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Ribbon Monitor 50
Ribbon Monitor 50
Dual Line Source Bipolar Array
"The closeness of the live versus playback was scary."
-
Robert H. Levy, Positive Feedback
"The RM50 embarrasses some (far) more expensive speakers."
- Robert Learner, Positive Feedback
"The best $60,000 loudspeakers money can buy!"
- Clement Perry, Stereotimes, CES 2011 THE SHOW report
about the VMPS RM50 speakers, which retail for $14,900pr
A competent loudspeaker should be a full-range speaker that can reproduce a big ensemble of players and singers in a large space for a substantial audience without strain or distortion. Ideally it would have high output levels, no colorations whatsoever, properly reproduce the width and depth of the live soundstage, be perfectly flat from 20Hz to 40kHz, and adjust to its environment and associated equipment via easy to use controls. It should be large, sturdy, handle lots of power, have high sensitivity, and be a stable, inert platform for its transducers. Price should be within reach of most audiophiles, and it should look good. The RM50 is all this.
We encourage all music lovers, if they can, to consider it, even if they have a smallish or untreated room (the controller can compensate for that). The system accommodates all musical tastes, from classical ensemble to headbanging heavy metal rock and everything inbetween. Given the right sources and program material, the RM50 should please just about every music lover on the planet.
The nice part about the digital controller is that it allows an infinite variety of characteristics and EQ's. You can program one of the spare EQ bands for "warm", "lean", or any tonal balance inbetween, with a spin of the dial. The factory settings are a starting point. For example, they include a cut at the floor to ceiling room mode (71Hz for an 8ft ceiling, 65Hz for 9ft ceiling, 56Hz for 10ft ceiling etc). You control how much cut you want. This is the only way to eliminate the one major room mode that does not respond to speaker or listening position changes. Room treatment won't help either, even bass traps.
The RM50 base model (including DSP processor) is $14,900pr, within reach of many audiophiles. Options, including many improvements to the processor, exotic finishes, fancy wiring and capacitors in the analog parts, are available. If you did them price would come close to $20k, which is not too bad given the megabuck systems out there which can't and don't always satisfy their owners.
| Specifications |
|
| Driver Arrangement: |
- Dual Line Source
- Frontal Driver Array/Line: Dual Line Open/Grill
- Rear Driver Array/Line: equipped with CDWG |
| Bass: |
- 2 x 30 cm
(12") 18mm Xmax bass, 30 cm
(12") Passive Radiator |
| Mid: |
- front three / back two - rectangular 10 x
20 cm (4 x 8") Neo ribbons, 220 Hz
- 6.9 kHz |
| Treble: |
- front seven / back two - HiVi,
6.9 kHz - 40 kHz |
| Impedance &
Sensitivity: |
- 8 Ohms, 92
dB/1W/1m |
| Power
handling: |
- 1200 W
rms / 8 Ohms, 20 W min. |
| Frequency response: |
- 20 Hz - 40 kHz +0/-3 dB |
| Dimensions
& Weight: |
- 188H
x 37W x 48D cm, 168 kg (74"H x
14.5"W x 19"D cm, 375 lbs) |
| Output levels and
distortion: |
- max. 1% THD fullrange /
1W, max. 115+ dB SPL / 1m |
| Finishes: |
-
standard lite oak, dark oak.
-
Optional
all kinds of exotic woods ie. african ebony, maple, birch,
rosewood, walnut |
Stereophile
Positive Feedback - Robert H. Levi
(scroll to the middle of that page)
Positive Feedback - Roger S. Gordon (scroll to the bottom of that page)
Positive Feedback - Robert Learner
Ribbon Monitor 50
at Las Vegas T.H.E. Show 2010 Live vs. Recorded Demo
(photo: Spintricity)
For more on this event click here.
RM50 in high-gloss oak |