[darwin]

Has anyone here switched from Magnepans to VMPS speakers? I'm thinking of scaling down my system and the RM30Cs and 626Rs caught my eye.
My current setup: Maggie 3.6R fronts, CC3 center, and 1.6QR rears in a 16.5 ft. x 22 ft. x 8ft. room, the rear of which opens into the kitchen. The speakers tend to dominate the room, which also serves as a living room, so I would like to go with something less imposing. Being a big fan of ribbons and having read so many good things about the RM30s and 626s, I'm intrigued and I love the looks of them.
I live smack dab in the middle of Nowhere, FL and don't have a dealer nearby for a demo, so I would like to get some impressions from those who have compared Maggies with the VMPS line.

[John Casler]

Has anyone here switched from Magnepans to VMPS speakers? I'm thinking of scaling down my system and the RM30Cs and 626Rs caught my eye.
My current setup: Maggie 3.6R fronts, CC3 center, and 1.6QR rears in a 16.5 ft. x 22 ft. x 8ft. room, the rear of which opens into the kitchen. The speakers tend to dominate the room, which also serves as a living room, so I would like to go with something less imposing. Being a big fan of ribbons and having read so many good things about the RM30s and 626s, I'm intrigued and I love the looks of them.
I live smack dab in the middle of Nowhere, FL and don't have a dealer nearby for a demo, so I would like to get some impressions from those who have compared Maggies with the VMPS line.

Hi Darwin,

Good direction to go in if you are already familiar with the detailed sonics of "panel" and "ribbon" speakers.

You won't lose any of that, but you will gain greater dynamic range and bass.

Big B, is a msater at blending the driver types to their best advantages.

Another difference is that you will not be using a dipolar radiation pattern and that will me less "room reflected" sound, since the VMPS (except the RM v60) are monopoles.

This will also allow for a less postition dependant placement.  Meaning they can be closer or farther from the "front wall" without concern for the travel distance of the rear wave, since there isn't one.

The RM30 will likely equal or exceed the output of your mains.  There is a CENTER speaker called the LRC that is used for Center Duties, and the 626's perform well as surrounds.

They feed happily on 100wpc, but really purrrr if fed a little more.

[darwin]

Thanks John. I think that I'm already set in the bass department. I forgot to mention in my previous post that I have an infinite baffle sub with four - 18" drivers powered by a Crown K2 amp. Also, my speaker amps are Exodus Audio's UCD400 based amps, so I should have plenty of power for either the RM30Cs or 626s.
Given that I have the IB and my wife and I never listen to the setup at window rattling volumes, how well would five of the 626Rs fill my room? Now that I've looked over the price list for the options I would want (rosewood, FST, and CWDG), it looks like I would have to make the switch in stages. I'm just a lowly, semiretired Biology prof. and even though I'm sleeping with the CFO, I don't think I could buy everything at once. 

[Zheeeem]

Has anyone here switched from Magnepans to VMPS speakers?

Yah.

I'm a 30 year+ maggie man.  Started with MG-2s and tympani 1(u)s (which I still own and use in the HT).  My most recent experience was a pair of MMGs 3 years ago which I bought to tide me over while we were doing some home remodeling.  The MMGs were initially exciting, if somewhat ragged.  Within about a year they became fatigueing and I perceived them to be overcoloured and way overdistorted.  I was never able to properly integrate a sub (REL strata 3) so it "sounded right" - and I need bass below 50 to be happy.  In short, I found the MMGs to be unlistenable.

Anyhow, when some of the dust settled and I learned from Mrs Zheeeem which room I would be allowed to use for a listening room, I promptly sold the MMGs and bought a pair of RM-30Ms.  I went with the Ms because I ended up with a small room (10x14; my spousal unit got the 17x23 room for HT) and there was no place to put a sub... or two.

Anyhow, I love the RM-30s.  Brian worked with me on a couple of upgrades - I got the BH5 and a cap upgrade.  Love the seamless integration of the drivers in the 1st order XO, and the quality of the bass/midbass is wonderful.  They are fast, fast, faster than maggies, and the music sounds more like it's coming from real musical instruments.  I still haven't made up my mind if I prefer the waveguides or not.  I tend to leave them on for casual listening, and take them off for those times when I want to sit and give something a good listen.  W/O the guides, they beam a bit like the maggies, but with the guides you get good imaging in a very broad listening area.  My main neurosis going in was that with putty pinching and adjustible trim pots, they would feed my neurotic tendencies.  But big B tuned them pretty well at the factory, and they ended up being very easy to place.  They are much better than maggies at imaging, complex orchestral pieces, and pieces requiring a broad range (e.g., organ).

