Vandersteen Sub woofers v Rythmik Subs

The biggest advantage the Vandersteen’s may have is in the e.q. capabilities. Though having multiple subs helps reduce the need for e.q. Does the NAD have any e.q. capability?

Are you happy with the performance of the Rythmik you currently have? If you are, then adding more in the future should only improve on what you have now.

I agree that 80 his a good place to start with the crossover setting. If you go higher localization will start to set in so you would need to keep the sub(s) close to the main speakers but at 80 or lower you would be able to place the sub(s) in the most optimal locations in your room.

IMHO, the biggest, and unique, advantage of the Vandy subs is that they feed off the same speaker taps as the main speakers.  This preserves the phase and Sonic characteristics of the main amp, making a seamless blend with the main speakers much easier.  Also, few other subs are designed for corner placement, which is where many people place their subwoofers.  And having adjustable Q is also a rare, and maybe unique, feature as well.

@bondmanp 

Not really. Rythmiks also have the connection to feed off the amp taps, have phase and Q adjustments. But having more variables, hence options, also introduces more uncertainties, which is why sub integration is such a difficult task especially if done without measurement equipment.

@lewinskih01 Thanks.  I had no idea.  So, the Rythmic subs also have a fixed crossover of ?Hz?  Remember, the Vandy doesn't pass the amplified signal through it's own crossover, but requires both main speakers and Vandy sub speaker wires be connected to the speaker taps simultaneously.  If that is also the case with the Rythmic subs, I stand corrected.  All I can say is that I plopped my 2Wq subs in the front corners of my room, made a few adjustments to the Q and level controls, and got seamlessly integrated, deep, powerful and tuneful bass.  And that's with both my old Vandy 1Cs and my current Ohm Walsh 2000s.

I haven't used the Rythmiks in this fashion for several years, and I'm away from home for a couple weeks to check, but my recollection is they have the option to connect to the amp taps and have a knob to adjust the xo frequency so your loudspeakers run the full bandwidth and Rythmiks run from the bottom up to the set xo frequency. Another phase knob and PEQ adjustments.

Alternatively there is the option for the internal xo fixed at 80Hz. And lastly the option for line input, which is what I use in my active system but xo and phase correction are done upstream and not really what OP was asking about.