[John Casler]

You know that stepchildren never seem to get the same treatment as their siblings.  Seems they often get left out, not made to feel special, or even relegated to the backseat.

I was listening to my Home Theater just the other day and running through a series of listening tests and set up tones and then fired up a couple films and Multi-channel recordings to see if I had done a good job.

Well I did    and I actually just sat there in amazement at how good everything was sounding.  I was particularly taken by how good my CENTER speakers sounded.  In fact, I WAS FLOORED!!

Now I say "center speakers" because I generally run a stack of a Single RM30, and a LARGE RIBBON CENTER.  It was just WOW.  Clairity, Detail, Richness, Dynamics, Power, and . . . . BASS.  I mean big bass.

Then during a scene in the new JJ Abrahms STAR TREK I felt something hit me in the face?  W T F?  Then it hit me again and again.  This was during the opening scene when James Tiberius Kirk is being born and his father is off to meet his destruction.

It was so cool (literally like a cannonball of air hitting me in the face) that I had to get up and see what was causing it.  As it turns out, I had actually disconnected the RM30 and was running the LRC "only" and the front ports of the LRC were literally shooting air cannonballs at me.  Likely more like powerful smoke rings due to the port shape.

It was amazing.  Looks like I have the alignment correct as these things hit me head (face) on.

So then I started cranking it and realized that the LRC is likely one of the absolute best CENTER CHANNEL speakers ever made and certainly the best of its size and price class.

But, when was the last time you heard someone talk about the LRC?  Hello?  get the stepchild comparison. 

I have to say, this in some of B's best work. While I have set up many systems with RM30c's and even quite a few with RM40's "lying down" as CENTERS, there is nothing else I have heard below $5000 that comes close to all the qualities of the LRC.

And I am sure a few of you know this, but the LRC also comes as a "jr", for (get this) $549.

OK, it is a slightly dialed down version with Polycone Woofers and a Spiral Tweeter, but what even comes close for $549?

The regular versions are $950 (Spiral/Mega) and $1150 (FST/Mega) and will further blow the MegaCenters into the weeds (IMHO)

And if that is not enough, the LRC can also be used as all 5 speakers in a 5.1 system if you have circumstances where horizontal is better than vertical.  They are unreal behind a 120" Acoustically Transparent Screen.  I mean "seemless".

I recall a few years ago screening a DTS trailer DVD I had that had a scene from The HAUNTING in it and the BASS was UNREAL.  The MegWoofs on the LRC were absolutely smoking it.  I can't recall EVER seeing such woofer motion . .EVER.

So while the LRC may be in the backseat in the line up with many talking about the 626R, the RM30, RM40, and RM50, in a HT it is FRONT ROW CENTER (literally) and allowed to be the Super Star that it is.

And I have another VMPS step child coming soon.  Can you guess which one it is? 

[Brax]

I agree 100% John, I was floored by the bass response this center channel puts out. I have also felt the air blast from the port on this speaker.
I have to give credit to the twin 40oz Mega woofers in this speaker. They are little 6-1/2" woofers (compared to the 10" in my RM40s and the 12" in my RM2s) that perform better than many 10" woofers from other manufactures.
If you apply clean power to this speaker, you will be literally blown away. I was driving my LRC with one channel of my Cinenova Grande 5 and the result was pretty impressive.
(this little beast is in storage waiting for the HT to be complete)

[bigbang]

And I have another VMPS step child coming soon.  Can you guess which one it is?

RM2???

Yes, love the LRC too. Waiting to try the wave guide on it.

[John Casler]

If you apply clean power to this speaker, you will be literally blown away. I was driving my LRC with one channel of my Cinenova Grande 5 and the result was pretty impressive.
(this little beast is in storage waiting for the HT to be complete)

That is exactly what I am using.  300wpc to the LRC and when I have the RM30 hooked up 600wpc to it.

[John Casler]

RM2???

Yes, love the LRC too. Waiting to try the wave guide on it.

Yes Mr Bang the other VMPS Stepchild is the RM2.

While maybe it isn't as pretty as some of the other speakers, it is an incredible performer.

And it even comes in a "jr" model for $1999!!!   What speaker do you know of that can do 20-20 for under $2k?

It will plumb the depths with Deep Clean Bass, and the VMPS Neopanel midrange is so good it should be patented, with crisp, clean, clear ribbon treble to die for.

From HT to BACH this speaker has it in all categories, . . .but. . . it is often overshadowed by the RM30 or RM40.

Now I admit, it is a little boxy, but in the $2k (jr) to the $3150 of the RM2 FST it is hard to beat.