The planars used by VMPS are capable of playing lower than the BG Neo 8, but not as high.
A closer comparison would be the VMPS panel to the new BG Neo 10. The Neo 10 is 5" by 10" and capable of playing down to 100Hz but it also does not play as high as the Neo 8.
The width of the panel also determines the off axis response.
Playing the planars down low (down to the 200Hz range or so) has advantages and disadvantages.
The advantage is that it can bring a lot of speed, detail and quickness down into that range in a way that exceeds the ability of larger woofers.
The disadvantages are limited air moving capability down into a range that at higher volume levels needs a driver capable of moving air to have an impact.
A crossover right in the midrange area or lower midrange area (around the 200Hz point) is tough. Integration is not easy especially from dissimilar drivers.
Upper vocals, for instance, coming from a line source of planars that will loose only 3db per doubling of distance, having to blend with lower vocals produced by one woofer that will loose 6db per doubling of distance becomes very distance dependant and a real compromise at best.
After carefully listening to the Alpha LS with crossover points ranging from 600Hz to 1500Hz it was felt that crossing in the 1000 to 1200Hz region yielded the best overall sound and allowed for the greatest power handling too.
