AudioCircle
Audio/Video Gear and Systems => Owner's Circles => VMPS Speakers => Topic started by: John Casler on 7 Dec 2012, 03:46 pm
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I have received the following message from Brian's wife Shirley.
"Brian Cheney passed last night. He was a wonderful husband, loving father, great speaker designer, and audiophile. A sincere thank you to all friends and customers who enriched his life.
Brian's Wife,
Shirley Cheney"
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I am saddened by his passing, as I always enjoy and respect those who speak their mind, stick to their guns, and know what they're doing.
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Shirley's e-mail to me was appropriately titled: BRIAN'S SONG so I have retitled this post the same.
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Sad news for we audiophiles and to his friends.
RIP
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I have been following the threads regarding Brian's health. This is very sad indeed. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family and friends.
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:(
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Sorry to hear that. :(
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R.I.P. Brian. Condolences and Prayers to the Family
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RIP Brian
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R.I.P. Condolences to the family and friends.
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Very sorry to hear this.
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RIP
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Rest in peace, Brian.
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Sad news.
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Very sad news indeed. I'm especially glad that I had the pleasure of speaking to him (by phone) just a couple of months ago, when he sounded his usual enthusiastic self.
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As I said in the other thread, I was worried that his long hospital stay was not good news. :( Thoughts and prayers are with his family. Brian broke the mold; he was what makes finding new friends such an enriching experience. Rest In Peace Brian.
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This is very unfortunate. Although I never owned or heard VMPS speakers, I always heard accolades about them from show goers. Irrespective, the loss of a loved one is very difficult to bear. A deep loss to our small audiophile community.
RIP Brian,
Anand.
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May God rest his soul. He has gone to a better place & will always be remembered. My condolences to Shirley & the rest of his family.
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Wow! Sleep well my friend.
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Really sorry to hear this. When I saw the other thread, I was afraid the news wasn't good, RIP
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Sad indeed. The current generation of independent equipment makers who deal directly with customers and don't rely on the print magazines for blessings owes a lot to him. He brought credibility to this model by adhering to it decades before it was common. Great products and customer service earned him a major role in this.
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It is indeed a sad day when we lose another founding member of the American hi-fi industry.
In addition to my condolences to the Cheney family I would like to make two points in remembrance of Brian Cheney.
First Shirley Cheney wrote “He was a wonderful husband, loving father,…” Here is a man who had his priorities lined up correctly. It is especially hard for a business owner to resist letting his relationships fall behind the demands of survival and success in the marketplace. I have great admiration for a man who after a decade’s long career as a business owner is remembered first as a “wonderful husband, loving father”.
Second as fellow audiophiles, and for some of us owners of hi fi manufacturing businesses; let us consider what it takes and then admire Brian Cheney for the accomplishment of 35 years in business as a high end hi-fi manufacturer. I have a collection of hi-fi magazines going back to the 1970s. Pulling one out of the archive and thumbing through it is simultaneously fun and depressing. Fun to see what products were ‘hot’ back then in the reviews and ads, depressing because one quickly notes going back just 10 years +80% of the products and their manufactures have disappeared without a trace. As builders of a luxury discretionary income purchase hi-fi companies sprout like desert flowers after a spring rain during economic boom times only to die off with the next recession. It was while thumbing through my old hi-fi rags I noted VMPS as an example company that quietly went about its business for decades. That kind of longevity in the high end hi-fi business, while navigating both the economy and the often capricious fad driven zigs and zags of the audiophile clientele is a life achievement for which we should admire Brian Cheney.
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Very sad..... RIP Brian.
The first GTG I went to had a VMPS monitor that was excellent. I met John Casler there.
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Rest in Peace, I'm very sorry to hear this too.
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RIP Brian. We know him here on Audio Circle as the founder and owner of VMPS, but over on the Music Lane at Audio Asylum he was an impressively knowledgeable and helpful poster on classical music topics. I will really miss him.
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RIP Brian, sorry to hear this.
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Very sad to hear of this. I shared many good times with Brian, going back to, as he fondly called it, the days of "two guys in a garage." Brian shared a rare and wonderful relationship with his daughter, who will certainly miss him, as will we all. Thank you John, for keeping as informed.
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Wow, ditto. Very sad news. Thoughts and prayers to his loved ones.
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Very sad to hear. I was lucky enough to have been to Brian's home in the Bay Area and listened to a pair of his fine speakers.
We'll miss you Brian!
RIP...
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My condolences. Sad to hear. Speaker designer of my first ever hi-fi speakers.
