[tbrooke]

I get into this every few years about replacing or upgrading my RM30 - They are great and I like the way they sound ( I know that I can just do nothing but that is not the point). I have not done the series 2 upgrade but I have received a lot of info here in the past and I feel that i can do it fairly easily -- I still have the side firing woofer.

I am looking into going Active (Not with the Behringer 2496) and I wanted more info on the drivers - I have a spec sheet for the Ribbon Tweeter (Cantum Auris G2si) but I can not find anything on the neopanel - I heard that they were custom made and a Bohlender Graebener may be a replacement --

 Does anyone have more detail on the original or replacements?
 
Finally I have read about Brian's work on the 2496 Crossover but I have not seen the curves that he actually used - Does anyone know if there is any specific information anywhere? 

I have also seen a rough schematic of the passive crossover and I have the external crossovers but I am not smart enough to revers engineer them and determine the crosover points and slops

[HAL]

The planars are the 13 slot Level 9 units and also Sonogistix.  They are no longer made.  The closest thing is the Monsoon 8 slot planar, but still a bit different.

The BG NEO10 is no longer made, so that is not an option.

The latest driver in that size range is the new Radian LM10n planar, but it would require a new crossover design.  Not a big problem if going with a DSP crossover as mentioned.  The cabinet would likely need to be modified to fit the latest planar.  Do not think anyone has tried it at this point, so it would be a custom installation and crossover.

A lot of other DSP crossovers after the Behringer and MiniDSP's.  They sound much better and the specs are better as well.

[tbrooke]

I looked into the Radian and there is also a Radian LM8K that might be a better fit and it is much cheaper. I found this discussion https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/radian-audio-lm8k.337631/ that I found interesting and may also explain why Brian added the CDWG - since apparently the stacked drivers have a pretty narrow dispersion

[GeorgeAb]

I posted the RM-30 schematic awhile back. I will try to dig up the post. The schematic shows both RM-30 and RM-30 Series 2: https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=169646.msg1800283#msg1800283

Not sure why you would want to replace the neo panels as the entire character of the VMPS RM line is based on them. I provided how to obtain replacement neo panels and how to modify them as Brian did. I will dig up that post. https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=96150.msg1842979#msg1842979
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=170897.msg1813464#msg1813464

The crossover points I used for the RM-V60 are in the post provided below. They will be quite similar to the RM-30's and what Brian recommened. He posted that information, it may be in the below links. I used the Behringer 2496 and a Room EQ Wizard (REW) to dial everything in to a perceived flat response at the listening position. The beauty of using a Behringer is you can change it on the fly and then test to obtain your cutoff frequencies and slopes. I assume the same would go with the mini DSP. Once you have the cutoff frequencies and slopes I went with a Marchand active XO as I was not too keen on using the Mini DSP's A/D and D/A converters. The Pass Labs active XO would be my preferred choice but a tad expensive and hard to find. 

https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=171182.msg1823539#msg1823539

https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=114888.msg1818615#msg1818615

[G E]

Hello TBrooke!

The RM 30 speakers are exceptional.  I've had a pair for 12 years (!) and have enjoyed many hours listening to them with a wide variety of music.

I upgraded them to the Series Two 7 years and it is a significant upgrade.  Others doing the upgrade say the same.

I have run them with two different preamps, 3 different power amps, and 4 sets of cabling.  Also two turntables and 4 Grado wood bodied carts.

They respond wonderfully to carefully considered upgrades of the supporting electronics.  Currently using a Pass Labs xp-32 preamp, Bryston 28 Squared power mono blocks, Black Cat Graceline Setsuna Level 2 cabling, and a Hagerman Trumpet Reference phono preamp.  Well Tempered Amadeus Turntable with Grado Reference v3 cart.

Overkill for speakers I paid $2K for in like new condition with few hours?  Nope.  They listed for $6500.  Brian's direct sales model cuts out two levels of distribution (additional markup).  $12,000 to $14,000 in 2010 would be possible in a traditional sales model.  Add in 12 years of 3% inflation and its $17,000+ in today's money.

I would not switch out the neopanel drivers.  They are the heart and soul of these speakers.  They turn up on the used market and it's peace of mind to have a few back ups.

About the Series 2 upgrade.  Definitely worth it.  The Misco replacement woofers with the 40 oz magnets should be on your shopping list.  You have to pull out the old woofers anyway to rework the wiring... so why not?  Misco made them up for me on a custom basis.  Hopefully they still have the needed parts.  Then the Passive radiators.  Check the Sticky Notes section at the top of this forum for part info.

And now - here is a link that details the upgrade process.  It isn's terribly difficult and careful work is the order of the day.

Good luck!

https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=137131.0



Greg

[Doug Ravizza]

These sketches may be helpful to anyone who's planning to fabricate a set of CDWGs:

[G E]

These sketches may be helpful to anyone who's planning to fabricate a set of CDWGs:

Hey Doug, nice work !

what acoustic foam are you sourcing?  Is it identical to the stuff Brian used?

At 12 years of age I’m wondering if my foam will soon disintegrate. Worried the foam particles will get into the neo panels and be a nightmare to clean out.

Appreciate any thoughts on this from you and others on this forum