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Subwoofer SVS SB13Ultra vs JL Fathom F110V2

Considering a new sb13u vs a demo F110v2 to mate with my Martin Logan Vistas.  Room is 11x19x8 with one side open to a great room 16x26.

Anyone have experience with both?  I currently have a REL T5 that is great but just too small

Thanks


ctro
erndog's avatar
erndog
261 posts
 
My room is 23'x13.5' and my speakers are Coincident Total Eclipse II's.  I spent 3 weeks listening to the standard version and loved it, but returned it because of the industrial look of the sub.  Salk is building me a sub as we speak with a dyed maple burl in high gloss.  It looks like gorgeous art, which matches better with my main speakers and my home.  It should be ready in a month, so I haven't heard it yet.  

I did notice that there was lots of vibration on the standard version, when I put my hand on top of it during moderate use.  I believe that is the reason Salk focused his version on bolstering this area.  Jim said that his upgrade reduces this so there is hardly any vibrations.  Now whether this can be discerned from the listening chair, I can't say.

I found both the F110 and Rythmik F12G to be very tuneful and musical subs.  The biggest difference was that the F12G had more output and easily reached depths that the F110 couldn't touch.  I loved the auto EQ the F110 has, which the F12G doesn't.  The F110 looks gorgeous, but also cost a lot more.

 My bias is that I love bass.  When I play the Eagles live cd or powerful classical music, I want it to sound realistic.  I like to tune subs so that they don't draw attention to themselves, like you don't even know they are on, until you switch them off and then you can tell.
ricred1
2,041 posts
 
I don't know how much difference there is between the F110 and F110 V2, but it appears that erndog and srosenberg are not talking about the current JL Audio F110 V2. That being said, I like to repeat, "there are no absolutes in Audio, only preferences."
ctro OP
11 posts
 
Right, the V2 has not been out all that long so I presumed other comparisons were to the v1.  From the website it appears as though the amp is new on the V2 as is the DARO room correction process. Not sure what else they changed.  All specs seem to be the same except for the weight which probably accounts for the new, more powerful amp.

Did you find the DARO useful?  Does it work with dual subs?
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,816 posts
 

ctro---Jim Salk puts the Rythmik guts (15" servo-feedback woofer and 600w plate amp combo) into his own sealed enclosure, which has much more bracing than the Rythmik box and greater internal volume (4cu.ft. versus Rythmik's 3cu.ft.), for more efficiency and slightly more output. Jim offers the sub with beautiful wood finishes. The Ryhtmik guts are also available as a DIY kit, and you can have your own box made from the plans on the Rythmik site.

But for use with planars such as your M-L's, the sub to get is the OB/Dipole sub, co-designed by Rythmik's Brian Ding and Danny Richie of GR Research. It mates with planar speakers better than ANY other sub, regardless of price. Remember the dipole sub Gradient made for the QUAD ESL63? Picture that, but with far better woofers featuring servo feedback control. Not as much sound OUTPUT as sealed or ported subs, but superior sound QUALITY. If that's what you're looking for.

erndog's avatar
erndog
261 posts
 
Great suggestion bdp24. I’ve never heard the OB/Dipole sub, but there is a growing camp on the AudioCircle forum that swear by them. It would be fun to demo these and hear what all the hoopla is about. I understand they sound best in larger rooms.

Also would be fun to demo the new Fathom V2 to hear how it compares to the original.  And I can't leave out the E112 to demo too.  Gosh I need to retire so I can have enough time for my hobby.
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