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Rythmik Vs REL Subwoofers - What to Buy?

I have an L Shaped living/dinning room.  The living room measures 13.5'x18.5' and the dining room measures 10.5'x13.5".  I have a pair of Paradigm Prestige 85F towers along the 13.5' wall hooked up to an ARCAM AVR550.  They are currently placed 8' apart with a 72" stereo cabinet between them leaving 45' on both sides of the cabinet.  This wall shares the outside 13.5' wall in the dinning room.  There are two 3' walls that narrow the opening to the dining room.

I am trying to decide what subwoofers to add to my system.  Three dealers suggested I add a pair of subwoofers rather than adding just one based on my room dimensions and room layout.  I am trying to decide between adding a pair of Rythmik F12 Signature subwoofers or a pair of REL T/9i's or a pair of REL S3's and locate them next to the towers.  However, because of limited space I may not be able to consider the S3 subwoofers, as they will crowd my towers more and it will most likely require moving my towers closer together from 8' apart to 7' apart.  The dealers I have talked to suggested I locate the subwoofers in the corners.    

I have an upright piano along the 18' wall to the right and I would prefier to use just one subwoofer located to the left of the piano located approximately 5' to 6' in front of the right front speaker.  This would prevent cluttering the wall where my towers are located and it would make our room look better.  If I locate just one subwoofer next to the piano, the speaker would point directly into the opening of the dining room.

Could you please advise as to whether to go with a Rythmik or a REL subwoofer?  I like the idea of the Rythmik Direct Servo technology.  The amplifier in the subwoofer has the ability to boost lower bass frequencies at lower listening volumes to prevent fall off.  However, would they sound too boomy?  I talked to a highly regarded speaker manufacturer and he told me if I went with the T/9i's, they rated them to go down to 28 Hz at -6 db.  He told me based on this, they would actually be lucky to play down to 35 Hz.  He went on to say this is woofer rather than subwoofer territory.  I have listened to both the REL T/9i and the REL S3 and I was not able to hear a significant difference in bass extension when they were played with a pair Bowers & Wilkins 702's.  However, I liked the way they blended in with the main speakers.  They were seamless and I swore all of the sound was coming out of the towers.  The problem is there are many recordings that contain bass frequencies of 24 Hz and possibly lower and if I go with the REL's I would not be able to hear anything lower than 35 Hz.  The Rythmik Signature F12's play down to 14 Hz.  The speaker manufacture I talked to makes custom Rythmik subwoofers and he told me the Rythmik subs are the most musical subwoofers he has ever heard.  Rythmik sells only direct and it would be helpful to be able to hear one before making my decision.

I listen to 70% music and 30% HT and my first priority is music.

If you were in my shoes, what would you recommend I do?
128x128larry5729
larry5729's avatar
larry5729 OP
1,001 posts
 
2psyop,

I ended up with a pair of REL S2’s.  Their high level connection made more sense because I wanted them to seamlessly act like an additional bass wofer on my towers.  REL told me they would also take some of the work load off my towers to produce better mid range voicing.  The key is making sure you do not set the volume too high on the REL’s.  I set mine at 40%.  I wonder what others set theirs at.  I just didn’t want the bass to sound too boomy.

It would be nice to have my system set up professionally.  One dealer specializes in Master Setting speakers.  I read up and pulled my towers further away from the way and put the REL’sin the corners.  I measured both speakers from back corners of the speakers from the back wall and the front corners of both speakers from side ways to make sure everything was the same on both sides and pointed each speaker perfectly to the listening area.  I did the same with the REL.  I was amazed by the difference in sound.  Pulling the towers forward from the back wall 18” made a huge difference.  If I had to do it all over I would still go with the REL’s.
 
skinzy's avatar
skinzy
160 posts
 

Hi Larry, I’m in a similar situation that you were in. I am thinking of a pair of REL G1 mark 2 to add to my Wilson Alexia speakers. I don’t want to mess with HPF on these speakers. Mostly curious as to whether you felt the time and trouble to add subs was worth it or not? Now that you have had them in your system a while what are your thoughts? Thanks in advance.

missioncoonery
1,202 posts
 

I'm not familiar with the S2 but trying to visualize 40% on volume control..that seems high,are you sure the crossover is set correctly?

larry5729's avatar
larry5729 OP
1,001 posts
 

To:  Slkinzy and Missioncoonery,

I am not sure how this discussion got reposted because this was an old discussion that ended quite a while ago.  I haven't moved my REL subwoofers for a while because I have them set into location and didn't want to move them.  I do know they were brand new REL SHO subwoofers.  

 

Missioncoonery:  I probably have my REL's set up incorrectly.  The dealer I purchased them from just told me to set the volume at 40% and also told me where to set the crossover.  I have visited the REL website to read once again about how to set them up.  It was very technical and difficult for me to understand.  

 

To Skinzy:  I think adding two not just one subwoofer was a game changer.  I have a pair of Paradigm Prestige 85F tower speakers and I wanted to be able to allow the REL subwoofers to play down further.  The REL high level connection technology has allowed them to act as woofers and blend with my speakers.  You are on the correct path with your choice of REL subwoofers.  Your speakers are large, and I think you need larger size subs to match.  I also think you should go with a pair of subs to balance things out.  I know a dealer where you can purchase these at a savings.  He is trustworthy and did just what he promised.

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