[monsterbill]

Okay, now that I know that the treble/mids on my RM30Ms can be run by an amp rated only for 8 Ohm loads (Thanks Steve!), I was wondering if anyone has tried the Geddes Pioneer Receiver on VMPS speakers?

This amp is discussed in this venerable thread, started by the former VMPS dealer from whom I bought 3 pairs of VMPS speakers, Jim Romeyn:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=68889.msg942701;topicseen#new

Jim has good ears, so I trust what he's hearing there.  According to Jim, the Pioneer amp sounds like crap with speakers <8 Ohm, which would rule out my speakers, except in a bi-amp configuration.

Anyone taken the $200 challenge and tried the Pioneer chip amp?

[Pez]

hard to think of a reason someone would use a receiver to bi amp, but if you're looking for cheap watts the pioneer might be the way to go.

[Russtafarian]

The mid/tweeter drivers on the RM30 are an easy 8 ohm load to drive.  So you'll get the best possible performance out of the Pioneer's amps.  A low to mid power tube amp will sound even better.

[monsterbill]

I was thinking I would use the Pioneer only for the top end, to supplement my class a/b ss amp which I would relegate to the bottom in this experiment. 

My current amp is actually pretty good, so this would only really be a benefit if the Pioneer is a freak aberration of talent in a sea of mid-fi, as Romeyn is claiming.

I'll search the archives for more on low-pass filters before I go forward. 

[Tyson]

Chip amps and planar speakers don't mix well, IMO.  Better to get a moderately powered tube amp for the mids/highs and a big SS amp on the woofers.

[sts9fan]

"the geddes"

[monsterbill]

Chip amps and planar speakers don't mix well, IMO.  Better to get a moderately powered tube amp for the mids/highs and a big SS amp on the woofers.

Yeah, I hear what you're saying about tubes--just not in a position to go in that direction yet.

Do you not like chip amps (for this purpose) in particular, or also not tripath/ice amps?  Personally, I've found the latter too lacking in mid-range presence, even when compared to good traditional solid state.  But I heard, years ago, that chip amps *could* be made to overcome this shortcoming.  Also, it's been years since I last spoke with Jim R., but as I recall, he had been a big tube buff for decades.  I'm curious about the switch.

[Tyson]

I've not heard the pioneer, but I'd be very surprised if this was the case.  Chip amps have other strengths, but midrange bloom is not one of them.

[Pez]

As a tried and true low powered SET dude I will say from 1st hand experience, VMPS speakers, when freed from the bondages of passive crossover components, thrive off of low powered tube amps. I'm talking 5 watts for the mids 1-2 watts for the tweet and whatever beastly solid stte amp you can get for the woofers. This is where Things really start happening. So if you're not in a position to go tubed yet get yourself there as fast as you can.