[meilankev]

...your new RM50s have got me wanting to accelerate that decision from 2013 to sometime this year.  Wow, they look like a great design - kind of an RM40 on steroids.  After I gain approval this with the boss (yes, my wife would have to agree to any major expenditure like this), I hope to be contacting you with specific details.

But I have a few questions:
---------------------------------
- I'm guessing my KORAs will be a great match for the mids/highs (seeing as how they use the same 6AS7G output tubes that the Atma-Sphere amps use).  But while the 100W Pure Class A might have been sufficient to drive the RM40s full range in my smallish room (14.5 x 16), I assume that will no longer be the case with the RM50s???  Is this true, and must I bi-amp???

- Did you ever see/hear the old Infinity Ref-Std II speakers from the early 1980s???  There seem to be similarities in design with these RM50s (e.g. separate bass encosure for woofers; dipole for mid drivers and tweeters in open rear baffle; one of the EMIT tweeters were rear-firing).  Also interesting, the RS-Std II used diffraction wings not unlike your RM V60 (although on a much smaller scale).

- Pros/Cons of Digital OXO versus Analog OXO???  I am one of "those kind" who always takes the knee-jerk reaction of preferring "anything analog" over "anything digital".  Is there any reason not to in this case???

Thanks,
Kevin

Link to photos of old RS-II speakers:
http://www.infinity-classics.de/infinity/models/Reference-series-1+b-2-10+A+B-1981-86/Reference-Standard-II/body_rs_ii.html

[John Casler]

...your new RM50s have got me wanting to accelerate that decision from 2013 to sometime this year.  Wow, they look like a great design - kind of an RM40 on steroids.  After I gain approval this with the boss (yes, my wife would have to agree to any major expenditure like this), I hope to be contacting you with specific details.

But I have a few questions:
---------------------------------
- I'm guessing my KORAs will be a great match for the mids/highs (seeing as how they use the same 6AS7G output tubes that the Atma-Sphere amps use).  But while the 100W Pure Class A might have been sufficient to drive the RM40s full range in my smallish room (14.5 x 16), I assume that will no longer be the case with the RM50s???  Is this true, and must I bi-amp???

Hi Kev,

The efficiency of the RM50 is likely "higher" than that of the RM40, so you should be good.

However, it is hard to have TOO MUCH power with VMPS, and you would probably find the best performance with biamping.

We have a new line and selection of PBS (Powered Bass Systems)

While we haven't done so, I'm sure B could build you Single AMP version, but the Analog Passive XO is a power hog, compared to the Active Digital (D-OXO) which would require biamping.  So the STOCK RM50 would require Biamping.  You could order it with any of a combination of various X-Os and upgrades which I will post in the near future.

- Did you ever see/hear the old Infinity Ref-Std II speakers from the early 1980s???  There seem to be similarities in design with these RM50s (e.g. separate bass encosure for woofers; dipole for mid drivers and tweeters in open rear baffle; one of the EMIT tweeters were rear-firing).  Also interesting, the RS-Std II used diffraction wings not unlike your RM V60 (although on a much smaller scale).

The RM50 is a BIPOLE and as such has a slightly different sonic release than a DIPOLE.  The Infinity is more similar (as you alluded) to the RM v60 in both baffle configuration and polarity of the mid and HF drivers.

Do keep in mind however that the RM50 can be ordered with an additional set of  binding posts for the "rear array" and you can always "reverse" the positive and negative to that array if you want to experiment with DIPOLE with the RM50.

- Pros/Cons of Digital OXO versus Analog OXO???  I am one of "those kind" who always takes the knee-jerk reaction of preferring "anything analog" over "anything digital".  Is there any reason not to in this case???

All XO technologies have their perceived pluses and minuses.

Being able to manipulate the signal so cleanly in the digital domain in the digital XO has HUGE advantages.  However it does require a couple digital to analog conversions which some question.

But then the analog crossovers are power hungry, and have L-Pads (variable resistance devices) that some question.

In the end, it boils down to which suits you and you ears.

[Brian Cheney]

The Kora amp has about the same output power as the Atmasphere MA1's we used in a 28x32x9' ballroom this CES, with 30 listeners.  You'll be fine.

You should definitely biamp.  SS bass monoblocks with 500W/ch are available for $799pr if ordered with the speakers.  They do very well and were my backup amps at CES to the 1000W Classe monoblocks we did employ.

I am much in favor of the digital OXO.  Not only does it provide the slopes I like, plus the ability to stagger the filter poles (necessary for them to sum the drivers properly), it sounds very neutral even in stock form and has several upgrades available to both analog and digital sections, up to and including full remote preamp functions.

But the biggest recommendation for the D-OXO is its seven bands of parametric EQ, which can eliminate all major room problems (including the floor to ceiling bass mode which does not yield to placement) and correct the speaker, taking away the built-in "presence peak" of the panels and allowing trim to compensate e.g. for speaker positions well away from side and back wall (which give the clearest and deepest soundstage and imaging).  At CES, for example, I used 1.0dB of boost at 32Hz to fill in the lack of LF boundary reinforcement--the rear wall was 13ft away and the closest side wall 9ft.

[meilankev]

John and Brian,

Thanks for all the info!!!  It is great to have such great access to you guys.

John, I'll be looking forward to seeing all the possible options/configurations for these new speakers in a single, consolidated format.  That would benefit me (and others, I assume) a great deal trying to figure outwhat will fit me (my system and my budget) the best.

Thanks again!!!
Kevin