[Hipper]

I currently use RM30M's driven by one Son of Ampzilla amp.

What do you think is a reasonable maximium room size or volume for this system?

I live in the UK and expect most rooms to be 8' high.

[RGordonpf]

I have a pair of RM30Ms and a larger sub.  The RM30Ms are driven full range by 30 watt monoblock deHavilland SET amps.  The Larger, which is crossed over at 60Hz, is driven by two 400 watt solid state amps.  My room is 23 feet by 23 feet with 9 foot ceilings.  There is extensive room treatment which is very absorbing.  With 30 watts per channel the RM30s will play louder than I or any of my hard rocking friends can stand.

[John Casler]

20' x 30' x 9' room here with RM30M's and also running Son of AMpzilla 2000 part of the time.

They are run full range and low bass is supplied by VMPS LARGER subs (4).

I too find that the clear, clean, SPL's are more than adequate for all types of music.

[dubravko]

I listen mostly in my 35 sqm room (4.6 x 7.6 m), but I've tried RM30 M many times in other 45 sqm (5.4 x 8.1 m) room and it was quite good. That was somewhat different presentation compared to my regular situation, because I listen from some 3 metres, and in this room best distance was around 5 m. RM 30M were able to deliver enough bass to sound balanced and are capable of projecting good sound deeper into the room than I normally use. That is a moderately damped, asymmetric room with sloped ceiling varying from 1.7 to 4.5 meters high. If optimum placement is available, I would not hesitate to try any room up to 50 sqm.

[James Romeyn]

I have a pair of RM30Ms and a larger sub.  The RM30Ms are driven full range by 30 watt monoblock deHavilland SET amps.  The Larger, which is crossed over at 60Hz, is driven by two 400 watt solid state amps.  My room is 23 feet by 23 feet with 9 foot ceilings.  There is extensive room treatment which is very absorbing.  With 30 watts per channel the RM30s will play louder than I or any of my hard rocking friends can stand.

Do you have the midrange L-pads wide open full clockwise?  If so how do you match levels?   

[RGordonpf]

Do you have the midrange L-pads wide open full clockwise?  If so how do you match levels?   

Jim,
I am unsure what you are asking.  I do not have the CDWGs.  My RM30Ms are from the first production run and upgrading them is not economical.  Hopefully, I can buy a new pair of RM30Ms or V60s this year.

When I set up my new room, I used a spectrum analyzer to set the L-pads of the RM30Ms.  I then had some audiophile friends over and we fine tuned by ear.  Once the RM30Ms were adjusted, the Larger was hooked up.  The larger goes through an electronic crossover that has variable hinge point and volume control.  I dialed in the crossover and volume setting by ear.  Hope that answers your question.

[James Romeyn]

Wut um saying is....

You got one heck of the sweet tube amp driving the planars...I previously used a great 25W tube amp similarly.

If I was using that amp I'd want all 30W available for the planars.  I'd hate any of the power to be burnt up heating the resistor windings of the midrange L-pad.  (I say the mid L-pad rather than the treble because the mids have lower gain.)  Besides converting power into heat, the windings also somewhat unnecessarily degrade transparency.

I'll be blunt here: If the L-pad is set for -3dB attenuation, your 30W amp was just downsized to a 15W amp!  (well at least the 15W is heating the inside of the enclosure!)

One of the most audible benefits of bi-amping (not advertised at all by big b) is the potential of blending the disparate driver gains BEFORE the amps (input level controls), rather than AFTER the amps (L-pads).  In other words, that's the functional difference between a level control on the amp vs. using the L-pads.

BTW, when the L-pad is wide open the electrical circuits are completely opened & non-functional.  The only functional effect of the L-pad at that point is the signal going across the wiper contacts. 

Sorry, I'm working on my website now which will explain in detail. I have a document I can email you.



 

[woodsyi]

I agree with Jim on this one.  My Neos are wide open.  Without the CDWG, it may be the FST pot that opens fully and Neos adjusted relative to the tweeter pot.  Either way, the less resistance the better IMHO.