VMPS SUPER TOWER III SPEAKERS
Conradicles
Posts: 6,105
There is a local pair and I am extremely interested. Anybody have experience or heard them?
Comments
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I had the tower II SE with the yellow focal dome.
Easily one of the worst speakers that have made its way through here.
Terrible driver blending, awful bloated bass, terrible highs. Was not a fan and I loved the larger subwoofer they offered.- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Can't seem to find much info on the III's almost like they were a mythical beast. Lots of info on the II's though and most of it is extremely complimentary, like the best speakers ever made possibly.
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/vmps-super-tower-iia-r-and-an-old-friend.453618/
https://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/486vmps/index.htmlGeorge / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
George / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
I trust VR3's ears and when he stated what he just typed? He told me the same exact thing over the phone when he had them way back in the day. He had a few more bad things to say about them with some "colorful" descriptions to boot. That was a funny conversation, as he did not like them at ALL.
Walk away from the deal. Not even worth your time "just to get your ears on them".
FWIW, I was a big fan of the VMPS Larger as well. Owned the same one Trey had. Loved that sub and no sub beat it until the direct servo Rythmik F25's hit the rig.
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
Other thing to keep in mind... scarcity of replacement parts.... unobtainable"....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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This what I had and they were awful, plugging them in, playing a song and then plugging in a pair of taylo 7u from Tyler acoustics... Pure decimation, wasn't even in the stratosphere
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
LOL.....see?
*still chuckling*
At the time, he had some really nice upstream gear as well. FWIW
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
That looks like the one in this brochure, and is the smallest of the four floor standing ones they made, which they called the Mini Tower IIa. I wouldn't be surprised if it was no comparison to the performance of the two biggest ones.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ixvf72l261w5wwd/AACFEDE3y4G7P2_dIU4rhlf4a?preview=VMPS_Mini_Tower_IIa_Brochure_B&W.pdfGeorge / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
This what I had and they were awful, plugging them in, playing a song and then plugging in a pair of taylo 7u from Tyler acoustics... Pure decimation, wasn't even in the stratosphere
The Super Tower 3 is not like that. -
It's 78" tall.
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Found a pair on the bay in NC for $2000, accepting offers:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VMPS-SUPER-TOWER-III-SPEAKERS/254524229478?hash=item3b42d38766:g:YSYAAOSwEwpeVw5hGeorge / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
That is actually the pair I was looking at....
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Does the seller allow listening before buying?George / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
How much r u looking to spend on them?
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Gardenstater wrote: »Does the seller allow listening before buying?
Good question. I will ask... -
windstriker wrote: »How much r u looking to spend on them?
Not sure. I may make an offer. I get excited about 78" tall 300 lb speakers! -
Conradicles wrote: »windstriker wrote: »How much r u looking to spend on them?
Not sure. I may make an offer. I get excited about 78" tall 300 lb speakers!
Until your ball bearings skitter down your leg and run away
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Do it while you're young. Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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Any update?George / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
I've been on the fence. No need for them, but again, 300 LB speakers get me pretty hyped!
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I had the tower II SE with the yellow focal dome.
Easily one of the worst speakers that have made its way through here.
Terrible driver blending, awful bloated bass, terrible highs. Was not a fan and I loved the larger subwoofer they offered.
This is interesting. I don't doubt your experience of course, but I would guess these speakers have been modified unsuccessfully. These speakers have gotten great reviews thourght the years, both by mainsteam media as well as the golder ear crowd. However, given how old they are, many have been "repaired" with inferior products. In addition, the xovers are of an unusually design, and if modified at all, will sound very poor. If you are interested in looking into it further, the people at Audiocircle can help. https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?board=39.0 -
One just came up on eBay a few days ago on my saved search. I almost posted it here but decided against it. It was in GA and sold with one bidder for $500 https://www.ebay.com/itm/224632375417?mkpid=2&emsid=e90001.m43.l1123&mkcid=8&bu=43356009041&osub=19ddcef17d43d5b10be1128d1d6a60fe%7ETE80101_T_AGM&segname=TE80101_T_AGM&crd=20211004100500&ch=osgood&trkId=0AAF4EE7-0CF2FC6A980-017BF32EC448-000000000360C93A&mesgId=3024&plmtId=700001&recoId=224632375417&recoPos=1&sojTags=osub=osub,segname=segname,crd=crd,ch=ch,trkId=trkId,mesgId=mesgId,plmtId=plmtId,recoId=recoId,recoPos=recoPos,chnl=mkcid&nma=true&si=%2Fz9f7kJJp3oWOLHmUZZO17vQyis%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
Post edited by Gardenstater onGeorge / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
What in Gawd's carnation is that behemoth? LOL.
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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Probably gets REAL LOUD! And the crossover must be a nightmare.
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Probably sounds like a nightmare 😜- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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All I have heard is rave reviews for these large tower models. Brochure: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ixvf72l261w5wwd/AACFEDE3y4G7P2_dIU4rhlf4a?preview=VMPS_Super_Tower_III_Brochure_B&W.pdf
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=113199.0George / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
VMPS did have some speakers with great reviews. The company started in 1977 and closed after the founder, Brian Cheney, died in 2012. IIRC they had a forum at Audio Circle. Some or most of their speakers had a tunable PR. To tune the bass, you added or removed Moretite putty from the cone of the PR.
I've never auditioned any.Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 * -
There is also this site with lots of info. They ended production in 2012 when Brian Cheney passed 😒. I'm reading the review of the Super Tower III SRE now, which was in production at the end. It used a huge midrange ribbon and a smaller tweeter ribbon and had to be biamped. http://pointillistic.com/vmps-audio/loudspeakers.htmGeorge / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
What in Gawd's carnation is that behemoth? LOL.
Tom
I don't know what the issue is...same number of drivers as a Polk SDA SRS...
The crossover may be a trifle more complex though.
KEF 207s / Coda Continuum / SST Thoebe II / Oppo BDP-105D / Technics SP-15 w/SAEC WE-308SX & Ortofon AS-309 arms / Ikeda 9C2 & Dynavector XX2 Mk II carts