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:cry: Going to the Live vs Recorded demonstrations at "The Show" was always a highlight for my wife and I... Brian taught us a lot during those session as he "captained" the room... I remember years ago him using Plinius amps in on of his rooms at The Show, and the sound being soooo good I bought one, I still use my Plinius SA-250 to this day...
Thanks Brian and family for what you have taught us, and the hard work you have done for our listening pleasure!
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Shocking. My condolences to the Cheney family. May Brian rest in eternal peace. A sad day indeed. A time to reflect.
charles
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My condolences to to the Cheney family and all his VMPS business associates. It's a shocking turnaround from Brian's recovering to the revelation of his passing. My respects & well wishes go out to his wife Shirley for the strength to endure in the coming days.
Cheers,
Robin
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My condolences to the Cheney family. Although I never had the opportunity to meet Brian Cheney in person, I have long followed his speaker designs. His family I am sure is very proud of the fact that Brian's creations brought so much joy to so many who love audio reproduction.
Our small community had lost one its own.
Regards,
Randy
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Hard to believe. I met Brian 1980, when I flew out from Boston to hear his loudspeakers with an eye towards becoming a dealer. At that time, and until my last occasions with him at the Newport Show in 2010 and his home early in 2011, although always overweight and sallow of complexion, he never lacked for energy and enthusiasm. Nor were loudspeakers his top interest -- that would be music, musical performance, and recordings, especially historical. Our numerous meetings and discussions always evolved to those topics, audio being secondary.
His loudspeakers, besides being wonderful, musical, award-winning and a steal, pricewise, taught me two further things, which I was subsequently able to pass on to him. First, because of their low-phase-distortion designs I (re)discovered Absolute Polarity, "the sine qua non of correct audio practice" and the topic of my later book The Wood Effect. Second, because of their amazing bass response and dynamic linearity, I was able to demonstrate that old 78s, particularly from their golden era of 1927-1936, could sound in some ways better than the latest type recordings. Brian was doubtful, but when he first visited my business The Listening Studio he was forced to agree. We spent many happy hours listening to those old spinners, as well as going to concerts in Symphony Hall and other local venues.
Speaking of shows, several years ago he began his Herculean efforts to do live-vs.-recorded, which proved that the line between them was thin and wavering. An immense amount of work was involved in these fascinating demonstrations, and his associates, dealers, friends and other manufacturers all pitched in. In my view, however, these grand occasions were sadly ignored by the audio press, so the attendance was never what it ought to have been, nor the public's exposure to the great, realistic sound his VMPS designs could produce.
Man will I miss him!
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So sad to hear of Brian passing.His family will be in our prayers.
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Rest In Peace Brian He was a true original.
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Vey sorry to hear this. A true pioneer in audio. Rest in peace and condolences to the Cheney family. Tom
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Oh man this is a shocker! I was just forwarded the AC link that Brian was recovering and wanted to write out PM since I have not been in touch with Brian :oops:. And now this.
Rest in Peace Brian - your product was the first which truly connected me to music like no other. You have been nothing but a graceful, quiet yet eloquent and kind gentleman I have come across. Well, you are in a better place now- RIP!
Regards,
Kishore
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As I read the title of this thread I got a terrible feeling of helplessness come over me. Very sorry to hear the news, RIP Brian and thoughts and prayers for the Cheney family?
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Brian (Big B) Cheney, whom I often called the "Sonic Sorcerer from El Sobrante", has passed.
I met Brian Cheney on the telephone back in 1992. I purchased a pair of RM1 speakers, a 626R, and a HighBoy LARGER SUB. I talked him into letting me be a dealer because I liked his ads in the back of AUDIO Magazine. He seemed like he didn't like to talk on the phone. : )
Later, I purchased a pair of RM-40 (Cherry Flambe!), a pair of 626R's and a Large Ribbon Center. The sound was glorious, and I could play with all the adjustments and get it "just right" for my room and ears. I spend hundreds of hours tweaking, moving, placing, converging and pinching, and enjoying every second, because it allowed me to see just how versatile these speakers were. Everyone on Harmonic Dischord and later Audio Circle knew I was B's biggest cheerleader.
Brian was one of the Industry Icons of the 70's, like John Curl, James Bongiorno, Arnie Nudell, Saul Marantz, Jon Dahlquist, Bob Carver, James Whiney, John Dunleavy, and many other of the unique American audio artists and pioneers who painted a unique audio soundscape in our living rooms, dens and other rooms where we could squeeze their gear. Most of these giants were friends and shared a camaraderie and respect with each other. I remember at many of the CES and THE Show trips having dinner with some of the GREAT NAMES of the Industry.
