VMPS Subwoofer Purchase

Early B.

I've been wanting a VMPS subwoofer for the past two years. Finally, a local buyer was selling his VMPS 215 subwoofer for a great price, so I grabbed it. The sub has a 15" active megawoofer and a 15" passive radiator. It also sports a 1,000 watt amp, the same one being sold at Parts Express for $399. I believe the folks at VMPS add Dynamat to the enclosure and upgrade the wires to Analysis Plus, but I'd have to open her up to verify that (of course, I'm gonna do that real soon). I was reluctant to go back to using a plate amp, but this one is surprisingly superb. The 215 will replace my DIY 15" sub.

OK, I picked up the sub this morning and hooked it up.

My initial impression is that it sounds much cleaner than my DIY sub. It's very polite, like a British aristocrat. The sub is for HT only, but I'll bet it sounds fantastic with music. It appears to go as low as my DIY, and the tactile feeling is there, only different and to a slightly lesser degree. Whereas my DIY has rough hands, the 215 is a gentle massage.

Aesthetically, it ain't much to look at, so I didn't bother taking pics. Mine is light oak, but since it's tucked away in a corner, it's fine the way it is. I was preparing to refinish the cabinet, but have decided against it. The good thing is that it's a lot smaller than my old sub, so my wife will probably appreciate that. (She hasn't seen it yet, so don't tell her.) Unlike what I normally do, I'll probably leave the stock power cord on there.

Overall, I'd say it's mainly a lateral move, even though the bass is much cleaner. I'm cool with that. I guess I gotta get used to it. This means my friend can finally get his hands on my DIY sub (he's using a "small" SVS 25/31 in a huge room). Once I sell off my DIY sub and sub amp, I'll break even on the purchase.

The 215 with megawoofer upgrade and amp sells for $1,048 direct from VMPs.

I still gotta spend some time playing around with the EQ knobs and stuff to get it dialed in properly. The sub is not broken in yet, so I may report back if there are significant changes. I rented a couple of movies, including Fantastic 4, so I'll give the sub a proper workout tonight and tomorrow.

VR3

Awesome.

VMPS-ness is here.

VMPS subs are musical machines. For sure.

I want pics though! I think my Largers look pretty good personally - haha

But they definitely are a gentle massage. I have my subs set to like 7 oclock, if 6 oclock is completely off - and its a perfect blend at higher volumes and still kicks you in the chest.

They have plenty more to go.

Which woofer do you have?

Does it look like mine?

If not, you may not have the most up to date mega woofer.

Keep note, Brian has a beefier 15" woofer available for that model, not sure what he will sell it for. Its in the VSS --- massive motor, magnet, much more movement that the 15" Megawoofer... (about 11mm more total)

ka7niq

I have VMPS RM 40''s, and have owned VMPS Subwoofers before.
You tune them by adding putty to the passive radiator.
More putty makes bass deeper and tighter, less makes it more full sounding.

They need to break in, then to be tuned.
The other poster is correct I think, Brian does have a new woofer for the sub.
VMPS makes it's updates availiable for little money in comparasion to some.

If you wanna see a KILLER sub, go to the VMPS site and look at the VLA ?

THAT may be the LAST sub you will ever buy ?

VR3

The new driver looks like this -



The "Megawoofer" driver is the one I posted in the previous post...

The Megawoofer has 11 MM one way
The new VSS woofer is 16 or 17mm one way

Twice the magnet, much larger VC as well

VR3

I would upgrade mine - but with a 15 and a 12 and two subs - I really just do not need any "larger" 15" drivers lol

Serendipity

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote: »

I would upgrade mine - but with a 15 and a 12 and two subs - I really just do not need any "larger" 15" drivers lol

yes you do

ka7niq

Yes, he does
Gotta drop dat bass

Early B.

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote: »

Which woofer do you have?

Does it look like mine?
If not, you may not have the most up to date mega woofer.

Yeah, it looks like yours, so I don't have the VSS woofer. I don't know if I'd benefit very much with the updated driver. I may decide to upgrade it eventually and build a second sub with the current driver.:D

This sub is about 12 months old. It's been a display model for a local VMPS distributor, so it hasn't been played much at all. I may play with the putty in a few weeks.

Early B.

Hey fellas --

What is does the attachment mean? Too much techie talk. It says I can alter the F3 by changing out some resistors. Any advantage to this?

Thanks.

Early B.

Pics...

BTW -- the pics make the sub appear very small. It's actually over 5 c.f. (20x26x17) and weighs 95 lbs.

Ron Temple

Early B. wrote: »

Hey fellas --

What is does the attachment mean? Too much techie talk. It says I can alter the F3 by changing out some resistors. Any advantage to this?

Thanks.

Instead of giving you the option of a switchable HPF on the amp so that you can try differing rolloff curves on the fly...you get to experiment by doing brain surgury...same with the parametric . The PEs a ballzy amp and while you might see slightly better performance by lowering the HPF to 14hz, you'll still get great extention with room gain to the mid teens with the stock setting. I wouldn't mess with it until you've seen what your FR is. Sometimes if you have a big null and can't change placement, changing the HPF will smooth things out a bit.

Nice sub Brad...congrats.

Early B.

