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Vandersteen Sub woofers v Rythmik Subs

I really love the idea of the Vandersteen Subs where they are connected with the mains via extra speaker cable off right and left channels off the main amplifier, which is supposed to provide better bass transition from the mains while keeping the signature from the main amplifier. My question is with Vandersteen coming out with the SUB THREE and the price going significantly higher, I was wondering if there are other subs for less that you could integrate in the same way. (Most subs seem to rely on the line level input which is just a sub-woofer RCA going from the pre-amp to the amp on the sub). Can this same Vandersteen set-up be achieved with other subs?
I picked Rythmik since they are known (in the home theater community anyway) for being one of the best bang for the buck subs and the most "musical" of the bunch. (between Hsu, SVS, PSA).
And could I possibly achieve even greater sub-woofer nirvana since I could get an 18" for around $1500? Vandies only have 3 eight inchers.

I am a Vandersteen fanboy and I would like to support RV whenever I can, but don’t know much about my other sub-woofer options so looking for some feedback. Doesn’t even have to be related to Rythmik necessarily. If you know of other subs that can integrate the same way I want to know about it!

Thanks
bstatmeister
jackd
1,068 posts
 
I happen to own them both and neither one obliterates the other.  They are different paths to the same goal. 
bstatmeister OP
537 posts
 
I happen to own them both and neither one obliterates the other. They are different paths to the same goal.
How do you implement the Rythmik sub? Do you use the line level in from the preamp/receiver subwoofer output?
jackd
1,068 posts
 
I have tried it both ways and in the end I prefer the speaker level inputs like I was used to with the Vandersteens but in the end it is what you prefer.  
bstatmeister OP
537 posts
 
I guess I am confused about the differences in the way you configure the Rythmik via the speaker binding posts compared with the way the Vandy does it. I know you have to put in an analog high pass filter between the amp and the preamp in order for the bass to be correct once it gets to the vandy. Can you do this with the Rythmiks, as well? Or do you just send the full signal in? if you do send the full signal in is it proceeded digitally in the on-board amp? I guess I am still fuzzy on the filtering/signal processing options and what the pluses and minus’s are for the different types.
jackd
1,068 posts
 
With the Vandersteen method the high pass filter goes between the preamp and amp so the signal from the speaker terminals is already filtered.  Whether you run the Rythmik's from the preamp's outputs or the speaker terminals the signal is passing to the mains full range and you use the crossover in the subs to limit the signal it sees.  You can buy aftermarket in-line filters to mimic the Vandersteen effect if you choose. Harrison Labs FMOD's are the most common.  Never tried it that way so can't tell you how it would sound.  In both of my systems I am running the mains full range and crossing in the Rythmik subs at the bottom limits of their frequency range.  
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