Brian's speaker design approach was unique and even controversial at times. He always used "minimum phase" 1st order XO's, a very unique driver blending, and most often an adjustable bass system with a Passive Radiator of which you could adjust the response by "pinching putty" mass to make the system distortion very low.
Later he fell in love with a type of Planar driver, that eventually became the NeoPanel, which was the heart and soul of the design. It handled the majority of frequencies, and ultimately ran from 280Hz to 6.9Khz. Many, if not most who heard them set up properly, fell in love with the sound.
Brian had one "prime directive" in his business and that was he LOVED IT when customers LOVED his Sound. As most who know him and VMPS, know that he ALWAYS designed for the wonderful and glorious sound. Each and every design he came up with (and many were different from each other) was always about making Glorious Music come alive in YOUR SPACE. He certainly wasn't in it to make a million $$ and most felt the price performance was exceptional.
I would guess his most valued award was winning the "Best of Show" at CES for the RM40 back in 2002. In fact, I find it a fitting theme song that he used the song "My Heart Will Go On" by James Horner and sung by Celine Dion from the TITANIC Soundtrack.
In fact, I would suggest and ask each of you, that a fitting tribute to Big B today, might be to play a bit of that very cut. If you don't have it you can click HERE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tuvz_9D7Ok) This track seems so fitting as his designs (his heart) will go on, and I think it could be considered BRIAN'S SONG
Please enjoy your VMPS speakers as long as you can. I know it would make Brian both Happy and Proud.
CLICK HERE for My Heart will go on (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tuvz_9D7Ok)
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Brian Cheney and Dolly
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=71965)
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Rest in peace, Brian.
I second the emotion
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RIP Mr. Cheney. You are sorely missed.
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I never knew Brian, but I knew his speakers were wonderful.
The song, "My Heart Will Go On" from the Titanic soundtrack is one I hear nearly every day as it is my first choice in evaluating our audio electronics.
From now on, I will listen to it as Brian's Song.
My sincere sympathy,
Frank Van Alstine
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Brian Cheney was one of the giants of high end audio. Please tell the Cheney family that he will always be remembered by the AC community.
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I just heard the news while speaking to John today on the phone. It saddened me enormously to hear of his passing. The very first pairs of "audiophile" grade speakers I have ever bought are all from Brian. To this day they are among the best speakers I have ever listened to and are a tribute to Brian's genius. I have had the pleasure of meeting Brian and Shirley several times at shows and taking this opportunity to convey my condolences to the family.
Rest In Peace Brian.
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For those interested, I received this link from John Atkinson of STEREOPHILE.
CLICK HERE (http://www.stereophile.com/content/brian-cheney-rip)
Thanks John
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I met Brian on my quest for speakers back in 2002. I travelled from Columbus, Oh to listen to his speakers. He took a cut from one of my CD's, it was an amazing presentation, and he really was quite the mad scientist. In his own listening space, even then critiquing his own speakers. I ended up purchasing an original sub, and then upgrading to the powered amp, and center channel. At the same time bought a pair of lightly used 626r's. They are still my main system. I don't feed them as well as they should be, but they have never let me down.
Rest in peace, and know that your legacy lives on in many homes around the world.
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This is very sad news. My condolences to his family. I will miss him.
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Yes, very sad indeed. RIP.
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I'm very sad about this. VMPS was a brand I intended to get into. Those wicked looking wedge shaped speakers with planar drivers up the middle... They must be incredible.
Those subwoofers just look incredible too, with the 12, then the 15, and the passive in what looks like a podium. I wanted to try them next. They were next on my list.
In fact, I still aim to buy a pair, I've heard WAY too many good things about what are sure to become legendary subwoofers.
RIP Brian Cheney. I'm glad you were able to have a family and that everyone loved you.
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Brian Cheney and Dolly
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=71965)
There is a bit of a "story" that goes along with this. (isn't there always?)
Brian was always tweaking and tinkering. He would also try tweaks from his fans. For some reason around this time he decided to put "lambs wool" in the box behind the Neopanels and tweeter, which became the TWEAK of the WEEK (actually from that time on) he even offered it as an option when ordering.
Well at this SHOW he had the Lamb's Wool and "DOLLY the LAMB" was his puppet to talk about the tweak and why he liked it.
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very sad to hear.my prayers are with the family and friends. we have lost an icon and an example of what customer service should be. he was light years ahead of his time and i am glad to have known him and spoke to him.
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My condolences to the Cheney family.
