Official Rythmik Audio Subwoofer thread - Page 168

You understood me right, but the vented one is $1050 and the sealed is $900. So it's opposite what you were assuming. My target is around $700, so as we get into FV15 territory, it's looking too expensive.

So here's sort of what I'm looking at and what I think of each based on the reviews I've been reading. Please add to this and/or correct me if I'm wrong in any assumptions.

FV12 = lowest cost, about the same output as F15, but maybe not "enough" sub to do good in my rather large room (~4000ft^3). Could do 2x of these for the price of a FV15 eventually. (Wife actually prefers two for symmetrical placement.) Would likely start with one and add a second if I really needed it if I go this route. I like this option because of the cost. Media Hostage was even saying how tight this sub was for being ported which is why it is in the running now. Seems like a good value. Seems to be more comparable to HSU VTF2 in terms of output though, not the VTF3.

F15 = Rave reviews about the sound quality and tight bass, but concerned about output for movie watching down low. Willing to sacrifice some SPL for a crisp bass however. Seems to be more comparable to HSU ULS-15 which people tend to need more than one for HT use it seems.

HSU VTF-3 Mk4 = From what I read, this will have the most output out of all three down low and fill a room better, plus it has a lot of tuning capabilities to where I can even plug ports and run it in "sealed" mode if I end up liking the sealed sound better. This one is also priced right at about my target and seems the most flexible and risk free to purchase sight unseen/unheard. Seems like the most bang for my buck.

Were it not for Rythmik's reputation for having such tight, accurate bass, I'd be all over the HSU due to its price, power, and my ability to tweak it to be as ported or sealed sounding as I want. For me, good quality sound trumps SPL as long as it will still play well at decent volumes during movies and dig deep and let me feel the LFE effects. So I'm trying to find the best compromise sub for movies and music in this price range. I do not want muddy, boomy bass, but I do want to feel it when it is loud.

Thanks to all of you for your input and thoughts on these (especially unscientific ones like Media Hostage's) as I feel like I am finally honing in on a good sub choice here.

I have a 33' x 27' x 9' room with a single DIY version of the F15. Sounds great and I can feel it. After dialing it in with Omnimic the sound is superb.

Now another sub would be great but only to minimize a dip in the FR, otherwise it does the job I expect. There are no output issues at the reference levels I may listen at.

Dave.

One thing you should not overlook...but it often is...is the tuneability of the Rythmik. You can tune the damping qualities and the extension....which affects output.

Also, the output difference between the VTF-3MK4 and the F15 is pretty minimal at most. This a 12 inch ported vs a 15 inch sealed. The difference will be around port tuning of the Hsu...in the neighborhood of 18-22hz, below that it will drop off quickly because of it's ported design, where the Rythmik will tail off slower. Above the tuning point I would not be surprised of the Rythmik had more output.

Actually I'm using a STF-1 behind the sofa of my main sitting position, with minimal gain. While I was waiting to make a decision on which sub to choose, I turned it up and it did a respectable job by itself with music considering its size and the room size. I have heard all good things about the sound quality of the larger HSU subs but that is the extent of my familiarity.

The FV12 is powerful, I'm running it at less than 9:00 gain and my AVR is set to -5.0db so it is barely breaking a sweat. I am careful with my opinion here because your room is larger and it has vaulted ceilings. Considering how low I have my sub dialed in most likely it would be sufficient for your space. The larger room could be a plus because it will give the sub more room to breath/stretch out. Of course that depends on what your goal is SPL wise. Perhaps someone else here with more experience/knowledge than myself will chime in and assist with weighing these specific variables.

Regarding the servo technology, I wasn't gushing I merely reported what I experienced. It is one detailed and clean sounding subwoofer with music and movies.

Just want to state my F15 is in co-joining open rooms, approx 7200ft3 (10' ceilings), and it can gently rattle the pictures on the walls in the LR when going down low (dvd). Pretty impressive clean output, two would be perfect (quite dramatic) in a room of this size (huge) me thinks.

Somewhere earlier in this thread, Brian mentioned that in big rooms that are rather echoey, one wouldn't notice the better time delay of a sealed sub and that a ported sub would actually be better off because you're getting more output for your money and won't miss the extra tightness due to room echoes anyway.

My room is rather large with tile floors and has a lot of echoes and reverb. So this post really stuck out at me. Perhaps an F15 really might not be a good choice compared to a ported one (FV12, FV15, or the HSU).

Part of me really wants tight, controlled bass, but if my room is just going to kill it where I wouldn't notice it compared to a good ported sub, maybe I'd be wasting my money.

I'm getting really close to ordering a couple of subs, that is if Rythmic can get some XLR ones made again...

Room is 20 x 17 x 10, approx 3400 cubic feet, treated. What say you, 2 F15s or a 12 and a 15?? Emphasis is on music, but we also like our movies.

Thanks in advance for the input!!

What is this "could of" ? a new sub?


No problem, just giving you a bit of humor

cschang:

Could you please expound a little bit more on the tuning options and their sonic characteristics?

Please go ahead and explain however the following setting is what I'm using. High damping because the online instructions said it is the cleanest (why?) and frequency 28 because I think that means that's the point where it will roll off and that is good enough for music. Also, thinking along these lines I switch it to frequency 20 when watching a movie for more room down below. Is this correct?

Thanks

Sorry about that, I was typing from my phone.

