Lorelei

Tweaker · « **on:** 7 Mar 2005, 05:19 pm »

Any one had a chance to hear both the Lorelei's and the VMPS RM2's? Would like to get some feedback on how the two compare. Very different beasts, I know but similarily priced.
Thanks.

gongos · « **Reply #1 on:** 7 Mar 2005, 07:20 pm »

I own the 626r's and love them. I think people are going to tell you the 2 speakers you're asking about are on opposite ends of the listening spectrum. It actually should be a fairly easy choice between the two once you decide what type of character you want your speaker to possess. Email or call Klaus of Odyssey or VMPS. I know Klaus has direct experience with these two and can offer you an honest direct description of them.

Tweaker · « **Reply #2 on:** 7 Mar 2005, 07:34 pm »

Thanks, good suggestions.
The reason I posted this, actually, is that I own a pair of RM-2's and am on a mission to find a speaker that can play in the same league but be more listener friendly (among other things). What I mean by that is my wife at 4'10" is getting a much different tonal balance than I am at 6'1" due to the nature of the midrange ribbons vertical dispersion. I have posted a similar question on the ACI forum in regards to the Panorama but have not received a responce yet.

gongos · « **Reply #3 on:** 7 Mar 2005, 07:44 pm »

The best thing to do would be to buy a pair of the Lorelei's and do a direct comparison, then sell the losing pair, or try to find someone around where you live with a pair and take over your electronics. Klaus is fond of saying his speakers elicit an emotional response, ie are more emotional engaging than VMPS. I'm not sure how accurate this is. I don't seem to be wanting emotional when I listen through my 626r's, but maybe I don't know what I'm missing. Good luck.

byteme · « **Reply #4 on:** 7 Mar 2005, 08:11 pm »

When I was looking for new speakers I considered pretty much everything, narrowing it down to only a few. Of those I did consider were the then new RM30's and Lorelei's. I bought the Lorelei's after reading countless reviews and owners comments of both. Along the way I found someone local who at one point owned RM2's. I've been at this persons house and heard his current system, which is spectacular. I respect his opinion and understand where his is coming from in his quest for audio reproduction. He outlined for me the plus' and minuses of the RM2's and why he sold them. That was good enough for me. I did the same with quite a few other folks, albeit without being able to hear their systems. I learned what they were after, sound wise, from the system they were trying to create and then put more or less weight on thier reviews based on their alignment with my goals.

The Lorelei's are amazing speakers, period. They are amazing speakers at the Symphonic Line Legato price of over $6k. They are a silly bargain at the Klaus price of $2800 or whatever for the same speaker as the Legato (Ok, cabinet is sourced in Canada rather than Europe but the drivers and crossovers are exact and the cabinet is the same as the Legato).

I can attest that you will not have "tonal balance" issues, just a huge, wide, deep soundstage with all the detail you could want. And you'll get a speaker that also excels at conveyance of emotion and palpability.

You may try contacting Klaus and see if he's sold a pair to anyone in your area. I was lucky enough to get a chance to listen to Capt. Humble's Lorelei's on a business trip to Dallas before I bought mine. My decision was made right then and there!

TjMV3 · « **Reply #5 on:** 7 Mar 2005, 11:14 pm »

Byteme,

What finish is on your Lorelei? Is that the natural Cherry finish?

byteme · « **Reply #6 on:** 8 Mar 2005, 06:02 am »

Yes, it's the Cherry. Excellent woodwork - very handsome speakers.

TjMV3 · « **Reply #7 on:** 8 Mar 2005, 03:21 pm »

Quote from: byteme

Yes, it's the Cherry. Excellent woodwork - very handsome speakers.

Yes indeed! Absolutely beautiful!

LadyDog · « **Reply #8 on:** 9 Mar 2005, 05:12 am »

Tweaker,
Both are very good speakers for the money. As others have mentioned, somewhat different in spirit though.

I have owned the RM2's and have had a few experiences with the Lorelei's. Everybody is their own movie critic when it comes to this stuff so take my words with a grain of salt.

As you have seen in person, the RM2's are more of a seated listening speaker. When you are in the spot, it doesn't get much better. Klaus's speaker cannot compete with the RM's tweeter and what it brings to the table, if that floats your boat? And the RM2's are much more of a full-range speaker. But that said, if it were my choice, I would chose the Lorelei's. They are an "all-arounder" speaker, that maybe does not excel and any one thing, but does everything very well.

I have not seen Brian's new cabinets, but based on the older version, there is no doubt which is a prettier speaker. Plus the Lorelei's are much smaller and more "waf" if that matters?

Good luck in your hunt.

Regards,
Jeff

Tweaker · « **Reply #9 on:** 9 Mar 2005, 08:07 pm »

Thanks for the replies everyone, all helpful.
I think the big problem with the RM2 is that the location of the mids are too low on the cabinet. The top of the upper midrange panel is about 34" high which is 5" lower than my ear height when seated on the couch. To compenstate I have the speakers tilted back a few degrees which works well except now the tweeters are firing above my head. If the mids had been placed higher on the cabinet and the cabinet made a little taller too make room for the two tweeters, or keep the cabinet the same height and use one tweeter, the speakers would be perfect.The tweeter(s) could be angled a few degrees down by using a tapered shim attached to the cabinet to mount to and that would compensate for the fact they are sitting higher on the baffle. Those simple changes would place the RM-2 in a league of its own which they very nearly are now. But that is not the case so the Lorelei's are looking better and better all the time.

gongos · « **Reply #10 on:** 9 Mar 2005, 08:12 pm »

What tweets do you have on your RM2's? From what I've rea, having the FST's aimed a little over your head shouldn't effect the sound quality. I think John Casler just wrote about this in another thread.

Tweaker · « **Reply #11 on:** 9 Mar 2005, 08:20 pm »

I just went to the VMPS Europe website and it appears that with the FS tweeter upgrade the mids have been placed higher on the cabinet.

Brian Cheney · « **Reply #12 on:** 9 Mar 2005, 08:20 pm »

On the FST version of the RM 2 the upper part of the top mid panel is 39" off the floor.

Tweaker · « **Reply #13 on:** 9 Mar 2005, 08:22 pm »

gongos,
I have the RM2 Neo's which have the dual spiral ribbon tweeters.

gongos · « **Reply #14 on:** 9 Mar 2005, 08:46 pm »

I can't speak for the spiral tweet. Maybe give VMPS a call to see what you might be able to do?

Tweaker · « **Reply #15 on:** 9 Mar 2005, 09:15 pm »

I think my only option,other than buying a new pair of RM2's with the FST option, might be to order a new pair of cabinets that are designed for the FST tweeters,the FST tweeters, and, I would imagine, a new crossover for the tweeters. Then I would be stuck with these big expensive empty cabinets,and a pair of spiral ribbon tweeters.
Perhaps buying the new RM2/FST speakers will be the way to go. It seems that with the midrange panels mounted higher most of the issues I have with these speakers are addressed. I think I have made it clear that the sound of these speakers is not an issue- they are stunning. Actually the RM30 appears to be the best design with the three ribbon mids. Out of my price range,though.

gongos · « **Reply #16 on:** 9 Mar 2005, 09:30 pm »

You probably could just upgrade the tweats and cabinets for way less than buying new speakers. Call VMPS.