[John Casler]

CES/THE Show 2006


Just a quick note to let everyone know that VMPS will be in room 1303 at the St. Tropez (THE Show) again this year.
 
If all goes as expected we will have 2-3 Brand new RM30 "BlackBirds" (SR-71 w/MLS Piano Black cabinets)
 
These should be the best sounding RM30s ever produced featuring the following option/upgrades:
 
1) First and foremost Our new Constant Directivity Wave Guide
2) SR-71 (Black Hole 5) package
3) MLS Piano Black Cabinet and Diamond Lacquer finish
4) Auricaps
5) Woven Carbon Fiber Mega Woofers
6) A special wiring from Brian Kyle's Extreme Cable.
 
We will also have a few other surprises and will be using some new demo equipment which will be listed shortly.

For info on THE Show look here: http://www.theshowlasvegas.com/main/show_information.php?Sid=b5916d95744d89b1d1329209a59d3983

and for CES look here:

http://www.cesweb.org/default_flash.asp

[KJ]

Does this mean all RM30 finishes will be MLS from here on out?

-KJ

[Brian Cheney]

We plan to offer three mls finishes with the CD version of the RM 30: piano black, rosewood, and ebony.  We will also have lite and dark oak, and cherry.  The only premium price finish will be the piano black, which is a "two stage" hand-rubbed lacquer.

I have finished "revoicing" the RM 30 for CD use.  I will report on the process in a separate thread.

[grub]

Any projected prices on the new guides for say.....a bone stock set of RM1 neo's??
-->grub

[gongos]

Will the CD work with the 626's?

[warnerwh]

Gongos: The CD technology will be adaptable to the 626R's just fine.  It should be pretty amazing considering how the 626R's throw such a nice soundstate already.

[Doug Ravizza]

I have finished "revoicing" the RM 30 for CD use.  I will report on the process in a separate thread.

Does this mean that "revoicing" will be part of the retrofit procedure?

[Brian Cheney]

I hope everyone on this board has familiarized himself with the requirements of Constant Directivity EQ (or voicing).  Once again here's a link to a good explanation:

www.peavey.com/support/technotes/soundsystems/horn_eq.cfm

[url]

I want all our CD speakers to work well with and without CD EQ, even if that only means turning up the tweeter level controls a little.  The best way to bring up the trebles subjectively is to tighten the bass.  I have engineered low Q passives and lowbass woofers for that purpose.  Owners purchasing CD wave guides for their existing speakers will also get the new PR's.  I project the CD waveguide for the RM 40 at $300pr, plus $84 for a pair of new PR's. Shipping for the large waveguides should run about $40pr.

I find the sound of the "revoiced" CD speakers done so far to be punchier and clearer, with no sacrifice of extension.  A felicitous byproduct of CD technology, this change should please everyone who tries it.

[warnerwh]

Are these prices for veneered waveguides? I think some people may prefer having a cover that looks like the standard grill cloth. Thanks

[John B]

I want all our CD speakers to work well with and without CD EQ, even if that only means turning up the tweeter level controls a little. The best way to bring up the trebles subjectively is to tighten the bass. I have engineered low Q passives and lowbass woofers for that purpose.

Production Model Test Report:

I've been waiting to address this characteristic of CD with the RM30Cs, but since my production model is wired with Brian Kyle's Xtreme Cables internally, I was waiting for the external wiring to come in before mentioning my results.   I did try the Casler tweak, both at the recommended height, and using just a 1" height base plate.  I preferred the 1"H base plate, as it did bring some preceived extra extension to the upper frequencies, based on the bass being more attenuated using this method...so B tells me.  I went back to not using a base plate and decided I liked having more RM30C bass more than the extra perceived HF extension and openness.  

The other day I got the Xtreme Cables ICs and swapped out the ones I'd been using.  I don't know what Brian Kyle puts in these things, but using the X3 from preamp to amp and the X5 from source to preamp brought the speakers to life in more ways than one.  Knowing what that ribbon tweeter can do, from my time with the Non-CD 626Rs, I realized there was a slight tradeoff for having CD, though I'd call it marginal based on the benefits brought by CD.  With the new ICs in place I got that extended upper frequency response I remembered along with a much appreciated increase in openness and dynamics.   And I still do not have the Xtreme Cables' speaker cables in place, so I can only imagine what will happen then    I should also mention that my preamp has been modified using this Xtreme cabling internally.   More on that as we get closer to CES.

[KJ]

Owners purchasing CD wave guides for their existing speakers will also get the new PR's.

I must have missed something.  New passive radiators?

-KJ

[ctviggen]

Brian said that new PRs are necessary, although I forget exactly why.  I stopped following that thread once it began to denigrate into "your quasi-second order isn't good enough" or whatever.

[grub]

Different Q I believe.
-->grub

[John Casler]

Very simply,

The Wave guide blocks some of the sound from the neopanels.  Obviously it is restrictive of all but a narrow portion of the the panel.

Now the portion of the panel that is exposed is the portion that has the most movement and thus the greatest output, but the total output of the panels is reduced slightly.

To make up for this reduced output the Q of the woofer section needs to also be reduced so that it is in balance with the panels.

Q is adjusted by using a different Passive Radiator.

Those who purchase a "CDWG" will also get a "PR" to "balance the Q for the system.

Adding the Wave Guide is as simple as snapping the grill into place, and the PR is about 6-8 screws.

[KJ]

To make up for this reduced output the Q of the woofer section needs to also be reduced so that it is in balance with the panels.

Thanks John.

Next question.  Since our friend Mr. Bud Bailey will not be finishing the CDs, what is the likelihood the MLS finish will match the premium finish of existing RM30 cabinets?

-KJ

[John Casler]

To make up for this reduced output the Q of the woofer section needs to also be reduced so that it is in balance with the panels.

Thanks John.

Next question.  Since our friend Mr. Bud Bailey will not be finishing the CDs, what is the likelihood the MLS finish will match the premium finish of existing RM30 cabinets?

-KJ

While we haven't decided on all the "nuts and bolts" in the finish area, I don't think veneer matching is all that difficult in mainstream finishes.

However, I have noticed the popularity of some other manufacturers using two types of finishes to a nice effect.

For example imagine a Piano Black RM30 with Rosewood or Light Maple, WaveGuides.  I think the ability to be creative, might offer some nice possibilities.

At this point, I think the "stock" guides will be finshed with "grill cloth" covering, and the veneered finishes will be optional.

[buffer]

It would be hard to imagine, given the narrow frame to which the NEO mid panels are attached, but will their be a CD waveguide for FF1SRE and STIII speakers?

Brian

[jgubman]

How about LRC?

[Brian Cheney]

Wave guides will be available for the ST3 and RM/X, the LRC, and SRE versions of the FF 1.

[Woodsea]

This all sounds so grand, but I have the old spiral tweeters in my 626, LRC rig.  Is it real feasable for me to get all this done?  If you want you can email me the approximate cost needed.  You can use my Pt, Doctor priveledge on the NDA.