HSU VTF-TN1 vs Rythmik F18 for living room

[Danzilla31]

I decided to purchase an F18 so I could run some head-to-head comparisons with the TN1's. So far, my impressions of the F18 are positive, but I'm still undecided. I'll continue to listen to both models until I make a decision.

Good luck both are great options personally I would've said go with the FV18 in that room BUT I can understand if you didn't want to mess with the size of those bad boys

 

[BoarMarket]

I've got one TN1 and one F18 on each side of the room. I tuned each of them individually, and have been listening to them individually. I gotta say, they sound an awful lot alike. I mean like almost the same. Or at least they can be tuned to sound the same. Given that, either my settings choices are poor or the extra $700 for the Rythmik is not worth it.

I attached photos of the settings that I'm using on the subs. With these settings, the two subs sound nearly identical to my ears.
HSU VTF-TN1 settings (one port open)

Rythmik F18 settings

 

[shadyJ]

I've got one TN1 and one F18 on each side of the room. I tuned each of them individually, and have been listening to them individually. I gotta say, they sound an awful lot alike. I mean like almost the same. Or at least they can be tuned to sound the same. Given that, either my settings choices are poor or the extra $700 for the Rythmik is not worth it.

I attached photos of the settings that I'm using on the subs. With these settings, the two subs sound nearly identical to my ears.
HSU VTF-TN1 settings (one port open)
View attachment 71328
Rythmik F18 settings
View attachment 71329

You are learning what I have been trying to tell people from having dealt with so many different subs: when these things are operating within linear bounds, they all sound a lot more alike than different. Price doesn't matter. If the driver can track the signal and reproduce it, its going to sound the same, at least within nominal limits, much like a comptent amplifier. The nominal limits is what sets these subs apart, not some kind of mystical 'tightness' or 'quickness' which is always vastly overblown (and also NEVER demonstrated in a blind test). What seperates subwoofers is extension, headroom, how they handle stress, feature set, styling, and build quality. The qualitative sound differences between these brands is absolutely nothing compared to how the room affects the sound quality. This is why when people ask me for sub suggestions these days, I suggest they worry more about room acoustics than subwoofer brands.

 

[Rollie83]

I've got one TN1 and one F18 on each side of the room. I tuned each of them individually, and have been listening to them individually. I gotta say, they sound an awful lot alike. I mean like almost the same. Or at least they can be tuned to sound the same. Given that, either my settings choices are poor or the extra $700 for the Rythmik is not worth it.

I attached photos of the settings that I'm using on the subs. With these settings, the two subs sound nearly identical to my ears.
HSU VTF-TN1 settings (one port open)
View attachment 71328
Rythmik F18 settings
View attachment 71329

These two subs are exactly what I’m debating to get. 4 starke sealed subs are on the radar but not by much. On one hand the hsu is cheaper but it has a great amount of bass output, reaches down low and has amazing reviews. The rythmic is supposedly extremely musical, reaches even lower like 10 hz. Are you still testing each out? Is the hsu just as musical? Like not sloppy bass? I’m so torn. Im probably moving to a house with an open floor plan so it might be a huge space to fill.

 

[BoarMarket]

They sound nearly identically musical to me. I'd maybe give a slight edge to the Rythmik, but it is really slight. Not a $600 difference. Again, with the settings listed above, these two subs sound the same to me. Be warned though that I'm not a speaker expert. This is just my opinion. I'm looking at either selling or returning the Rythmik, and keeping the HSU's.

 

[Soriku]

They sound nearly identically musical to me. I'd maybe give a slight edge to the Rythmik, but it is really slight. Not a $600 difference. Again, with the settings listed above, these two subs sound the same to me. Be warned though that I'm not a speaker expert. This is just my opinion. I'm looking at either selling or returning the Rythmik, and keeping the HSU's.

I'm wondering if the sound difference of the Rythmik is due to it being sealed. On the Hsu side there is still the ULS-15 MK2 which is a 15" sealed, maybe not quite as much power/extension as these two but still a lot and is cheaper than both.

 

[everettT]

I'm wondering if the sound difference of the Rythmik is due to it being sealed. On the Hsu side there is still the ULS-15 MK2 which is a 15" sealed, maybe not quite as much power/extension as these two but still a lot and is cheaper than both.

That would depend on the room primarily. I have a tendency towards sealed subs, but by no means does that equate to one or the other as being better in general. Typically ported subs are the way to go in larger rooms for a few reasons but sealed can be be better but typically at more cost.

 

[Mr._Clark]

I'm wondering if the sound difference of the Rythmik is due to it being sealed. On the Hsu side there is still the ULS-15 MK2 which is a 15" sealed, maybe not quite as much power/extension as these two but still a lot and is cheaper than both.

I have a pair of the ULS-15 MK2s, but I have not heard the other 2 subs being discussed in this thread. The MK2s are good subs for the price. I picked them over ported subs due to severe space limitations. Also, mine are in a room.that is roughly 4000 cubic feet (that’s a very rough guess)

I also have a pair of the SVS 2k ported cylindrical subs in a different system that is in a room that is probably in the same size range (roughly, again a guess).

Both systems are used almost exclusively for HT. I prefer the SVS subs because they seem to have a bit more “kick” (AKA “chocolate infused bass” in audio foolery gobbledygook) when reproducing explosions and other LF special effects in movies.

