tight, accurate, tuneful, deep, powerful bass

these babies are large

you may get low-end response as good as the vmps', but be prepared to spend *at least* twice as much - or more - in order to do so. i am the ultimate cheapskate, rarely buying new, preferring to maximize my dollar's-worth by purchasing used equipment. in this case, these things are a bargain brand-new! my pair of larger subs cost $1140 delivered (shipping is an important consideration when the shipping wt. is >150 lbs each!), & this included all the upgrades - wiring & soundcoat. my complete subwoofer system required a brand-new marchand deluxe-version of their xm9 24db/octave active x-over, a pair of tara labs rsc prime 1000 wires, and a used early-version of the adcom gfa555, to be bridged-mono, to pair w/the other 555 i already had, purchased in 1984. i dint really *need* the add'l amp, but what the hell - the entire cost was *still* less than $2400, including what i paid for the 1st amp, back in '84! the only subs i know that come close to the vmps' are the top-line bag end/velodynes/muse/rel, etc., & $2400 will only get you *one* of 'em, if that! for best results in audio, ya need a stereo pair! so, if ya got the room, these are the real thing. also, i recently updated the drivers to their latest iterations: carbon-fibre 12", and magnets double the early version's size for both the 12" & 15". now, even *tighter* & *more* tuneful bass, as if there was any problems before!?! absolutely *awesome*, & easy to match w/your monitor-speakers, thanks to marchand's *very* versatile active x-over. did i mention that i really like 'em? ;~)

Similar Products Used:

rel, velodyne, bag-end, hsu, muse

I have used a VMPS Larger sub for several years and have gradually upgraded most of my system to match. These subs can reach below 20 hz with authority. THey are veruy efficient (>92 db/Watt without room gain). However, I found early on that the crossover kit I purchased from VMPS was not doing the job. My current system is as follows:Sources: CD player: Technics SL-P999 or Optimus CD3400 (powered by gel cell RV battery).
Signal Conditioner: Z-Man Audio Signal Enhancer.
Preamp: Adcom-565
Main amp: Classe' CA-100.
Sub amp: Haffler SE240.
Electronic Crossover: RichterScale III with xover set to 65 Hz, and equalizer turned off.
Main speakers: Paradigm Reference Studio 20.
Subwoofer: Vmps Larger.
At the sub, the left channel is directed to the 15 inch active driver, and the right to the 12 inch driver. The sub is positioned on its side in a corner of my 13X19 ft. living room.
The 15 inch passive radiator was tuned by ear using 3 strands of 3/16 inch automotive putty to add mass. Later testing using the warble tone generator found the bass is within 2 db at 20 hz referred to the signal at 200 hz. There is a broad room resonance peak of +6 db at 45 hz.
For best musicality I find that I prefer to lower the entire sub output by about 2-3 db referred to the main speakers. This sub will oscillate my floor joists when playing the "Coyote" track of the HUSH album by Bobby Mcferrin and Yo Yo Ma (Sony SK48177). But my preferred test album is the great organ of the Tonhalle in Zurich playing Mussorgsky's Pictures At An Exhibition (Dorian DOR-90117). The low bass from this performance will rattle all loose hardware in my living room. I feel that if you have the room for this sub or, better yet, a pair of them, they are the a bargain at the current cost for the kit version. They are a cinch to assemble (but you may need assistance in moving them around). I have seen ads at HCM Audio for under $500 each.

tight deep bass, big and solid cabinet

I bought the original sub kit almost 20 years ago and I still haven't found another make that can match the satisfying bass of the VMPS. My setup is not ideal (passive x-over, no separate amp), and I think there's more potential in the sub. I've auditioned some other very expensive subs and wasn't happy with the sound quality (too loose, muddy, boomy for my taste). I'm in the market for another sub for my home theater and will look at the new VMPSs shortly.

Similar Products Used:

hsu

I have been thinking about making this sub. from a kit version offered by the manufacturer for a long time, recently , after reading a review of this kit in the pages of speakerbuilder about a year ago,I went forward and two of the kits.I have to say that I am not dissatisfied a least bit. VMPS has recently changed the dimensions, construction, and orientation of the box(keeping the Vb, the net box volume the same)which resulted in a lower profile and cosmetically better looking box. The sound is TERRIFIC! They are highly sensitive, 95 db at 1m/1w, and handling about 350 watts rms at 4 ohms. Due to the 10 hz tuning you will rarely encounter any, if at all, program material which will distress the woofers. Despite the manufacturers claim of -3 db at 17 hz, I tend to agree with the reviewer Mr. Bundy that the -3db point is somewhere near 20 hz. But these babies can shake your foundations with clean 20 hz fundamentals, and they have excellent, I should say superb, transient response. They are very musical yet so powerful as to induce fear in your heart during any musical or cinematic passages involving explosive, either musically or cinematically, bass energy. I would recommend these without any KIND OF PASSIVE CROSSOVER, these are better used with active , low level, crossovers. I have them connected to 1000 watts rms at 4 ohms professional amps each, they are very happy with this arrangement.

