Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: VMPS New Larger Subwoofer Speakers by erasmustazz

Model:	New Larger Subwoofer
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$699
Description:	1-12" driver, 1-15" driver, 1-15" slot loaded passive radiator
Manufacturer URL:	VMPS
Model Picture:	View

Review by erasmustazz ( A ) on June 05, 2002 at 18:30:58
IP Address: 12.18.158.25

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The VMPS New Larger Subwoofer incorporates some changes from the older model, the most obvious being the furniture - quality oak veneer on the top and sides. The front corners of the cabinet are radiused to ameliorate nodal distortion. This attention to wave propagation extends to phase plugs in the drivers, truly a novel feature in a 12? - 15? loudspeaker. but one that makes a lot of sense if you think about it. This is still a BIG speaker (dimensions: 23 x 32x 19", shipping weight: 140 lbs. and FREE) but it has to be, in fact after listening to mine for a month I am surprised at the skill of Brian Cheney at making the box so small relative to its prodigious volume at very low frequencies. The main reason for its weight is its extremely robust construction, 1? MDF all around and a heavy layer of oak veneer. When I first got the speaker hooked up, my wife wanted to put a plastic rotary CD rack on top, to my amazement it hasn?t rattled yet.
I bought the version with ?Megawoofers?,12? woven carbon fiber and 15" black poly active woofers, which cost an additional $140 and offer increased power handling (600w.), speed, and definition; and Soundcoat ($75). The soundcoat is a ceramic coating that was developed for use in marine engine rooms. One of things I like most about VMPS is the way they seem to get together a lot of interesting sort of DIY type ideas and then manage to synthesize them into almost magical devices. The woven carbon fiber woofer is to my knowledge, at least, the largest driver made from this material. It allows a really fast attack, invaluable on bass drums and bass guitar. The total cone area allows deep lows (-3dB @ 17Hz) with real power (VMPS claims over 115dB/1m at 20Hz). that is the bottom octave with a kick. Any one who likes pipe organ music should consider one of these as they can reproduce the 16Hz fundamental of a 32? rank.
One of the test recordings I had been using, Bela Fleck?s Flight of the Cosmic Hippo, which managed to blow out the woofer in a B&W 805, has a lot of low bass on it which I thought was a synth, with the VMPS I discovered it was a bass effect device. Recently my nephew was back on leave from the Air Force. He has a few synthesizer CDs that he uses to destroy the equipment of people who brag about their subwoofers. Some of this stuff had freqs so low that the 39Hz high pass filter on the Mackies kicked in. He was somewhat alarmed until I explained what had happened. It all worked fine, bass levels on the sub fit right in. Three hours of this and we finally broke in The New Larger Subwoofer.
It should be noted that this speaker does not come with its own amplifier. For some people this is an advantage. I had converted to Mackie HR824 powered monitors and had a NAD 218 that I really liked just sitting around. So I searched the web and found the VMPS site. I did my research and decided to take a chance and buy what I had determined to be the best affordable passive subwoofer I could find. The most important convincer was reading Brian?s essays on High End marketing and on speaker (not just enclosure) design. It was obvious that he really knew something and was at the cutting edge of technology.
Summing it all up this is a seriously good speaker. It would be a great purchase for someone who is switching over to powered monitors or tubes (I am running this off a tube hybrid preamp) and wants good, fast, detailed bass at a very reasonable price. It would also be a great choice even if you have to buy a separate amp.

Product Weakness: Heavy (thank God the shipping's free). No variable high pass filter or attenuation. Somewhat difficult to adjust damping.
Product Strengths: Powerful, accurate, detailed.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	NAD 218 (225w/ch)for Sub.
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Van Alstine Transcendence 7
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Cambridge Audio D500, Music Hall MMF 5
Speakers:	Machie HR834 (250w/ch), VMPS sub.
Cables/Interconnects:	BetterCables, JPLabs Ultraconductor, Phoenix Gold 8 AWG UltraOFC, DIY mains cables
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Duke Ellington said "There are only two kinds of music; good and bad." I prefer good.
Room Size (LxWxH):	28' x 14' x 9'
Time Period/Length of Audition:	Six weeks.
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	2 Belkin Isolaters, many split RF beads
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition):	See above.

Product Weakness:	Heavy (thank God the shipping's free). No variable high pass filter or attenuation. Somewhat difficult to adjust damping.
Product Strengths:	Powerful, accurate, detailed.