R.I.P. Big B......thanks for your wit and wisdom.
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Very sad news. I've owned VMPS speakers for about 10 years and always enjoyed talking to Brian. VMPS introduced me to AC and a whole world of audio. R.I.P.
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Really sad news to hear :(
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wow... i have been off the forum for a while, and this is what i see when i log back on. :cry: a very sad day for audiophiles and music lovers. i have owned a pair of brian's larger upright-style subs for almost twenty years now, (upgraded once), and they are still competitive w/the best out there... as are his other full-range designs, which i have had the pleasure of hearing...
my sincerest condolences to brian's family and friends. he was a great one...
doug s.
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As an owner of the RM40s I can say honestly and sincerely VMPS has changed my life for the better. Proud to own these masterpiece speakers. Sad to hear of Brian's passing.
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Sad news indeed.
Condolences to Big B's remaining family on his passing.
First bought his Original subwoofer kit back in 1986(7) after the review in Stereophile (or Audio Mag.?), thought it was a bargain @ a few hundred $$. The funny thing is whenever I spoke to him on the phone, he always struck me as a tall gaunt framed person :lol:... maybe it was his no frills phone manners, direct and to the point.
Today I own the QSO404, RM1 and 626R. Original Sub is still pulling duty in my HT system after going through the megawoofer upgrade and a new P/R. I see no reason to yearn after any other speaker since I can 'tune' my RM1 to sound like most other speakers.
He will be missed. A Life well lived.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=18289)
[/img]
2009 The Show : Live/Demo VMPS room.
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My condolences to his family.
Guy 13
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I, too, give my deepest condolences to the Cheney family and to those that had the good fortune to meet him and know him. This is a deep loss to the hi-fi community on the whole. :cry:
Makes me want to hear some VMPS speakers all the more.
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This is very sad news. I've known Brian since 1993 when I bought my first set of speakers from him and went and listened to them in his living room. God bless you Brian, and my sincere condolences to Shirley and all the family. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
You will truly be missed!
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Very sad, RIP, prayers send for family.
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A true original...my life enriched a bit to have had opportunity to have met him a few times in the past decade (I live about 30 minutes away)
Heard VMPS first in ~'88 in NJ at Parsippany Sound. 'The Way It Is' by Bruce Hornsby was playing....an unforgettable demo, for me, back then: such power, so sweeping the sound.
Thanks for mattering in your time on earth. RIP.
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Very sad news.
My condolences and prayers go to his the family.
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This is very shocking news. Brian could give this board some life at times, especially when it came to speaker theory. I loved my RM40s. Rest in peace, Brian.
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I first met Brian through Clark Johnsen at the Listening Studio in Boston in 1983 after purchasing his Super Tower 2 AR's. He came up to the house and over three hours did wonders for my sound just by simple adjustments of placement and crossovers. Subsequently every time he came to Boston the two of them would come up for some fish by the ocean and every time he'd happily spend an hour or two of his time redoing what tweaks I had tried without charge or gripes. He was a true gentleman which is rare in high end audio retailing and I will miss him dearly. Rest in peace old friend.
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From the thread about Brian being ill:
Hello Everyone,
I am Brian's daughter, Terra Cheney, I was very very close with my father, and I want to thank you all for all the years of support in my father's business and thank you for all your loyalty to his products. I very much appreciate all of the condolences. As a favor, I'm asking anyone who knew Brian and happen to have pictures of him (especially with speakers) would be willing to email them to me for his memorial service, I am setting up a slideshow for it and I would love to have pictures of him that are VMPS related (or any pictures at that, since he didn't like taking pictures very much). Thanks again everyone, never forget VMPS Audio. :)
-Terra
My email is heronlyescape@aol.com
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Never met him, never heard his gear but I have read many posts over the years and know he was an audiophile of the highest caliber and has enriched the lives of many on and off this forum. I am saddened by this news.
Paul
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I have always been in awe of Brian's creations.
Rest in Peace.
Wayne
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My first "real" pair of high end speakers were VMPS. After reading through the VMPS website a hundred times, I realized the importance of investing in a designer who's philosophy and approach to music resembled my own. I drove several hours to another state to buy them used. Every time I contacted Brian, either by phone or via email, he would respond within 30 minutes, and I appreciated his exceptional customer service and keen insight for speaker building. The audiophile community bids farewell to a great pioneer who championed the development of affordable high end audio.
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I am so sorry to learn of Brian's passing. I have learnt of his speakers through a fellow audiophile (Randolph) who was always echoing the merits of his designs. RIP Brian. My thought and prayers go out to his family.
