[gnocchi]

Hello, newbie here with a few questions about the New Larger subwoofer.

Talked with John Casler about VMPS and was very impressed how eager he was to help
with no pressure to buy. He was very informative and genuine, a rarity nowadays.

Wanted to get a few more opinions on which sub would be best for my setup. I am
definitely going to buy the New Larger sub and wanted to know if the megawoofer
upgrade is worth doing? Anyone have an experience where they heard both versions
(standard and megawoofer) ?

It is going to replace an Epik Legend and is going directly behind the couch. I would
purchase the recommended 1000 watt amp for $399 along with it.

Anyone have pictures of the standard woofers and megawoofers that are available now?

Do the drivers have cast or stamped baskets?

Are either of these options prone to bottoming out with this much amplification?

How is the midbass with the New Larger?

Thanks in advance for your replies. I am looking forward to buying one in the near future.

[Brian Cheney]

If you're going to use the 1000W amp you should upgrade to at least the Megawoofers.  The sub is $899plus shipping in this configuration.  For a nice step up, $480 additional gets you the metal cone Ultramegawoofers (12" and 15") which have diecast frames and 150oz magnets, plus twice the power handling.

All drivers have 4 layer voicecoils and the Mega 15" has a diecast frame.  The woven carbon fiber 12" has a stamped frame damped with Dynamat. 

[gnocchi]

Thanks Brian.

It would be nice to see the drivers of each setup, so that I know what I am buying. I know looks aren't everything, but I am one that likes to know exactly what I am getting.

I am still looking for comparisons for the standard and megawoofer New Larger. What kind of performance can I expect from each? Will the standard configuration be enough of an upgrade to replace the Epik Legend?

The descriptions are a little vague on the VMPS website. Thanks again for your help.

[gnocchi]

Anyone out there? 

[Brax]

To be clear, there are 3 (4 with the OHG woofer) woofers available with the larger.

1) The standard woofer - polycone driver
2) The Megawoofer - Used to be a Carbon Fiber cone with phase plug, but I believe it has changed to a paper reneforced cone with no phase plug, 120 oz magnets.
3) The Ultramegawoofer - 150 oz magnet and cast frame and metal cone
4) The OMG woofer - TC driver with metal cone

Please update with correct information if I missed something.

all subs now come with the Big Bump PR which should eliminate any "bottoming" (I think any bottoming I may have had was the PR, not the drivers). I just upgraded to the BBPR (just received it, not installed yet), my larger with megawoofers would bottom once in a great while when pushed very hard. I am also feeding it with 1,500 watts @ 4 ohms. This sub is in my livingroom system so it rarely gets pushed to reference levels, but better safe than sorry. When I do push it, it shakes the whole house. It does sound great with music and movies and blends seamlessly with my RM30s. Buying a sub today, I would more than likely buy one with the Ultramegawoofers or if you have the room and the cash, two subs with the Megawoofers.

Compared to the SVS 16-46 I had, the VMPS may not reach as low but sounds much better because of the clean output (not boomy). Getting clean fast bass is just as improtant as low and loud.

I do run two Avalance Audio 18" sealed subs in my Home theater, but most of the time, that's overkill.

[gnocchi]

Thanks Brax, I appreciate your response. Just trying to make an informed decision.
If I had gobs of money I would just go with the Ultras, but unfortunately that is
not the case.

[John Casler]

Thanks Brian.

It would be nice to see the drivers of each setup, so that I know what I am buying. I know looks aren't everything, but I am one that likes to know exactly what I am getting.

I am still looking for comparisons for the standard and megawoofer New Larger. What kind of performance can I expect from each? Will the standard configuration be enough of an upgrade to replace the Epik Legend?

The descriptions are a little vague on the VMPS website. Thanks again for your help.

Brian, is not often a photographer, and also since he can change designs on a moments notice, a picture today, may not be accurate tomorrow.

One of the ways he keeps costs down is by not expending resources on photo shoots and photographers, that may be outdated in a few weeks.

Since he designes or even builds some of the drivers this can occur even more so.

Some drivers have had phase plugs, some dust caps, and the cone material ranges from Polycone, to Woven Carbon Fiber, to metallic alloys of special types.

You can rest assured that the "current" form of the Stock, Mega, ULTRAMega, and OMG level drivers are what he considers the best performers at that time.

[gnocchi]

Hello John, thanks for the response.

I am by far from being an expert on updating a website, but there is really no need for photographers and professional photo shoots. Just take some simple digital photographs of the drivers and load it into the website.

Things being outdated in a few weeks are highly unlikely; in that instance, if I wait a month or two, I will potentially get better drivers. If I recall correctly, driver technology does not change in a matter of weeks, I could be wrong though. 

It is just confusing to me what I can get, performance wise,  for each price point.

I am really only interested in the standard and the megawoofer setups as money is an issue. I know you recommend using the 1000 watt amp for the megawoofer setup, what would you recommend to use for the standard setup?

Sorry to be a pain in the rear. Thanks for your help.

[John Casler]

Hello John, thanks for the response.

I am by far from being an expert on updating a website, but there is really no need for photographers and professional photo shoots. Just take some simple digital photographs of the drivers and load it into the website.

Things being outdated in a few weeks are highly unlikely; in that instance, if I wait a month or two, I will potentially get better drivers. If I recall correctly, driver technology does not change in a matter of weeks, I could be wrong though. 

It is just confusing to me what I can get, performance wise,  for each price point.

