I have a music/home theater setup in a large great room of 8,400 cubic feet (20’ x 30’ x 14’). I have an AppleTV, and Arcam AVR11, a Buckeye 150W 8 channel amp and 7 KEF LS50 Meta speakers arranged in a 5.1.2 configuration. I use Dirac to tune my system (but still want the best sound without it). My cheapo sub just blew and it’s time to get a new one. My average listening volume is on the low side — about 65 dB on average — 75 dB on average is about the loudest I operate the system. I love bass but detest inaccurate, exaggerated, boomy bass. A precise “musical” sub is very important to me. Here’s my dilemma:
I’m at the point of “analysis paralysis” in looking at speaker reviews, forum discussions and videos. Due to WAF requirements (non negotiable) my SOLE sub will be sitting with the front speakers in essentially a bookshelf (actually a cabinet with speaker cloth covers). The maximum size subwoofer that could fit in the cabinet would be 20”W, 22”D and 18”H. Considering that and probably 100 subs I’ve looked at, I’m down to three front-firing subs. Other suggestions would be welcome, but I’ve already looked at quite a few.
* SVS SB-3000. (18-270 Hz, 800 A)
* Rythmik F12G (14-200 Hz, 370 A)
* Rythmik F12-400 (14-200 Hz, 400 A)
I’m currently leaning toward the Rythmik F12G. It has a paper cone, a 370 watt amp and of course servo tech. My wife would be happier if I spent less money and went with the F12-400, which purportedly sounds about the same and costs $300 less. But from speaking with the factory it won’t crossover well above 90 Hz and the F12G will do well up to about 120 Hz. The F12-400 has a 400W amp and an aluminum cone too which purportedly doesn’t do quite as well as paper. From what I can tell, the power of the Rhythmic subs will be enough for the room generally but it may struggle at times with very loud sounds, which might be OK if that’s only noticible about 0.01% of the time — the accuracy being the better side of the trade off.
Putting those thoughts aside, because the room is large, and because LS50s struggle with distortion when playing below 150 Hz, I may want to get the SVS SB-3000. With twice the amperage and an inch bigger cone (13 instead of 12), the SVS‘s crossover could be pushed a little higher higher without distortion, maybe up into the 120-150 Hz range or even higher range. The trade offs there could be more accuracy overall but some localization. The localization would be near the center speaker so wouldn’t be terrible.
Anyways I know there’s a lot of smart people here who have more experience than I do with these things. This is just where my research has left me — at this dead end. Any help with directions out of the box I’m in would be terrific.
I’m at the point of “analysis paralysis” in looking at speaker reviews, forum discussions and videos. Due to WAF requirements (non negotiable) my SOLE sub will be sitting with the front speakers in essentially a bookshelf (actually a cabinet with speaker cloth covers). The maximum size subwoofer that could fit in the cabinet would be 20”W, 22”D and 18”H. Considering that and probably 100 subs I’ve looked at, I’m down to three front-firing subs. Other suggestions would be welcome, but I’ve already looked at quite a few.
* SVS SB-3000. (18-270 Hz, 800 A)
* Rythmik F12G (14-200 Hz, 370 A)
* Rythmik F12-400 (14-200 Hz, 400 A)
I’m currently leaning toward the Rythmik F12G. It has a paper cone, a 370 watt amp and of course servo tech. My wife would be happier if I spent less money and went with the F12-400, which purportedly sounds about the same and costs $300 less. But from speaking with the factory it won’t crossover well above 90 Hz and the F12G will do well up to about 120 Hz. The F12-400 has a 400W amp and an aluminum cone too which purportedly doesn’t do quite as well as paper. From what I can tell, the power of the Rhythmic subs will be enough for the room generally but it may struggle at times with very loud sounds, which might be OK if that’s only noticible about 0.01% of the time — the accuracy being the better side of the trade off.
Putting those thoughts aside, because the room is large, and because LS50s struggle with distortion when playing below 150 Hz, I may want to get the SVS SB-3000. With twice the amperage and an inch bigger cone (13 instead of 12), the SVS‘s crossover could be pushed a little higher higher without distortion, maybe up into the 120-150 Hz range or even higher range. The trade offs there could be more accuracy overall but some localization. The localization would be near the center speaker so wouldn’t be terrible.
Anyways I know there’s a lot of smart people here who have more experience than I do with these things. This is just where my research has left me — at this dead end. Any help with directions out of the box I’m in would be terrific.
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