The rooms and setups are quite a bit different though and I’m not sure how the subs would compare in blind shootout under controlled conditions.

If you’re chasing the bass dragon, it’s tough to beat a couple (or more) big ported subs.

My overall preference is ported subs when cost is a factor and size is not a constraint. I can’t say that a different preference is wrong, however.

 

[Alfredo Tinoco]

They sound nearly identically musical to me. I'd maybe give a slight edge to the Rythmik, but it is really slight. Not a $600 difference. Again, with the settings listed above, these two subs sound the same to me. Be warned though that I'm not a speaker expert. This is just my opinion. I'm looking at either selling or returning the Rythmik, and keeping the HSU's.

Hi I just bought the HSU VTF-TN1 for my home theater set up (Onkyo RZ50, Definitive Technology BP8060) and have to say that, having set it up with REW and mini DSP) I really like it both for music and movies. Since every one keeps going on about how good having a pair is I've been thinking about getting a 2nd one... But since I haven't heard any other subs of this caliber (my previous sub is a 14 yrs old 10" down firing Klipsch) I keep wondering if there is actually a difference when the sub is "musical" and I'm missing out on it. I have a 2nd set up for music listening with Marantz M-1 and Polk Lsim 707's and have been thinking about adding a sub to that set up...maybe a rhythmic or the ULS-15 Mk2 but if I went with HSU I think I'd stick with the VTF-TN1

 

[shadyJ]

Hi I just bought the HSU VTF-TN1 for my home theater set up (Onkyo RZ50, Definitive Technology BP8060) and have to say that, having set it up with REW and mini DSP) I really like it both for music and movies. Since every one keeps going on about how good having a pair is I've been thinking about getting a 2nd one... But since I haven't heard any other subs of this caliber (my previous sub is a 14 yrs old 10" down firing Klipsch) I keep wondering if there is actually a difference when the sub is "musical" and I'm missing out on it. I have a 2nd set up for music listening with Marantz M-1 and Polk Lsim 707's and have been thinking about adding a sub to that set up...maybe a rhythmic or the ULS-15 Mk2 but if I went with HSU I think I'd stick with the VTF-TN1

The truth that so many audio companies try to obscure is that music is a relatively simple signal to reproduce in terms of bass. Most basslines are monophonic, and most percussion takes place in mid-bass frequencies, not deep bass. You don't need a super-sub to reproduce musical bass with a high degree of accuracy. Movie content with sound effects is far more demanding of bass performance in every single way. People who talk about buy a 'musical' sub are just trying to justify buying an expensive trinket. The overwhelmingly dominant factor affecting bass performance for musical applications will be room acoustics and not the sub itself. If the relatively simple demands of music as well as the problems of room acoustics in bass were more popularly understood, the idea of an 'audiopohile' subwoofer would be dead overnight.

 

[Alfredo Tinoco]

The truth that so many audio companies try to obscure is that music is a relatively simple signal to reproduce in terms of bass. Most basslines are monophonic, and most percussion takes place in mid-bass frequencies, not deep bass. You don't need a super-sub to reproduce musical bass with a high degree of accuracy. Movie content with sound effects is far more demanding of bass performance in every single way. People who talk about buy a 'musical' sub are just trying to justify buying an expensive trinket. The overwhelmingly dominant factor affecting bass performance for musical applications will be room acoustics and not the sub itself. If the relatively simple demands of music as well as the problems of room acoustics in bass were more popularly understood, the idea of an 'audiopohile' subwoofer would be dead overnight.

Thanks @shady. Bought the vtf th1 based on your review and I'm very happy with it. Soon enough I'll end up with another one.

 

[adrianconst]

You are learning what I have been trying to tell people from having dealt with so many different subs: when these things are operating within linear bounds, they all sound a lot more alike than different. Price doesn't matter. If the driver can track the signal and reproduce it, its going to sound the same, at least within nominal limits, much like a comptent amplifier. The nominal limits is what sets these subs apart, not some kind of mystical 'tightness' or 'quickness' which is always vastly overblown (and also NEVER demonstrated in a blind test). What seperates subwoofers is extension, headroom, how they handle stress, feature set, styling, and build quality. The qualitative sound differences between these brands is absolutely nothing compared to how the room affects the sound quality. This is why when people ask me for sub suggestions these days, I suggest they worry more about room acoustics than subwoofer brands.

I watch movies at pretty low volume (around 60db dialogue). Using the SPL meter in REW, I get readings below 90 db even during loud scenes. Right now I have an SVS SB-3000, which can handle 90db down to 20Hz. Do you think I'll see any improvement if I replace it by a ported sub like VTF-TN1? Would I see any improvement in dynamic response, even if I don't push the sub to its limits?

 

[shadyJ]

I watch movies pretty low (around 60db dialogue). Using the SPL meter in REW I get readings below 90 db even during loud scenes. Right now I have an SVS SB-3000, which can handle 90db down to 20Hz. Do you think I'll see any improvement if I replace it by a ported sub like VTF-TN1? Would I see any improvement in dynamic response, even if I don't push the sub to its limits?

At a low listening level, the VTF-TN1 will give you more deep bass than the SB-3000, but deep bass at lower listening levels is a subtle thing. If you never listen at louder levels, I am not sure its worth the upgrade. There will be a difference for sure though, especially if you use the sub in its extension mode.