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I hate this. I hate thinking that there'll be no new VMPS designs. No new Live-vs-Recorded demo's at CES. No new dry-witted posts from Brian here at AudioCircle. But, I hate, most of all, thinking that there's no Brian now...
I do fondly remember meeting Brian, at CES, when Brian introduced his RM-30's. I remember a man of few words. It struck then that Brian was willing to let his designs speak for him. That he was happy, if the listener was happy. Simple as that! That's a rare quality, today or at any time.
One final thought, that makes me happy. We can keep Brian alive. As long as we post here, share stories about Brian, still ask questions when they arise, and simply relay our enjoyment of Brian's creations, Brian will always retain a place in our hearts! And that, I don't hate...
Love and Best Wishes, to Brian's Family, and to all of his Fans,
Stewart
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R.I.P. Brian.
Condolences to your family.
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Audio will come, and audio will go. Keep in mind that the greatest loss is to his family.
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Very sad to hear as Brian was our guiding light and will always be to us lucky VMPS owners. Gods speed big B.
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Just a edit of what I previously posted on Audio Asylum:
They don't make guys like Big B anymore - a real design innovator with both a knowledgeable ear for music and a real appreciation of value in the items he sold. I've had my RM-2's for years and will not part with them.
The last time I saw Brian was this Spring when we (and our wives) flew down to LA to see Dudamel conduct the Frank Gehry staging of Mozart's "Don Giovanni". The Walt Disney Hall production left a lot to be desired, but the company of Brian and Shirley was stimulating to say the least. Many people don't realize what a font of Disney-knowledge Brian was, and during a chauffeured tour of Hollywood (I was the chauffeur!), Brian regaled us with stories and anecdotes about growing up almost as part of the Disney family. (His mom worked for the company, and he had all kinds of interesting "insider" information.) Little did I know that that trip would be the last time I would see him - it's so sad, because he wasn't that old.
I was also part of his "live vs. recorded" demo at The High End Show in Las Vegas a couple of years ago - what a daring concept (although I realize that similar demos had been done many years before under different circumstances)! As another poster noted, Brian's demos never received the amount of coverage in the audio press that they deserved. I'll never forget Brian's visits to my house to practice his cymbal parts for our looney arrangement of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. Nor will I forget one poster's comment (at another site) about those performances (". . . and the musicians were A LOT BETTER than I thought they were going to be!"). :icon_lol:
Anyway, hail and farewell, Brian. You made a lot of folks happy during your time here!
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Very sad news, with Brian one special generation of designers go to the heaven. R.I.P.
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Rest in peace Sir.
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I'm very sad to read that Brian passed away, it was so sudden after all. Rest in peace.
My condolences to Cheney family. Since I live so far away from El Sobrante I never met Brian but we exchanged thousands of e-mails during last eleven years. Brian was unique personality – along with making great speakers and boldly showing them off in his live vs. recorded events, I really admired his wit and a vast knowledge of classical music.
He brought a lot of joy to many people and will be remembered.
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Godspeed Mr Cheney.
Enjoyed coming to your home and your gracious attention.
Thank you so much.
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Gods speed Brian! Your attention to those you barely knew was remarkable!
May your genius live on...
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Jim Thiel, Sydney Harman, Brian Cheney-the strong guys with big legacy for american/world audio industry.
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Brian Cheney has been part of AudioCircle since it began, and this is very sad news. JC, I'd be grateful if you would pass on my condolences to Brian's family.
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Sad news indeed. My best wishes to everyone.
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It's sad, very sad. A great loss for the entire hi-fi world.
My condolences to Cheney family.
Rest in Peace Brian
Roko
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The sound in Heaven just got better...
-jd
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I never thought this day would come so soon.
AWESOME speakers to dream of! I remember drooling over the big super tower III's.
Thanks Brian for all the day dreams.
r.i.p. Brian.
Ryan
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Brian survived in a very difficult business for many decades and produced some truly memorable speakers. He will be greatly missed.
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Very sad news. I will keep Brian and his family in my thoughts and prayers.
Paul
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Brian's funeral will be Wed, December 12th.
The family has requested that in lieu of sending Flowers, that those so inclined instead contribute to one of Brian's favorite Musical Foundations and one he often contributed to himself, CARNEGIE HALL.
