VMPS SUPER TOWER III SPEAKERS

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  • maxward
    maxward Posts: 1,576
    They look like 5- or 6-way speakers, so yes, possibly complex crossovers.
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,023
    It looks like a Frankenstein speaker built for parties only. Kinda like a glorified Cerwin Vega on steroids.

    I had the VMPS Larger subwoofer and I loved that when paired with a good, hefty amp along with the Velodyne SMS-1 but this speaker? I wouldn't touch it with Russ' peeker.

    There are 7 different drivers in that speaker, so I am assuming that they are a 7 way speaker. KISS. Especially in the midrange, unless you want to completely butcher the signal sent to it.

    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. ~
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  • Gardenstater
    Gardenstater Posts: 4,459
    edited October 2021
    No need for any assumptions :smile: . I posted the pdf brochure. It's a 5 way speaker as far as the crossover is concerned. 4 crossover points: 200, 600, 5kHz, and 15kHz. No crossover point in the critical part of the midrange. It used IAR Wondercaps and Wonder solder. There is a 15" mass loaded passive radiator on the bottom. I believe they retailed for $13k and the later version with the ribbon midrange in addition to ribbon tweeter (SRE) was $16k. I think the SRE (Special Ribbon Edition) seems the most interesting.
    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
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,023
    So, different drivers that handle different frequency ranges/Db rolloffs/slopes but are set at the same frequency? No thanks.

    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. ~
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  • dcrandon
    dcrandon Posts: 4
    Yep...these are mine. Just bought them. They are on a truck to my home. VMPS is an interesting brand. I've owned their products for 40 yrs when I first built some from a kit. Although they look like what a teenager would dream up in a dream for a speaker....they sound awesome. Assuming they have NOT been modified. They have a complex design crossover which blends series and parallel connections between the woofers that results in a quasi-second order design. Brians speakers, and these specifically won quite a few Best In Show awards at the Consumer Electronics Show years past. Several "golden ears" of high end mags such as Stereophile and Absolute sound gave them glowing reviews that even they were surprised at. Anthony Cordsman owned a pair.
    Gardenstater wrote: »
    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


    2wbkmy2dapow.jpg

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  • dcrandon
    dcrandon Posts: 4
    VR3 wrote: »
    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.


    My experience is contrary to yours. May I ask if your crossovers had ever been modified. Also, did you adjust the bass damping. If not, they will sound as terrible as you mentioned.
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  • dcrandon
    dcrandon Posts: 4
    It was actually far more complex than that. The different speakers did not handle the same frequencies. Mentioning the crossover points doesn't really do it justice. If you read some reviews by the old mags and golden ears, (all pretty damn good) they will explain the crossovers better. But, simply put, they are are quasi-second order for lowest distortion and phase issues. The woofers and midranges are wired in a combo of parallel and series so the crossovers are shifted as such. Also, the woofers contribute to the crossovers with their own resonance frequencies. Sounds strange, but sounds great as the reviews show.

    treitz3 wrote: »
    So, different drivers that handle different frequency ranges/Db rolloffs/slopes but are set at the same frequency? No thanks.

    Tom

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  • apetoskey
    apetoskey Posts: 1
    I've owned a few pair of VMPS', and still have my Supertower III's. Brian Cheney made numerous attempts...the Supertower III's easily being his absolute best contribution. Some of his other creations were pretty decent, but unfortunately fell way short of their hype and specs. That being said...the II R's were very affordable ($1500ish) compared to the III's, ($21k) and when paired with 15" powered subs, were an absolute blast to play with. To date, my only personal experiences that tops the Supertower III's were the Infinity IRS Beta set, and my friend's Apogees.
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  • Gardenstater
    Gardenstater Posts: 4,459
    I went to look at the Super Tower III Brochure again and the link was dead so here it is, both link and in full. @plastic_avatar I know you will be interested to read what they did to reduce panel resonances on these *terrible* speakers (in anticipation of any negativity)😉:

    https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ixvf72l261w5wwd/AACFEDE3y4G7P2_dIU4rhlf4a?preview=VMPS_Super_Tower_III_Brochure_B&W.pdf

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    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
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  • plastic_avatar
    plastic_avatar Posts: 708
    WOW! Look at those!

    [goes to read the thread and all about those speakers]
    The Thrifty Setups in Mah House Big thrifty stereo in the basement w/ my custom SDA-1C (built with help from kind forum members) * Beautiful 1966 MCM GE console upgraded w/ Bluetooth, Dual turntable, and Paradigm speakers in family room * Swanky 1980 Realistic system and great TEAC eq with dancing colored lights in the living room * custom 5B on a system for my Dad * Ye Olde college stereo in the garage
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  • BlueBirdMusic
    BlueBirdMusic Posts: 2,277
    Gardenstater wrote: »
    I went to look at the Super Tower III Brochure again and the link was dead so here it is, both link and in full. @plastic_avatar I know you will be interested to read what they did to reduce panel resonances on these *terrible* speakers (in anticipation of any negativity)😉:

    https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ixvf72l261w5wwd/AACFEDE3y4G7P2_dIU4rhlf4a?preview=VMPS_Super_Tower_III_Brochure_B&W.pdf



    George, I really like all the different things that you post. Learn something every single day.
    "Sometimes you have to look to the past to understand where you are going in the future"

    Anger is just anger. It isn’t good. It isn’t bad. It just is. What you do with it is what matters.
    You can use it to build or to destroy. You just have to make the choice.     Jim Butcher




    Harry / Marietta GA
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  • Gardenstater
    Gardenstater Posts: 4,459
    Thank you Harry. Made my day! These are one of the ones that made my eyes go wide with wonder while flipping through Stereo Review when I was young.
    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
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter