RM30 Series II

Posted on Dec 16, 2011

RM30 is 50 cm (20″) deep, but can be placed directly against a back wall if needed. Series II version differs from previous M and C versions in that it have 25 cm (10″) sidefiring PR, where M model had 10″ WCF driver before. Series II cuts off at 26 Hz. The RM30 uses three 2.4 Ohm midrange panels wired in series. The FST is at the top of the column. The active 16 cm is a specially developed WCF 16 cm Megawoofer. They offer higher power handling, cleaner sound and have the ability of not bottoming out no matter how hard they are driven.


The RM30′s are extremely flexible of placement, including touching the back wall if necessary.


This loudspeaker answers the requests from audiophiles since early 2002 for a speaker priced between, & more attractive than the RM2 & RM40. Its premium blending of price, performance, flexibility, & cosmetic beauty promises more than anything currently available.

· Price includes Free Swinging Tweeter, SoundCoat and new CDWG II.

· Performance: maximum output just below the RM40 combined w/a new reference in staging, imaging, musicality, nearfield listening, & disappearing qualities.

· Flexibility: bass extends to the high 20s & has a feature to minimize bass modes.

· Cosmetic Beauty: at 20cm wide it’s the narrowest VMPS ever & 5 cm narrower than the 626R standmount. At 122 cm it’s only 8 cm above the RM2 and a perfect match for video monitors. Depth is a moderate 50 cm.


Driver Array: the sequence below matches the driver positions on the baffle, from the top down.

1. FST tweeter
2. 3 vertical Neo mids.
3. Dual active 16 cm, the ideal diameter in the critical transition range, w/punchy, quick midbass.

Passive Radiators: tunable, 25 cm PR, mounted on a side. Mass adjustments provide finer & smoother tuning increments.


The mirror-imaged L-R speakers are reversible, allowing the 25cm passive radiators to fire either inward or outward to maximize the averaging of room modes, a’la RM/X. We generally recommend:

· Smaller rooms &/or short sidewall spacing = basses face inward
· Larger rooms &/or long sidewall spacing = basses face outward

Crossovers: bass LP/midrange HP & Biamp/Bi-wire split @ 280 Hz, midrange LP/tweeter HP @ 6.9 kHz.

Sensitivities/Impedances: Ribbon array about 93 dB / 8 Ohms, bass section about 91 dB / 4 Ohms. Mid/tweeter level controls provide equalization & fine-tuning adjustments.

Input Connections: single amp/single wire or biamp/bi-wire. Jumper cables included for shorting the inputs for single amp/single wire use. RM30s have the biamp/bi-wire split between the bass & mids @ 280 Hz. Either capacitor upgrade is enthusiastically recommended: Auricaps or the highest quality TRTs. Michael Percy now sells the TRTs, & that he & his customers agree that the caps are superb value even with their enormous cost, a rare combination.


The RM30 is high-value & affordable to most audiophiles. It offers the best mid-treble drivers, side-firing PRs (reversible to minimize room modes), & most significantly its narrow baffle provides premium performance & an SOAF rating of 10 (Significant Other Acceptance Factor). It is priced just above the RM2, has high flexibility, exceeds the best qualities of the 626R, & its maximum output approaches the world-class RM40. Adding VMPS’ LRC or 626R as center & a pair of Ribbon Dipole Surrounds will round out a premium mid-priced HT/music surround system (SW optional).


Specifications
Bass – 2x 16 cm (6″) WCF midbass, 1x 25cm (10″) Passive Radiator
Mid – three rectangular 10 x 20 cm (4 x 8″) Neo ribbons, 280 Hz – 6.9 kHz
Treble – FST, 6.9 kHz – 30 kHz
Impedance & Sensitivity – 4 Ohm (3.6 min.) 93 dB/1W/1m
Power handling – 400W rms / 4 Ohms, 20 W min.
Frequency response – 26 Hz – 25 kHz +0/-3 dB
Dimensions & Weight – 122H x 18W x 49D cm, 50kg (48″H x 7″W x 19″D cm, 110 lbs)
Output levels and distortion – max. 1% THD fullrange / 1W, max. 115+ dB SPL/1m
Finishes – standard lite oak, dark oak, MLS rosewood, macassar ebony. Optional MLS piano black