If you are one of those who intended to send flowers, here is the LINK to make such a contribution CLICK HERE. (http://action.carnegiehall.org/page/contribute/eoy-fy11)
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Good night and thank you
http://www.sound-news.net/index.php/the-novosti/hifi-av-novosti/item/1209-brian-cheney-1946-2012
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RIP Mr. Cheney,
You are truly a giant in this field and will be dearly missed. :(
Duc
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Good night and thank you
http://www.sound-news.net/index.php/the-novosti/hifi-av-novosti/item/1209-brian-cheney-1946-2012
Thanks Darac,
While I can't read a word, it appears to be a wonderful tribute piece.
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Copy and paste the link directly into Google Translate. Translate supports many languages,
with of course English being an option. Works great.
Thanks Darac,
While I can't read a word, it appears to be a wonderful tribute piece.
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Here's the link to the Translated page:
http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sound-news.net%2Findex.php%2Fthe-novosti%2Fhifi-av-novosti%2Fitem%2F1209-brian-cheney-1946-2012&act=url
Thanks Darac,
While I can't read a word, it appears to be a wonderful tribute piece.
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Wow, I am in shock! I'm so sorry to hear of his passing. He was a giant in the audio biz and a really interesting guy. He will be missed.
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I have been asked to remove this post by the original author as he will do a better job of translation. So this is why this post is empty and the next one makes no sense.
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That should make it easy for everyone.
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Dubravko just realised my Idea. I am only editor and fan of VMPS speakers.
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Just had a very nice conversation with Richard Beers of THE HOME ENTERTAINMENT Show and he said he intends to include a TRIBUTE PAGE in the Program Guide for THE Show on Brian.
That is truly a nice gesture. :thumb:
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Very sorry to hear of Brian's passing. My condolences to the Cheney family.
Ed
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What a loss.
I had a small audio equipment manufacturing business in the late 1970's, but my experience with VMPS began with the purchase of a pair of Super Tower IIar speakers in 1982 after reading a review in Audio. I had those speakers in my office for many years and spent countless hours listening to them before finally selling them in 2009 to someone who drove all the way from TN to Boston to get them. Over the years, I also acquired several of the original VMPS subwoofers, a pair of RM40s, and several pairs of 626Rs. Whenever I called VMPS, Brian was available to discuss tweeks, upgrades, or audio in general. As others have noted, he wanted to make his customers happy. In that regard he reminded me of Jim Strickland, who founded Acoustat and who ran his company in the same way. I miss them both.
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Condolences to the family from an owner of VMPS subs
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John,
Will the Program Guide only be made available to whomever attends the Show? I just wonder if extra copies could be made available for Fans of Brian's, as I'd love to get a copy? If not, I wonder if an attendee wouldn't mind scanning the Tribute article, and posting it here, for us to see?
Thanks,
Stimpy
Just had a very nice conversation with Richard Beers of THE HOME ENTERTAINMENT Show and he said he intends to include a TRIBUTE PAGE in the Program Guide for THE Show on Brian.
That is truly a nice gesture. :thumb:
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I just heard and I would like to offer my condolences to Brian's family. I will be praying
for them to be comforted and strengthened in this time of sorrow. :(
Sincerely,
Steve Sammet
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I'm sad to hear of Brian's passing (especially since we were the same age). I was always impressed with Brian's endless pursuit of improving his products: wool in the speaker cabinet, other damping material attached to the inside walls, two different wave guides, upgraded woofers, ambience tweeters, the novel V60 open baffle speakers. His audacity in producing the live versus recorded sessions at the THE Show which couldn't have brought in nearly as much money as it cost him to put on and then corralling great talent to perform at the event. WHAT A GUY!
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I recall Brian remarking once that he was funding the live vs recorded sessions by withdrawing funds from his IRA. That's how dedicated he was to the project! Las Vegas in January will NEVER be the same again. An Era has just ended. May he rest in peace'
Paul Monroe
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Hi guys,
I had some requests to post the slideshow I made of my dad's life on here. So here it is.
Thank you for everything. He will be missed so much.
Brian's daughter,
Terra Cheney.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZamUEoB5CxE&feature=youtu.be
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What a beautiful tribute, Terra. Thank you for sharing this here.
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Hi guys,
I had some requests to post the slideshow I made of my dad's life on here. So here it is.
Thank you for everything. He will be missed so much.
Brian's daughter,
Terra Cheney.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZamUEoB5CxE&feature=youtu.be
Hi Terra,
Thanks so much for this. It surely shows many sides of Big B, and I know his friends and fans will appreciate your tribute.
Wonderful video!
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Very sad to hear of Brian Cheney's passing, he was a true pioneer and he will be missed.
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(http://i48.tinypic.com/i2n2fr.jpg)
'The Man Behind Our Speakers'
This is the picture I like best.