I think it is pretty well documented on the Rythmik site with graphs.
http://www.rythmikaudio.com/eq.html

Also remember, that when "tuning" ported subs, it also affects the sound quality of them as well.

I leave my F15 in high damping/14hz tune for everything. As far as my experience goes, there is not another subwoofer that offers this kind of sound quality and output at anywhere near the price. My room is not large, about 2200 cu. ft. and sound quality is the most important to me.

Back in August of 2010, I put the F12SE into my system. As you'd expect, once I dialed it in and it settled out, I was completely blown away by the performance. For both HT and music it sounded superb! I've been enjoying the sound for many months now.

Over the holidays, we had some family over our house for dinners and a few evenings of movies and music. I was amazed at the number of compliments we received about how great our HT was. We had several kiddies enjoying the latest Harry Potter (on Blu-Ray) movie and they were WOWED by sound and shocked by the "feel" of the SFX. Even their parents said, "this is better than the theaters!"

Most of them have no idea what a subwoofer is and why it matters.

Last evening, when the house was all quiet, I popped a Diana Krall SACD into the player and sat back to read a few chapters of a book. After about 5 minutes, I had to put the book down and just listen.

Funny, how you take things for granted.

It's been a while since I visited this thread and I just wanted to drop by, share that with everyone... and thank Brian, again - for helping me choose the F12SE.

Quite honestly, it's the best improvement to my music and HT enjoyment - ever.

Happy belated New Year to all.

Website says FV12 is +3 db over F12 , is'nt that much louder ?

In the midrange (sorry, I am not sure the ratios at LF):
1 dB is barely perceptible to most people and takes about 1.3x the power
3 dB is a noticeable but only a small change in volume, though it requires 2x the power
10 dB sounds twice as loud to us, and takes 10x the power

I'm thinking about buying a Rythmik FV12. Any feedback from people who own one? (good/bad)

Thanks,
Jason

I wonder if a single F12 in a 2700 cubic foot room would have sufficient output.

Rythmik/Brian,

Do you guys have a showroom or anything to listen to subs before I buy? I live about 3 miles from your office. All this researching on the internet might better be served by a quick listen

Looking to fill ~4000ft^3 primarily for HT with all the boom LFE effects deserve while having good tight bass for music. (Or some reasonable compromise).

Ryan

Stop it! My dual F12SE's are on backorder! lol

You might be receiving a quite pleasant email message sometime next week, then.

I talked to Brian yesterday and he said that a shipment would be in Monday or Tuesday and would ship out Wednesday. I just placed a order for a 1505ci kit. My box is finished and ready for a driver.

My father-in-law just received his new FV12, I convinced him to buy, for his tiny little man cave and he is liking it a lot. He's only been listening to it for about an hour, but has already emailed me stating how much better everything sounds. His room is probably 10'x 8'(completely enclosed) so this sub should do great for him

Thank you for all the information in this thread. I just sent an email to Rythmik for an order of a FV15HP-SE piano black and silver driver with H600PEQ3 amplifier and multi-tune. Can't wait to get it.

Just got my FV15HP ... Really heavy .. Just like my old svs pb12+..
Any one with some basic settings for it?
Been suggested :
setting :
PEQ : off
Phase :0,
Frq :Max
level :1-2oc
switch ;
AVR , ON , 14Hz , Hi

What about the dampening, what should I use ?
Thanks

Music or HT or combo?

Dave.

I use it mainly for HT, but would like to integrate it into my Monitor Audio GS 10 / LCR 11 channel setup...
Music + Ht if it is possible..
It's a little flabby and ponderous right now, maybe it's new?

I played Real Steel last night... decent, but I reckon my room has a dip where the "chest thumping" occurs...
50-60Hz range?

There is real extension, just that I miss that armchair shaking, chest thumping sensation I felt in the shop...

I have a 10 ft wide 20ft long 10 ft high living area setup for Ht...

Ok, same use as me. I will post back here in a few hours with my settings and explain what each one does.

Basically I set mine for best HT performance and it still sounds great for music.

If you have a dip (have you measured this) then look at relocating the sub.

Back soon,
Dave.

Your room has a poor length to width to height ratios. It will have some nice nulls. Try relocating your seating area to find a position that is without nulls.

Thanks friends, I don't have too many options for siting a 120lb gorilla... It's at the front right corner, where I have created a spot for it- my place is newly renovated...

I will try moving my armchair sweet spot a bit, but will the para eq be able to help?
Anyway, it about 12 ft wide sorry...

I have two Velodynes - minivee and spl 1000r available to boost any dips if needed... Thanks

Here are my settings and notes I have on why I chose them.

Low Pass - EXT/12 - Use when using XO in AVR.

Rumble Filter - On - Excursion protection.

Freq - 14 - Lowest freq extension.

Damping - Low - I have in my notes that Hi Damping extends the LF curve further. I'm not sure if this is correct or the wrong way around. If it is correct I don't know why I selected Low.

On the Damping I will do some testing with my Omnimic. Hopefully someone can comment and set us straight.

With the PEQ it is best used to tame a peak than boost a null. You would need some freq measuring equipment to do this.

I set the gain to 12 o'clock and make further level adjustments in the AVR.

The LP filter should be set to max if using the XO in the AVR.

With phase adjustment ideally use measuring equipment or your ear. This is after setting the distance in your AVR.

I hope I've covered it all.

Dave.