NO NO NO RythmiK 12, what a nightmare..

[3db]

When it is played hard, I get a banging noise or pop , sounds like it is bottoming out? Like the bass is accompanied by a sharp noise, of which I would compare to an over loaded sub.. at first I thought it was hitting the grill, but after removing the grill I could still hear it and louder... The room acoustics are not great in the room, but the vtf2 had no trouble... that was kind of my point.. But all is well now, it is all set up she is happy and thats all that matters... I paid for it for her, so she would be happy with anything, lol, Im just not as impressed as the reviews led me to believe I would be...

Then you have a defective unit, possibly damaged in shipping. Mine doesn't come close to bottoming out and I've rattled my basement sliders that are over 25+ feet away and vibrated empty cans into the sink on teh floor above.. It may not have the output the HSU but it should not bottom out period. That's what I'm saying. The servo will control it from being over driven. You are living with a defective unit. Its your money. I'm not saying anymore on this.

 

[shadyJ]

As I understand it, the servo mechanism wouldn't prevent the Rythmik subs from bottoming out, they are not like digital limiters. They still have conventional limiters, and these can be overdriven. It shouldn't be easy to overdrive them, in fact it should be easier to overdrive the Hsu subs since they have multiple tuning points and need different limiter settings for each one. It is still not easy to overdrive Hsu subs. The only foolproof protection would be from digital limiters, and that's only if they are set up correctly.

 

[Steve81]

As I understand it, the servo mechanism wouldn't prevent the Rythmik subs from bottoming out.

Does the LV12R have a rumble filter like other Rythmik's? Presumably that would make it considerably more difficult to bottom out.

 

[theJman]

If there is something wrong with the sub, that sucks because another guy is coming down from Avon Mass, to hear the lv12 next week because he is interested in buying one and a free demo is better than paying return shipping, and I am curious to see what he thinks...
but there is nothing wrong with the sub, unless that bottoming out noise is a specific issue, in which I would like to get it figured out, but its only when its pushed and my mother will never run it that loud...

So to recap, the sub is FINE, it is worth the price, but for a few bucks more I will stick to my vtf2's... We all like what we like, I am curious to see if anyone else has heard both? I think that is the issue, I spoke with 2 others that have heard both {one heard the old sub though} and they both also preferred the hsu...... So out of us 3 that have heard both the vtf is preferred, but it is also a little more money when not on sale, which now I think it is back down to $529 plus shipping...

If you're hearing anything other than some port noise then the sub really isn't fine, there's a problem. I pushed the LV12R hard during my review, and it never made any mechanical sounds at all. The port did a little chuffing on occasion, but the amp limiter and/or servo effectively prevented any physical contact. I suspect you've already thought of this, but have you tried tightening down all the screws? Maybe it's something vibrating instead?

Regarding the sound quality... it may be your preference is the HSU sound, which is fine. The Rythmik does tend to come across as "dry" to some, due primarily to the level of accuracy. I actually didn't like it much when the Damping was set to High, and I'm a fiend for precision. The majority of my testing was done on Med or Low -- mostly the former -- because that lent a certain degree of additional "heft" to the output.

 

[3db]

As I understand it, the servo mechanism wouldn't prevent the Rythmik subs from bottoming out, they are not like digital limiters. They still have conventional limiters, and these can be overdriven. It shouldn't be easy to overdrive them, in fact it should be easier to overdrive the Hsu subs since they have multiple tuning points and need different limiter settings for each one. It is still not easy to overdrive Hsu subs. The only foolproof protection would be from digital limiters, and that's only if they are set up correctly.

Something just isn't adding up.

 

[shadyJ]

Does the LV12R have a rumble filter like other Rythmik's? Presumably that would make it considerably more difficult to bottom out.

The FV12 did, but it looks like the LV12r doesn't. However, if you set the bass extension to high, that should do more to protect the driver.