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Very sorry to hear of Brian's passing. He and his company set the bar very high. My sincere condolences to his family and associates.
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Tera -
Thanks so much for posting the link to that tribute to your father. I was at the service yesterday and it was beautiful. (Unfortunately, I'm recovering from the flu and I wasn't able to stay and talk to people.) I'm so glad to have your wonderful memento of Brian's life and what he meant to so many people, both family and friends. He is truly missed by all of us.
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Terra - sorry I misspelled your name in the previous post!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZamUEoB5CxE&feature=youtu.be (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZamUEoB5CxE&feature=youtu.be)
Yes a wonderful tribute
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Terra,
As a Cat fancier, I loved the pictures of Brian and his Kitty! It was a beautiful Cat too. I was reminded of one of my Cats, that I miss on a daily basis. And Thanks for the wonderful Tribute to your Daddy!
Sincerely,
Stimpy
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Terra that was beautiful, thank you very much for sharing that with us here at Audio Circle. If the measure of a man is his body of work and how much he is loved then your daddy is right along side of the great ones.
Our sincere condolences,
Guy
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I got to know Brian over the phone this past year and was looking forward to meeting him in person at next year's CES. He cared so deeply about bringing the passion and excitement of live music into regular people's homes. He was one of kind. He helped me personally with a Megawoofer upgrade just a few months ago. I had no idea how sick he was. It must have been a Herculean task for him to get that order out in his condition. Brian and VMPS were as good as gets in our little world. My condolences, he died way too young.
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He Died way too young but died doing the very thing he loved to do. You get points for that upstairs AND among your peers. BIG POINTS in the realm of self worth and BIG POINTS with those of us that would like to stamp something on the Earth like Brian did. Now the VMPS product that you have has more meaning because the designer CARED.
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Is there a possibility of someone taking up the VMPS mantle and carrying on with the same product and using his designs under the VMPS name? It seems a shame that his company should end too. I think it's a shame really, he had some very unique, and extremely desireable looking models.
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I'm curious about this very thing too? Did Brian document his work thoroughly enough,
to allow someone else to step in and continue his work? Even if it were just to continue replicating
Brian's existing designs, it would be a blessing to VMPS fans. But, at the same time, I have to wonder,
was it all in Brian's head??? Was Brian talented enough to not need to write 'stuff' down, like the rest
of us normal people do?
Personally, I'd always wanted to buy a pair of VMPS speakers. Especially, a current design VMPS model. A
RMX was always a dream speaker for me. Unfortunately, readily available cash and speakers never seem to coincide.
But, it would be nice to know that new VMPS speakers were still available for wanting customers! Or even for me,
if I ever hit the lottery!
Is there a possibility of someone taking up the VMPS mantle and carrying on with the same product and using his designs under the VMPS name? It seems a shame that his company should end too. I think it's a shame really, he had some very unique, and extremely desireable looking models.
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I believe that Brian gave every speaker that left his shop the personal treatment. I am sure that more attention was needed when the analog crossovers were involved, but increasingly more and more in the later years was the optional use of external digital crossovers. He also had the foresight to remake most of his designs digital ready for such crossovers. So, I see no reason why someone would not be able to keep several of these models going as digital ready. I am sure that the documentation needed for manufacturing of the needed parts is available.
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Hi All,
I am, and have been discussing this with several parties.
There are several challenges, not withstanding the "Brian Cheney Artistry" of driver blending and cross-over wizardry.
At the heart of every VMPS speaker was the remarkable Neopanel of which there are no more except the few we have in inventory. That said a couple have suggested that they could manufacture or have manufactured such a driver.
As well Brian didn't really produce speakers with a "profit motive" in mind, but for the love of music and knowing how much people liked his speakers, so maintaining the price point/market position would be difficult.
There are many other similar challenges to reviving VMPS, but I am attempting to explore these in a fashion that would lead to tbe best outcome.
So any who have the interest (and most importantly the ability) in such a project please feel free to contact me with your thoughts.
Please do know that for a revival the simplest path with the fewest parts is likely the only way to succeed.
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I haven't checked into Audio circle in a while and I am shocked and saddened to hear this news. My condolences go uot to Shirley, his family, the audiocircle community and you too John.
Corbin
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Just received a post from Richard Beers of THE HOME ENTERTAINMENT SHOW.
He has placed a memorial to Brian on THE Shows HOMEPAGE = = CLICK HERE (http://www.theshowlasvegas.com/) complete with a link to the wonderful Video Tribute created by Brian's daughter Terra.
