Subwoofer hunt

@bob_reynolds

Hello again Bob. I prefer banana plugs myself but that option is already taken at both the amp and the speaker terminals by the normal speaker wire. It’ll have to be spades/spades I think.

Should be able to wrangle a short length (3-5'?)of the Belden 10 gauge and get it to play nice. If it’s stiff enough, might even help keep it off the carpet.

Thanks guys for all your inputs. However I still have one more question :) promise this would be the last. 

So if I plan to just connect "ONE" sub for now. and if I still want to go with the high level inputs and not the pre-out from the sub how do I connect since there are two channels out there left and the right. Which one would I connect to?

@spoutjack -
I expect there will be 2 pairs of speaker level/high level inputs on the sub. A pair (+/-) for the left channel and a pair for the right. Check your sub mftr's. info. to confirm.

@bob_reynolds 
Good suggestion on the 2 way banana plug.  I'll take a look at that.
We ain't all that particular about things that don't make an audible difference.  Exactly how stiff is that Belden 12 gauge?  Not like coat hangers, I hope.  I might need to make a 90 or 180 degree bend...but talking mid-length - not near an end, so the bend can be gradual.  Let me know what you think.  Thanks.

Hi ;I have had focal speakers different types for the last 15 years,  also  have 2 JL Audio E10 subs  Seemless love them Just upgraded to Wilson Audio speakers waiting for them to arrive. And will keep the JL subs.  Have had quite a few subs including Focal subs and you cant beat JL Audio for subs.

Best 

Norm L

FWIW, I own Rythmiks and believe they are very good. I used to have REL Storm, and don't regret the change one bit. Rythmiks are very tight and I have them in a sealed cabinet, plus their servo seems to work really well. They also are very flexible setup-wise.

Are JL Fantom better? Most likely, as you would expect given the price difference. But two Rythmiks is better than one JL in my opinion.

I tried them with the full range speakers running full range and the subs supplementing the low end, also crossing over the mains with the Rythmiks plate XO,  and currently with external digital crossovers and each step was an improvement.

The 12" is going to be enough. Yet I suggest going with the 15".

SVS and USU are "OK"... REL makes a far better sounding subwoofer for music.  Try and get it used.  For a home theater setup, the JL stuff is great.

Don't EVER hook up your main speakers THROUGH a subwoofer - the sound will suffer.... let the speakers roll off naturally.  Most of the filters in subwoofers are not that great to begin with and you are just adding another connection point and more speaker cables.

Good point af32. A good way to filter the very low bass from your main speakers without going through a x/o is with the simple installation of a capacitor (the value of which can be determined from the formula available all over the 'net) on the input jacks of your power amp. That creates a 1st order-6dB/octave filter below whatever frequency you choose. Your speakers will be cleaner with the 20-40Hz octave rolled off, and your amp will have more power available for them with that octave removed from it's signal. Perfectionists have been bi-amping the original Quads this way for decades.

When comparing subs, the total system cost is important.  For $4k do you get 1 sub, or a pair of subs and $1,500 worth of acoustic treatment and a high quality digital equalizer?

I've yet to see or hear a sub that is better in this regard than a Hsu.

For those looking for specmanship and independent reviews and I point you here:

http://www.data-bass.com/systems

For those looking to learn about subwoofer measurement and integration, I suggest the Room EQ Wizard forums will overwhelm you with information. :)  Good luck.

Best,


Erik

Rythmik's are very musical and integrate well with the mains but depending on your room size, may not have enough weight/ punch. I had the E15hp.
I currently use seaton Submersive hp+ master and slave sub. It's every bit as good as Rythmik sealed subs but a lot more potent in output, specially mid bass.

For more output than the E15HP (and F15HP, with a slightly larger enclosure) provides via it’s single 15" driver and 600w amp, Rythmik currently also offers the F25, with twin 15" drivers each driven by it’s own 400w amp. The E15, F15, and F25 are all sealed designs. There is also the FV15HP, with a single 15 and 600w amp in a ported enclosure.

In development now and available later in the year are two new models featuring the new Rythmik 18" driver, one with a single driver the other with two, both in ported enclosures. A sub with two ported 18" woofers---can you imagine the output capability?! And with Rythmik’s famed Direct Servo-Feedback sound quality. A game changer no doubt.

But Rythmik (in conjunction with GR Research) already offers a game-changing sub---the OB/Dipole Sub. Not as much output as a "normal" sub, but with a sound quality totally unlike any normal sub, regardless of price. Two (or three) 12" woofers mounted in an Open Baffle H-frame and operated in dipole fashion. This sub redefines the term "stops on a dime". THE sub for any planar loudspeaker (ESL. magnetic-planar, ribbon), or other high-resolution design. Absolutely without a trace of overhang/overshoot/resonance, and exciting fewer room modes (the front-to-back but not side-to-side room dimension), a major contributor to the "room boom" often experienced when a sub or two are added to a high-performance system. The only OB/Dipole Servo-Feedback Subwoofer in the world!

M&k subs are quite good,  they have adjustable high pass filters,  the new x line has two bass driver's, these compete well if not better jl audio subs. 

JL subs are bulletproof and easy to integrate because of the adjustments available including continuous phase.  They also have flat frequency responses which also makes them music worthy because the avoid frequency peaks- one note wonder syndrome  
I have used their mobile subs and amplifiers for years and just recently tuned a JL D110 sub to perfection in my home system.  
My room response is flat from 20Hz through the crossover.   They also tend to be equipped with generous amplifiers with lots of headroom.  Reliability and quality is top notch.