 

[ImcLoud]

I don't know what to do, I guess it could be defective if its not supposed to be making the noises I hear that are definitely not part of the material being played................
The firs tthing I checked was loose screws or unbalanced feet.... To me it sounds like a sub when they bottom, I will look into it more next weekend, sadly its not at my house so I have to go to my mothers to check on it, and that leads to "stay, have some lunch, wait for my friend she is coming over and wants to meet you", ect.....

 

[3db]

I don't know what to do, I guess it could be defective if its not supposed to be making the noises I hear that are definitely not part of the material being played................
The firs tthing I checked was loose screws or unbalanced feet.... To me it sounds like a sub when they bottom, I will look into it more next weekend, sadly its not at my house so I have to go to my mothers to check on it, and that leads to "stay, have some lunch, wait for my friend she is coming over and wants to meet you", ect.....

I'm now chiming back in again since you now accept the possibility that yoou may have a defective unit. Contact Rythmic and they will get you squared away. They take care of their customers. It still may not have as much output as the HSU but at least will you eliminate the bottoming out of the unit.

 

[3db]

I don't know what to do, I guess it could be defective if its not supposed to be making the noises I hear that are definitely not part of the material being played................
The firs tthing I checked was loose screws or unbalanced feet.... To me it sounds like a sub when they bottom, I will look into it more next weekend, sadly its not at my house so I have to go to my mothers to check on it, and that leads to "stay, have some lunch, wait for my friend she is coming over and wants to meet you", ect.....

Any updates?

 

[ImcLoud]

I was over this weekend and the kids watched wreck it ralph and some other movie while we were there, it sounds good. I did find that the "bottoming out" noise only happens when plugged into lfe, not sure what that is about the unit sounds much better with a splitter on the l r inputs, which is weird, but after a little internet reading it seems a lot of others found the same thing... She actually turns the sub off so the only use it gets is when we are there, lol... I tried to talk her into leaving it on just turned way down but she likes it with no bass, she said her pictures vibrate and she doesnt want them to fall, soooooo...
I still say the vf2 is a better sub, I had a gentleman and his wife come over and listen to the sub{ they are in the market for a new sub to replace their kef} and they thought it was impressive, but when they asked me what I thought they should get, I told them the vtf2 for a few dollars more...

I know this post will get me some more negative rep, lol I already got a few {un signed of course , who doesn't sign their negative comment? man up, what are you afraid of no one is going to take your lunch, why hide behind how you feel...}, but I like the vtf2 over the rythmic, I really wanted to like the rythmic more, but it didn't work out that way... The rythmic is a fine sub {LFE issues aside} and worth the price, I personally prefer the vtf2, and I have yet to hear from another person that heard both in the same room or who has heard both for that matter? I have, I a b compared them and the vtf 2 is louder and sounds better {IMO}... Both fine subs, way better than anything you will find in a local store for twice the money, but for my money the hsu wins...

I spent $600 on the lv12 and its worth that, no doubt, it wasn't worth packing it back up and sending it back, especially because my mother won't even turn it on, lol... for a minute I thought something mechanical may be wrong, but its not, I haven't had time to call rythmic, nor am I interested in doing so, they make a good product and don't need me wasting their time...

If anyone has bought a lv12 please don't take this as an insult, I mean no disrespect to the unit or the brand, I know some people can take it personally after spending their money but this is just my opinion, they are both good subs, I expected more out of it after reading reviews {not the first time reviews let me down though, lol}, but thats it... In the beginning I did feel a little stronger about it, mostly because it was terrible with the lfe plugged in.. If you guys are happy with it than that is all that matters, you would probably hear the vtf2 and still prefer the rythmic, I just wanted to like the lv12 since I wanted to switch to a pair of them and had my vtf2s already sold {1 reason because I like the finish on the lv12, next I like new stuff, and lastly everyone said how clean and strong it sounded, and it does, just not as much as my vtf2's}...