I am really only interested in the standard and the megawoofer setups as money is an issue. I know you recommend using the 1000 watt amp for the megawoofer setup, what would you recommend to use for the standard setup?

Sorry to be a pain in the rear. Thanks for your help.

No problem.

If it helps, most all go with the MegaWoofers.  I can't remember the last time I ordered a stock LARGER sub with stock woofers.

As Brax posted above they are a good step above the stock woofs.

They have stiffer cones, lighter cones, heavier magnets, and greater power handling.

That all stacks up to give you deeper, stronger, and more accurate bass response.

[RainbowSix2011]

I might try this Ultra and BBPR upgrade on the used (8 yrs. old) VMPS Larger I bought last week. Was told from previous owner it's got the older Megawoofers (as you described with the older MW drivershad the dust caps.) installed. Looking to drive this sub with a Carvin DCM2000 2 channel amp running 450 watts a channel at 8 ohms to each driver. Sub EQ provided by DSP anti-mode 8033S.

[Linkwitz Riley]

I am contemplating the same upgrade myself (Ultramegas). I'm also using the AntiMode 8033 and a similar amp (Crown K2).
My questions are:
A)  Is this the best bang for the buck or is it worth it to sell my 2 Larger subs w/megas and just buy the OMG 12" & 15" & BBPR version Largers?  Is there going to be that much more difference to justify the extra $$ to buy the TC version? 
B)  Is the cabinet on that OMG Larger version thicker and better braced than my current ones?
C)  Will I need more amp power to drive it?  I can push about 1250 per channel into 2 ohms with the Crown.   If that's not enough will a QSC PL380 be sufficient?  (short term 4000 wpc @2 ohms)
I want an HT sub that can fill (and shake!) my 7000 cu ft open room but is still as musical as my current Largers are.  I don't want to spend the money if I'm only going to get a marginal improvement.  I'm ready to pull the trigger on an upgrade that will impress the heck out of me.  The question is will one of these do that and if so, which one does it for the best value?

[doug s.]

I am contemplating the same upgrade myself (Ultramegas). I'm also using the AntiMode 8033 and a similar amp (Crown K2).
My questions are:
A)  Is this the best bang for the buck or is it worth it to sell my 2 Larger subs w/megas and just buy the OMG 12" & 15" & BBPR version Largers?  Is there going to be that much more difference to justify the extra $$ to buy the TC version? 
B)  Is the cabinet on that OMG Larger version thicker and better braced than my current ones?
C)  Will I need more amp power to drive it?  I can push about 1250 per channel into 2 ohms with the Crown.   If that's not enough will a QSC PL380 be sufficient?  (short term 4000 wpc @2 ohms)
I want an HT sub that can fill (and shake!) my 7000 cu ft open room but is still as musical as my current Largers are.  I don't want to spend the money if I'm only going to get a marginal improvement.  I'm ready to pull the trigger on an upgrade that will impress the heck out of me.  The question is will one of these do that and if so, which one does it for the best value?

keep your subs and yust buy a pair of the new latest-n-greatest; four subs will do you right.  place the old ones in the back of the room, facing the front, wired out of phase...     otherwise, yust pair two subs per channel, in the front...

doug s.

[John Casler]

I am contemplating the same upgrade myself (Ultramegas). I'm also using the AntiMode 8033 and a similar amp (Crown K2).
My questions are:
A)  Is this the best bang for the buck or is it worth it to sell my 2 Larger subs w/megas and just buy the OMG 12" & 15" & BBPR version Largers?  Is there going to be that much more difference to justify the extra $$ to buy the TC version? 

Hi LR,

When you are asking about "mixed qualities" like High Out Put and Musicality, you have an impossible question since each of use has a different level of each quality we are looking for.

I like High Output, but NEVER at the expense of Musicality, so if I was to asnwer that question, I would have to say that the ULTRAMegas would give you the best combination since they were designed/selected by Brian with his design goals in mind.  Those goals are prioritized as 1) Musicality first and 2) High output second, but a close second.

With the OMG those are reversed.  You sacrifice a bit of Musicality to gain in High Output.

B)  Is the cabinet on that OMG Larger version thicker and better braced than my current ones?

The best cabinet and application for the OMG drivers is the VSS sub and not the LARGER.  While the LARGER can be braced for the OMGs the VSS is already built for it with 2 inch thick front baffle.

C)  Will I need more amp power to drive it?  I can push about 1250 per channel into 2 ohms with the Crown.   If that's not enough will a QSC PL380 be sufficient?  (short term 4000 wpc @2 ohms)

Power to a sub is like $$ to a Las Vegas Show girl (you can never have enough) but you can have TOO LITTLE.  The power at 2 ohms is not relevant to a 4 ohm or 8 ohm driver.  Chances are that translates to 625w @ 4 ohms and that would be sufficient per active driver in most applications.

I want an HT sub that can fill (and shake!) my 7000 cu ft open room but is still as musical as my current Largers are.

Then you want the VLA, or multiple subs like Doug S suggested.  Multiple subs, well placed can be a far better answer to large rooms than bigger drivers.  I'd do like Doug said and use 4 Largers in a Quadratic Push/Pull config.  This causes the greatest air movement in the center of the room (where you want it), but as I said great care need be taken to get it right so you don't have phase/timing issues

I don't want to spend the money if I'm only going to get a marginal improvement.  I'm ready to pull the trigger on an upgrade that will impress the heck out of me.  The question is will one of these do that and if so, which one does it for the best value?

Add 2 VSS to your LARGERS and go quadratic.  You'll have a good blend then of power and musicality.