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Looking at upgrading my 8" sub, choices choices choices

post #1 of 20
2/23/12 at 3:02pm
Thread Starter 
Okay, so I have an 8" sub which is just fine for most music, but it bottoms out on some movie content.

I'm looking at upgrading to one of the ID subs, but I'm pretty torn between the following:
HSU VTF-3 MK4
Epik Legend
Rythmik FV12 or F12

My use is approximately 90% music, 10% Home Theater. My speakers are MartinLogan LX-16 L/R, EM C2 center, and FX SL/SR. Room dimensions are 20'x17'

Thoughts? The subwoofer shootouts don't seem to have covered the subs I'm looking at very well, and never head-to-head. I suspect that I'd be hard presssed to say I "went wrong" with any of them, but if there's a serious edge to be had amongst them, either in performance, reliability, or dependable customer service, I'd love to learn about it before making my decision.

Cheers
Ikarius
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post #2 of 20
2/23/12 at 3:09pm
for music go for the sealed Rythmiks, coming from an 8 inch sub, you would be smilling like this .. get the 15 inch sealed and your like this get the F15HP and you go like this

I use the Rythmik 15 inch sealed and coming from a 12 inch sealed and I was still like
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post #3 of 20
2/23/12 at 3:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by qguy View Post

for music go for the sealed Rythmiks, coming from an 8 inch sub, you would be smilling like this .. get the 15 inch sealed and your like this get the F15HP and you go like this

I use the Rythmik 15 inch sealed and coming from a 12 inch sealed and I was still like

what he said.
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post #4 of 20
2/23/12 at 3:33pm
The VTF will give you tuning options and if you look at previous posts from other owners it works very well with music.
But there is nothing wrong with the other 2 mentioned as well as the SVS
which I am surprised was not mentioned already.
You will get everyones vote for their favorite brand just like in the speaker forum.
After having a VTF-15H I no longer fall into the camp that in order for the sub to
be better for music it needs to be sealed and with the VTF you can have sealed,1 port or both open with 2 EQ's and Q tuning.
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post #5 of 20
2/23/12 at 3:54pm
Thread Starter 
I felt the SVS subwoofers are sort of ugly, and were moderately high priced versus the others; the SVS 12" ported subwoof is $769, versus $499 for the Rythmik 12" ported. Epik Legend is sealed and $499. I have the Rythmik F12 listed, but I'm a bit miffed that they're charging $375 more for their sealed 12" than their vented 12"... Is there actually extra hardware involved in the sealed design?
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post #6 of 20
2/23/12 at 3:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ikarius View Post

I felt the SVS subwoofers are sort of ugly, and were moderately high priced versus the others; the SVS 12" ported subwoof is $769, versus $499 for the Rythmik 12" ported. Epik Legend is sealed and $499. I have the Rythmik F12 listed, but I'm a bit miffed that they're charging $375 more for their sealed 12" than their vented 12"... Is there actually extra hardware involved in the sealed design?

With sealed you have a longer excursion driver with a meaner amp so yes the parts cost more for a sub in a smaller box with high output.
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post #7 of 20
2/23/12 at 4:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ikarius View Post

I felt the SVS subwoofers are sort of ugly, and were moderately high priced versus the others; the SVS 12" ported subwoof is $769, versus $499 for the Rythmik 12" ported. Epik Legend is sealed and $499. I have the Rythmik F12 listed, but I'm a bit miffed that they're charging $375 more for their sealed 12" than their vented 12"... Is there actually extra hardware involved in the sealed design?


FV12 ported sub black oak with 300WRMS amp
F12 Black Oak Grain with A370PEQ3 amp (370 watts)
The drivers are different also
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post #8 of 20
2/23/12 at 4:04pm
Thread Starter 
Ahh, that explains the cost differential. Of *course* y'all recommended the most expensive sub I listed.
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post #9 of 20
2/23/12 at 4:11pm
Did'nt you know that $$$ = Quality, the more $$$ you pay, the more quality you get.



Quote:
Originally Posted by Ikarius View Post

Ahh, that explains the cost differential. Of *course* y'all recommended the most expensive sub I listed.
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post #10 of 20
2/23/12 at 4:11pm
Thread Starter 
Absolutely stunning news to me!
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post #11 of 20
2/23/12 at 4:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ikarius View Post

I felt the SVS subwoofers are sort of ugly, and were moderately high priced versus the others; the SVS 12" ported subwoof is $769, versus $499 for the Rythmik 12" ported. Epik Legend is sealed and $499. I have the Rythmik F12 listed, but I'm a bit miffed that they're charging $375 more for their sealed 12" than their vented 12"... Is there actually extra hardware involved in the sealed design?

you might be the first one Ive heard say this. IMO, the Ultra 13 might be one of the nicest looking subs out there.
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post #12 of 20
2/23/12 at 4:15pm
Thread Starter 
Hmm. And of course, they're backordered on the matte black rythmik F12s, and their web store seems to think that the price for them is $8,749.00. Curiosity, which would you consider "second best" after the Rythmik F12?
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post #13 of 20
2/23/12 at 4:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ikarius View Post

hmm. And of course, they're backordered on the matte black rythmik f12s, and their web store seems to think that the price for them is $8,749.00. Curiosity, which would you consider "second best" after the rythmik f12?

Second best,,, hmmmm ... F15 perhaps :-)

8,749.00 WAY TO GO !!! how many did you order ?
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post #14 of 20
2/23/12 at 4:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ratm View Post

you might be the first one Ive heard say this. IMO, the Ultra 13 might be one of the nicest looking subs out there.

I think the OP was talking about the PB12-NSD in standard black finish, not the nicer finishes they offer.

To the OP...the SVS is the same price as the HSU VTF-3 MK4 on your list. Those are the two subs I would choose from for clean output. The Rythmik may be even better for music, but I have never heard one in person.
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post #15 of 20
2/23/12 at 4:21pm
Seriously... Any of the above mentioned would be WOW ssubwoofer from where your coming from. I dont think you can make a mistake in this case.
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post #16 of 20
2/23/12 at 4:23pm
Thread Starter 
That was what their web store rang up for quantity 1.
Funny enough, if I raise it to quantity 2, the price drops to $787 each, total $1,574. Their web store is apparently broked.
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post #17 of 20
2/23/12 at 4:24pm
its a sign from heaven... Get two !!!

[quote=Ikarius;21689086]That was what their web store rang up for quantity 1.
Funny enough, if I raise it to quantity 2, the price drops to $787 each, total $1,574. /QUOTE]
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post #18 of 20
2/23/12 at 4:25pm
There is discount for multiples.
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post #19 of 20
2/23/12 at 4:26pm
Thread Starter 
More likely a sign of poor web coding
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post #20 of 20
2/23/12 at 7:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ikarius View Post

More likely a sign of poor web coding


You might be able to order the F12 from Ascend Acoustics.
http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages.../subintro.html
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