Ribbon Monitor 40

Ribbon Monitor 40 (shown in stained natural oak)
2002. "Best of CES" Award in Hi-End audio category

"The speakers were so impressive that they moved at least one judge to tears." - Tech TV

With the VMPS Ribbon Monitor 40 we set a new standard for quality, value, and the latest technology wrapped into one slim, elegant package. 

This 109 kg, 168 cm tall floorstanding speaker boasts the 25cm Woven Carbon Fiber Megawoofer lowbass and 25cm WCF midbass in a symmetrical array with four 20cm Neodymium midrange ribbon panels (280 Hz to 7 kHz) and one Free Swinging Tweeter (flat to 25 kHz) in a column only 32 cm wide and 43 cm 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 38 mm thick MDF baffles (plus 28 mm sides and top) treated with Soundcoat for 10 dB less panel vibration. The result is 24 Hz bass with ultraclean 115 dB/1m output levels at an unprecedented low price for such achievement.

There are three ways to operate the RM 40, so-called because of its 40 inch vertical ribbon mid/tweeter array. The first is full range, with a single amplifier as a source. The system presents a steady 4 Ohm load, resistive above 166Hz, with 90dB/1W sensitivity and enormous output and dynamic range. Second, more ambitious audiophiles can easily switch the system to the biamp/biwire configuration and run a separate bass amp through the speaker’s passive bass and mid/treble crossovers which, by the way, consist of all premium parts such as Axon polypropylene caps and hi-Q Erse 14 gauge laminated core inductors. The third option is biamping with the passive bass crossover removed, an outboard 24 dB/octave electronic crossover driving the separate bass amp, and a second amp running the ribbon panels through their builtin 6 and 12 dB filters.

No matter if your tastes run to high-end Music or Home Theater, once you have heard the sheer responsiveness and velocity of our unique handbuilt woofers, exclusive high efficiency Neo ribbon midranges and spiral ribbon tweeters, you won’t want to go back to dynamic speakers regardless of price.

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. 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.

Classical Candor 2009
Bound for Sound 2004
Bound for Sound 2003
International Audio/Video Review 2002

Ribbon Monitor 40 Brian Cheney Special Edition (shown in MLS walnut with CDWG)

"One of the best speakers in the world has just gotten better." - Bound for Sound