EProvenzano is certainly correct.
Neither the RPD or RMD is basic by any measure!!!
The RMD using the Seas Excel Magnesium cone midrange has a very similar sound to many other speakers using this driver, especially those that use a low crossover point to the tweeter. The sound is very precise and very clear and open, resolving or neutral some would say, and very easy to listen to.
The RPD offers a different sound. Where the RMD is a transparent window to the music, and equipment etc, the RPD is more of an instrument that plays music. It has some color and character of its own. It still exudes all of the detail and sense of openess and clarity of the RMD, but exhibits tone or body of its own.
Maybe that sounds like there is a big difference, the difference is actually quite small, but if I were to describe it, that is how it would be. Once we enter into the electro-mechanical interface between the electricity and the air that sits between you and the speaker, deciding what is natural or neutral becomes very difficult. The bottom line is that the RMD is as neutral as possible, exhibiting very even power response, flat on axis frequency response, very low distortion, and a time domain signature that is the same on and off axis. The RPD is the same in almost every respect except it trades apples for oranges in the distortion category. The paper cone is not as rigid and flexes a bit in the upper midrange like most non-metal cones, this gives increased distortion. However, I am not required to cross it to the tweeter at as low of a frequency. This eases things up on the tweeter a bit and reduces its distortion (it was low in the RMD, but now it is even lower). The curvilinear paper cone as opposed to the straight cut magnesium cone helps direct the HF energy of the speaker in a more even pattern, this also improves the high frequency (above 5000Hz) response.
All in all, the RPD is probably the speaker that I am going to recommend to most customers. If just shopping for a new speaker, and having lived with and loved a large majority of paper, poly, kevlar fiberglass etc. cone'd speakers before, the RPD is going to take that sound to the highest level possible. If in search of the liquid transparency and complete dedication to raw, uncolored texture and detail that the Magnesium cones offer, thats the speaker for you. It is going to depend on where the customer is coming from and what they are seeking, or if they just know what they want, thats fine too!!
I understand that there are different needs, and thought processes out there on cone type etc. I have created two speakers, with similar goals, and come out with two parallel products. A case could be made for either, and some might make a strong case for either (we have all seen such debates), but they are both very good with some slight differences. With a small company like Nomad Audio and many of the ones here, there usually isn't a great advantage to trying to optimize product lines to increase profit margin, especially when it affects the performance of the end product, or the choices that the customer has.
Hope this helps,
Paul Hilgeman
