very balanced and dynamic speaker in all ways.

Bob

 

I have the VMPS Tower II SE. Bought the kit from Brian Cheney. I actually got to talk to him a few times to help me with the PR damping and the Focal tweeters. Smart Guy. When Focal updated the T120 tweeter in the late 90s I updated the VMPS. Huge improvement. I did have to redo the surrounds on both PRs about 5 years ago. They are still my main speakers.  I was thinking about getting the FFs. Funny when I go to check out new speakers in the $2k to $15k price range they are always missing quite a bit compared to my VMPS. I know most stores don't have their speakers set up correctly.  How can $15k speakers be blown away by my VMPS. 

jmsmy,

I've now owned about 5 very good speakers since the VMPS RM40 BCSE w/MLS cabinets.  The other speakers ranged in list price from $3400-$36,000.  I had each in my system at least 1 year and tweaked each to its max so each was significantly better than when I received it.  All were used prior to my owning.  2 of them listed over $25,000.  All were very highly rated and reviewed.  Each time I went back to my RM40's, I was blown away at how much better they sounded with the changes I had made in the system.  Also, there was no doubt about which speakers were the best.  The RM40's I have owned for about 10 years have always remained superior in sound to the other's.  If you get to hear any of the RM series--ribbon monitors, that are set up correctly and the settings are spot on, you would hear a definite improvement especially from the lower mids on up through the highs.  

Bob

Krissy called the E-boxes holostages and the newer ones are very effective. I still have one on the top front of the speakers in the middle L-R and about 1" back from the front edge of the VMPS RM40 BCSE speakers. This made the speaker sound like a point source with the highs extending so that as I stood up, there was little or no loss of highs.

She also sent me a couple of the mats that are about the size of ones used with computers that you move the mouse on. I put one each under the passive woofer in the center on the platform. This helped the bass go lower and eliminated the blat that happened when a low and powerful bass note would sound.

Third, I got a great deal on a Verastarr Grand Illusion Statement power cable and ran it from my Modwright Sony 5400 Signature Truth to the Synergistic Research QLS-6 power strip. This one cable made a big difference for the better infusing the system with greater dynamics and greater clarity throughout all frequencies.

4th, after owning these speakers for about 10-12 years, they now suddenly play at much higher levels and there is now jumping dynamics that can startle you at times. The right channel speaker used to shut down if the volume control on my TRL DUDE preamp went past 11 o’clock. Now, it does not and it can sound mighty close to live. I love these speakers.

Bob