With a room that measures 28x15 ~7' avg. ceiling height, and opens into a long kitchen/dining room
I recently got a single F15HP in matte black. Matte black just is more incognito in my opinion
where gloss will reflect the lowest level of light (low lux) and would be extremely difficult
or actually impossible to repair a scuff or scratch which inherently occurs even with dusting high gloss.
Being placed beside my left ESL at the front of the room and under, just outside the tv screen viewing
area, matte black was the only way to go and on sale at that.
The packaging and double boxing was in line with top quality equipment for any hobby or trade. 5 stars indeed.
I've never noticed any heat from the amp after a movie or concert. I didn't buy this sub to work like
a diesel engine anyway, so heat will never be an issue I see, particularly having the higher output amp
which makes a great companion with the 2 amps I'm using.
The amps I'm using comprise of the Denon 4000X AVR driving 3 Martin Logan 4 Ohm speakers
a pair of Martin Logan Motion 40's for surrounds and Motion 50XT for centre, and sub out.
While the Denon is taking care of this great 3.1 surround sound, I'm using the L and R pre outs
fed into my stand alone Denon DE-70 Eq, and from there into my Carver TFM-45 amp to drive
my 4 Ohm power hungry Acoustat Spectra 33 speakers for my front L and R channels/mains.
Upon initial Audyssey run, I had to turn the amp down before it would complete the setup
via an onscreen tutorial and level readout with its' own constant tone applied (sweet
).
Once that was complete and all the settings had previously been set per instruction sheet
that accompanied the Rythmik sub for typical use that most closely mirrored my use and ideas...
set up was a snap. So far I haven't changed any settings except sub level I raised a tad from
-5.3 or 5.5db to -4.0 in Audyssey settings. LPF for LFE set at 120Hz.
For the subwoofers performance, having never owned a subwoofer before, I have to say is
remarkable, especially given the openness and size of the room(s). For music I am impressed
with it's stealthy blend with my mains, though some, albeit minor, localization does exist, it does not justify purchase of a second subwoofer. Once a rack or entertainment centre is built, not only will this
tidy things up a LOT! it will also allow me to place the subwoofer to the inside of the R main which will
be less hindered to more seats with less wave lengths blocked by a piece of furniture.
For HT I certainly find myself wishing I had made this decision a long time ago.
It is impressive on Jurassic Park BR 3D where T-Rexs' gurgling bass rolling growl
draws you in, making you feel right there with the beast in the scene at the perimeter fence
after the parks electric shuts down and the Ford Explorer is being demolished.
It is quite tight and has never strained. I felt the explosion in Planet of the Apes 3D movie
(not sure which one) where the A bomb exploded near the beginning of the movie
lacked depth, though this could just be a lack of LFE from the recording/producing end of things.
Perhaps a vented sub would carry that particular LFE better. I am in no place to say without
having one to compare, nor heard this on any other system.
Back to music, it is awesome to be able to increase the SPL with my ESLs and play things
that normally required a lower SPL to recreate the bass accurately without discharging.
If I remember right, I set the crossover on my mains to 80Hz as Brian suggested at Rythmik.
He spent over an hour combined with me on the tele trying to persuade me or sell me on the
sealed F15HP over the vented FV15HP. Though 80-90% of my use of this system is for HT now,
I want what music I listen to, to be as accurate as possible, and that is why I think, that Brian
profiled me for the sealed subwoofer. No regrets so far.
3db asked me to post some pics which I will when I get a chance. Been snowed in and
temps below zero, as much as -22ºF last week, so I still have surveillance camera wires
strewn about the living room where my HT is located.