They also intend to do a tribute to Brian at the Opening Ceremonies
At the Opening Night Reception, Jan 8th, 6PM in Red Rock ballroom at Flamingo, we will do a small tribute to Brian. John Atkinson will share a few memories and feelings..
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Thank You Terra for sharing the beautiful tribute to your father Brian, Big B to us loyal VMPS lovers. Though I never had the chance to actually meet your father, being from the Midwest, I feel as tho I"ve lost a best friend in audio. Shed tears watching the video tribute and more with the realization that VMPS will be no more. As Brian to us VMPS owners was and will always be our guilding light. Thank You Terra and Family for sharing.
Sincerely,
Shear Bliss
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I had not planned on attending 2013 Las Vegas THE Show. Thanks to John Cassler's post about the tribute, I now plan to attend at least that event. Anyone else planning to attend the tribute, please consider posting same here. Maybe we can agree to meet somewhere for a meal and toast our dear departed friend.
John, thanks for supporting Brian and especially thanks for the post about the tribute. Let's make a point to thank Richard Beers for his generous home page notice. Terra Cheney made a very common mistake in her video, one we all have made, referring to CES in a generic sense when we more accurately refer to T.H.E. Show, where Brian exclusively displayed for about the last ten years.
Believe me, CES would never support any video mentioning T.H.E. Show, in fact I doubt they've ever acknowledged Richard's existence publicly! Good on ya Richard!
Lastly, as someone who personally witnessed Brian's affection for his first daughter Doris Erica (Dorica), I have rarely if ever witnessed so much loving affection between two human beings. Brian never faltered in this part of his life, at least as far as I could tell, and I was there going back to our "two guys in a garage days" at his home in the 80s.
At the memorial last Wednesday, Brian's younger daughter Terra and step daughter showed a similar affection, and I was moved and delighted to witness it. You would covet such a relationship with your children.
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I had not planned on attending 2013 Las Vegas THE Show. Thanks to John Cassler's post about the tribute, I now plan to attend at least that event. Anyone else planning to attend the tribute, please consider posting same here. Maybe we can agree to meet somewhere for a meal and toast our dear departed friend.
Attending THE Show was in question for me as well, since my whole purpose for going these last few years was to help out Brian with the room set-up and the recordings there, and thought I would feel bad being there with Brian now gone. But, I then had the same thoughts as you and went ahead and made reservations yesterday to arrive the afternoon of the 8th to be in time for the opening night ceremonies. It will be good to see you again. Will George be going?
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RIP Brian. His legacy will live on with audio enthusiasts like myself, who will keep enjoying his very special speakers.
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I was listening to KPLU tonight, one of the few uncompressed jazz FM stations. Thanks Brian, RIP.
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As a VMPS owner for 18 years, my deepest condolences to Brian's family. He leaves behind a legacy of making this world a better place through music. Godspeed.
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Looks like I will be going to Vegas after all.
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Great. I will see you there. I arrive mid afternoon on the 8th and will be at the Flamingo for that opening night party.
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I just found out about this, and I'm saddened to hear it. A nice guy and someone who made a real effort to bring top-quality speakers, designed with his masterful touch, at very reasonable prices to as many audio enthusiasts as possible; so they could enjoy truly great sounding music and home theater without being rich, and I thank him for that. Condolences and prayers for his family and friends.
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Very sad to read this. I continue to enjoy my pair of RM2 speakers. I actually bought and built the kit about 15 years ago or so(with mega-woofer and soundcoat)...I spoke with him maybe twice during the build...and again more recently when I replaced all of the neo-mids less than 1 year ago.
There is little I can say here that has not already been said. May you rest in peace Brian. Thank you for your dedication to something that I too enjoy. You helped me garner a little more pleasure in life than I would have without you.
:cry:
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I was sad to hear about the loss as well. I always made a point to stop by Brian's room at T.H.E. show in Vegas. Alas, I was absent the last two years and unaware of any health issues Brian was having.
Makes me wish I would have taken more time to get to know him. A really bright gentleman, I have always been a fan of his work.
My condolences to the family and prayers that all is well.
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Wow, this is like a bad dream, Brian and James Bongiornio too :(
I met Brian back in 1982, when I bought his monster sized VMPS Widerange Ribbons. He was close to John Bedini and John Curl back then.
I could not wait to get my Audio Magazine in the mail, and I always went right to the VMPS Ad in the back of the magazine, to see what Brian was up to.
I would hate to see VMPS go away, forever. Somewhere out there in the world, perhaps there is a person, who will carry on Brian's vision ?
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Well John Castler is carrying on some stuff, thank you John.