Mention of VMPS in Jan. Stereophile - anyone else notice? nt

clarkjohnsen · « **on:** 19 Dec 2005, 09:04 pm »

.....

CornellAlum · « **Reply #1 on:** 19 Dec 2005, 09:23 pm »

Sure did.

warnerwh · « **Reply #2 on:** 19 Dec 2005, 09:45 pm »

What did they mention? Thanks

CornellAlum · « **Reply #3 on:** 19 Dec 2005, 10:16 pm »

Just some dude going on about the state of the industry I think it was, and basically questions why outfits such a vmps, whom have survived in the audio industry for over 20 years but get no respect from stereophile. There was one very similar to this in TAS 9 moths or so ago as well. I was also surprised at the recent review of a product that had no dealers, I thought they had a 5 dealer minimum to get a review or some nonsense?

edit: He was talking specifically about the industry leader for big speakers but reasonable cost.

D~

warnerwh · « **Reply #4 on:** 19 Dec 2005, 10:31 pm »

In fairness to the magazines they need the advertisers to survive. In the case of Vmps I think it's disservice to their readers to not review our speakers due to the sound quality and value.

I've heard alot of Thiels and B&W's and one of the Wilson speakers. The sound quality is very good, although I could never live with the Thiels due to their high end, but for the money Vmps gives you way more for the money. Then again the advertising budget doesn't need to be recouped in the selling price of the VMPS speakers either. This could upset manufacturers who pay for full page color ads every month. As they say: Don't bite the hand that feeds you!

With the Constant Directivity technology being shown at CES the reviewers would be foolish to not at least check it out. They know Brian is a highly capable speaker engineer too. With the plus's of CD waveguides the industry will surely be listening. I'd suspect that the CD waveguides will have a larger impact than winning at CES a few years ago. A major step forward in speaker design has been a long time coming.

vmpsbk · « **Reply #5 on:** 19 Dec 2005, 11:56 pm »

I don't think VMPS needs to advertise in magazines; Brian does not need a magazine to tell him and others how good his speakers are.

You cannot tell me that he does not sell every speaker he makes.

Quite honestly, I like having speakers that nobody has heard of. I think it would be a disservice if you did start to see ads in Sterophile and the like.

suits_me · « **Reply #6 on:** 20 Dec 2005, 03:32 am »

"Stereophile" does not have a dealer minimum to review a component so long as the company sells direct with an audition period, according to my recollection. But vmps has enough dealers, so the obscurity on those pages must result from other factors.

ctviggen · « **Reply #7 on:** 20 Dec 2005, 08:23 am »

I've heard a lot of speakers period, and the RM40s are up there with many costing easily two-three times as much. Now, that doesn't mean their aren't better speakers, but the RM40 is very competitive. (I have not, though, heard many of the speakers on this board other than RM40s/RM30s, so I can't comment on the speakers here.)

matix · « **Reply #8 on:** 20 Dec 2005, 11:48 am »

Quote from: ctviggen

I've heard a lot of speakers period, and the RM40s are up there with many costing easily two-three times as much. Now, that doesn't mean their aren't better speakers, but the RM40 is very competitive. (I have not, though, heard many of the speakers on this board other than RM40s/RM30s, so I can't comment on the speakers here.)

Have heard so much about VMPS since I started visiting Audiocircle.... before that never heard before. You have to understand where I come from we depend a lot on the magazines...But that is slowly changing with the internet. Just how good is a VMPS speaker? Have never heard one before, so need some reference. Is a RM40s right up there with the JM Lab Grand Utopia or the B&W Natilus 800? (2 heavily advertised brands). Does a speaker that cost around 5K belong right up there with the 60K Utopia elite group? I am not being sceptical here..... As a consumer, I really hope the answer is yes.

ScottMayo · « **Reply #9 on:** 20 Dec 2005, 02:09 pm »

Quote from: matix

Have heard so much about VMPS since I started visiting Audiocircle.... before that never heard before. You have to understand where I come from we depend a lot on the magazines...But that is slowly changing with the internet. Just how good is a VMPS speaker? Have never heard one before, so need some reference. Is a RM40s right up there with the JM Lab Grand Utopia or the B&W Natilus 800?

I don't have the RM-40 - I have the RM/x, which is a little larger. I auditioned the B&W Naut line before I heard VMPS. I could have gotten the B&W for lots less than the RM/x. I bought the RM/x, and now I'm a sales agent for VMPS. I didn't do it for the profit margins - it's just that I believe the VMPS line is that much better.

The magazines serve advertisers. The internet, wisely used, serves subscribers. I consider magazines to be creative fiction.

VMPS serves audiophiles, exclusively. I would hold up the VMPS line against anything at three times the price. Don't get me wrong, every high end speaker line has devotees. Your ears might prefer a different sound. If you like thick, warm sound, these probably aren't your speakers. If you want crystal-like clarity, precision, slam and imaging to die for, this line is so good it's scary and is priced better than fairly.

All IMHO.

Brian Cheney · « **Reply #10 on:** 20 Dec 2005, 04:54 pm »

There are many, many speakers out there at all price points. There are also many good speakers at several price points.

However, VMPS survives because people who hear the speakers like them, and tell others about them. 2007 will mark 30 years in business, uninterrupted, same ownership. I don't plan to retire.

We probably will start advertising again once the Constant Directivity line becomes popular. Prices will remain low, and we are upgrading cosmetics so that we will not suffer comparison to anyone in that regard.

Scott Harper, an owner and web designer, has revamped our website. You know things are going well if our website is getting 20 new pages and a whole new look, after more than 3 years! Look for it to appear in the next 10 days.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #11 on:** 20 Dec 2005, 09:03 pm »

Thank God!

I was beginning to wonder how you ever sold anything, B, as some of your best & most popular products aren't even listed as being for sale. Until yesterday I'd never heard of the "215" and the RM30's are conspicious in their absense. I'm anxious to see the updates.

Doublej · « **Reply #12 on:** 24 Dec 2005, 01:22 am »

Will the new site have images of the new cosmetics?

Brian Cheney · « **Reply #13 on:** 24 Dec 2005, 03:58 am »

Plenty of pix and graphs, and a whole section of measurements. We'll even publish measurements of the speakers people have just purchased.
The new test bed won't be done until after CES, but the first part of the new site will be up before then.

ScottMayo · « **Reply #14 on:** 24 Dec 2005, 01:41 pm »

Quote from: Brian Cheney

Plenty of pix and graphs, and a whole section of measurements. We'll even publish measurements of the speakers people have just purchased.
The new test bed won't be done until after CES, but the first part of the new site will be up before then.

Wow. Bring it on!