Anyone know how to set up Rythmik subwoofers on an ARCAM AVE550 receiver?

I have talked to both Brian Ding and Enrico.  They both told me to use the LFE hook up with my ARCAM and let the ARCAM DIRAC room correction handle it.  They also told me to set my ARCAM speakers as small.  Seems to me if I set them as small it might eliminate the two woofers in my towers and have them act as monitors.  This to me would defeat the reason for buying my towers.  Jim Salk, who I greatly admire, told me to use an SPL meter.  By the time he finished I thought I need to be an electrical engineer to set my subwoofers up this way.  

I visted Listen Up in Denver who sells REL.  They believe in REL as being a truly seamless subwoofer by the way the speak on connect hooks up.  They also told me if I buy the Rythmik and hook them up using the LFE connection they may not play at all when playing 2 channel because the LFE connection is designed to sense and produce low bass special effects frequencies.  I wonder if he said this in order for me to only consider REL.  I heard a slight difference when he played both the T/9i and the S3 REL with a pair of 704 B&W's, but not an enormous difference.  Not a huge gain in bass.  Perhaps a larger space.  When he disconnected the REL's it seamed like the front speakers pulled back.

If you were in my shoes would you go with a pair of conventional subwoofers like the Rythmik or would go with REL?

Sorry bdpd,  I didn't mean to upset you.

I talked to a really good speaker manufacturer and he told me to set things up with an SPL meter.  This is pretty complicated for someone who does not have a degree in electrical engineering or for someone who is not a dealer.

I really think the Rythmik direct servo technology is the way to go.  Just wish they had a speak on connection and design as what REL has.  I do thing the Rythmik F12 Signature will play down a lot lower than REL.  If I can find someone who could set things up it would be a lot easier.

The problem is ARCAM has horrible customer support.  They do not provide phone support and I think this is a horrible way to support their customers.  They also do not respond to emails.  I wish I had purchase the Anthem 5 channel amp and their HT processor.  Life would have been much easier.  The Paradigm district sales manager is fantastic and he has been so helpful.

I talked to an ARCAM dealer and he said there is a setting on the ARCAM.  If I select stereo direct, it will not play the subs.  If I just select stereo it will.

Jim Salk and Brian Ding told me the way to hook things up is by using the LFE connections and let the ARCAM manage everything.  One person told me my ARCAM does not have a bass management system.  If so, I bought a piece of junk.  Maybe, I can control some of this by using some adjustments on the Rythmik subs.  I most likely will set the gain at halfway.

Maybe Rythmik would be wise to sell their subs through dealers so customers can at least hear them before you purchase them and the dealer could set everything up.  Problem is there are few ARCAM dealers.  

Right now I think I better go back to school and get a degree in electrical engineering like so many people who belong to Audiogon do.

bcp24,

What subwoofers do you own.  Just curious.  I think some of the problem lies with knowing how many audiophiles consider REL to be the best.  What I am afraid of is buying the Rythmik's and finding out they are too boomy.  One of the biggest concerns is being able to find anyone good in Denver that knows how to set up a system both with Master Set and to calibrate my ARCAM using DIRAC.

This decision would be easy if the dealer I like you presently only carries REL and carried the Rythmik and ARCAM so he could calibrate my ARCAM using DIRAC.  He believes only in REL and Master Setting speakers and dialing even HT in by ear.  He has heard systems calibrated with DIRAC and he told me he just doesn't like the way they sound.

Sorry for driving you nuts.  Wish I had your knowledge because it sounds like you know how to set any kind of system up.

Ataraxia,

I am glad to hear from someone who owns a pair of Rythmik F12 SE's.  It sounds like they might not be as difficult to set up as I have been told.  How did you decide to buy the Rythmik's?  I personally think their Direct Servo technology is quite advanced.  Good to know they do not sound boomy.  I would imagine they can dig deep down when needed.

Could you call me at 720-298-9232?

I have a pair of Paradigm Prestige 85F towers that play down to 40 Hz.  Paradigm includes another spec number 28 DIM.  I think that number is possibly room gain or what they can play down to based on any given room.  Maybe buying just one ported sub for HT makes sense.  However, I purchased my system to be used for both 2 channel and HT.  I listen to music 60% of the time and thought it might be nice to hear frequencies below what my speakers play down to.  Thanks for your thoughts.