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From: hunter@work.nlm.nih.gov (Larry Hunter)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: VMPS Super Tower R's
Message-ID: <7766@uwm.edu>
Date: 20 Nov 90 14:05:27 GMT
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I'm ready to spend up to about $3k on a new set of speakers.  I think
I've found the right balance (er, tradeoff) for my tastes, but I'd
like your input before I buy, folks.

Background: I have a tremendously varied music collection (thousands
of LPs and many hundred CDs) mostly rock, jazz, R&B.  Given the
recording quality and content of most of my collection, I've come to
the conclusion that neutrality, wide frequency range and the ability
to produce high SPLs are the most important qualities of a speaker for
me.  "Quickness" is close second.  The ability to perfectly image
acoustic recordings or capture the exquisite sweetness of a
Stradavarius (sp?) is lower on my list, since orchestral music is
probably only about 15% of my collection.

The front end: NAD 1300 pre, NAD 2600A amp (150WPC, low impedence
loads are ok), Denon TT w/Denon 301 cart, modified Magnavox CDB470 cd
player (Jung mods).  Room is moderately large, somewhat oddly shaped,
with carpet and lots of books against the walls (pretty good
acoustics, I think).

A quick summary of the last month's worth of listening impressions:

Apogees, Maggies & Quads - impressive at what they do, but not enough
low end, and don't get loud enough.  The Quads with a Velodyne 18" sub
were just spectacular, but that's $6k+ and even then the mid-bass
transition area was annoying (although that was probably a setup
problem).

Theils, Vandersteens - somewhat better low end and somewhat better
dynamics than the planars, but still lacking in both areas.

B&W 801/II's - unbelievably good images, even in the relatively low
bass.  I had never heard the massive drums at the beginning of the
most recent Kitaro CD come from somewhere before.  The 801's placed
them significantly to the left of the leftmost speaker.  The illusion
was so real, I was compelled to walk over to the perceived location
several times.  Wow.  Lovely system, but even on sale, they're $4.8k.
Damn.

Duntech Black Nights.  Not quite as spectacular at imaging as the
B&W's, but even deeper and more dynamic!  Regularly $5k, I can get
them for about $4k.  I actually prefer them to the 801's, but I can't
afford $4k at the moment, either.

Based on my impressions so far, I think I would like the VMPS Super
Tower R's.  They appear to have the deep bass and the dynamics I've
decided are most important to me, and in kit form, including the focal
tweeter upgrade, soundcoat cabinet reinforcement resin treatment, and
wondercaps in the crossovers, they cost less than $2k including
shipping.  The various reviews I've seen are all pretty positive
(especially given my somewhat-unusual-for-an-audiophile needs).  The
problem is that I'm worried about buying a pair of speakers I've never
heard.

Three questions for you:

1.  Has anybody built or listened to the VMPS line, especially the
Super Tower R?  What do you think?

2. Does anybody in the DC/MD/VA area have a pair I could listen to?

3. Assuming I go this way, there are lots of balance adjustments I can
make during construction.  I would like to do some objective
measuments of the system to help me tune it to my room.  Does anyone
in the DC area have a MLSSA that I could rent for a week?  Any
suggestions on where to find one?  I asked Doug Rife (the designer of
the MLSSA, who lives in Virginia) and he wasn't very helpful - he
wanted me to buy one at $2500.  It's a wonderful gadget for the money,
but not for a one time use....

Thanks for any comments!  Please email them to the adress below.

	Larry
--
Lawrence Hunter, PhD.
National Library of Medicine
Bldg. 38A, MS-54
Bethesda. MD 20894
(301) 496-9300
(301) 496-0673 (fax)
hunter@nlm.nih.gov (internet)
hunter%nlm.nih.gov@nihcu (bitnet/earn)