The Rythmiks offer a damping control which allows (a little) control over how "tight" the bass response is. When set for highest damping, the response in the sub's upper regions is (pardon the pun) tight as a drum. One test number that is sometimes used to measure this is called "group delay" and the Rythmiks can be set to perform very, very well on a group delay test.
However, going for max damping/minimum group delay is not really the point. The idea is that you can match the damping characteristics of the Rythmik subs to the main speaker's behavior at the crossover point. If your main speaker is a little less damped at the point you've chosen to x-over to the Rythmiks, you can dial the subs back a bit.
It has worked very well for me and IME is useful in getting a seamless and clean "hand-off" to the subs.
Yes, there is a trade-off. The Rythmiks can't quite produce the clean output of the (larger, ported) SVS subwoofers below 35hz. If you're using a pair of subs - strictly for music - in anything smaller than a palace, I doubt that you'll ever miss the capability. However, if they're going to do double duty for home cinema, then you do have a real choice to make.
I can't really comment on the SVS, other than to note that they test very well and are held in high regard by many of the subwoofer geeks on this board.
Marty
However, going for max damping/minimum group delay is not really the point. The idea is that you can match the damping characteristics of the Rythmik subs to the main speaker's behavior at the crossover point. If your main speaker is a little less damped at the point you've chosen to x-over to the Rythmiks, you can dial the subs back a bit.
It has worked very well for me and IME is useful in getting a seamless and clean "hand-off" to the subs.
Yes, there is a trade-off. The Rythmiks can't quite produce the clean output of the (larger, ported) SVS subwoofers below 35hz. If you're using a pair of subs - strictly for music - in anything smaller than a palace, I doubt that you'll ever miss the capability. However, if they're going to do double duty for home cinema, then you do have a real choice to make.
I can't really comment on the SVS, other than to note that they test very well and are held in high regard by many of the subwoofer geeks on this board.
Marty