 

[jcl]

Thanks for posting your honest opinion. I think you should be able to post it without fear of reprisal. I made a recent post regarding subs that someone didn't like and got slammed. I think you just can't get to caught up in the chicklet game. As long as you don't get yourself banned I don't see it as a big deal. Hopefully i'm not heading in that direction....

 

[j_garcia]

HSU fanboy

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

They are all good subs, but the only subs I like are passive.

I am a passive sub fanboy.

 

[billy p]

ADTG...my next sub budget will allow for the powered 18.0C....or a passive 18.0....what amp or amps are you using for your dual 18.0? I guess for a reasonable sum, I could always pick up an amp...though...I still like the idea of plug and play unit...decisions...decisions. I'll be contacting FA after the holidays.....

I guess.... I'm an FA fanboy....

 

[ImcLoud]

LOL, passive subs are nice, but the pickings are slim, I would think the id companies could easliy fab a plate to block the amp opening and sell them passive.... I would much rather have a nice class d amp and use the lfe output on my avr... Even the smallest crown xls will power most subs....

As far as getting negative rep for posting , that is just some douche that doesn't even think enough of himself to sign his name. I think you shouldn't be able to leave neg with out signing your name, that way if there is an issue with someone you can block them or block each other... Better yet if you neg someone you should automatically be blocked from seeing each others posts, that would stop all conflict...

 

[3db]

I was over this weekend and the kids watched wreck it ralph and some other movie while we were there, it sounds good. I did find that the "bottoming out" noise only happens when plugged into lfe, not sure what that is about the unit sounds much better with a splitter on the l r inputs, which is weird, but after a little internet reading it seems a lot of others found the same thing... She actually turns the sub off so the only use it gets is when we are there, lol... I tried to talk her into leaving it on just turned way down but she likes it with no bass, she said her pictures vibrate and she doesnt want them to fall, soooooo...
I still say the vf2 is a better sub, I had a gentleman and his wife come over and listen to the sub{ they are in the market for a new sub to replace their kef} and they thought it was impressive, but when they asked me what I thought they should get, I told them the vtf2 for a few dollars more...

FWIW, I never gave you rep either +ve or -ve over your opinion of the Rythmic. I just think it odd that you would not return a sub that is somewhat defective or not functioning properly and think that it was even when it was mentioned that it wasn't operating up to spec. I've not heard the HSU so I cannot make the comparison. All I can tell you is that I've not come close to bottoming out the Rythmic and I've had that sub cranked as described in my review.

However, whether or not its the Rythmic or HSU, the point is moot since your mother is going to leave it turned off anyway. I don't get why the women folk do not like bass.

 

[ImcLoud]

FWIW, I never gave you rep either +ve or -ve over your opinion of the Rythmic. I just think it odd that you would not return a sub that is somewhat defective or not functioning properly and think that it was even when it was mentioned that it wasn't operating up to spec. I've not heard the HSU so I cannot make the comparison. All I can tell you is that I've not come close to bottoming out the Rythmic and I've had that sub cranked as described in my review.

However, whether or not its the Rythmic or HSU, the point is moot since your mother is going to leave it turned off anyway. I don't get why the women folk do not like bass.

I don't think it was you, lol. {although I think you did give me a + in this thread}
I found the noise stops when I use the l and r, I don't think it is anything wrong with the sub, I think I expected more and got less, If I never owned the vtf2 I would probably love the lv12... Kind of like drinking Hersheys chocolate milk {in the can of course} for a while and someone talks you into getting Nesquik and you are expecting to have a new favorite, and then taste the nesquik and while its still chocolate, its just not your favorite...

 

[its phillip]

I should negative all you guys for not spelling Rythmik correctly

 

[ImcLoud]

I should negative all you guys for not spelling Rythmik correctly

for some reason my brain won't let me type it that way... but if I google search it I spell it correctly or rather how they spell it..

 

[3db]

I should negative all you guys for not spelling Rythmik correctly

I got it right.............. phonetically (probably spelled that wrong too. )