Subwoofer Decision

bracing is good

bracing and constrained layer damping is better

just physics..motion into heat

vs just moving the motion....

oh and Stanley Clarke’s playing on JD Souther Silver Blue ( Black Rose ) will tell you if those 2 amps sing as one 

man what a player.......

sort of
we are mostly on the same page
the Vandersteen “plate amp” is power factor corrected for the exact drivers in the sub  and network  is hand tuned in the anechoic chamber which seems to me a good trade for having a 2nd amp in the system.....
it certainly works on my model 7 in my room......so far, thank God I feel no need for his Model 9 subwoofers.......

maybe I misunderstood your point bdp...but the Vandersteen approach preserves the transfer function of the main amplifier which can be heard...Ray Brown Soular energy is an excellent test for continuity....

so glad the OP is working the tools and the room also..

i have a place near San Clemente, so maybe I will pop in and hear the Rhymiks....

man....and i get acused of being a Vandersteen “ fan boy “....

first your room, long wall odd dimensions math can yield really good sound, as can irregular openings and the natural diffration a truely lived in space can bring..dont sell yourself or the room short...

in truth I have never heard a Rhythmik, but i have read enough bdp24 posts to feel kindred spirit....i will make it a point to go hear them ;-)

any way you can get them both in your room ?

no matter what you do i would download vandertones and invest in good tools (RTA), calibrated mic ( better dealers and all Vandersteen dealers will have these imo essential tools ) so you can see what room is doing....and tweak the setup...

someday, my guess...dunno anything....Richard will put tge 11 band analog EQ into an affordable sub.....