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote: »

Keep note, Brian has a beefier 15" woofer available for that model, not sure what he will sell it for. Its in the VSS --- massive motor, magnet, much more movement that the 15" Megawoofer... (about 11mm more total)

Upgrade cost taken from the most recent VMPS price list:

15" VSS 120 oz magnet MegaWoofer = $350

I don't think I'll be upgrading.

Systems

Great lookin sub Brad.

Early B.

OK, I just finished watching Fantastic 4: Rise of Silver Surfer (great movie, BTW). Lots of low level bass, of course. The sub made a bit more of an impression on me. The cleaner bass offers greater detail, even for the mids and highs. It makes for a cleaner sound all around.

I want another one.


Sid -- one day soon I'll try it on my two channel system.
GV#27 -- with this sub, I've lost interest in experimenting with an MBM.

Conradicles

Well this past weekend I picked-up this VMPS 215 from Brad (Early ...cool guy! Seems like he does not post much here anymore, but he is doing well. We discussed some of the ATL audio show we attended and a bit about our home rigs.

Not too much info on the web about this monster sub, so I may start a new thread about my impressions and some upgrades that I may perform with pictures.

Already asked Brian @ VMPS a few questions and he is very quick to respond providing excellent customer service.

This is my second VMPS sub, and this one tuned to 19Hz hopefully will fill my small HT room with some sweet bass!

treitz3

Holy thread revival, Batman! :eek:

Ern Dog

Killer sub. You scored!

I was wondering how Brad was doing. Good to hear he is well. He has definitely helped me on my audio journey.

Yes, please do share your impressions when the time is right.

SolidSqual

I miss Brad.

VR3

Audiocircle - hes there

Conradicles

Finally got this sub hooked up today. This thing is amazing. Pushing it with a measly Audiosource AMP300 bridged mono. Need to do some calibrating in the next few days to get it dialed in but man oh man do these VMPS subs sound sooooooooo good!

treitz3

Yes they do.

JAC

Since they are a bit different than most any other sub (because of the mass tuning capability) you will find that BASS will now show you sonic textures, harmonics, and details some have never heard.

I am a VMPS dealer and can help you with the "tuning process" if you need it.

VR3

If you want to make that sub stupid good - pull that PR and put in a TC Sounds... night and day difference

Conradicles

JAC wrote: »

you will find that BASS will now show you sonic textures, harmonics, and details some have never heard.

You are so correct and that is what I am hearing now. Most subs I have ever owned lacked this. After a few weeks of listening I may play with the tuning.

I took this one apart (like I do with all speakers for some odd reason) and re-sealed, cleaned, installed new internal wiring and even added some cool TC Sounds wood screws.

Thanks JAC and I'll keep you in mind if I need some help.

Conradicles

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote: »

If you want to make that sub stupid good - pull that PR and put in a TC Sounds... night and day difference

That may be in the near future. They are a bit pricey in my opinion, but I am very curious about that upgrade.

treitz3

4 things.....SMS-1

VR3

Let me say this - the VMPS PR is ok... but that is definitely the downfall of their subs and it holds them back by about 50% - putting a PR that is more capable and not made of pizza box material is a must..

Conradicles

treitz3 wrote: »

4 things.....SMS-1

Good things man, all I have read about that SMS-1 is good things...

treitz3

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote: »

Let me say this - the VMPS PR is ok... but that is definitely the downfall of their subs and it holds them back by about 50% - putting a PR that is more capable and not made of pizza box material is a must..

From first hand experience? You are correct. The change is unreal.

PSOVLSK

Conradicles wrote: »

Good things man, all I have read about that SMS-1 is good things...

I post this only as FYI for you. I'm considering selling my SMS-1. I know I'll regret it, but I've bought a couple of things lately that I didn't really need so...you know...something needs to go.

JAC

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote: »

Let me say this - the VMPS PR is ok... but that is definitely the downfall of their subs and it holds them back by about 50% - putting a PR that is more capable and not made of pizza box material is a must..

I think this might need a bit more information.

Subwoofers and speakers can be used for may purposes, but the two primary purposes for hobbyists are 1) Music and 2) HT.

While it might initally seem that "any" GOOD sub should be able to do both, some of the physics, design and engineering requirements meet different goals.

Just as a tweeter does not do MR well, a Woofer (or Passive Radiator) cannot both play REALLY HIGH SPLS and delicate Bass harmonics well at the same time. The goals require different approaches.

Without getting into the physics of acclerations and mass, let it be sufficient to say that the VMPS subs were designed with MUSICAL Accuracy as the primary goal and exceptionally high SPL's as a secondary goal.

As well the VMPS Passive Radiator has a mass based adjustment system (putty) that allows you to make very small adjustments to the mass of the PR, to increase the accuracy of the PR's response and reduce distortion.

This ability provides a musical BASS reproduction that most seldom ever experience as far as low distortion and hormonic interactions.

Larger, stiffer, higher excursion, and heavier PR's like the TC are excellent at producing the highest SPL's, but lack the delicacy and low distortion capabilities of the VMPS models.

It should also be noted that Brian Cheney has within the last year made an improvement to the excursion limits and cone stiffness of the stock PR's, (so they still retain the musical qualities) so they will do HT (explosions and such) far better than the older PR's, but will not offer quite the massive HT capabilities of the TC Passive.

So depending on your goal, requirements and preferences, select the PR that does it for you.

Hope that helps clear up some possible misconceptions.