Fast, deep and powerful

Mundane appearance

As a passive sub, a separate amplifier is required. The benefit is that the subwoofer is not constantly trying to shake the amplifier apart (which this one is certainly capable of doing).

I have the "small" VMPS subwoofer with the Mega upgrade.
The Mega upgrade uses the same custom woven carbon fiber woofer used in the $20,000 VMPS Super Tower III.

How does it sound? In my listening room, other subwoofers that I have tried have had ported designs that caused major room interaction problems. The VMPS has no resonances, probably due to its use of a passive radiator rather than porting to achieve low end extension.

The VMPS is fast enough to blend seamlessly with my BG Radia ribbon speakers. Based on test tracks, it goes down to 25 hz. I have a 150 watt amp driving it, which doesn't approach its 300 watt rating, but there is more than sufficient SPL available to rock my 5000 cubic ft home theater.

Not only is this an outstanding product, it is a tremendous bargain for $429.

Similar Products Used:

SVS, AR, Nelson-Reed

Low cost, massive amounts of tight, accurate bass.

Fairly large size -- Warning! May not be wife approved!

I have a pair of these VMPS Larger Subs, connected to an Adcom 5800 amp. For mains I have a pair of Gold Sound 7's, also powered by an Adcom 5800. For an active crossover, I use the Marchand XM6, usually crossed over at around 80 hz.
The Gold Sound 7's have a pair of 12 inch woofers (each) so I'm already used to a great deal of low, tight bass. (I have since ordered a pair of VMPS FF-3's to replace the Gold Sound 7's).

The entire system is in a fairly large room (23x30) with a high, vaulted ceiling. The amount of low, tight bass I get out of these things is nothing short of amazing! Given the right source material, I can easily shake loose much of the contents off of several shelves in the room! The low end on several TELARC CDs I have is incredible! On the CD "Bachbusters" the low synth dips waaaay down there -- my wife claims it makes her heart "beat funny"!

I will say that on most source material, the subs have a really nice, smoothe sound. But on some CDs and DVDs, the low end is nothing short of astounding!

If you want to impress your friends and piss off the neighbors, call VMPS right now and buy one or (better yet) two of these great subs!

Similar Products Used:

VMPS Smaller subs -- I've listened to dozens of different subwoofer brands.

Tremendous bass performance

they are big

If you are looking for DEEP Bass, Powerful Bass and Tight Bass, then check the VMPS woofers out.
I use mine as the "effects" sub in my movie surround setup.
I also use 2 MTX PS15's, one for the rear channels and one for tne mains.
The VMPS is just a tremendous performer. While it is efficent, it does benefit from a good strong amp. I currently use 2 "audiosource" AMP 1's in each set in mono, one for each active driver(a 12inch and a 15 inch). One of these days ,I'll probably upgrade these amps, but they actully sound very good.
VMPS is a true bargin. They sure don't try to cheat the laws of phyiscs, with equalizers and servo circuits. What they do is to use good , large drivers in a big solid cabinet, and it really works.
They seem to have no limit as to the volumme and depth they generate.
They also make a line of very good full range speakers and smaller subs. Take a look at their web site.

Similar Products Used:

M+K 125 woofer, MTX PS15, Velodyne FS15 and Definitive Technology DF15

i have had these subs for a couple of months now and very satisfied with my purchase.they are strongly built and powerful.they now compliment my focus instead of the velodyne fsr1800.the sound is accurate and tight without being boomy like the velodyne and far away being cut at 104 db!i paired them up with bryston 4bst,i think they are having orgasms with each other!way to go brian.thanks for an outstanding product!

Strong bass

Big as hell, no builtin amp..

I have to say this is a good sub, but my Velodyne is much deeper in sound then this one.. and the fact that it doesnt have a builtin amp is disturbing but i guess we can over look that.. i bought it as the kit but that was a mistake, the intructions were horrible, so save yourself the trouble and buy it pre assembled..

Similar Products Used:

Velodyne CT150, klipsh 15 in sub

clean deep bass

none

I'm writing this review fo the VMPS smaller subwoofer because there is no listing for it. I asked for a listing for another product four months ago; since it was never entered, I thought I would not ask again.

System
Yamaha CDC 909 cd player
Lexicon CP-3 surround sound processor
Nakamichi PA-5 AMP
Mission 704 main speakers
NHT Super One side spaekers
VMPS smaller subwoofer

I bought this sub kit with the Megawoofer option becuase of the excellent reviews I read on this site. I am impressed. It provides clean deep bass down to 24 HZ (-3 dB), without any hint of boominess. I use the system for music only, and I am now completely satisfied since adding this sub.

I am powering it with one channel from the PA-5 amp. I am using the LFE output of the Lexicon, and I have the main speaker high pass filter on, so that the sub provides all of the signal below 80 Hz.

A lot of people on this site recommended against a passive sub, but I prefer to have a good, class A/B amp that is not inside the box.

Similar Products Used:

none