Alas, though I have heard the 3.6s in shops, I've not actually heard them in my home.  So I can't really do a direct comparison for you.

These are solid, massive speakers.  The build quality is excellent, and the price/performance ratio is extraordinary.

[John Casler]

Thanks John. I think that I'm already set in the bass department. I forgot to mention in my previous post that I have an infinite baffle sub with four - 18" drivers powered by a Crown K2 amp. Also, my speaker amps are Exodus Audio's UCD400 based amps, so I should have plenty of power for either the RM30Cs or 626s.
Given that I have the IB and my wife and I never listen to the setup at window rattling volumes, how well would five of the 626Rs fill my room? Now that I've looked over the price list for the options I would want (rosewood, FST, and CWDG), it looks like I would have to make the switch in stages. I'm just a lowly, semiretired Biology prof. and even though I'm sleeping with the CFO, I don't think I could buy everything at once. 

Ah yes, it looks like low bass should not be a problem in your rig, in that sized room, at that listening level.

5 626 would likely "fill the bill" (pun intended).

This might be especially true if you are using a X-over that limits the load on the 626's.  That is, if you cross at 40Hz or 60hz.

I have a few clients with 626 based 5.1 systems and if the speakers are all set up at the same height to maintain tonal quality the result is breathtaking.   This is especially evident on GOOD multi-channel recordings.

If you need high volume, in a BIG room,  then RM30s across the front is a better option, but in your case, they might be "overkill".

I'll PM you some courtesy pricing ideas

[darwin]

Ah yes, it looks like low bass should not be a problem in your rig, in that sized room, at that listening level.

5 626 would likely "fill the bill" (pun intended).

This might be especially true if you are using a X-over that limits the load on the 626's.  That is, if you cross at 40Hz or 60hz.

I have a few clients with 626 based 5.1 systems and if the speakers are all set up at the same height to maintain tonal quality the result is breathtaking.   This is especially evident on GOOD multi-channel recordings.

If you need high volume, in a BIG room,  then RM30s across the front is a better option, but in your case, they might be "overkill".

I'll PM you some courtesy pricing ideas

Thanks again, John. Generally, I keep the crossover set at around 70 Hz on my current setup, even for the 3.6Rs, and it sounds good to me.

What stands do you recommend for the 626Rs? And do you take trade-ins? 

[John Casler]

Ah yes, it looks like low bass should not be a problem in your rig, in that sized room, at that listening level.

5 626 would likely "fill the bill" (pun intended).

This might be especially true if you are using a X-over that limits the load on the 626's.  That is, if you cross at 40Hz or 60hz.

I have a few clients with 626 based 5.1 systems and if the speakers are all set up at the same height to maintain tonal quality the result is breathtaking.   This is especially evident on GOOD multi-channel recordings.

If you need high volume, in a BIG room,  then RM30s across the front is a better option, but in your case, they might be "overkill".

I'll PM you some courtesy pricing ideas

Thanks again, John. Generally, I keep the crossover set at around 70 Hz on my current setup, even for the 3.6Rs, and it sounds good to me.

What stands do you recommend for the 626Rs? And do you take trade-ins? 

Stands are important and a whole nother (is that a word?) subject.  You want to have the 626's so that the ear is about mid to upper neopanel. (with CDWG on this is less critical)

Your seating height will determine what will be best, but most use 22" to 26" stands.

The other consideration is bearding.  That is having a flat rigid surface below the front of the speaker to maintain the bass qualities.

If you can use the 22" height, we have a "pedestal" (blank speaker cabinet) that some use after filling with sandbags.

Noel at SKYLAN makes some great stands, (must use the 4 poster) as does the Standman here on AC.
http://www.skylanstands.com/stands.htm
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=57261.0

I can also get you the special "bearded" SoundAnchor stands (but they are pricey)