SUBS MFW-15 vs. F15HP Help!

[Darksky]

Alright Comrades, what do you reccomend that I do now?

Brian at Rythmik has the parts for myplanned build for a pair of F15HP subs. He can send them out on Monday for me to get started later next week. The kits are $729 each plus about $60 for shipping. Add to that the cost of the materials to make the boxes.

But now mfeust has listed a pair of MFW-15 subs in cherry for $750. The kicker is that he is less than an hour from my house.

I know that AV123 is gone and that they had a lot of integrity issues towards the end, but the sellers says his amps have been trouble free.

At less than half the cost the MFW-15s are pretty attractive. I do however have the money to buy the Rythmiks. Is the difference in the Sub worth the difference in cost?

I have Focal 836V fronts and Focal CC800V center, Focal 814V as surround driven by XPA-2 and XPA-3 respectively.

I want the subs for music every bit as much (or even a little more) than Home Theater.

Saving money is great, but if the 5 year old AV123 subs are not optimal for my needs I would rather spend the money and get better results.

I will rely on your expertise here. Thank you, as always. Bradley

[mfeust]

Hi Bradley, If I were you I would diffenently go with the MFW 15's.



But seriously, you have some very nice speakers and the MFW 15 is a very nice sub, but I have gone with a system that I listen to music much more than movies and the REL that I am replacing the MFW 15 with is head and shoulders above them from 20hz and up. Don't get me wrong I really liked the MFW's until I heard the REL in my system.

I have heard the Rythmik sub before and for music I belive they would match up with your Focals much better.

You are more than welcome to come by and check out the MFW's. Just PM me and we can set something up. In fact jn316 is also in the Springs area and wanted to come over for a listen. Maybe we can set up a little GTG.

Thanks for the interest.
Mark

[sparky14]

Personally....I'd give the MFW-15s a shot.

For all the bad rep av123 got (deservedly), still.....their products were great for the price (the ones that worked anyway).

[Darksky]

Mark, thanks for your frankness. I am down in the Beulah Valley (snowing right now- visibility about 200 feet). I worry that I will find the same thing with your subs. It would be nice and easy though.

[Darksky]

For me I am worried that these subs will be bloated when compared to the Rythmiks. I think I will be better off just sticking to my original plan.

I see that there are plans for a turbo kit to fix or upgrade the MFW-15 but it is still in planning. Looks pretty pricey too.

One post reffered to the driver as a standard Dayton driver- so that (if true) is still available as a replacement. But no available plate amp. I did see where some people are converting them to passive.
I am just afraid that compared to the newer tecnology and the design of the Rythmik, I would be missing out if I went the cheaper route

Added to the thought of five year old electronics and the limited availability of parts. I am just hesitant.

[jlafrenz]

darksky, I have never heard both side by side, but I would say the better sounding sub is the Rythmik. The MFW's are a great value and give you lots of boom in the room. I think it comes with a bit of bloat, but that could have also been my room when I owned them. I think the Rythmiks will have plenty of output. I don't think I would say you will get twice the performance for twice the price with the Rythmik, but they are on the used market so it isn't exactly a fair price comparison.

[Darksky]

Thanks, I am surprised that only one person has said to even give them a chance. I think that I have my answer.

I already have a plan in placve, but the thought of saving money got me thinking...

I actually postedf the same question at Bluray forum (they have a big subwoofer following). I thought that I might get a few answers from people that actually have them. Not one reply yet in 24 hours. I was surprised.
I tried posting there as well in order to make an educated decision quickly, so that I might actually have a chance at making the buy. To no avail.

There are a lot of threads wishing pain on the AV123 guy. Mark Seaton is also making a kit to "turbo" existing MFW-15 subs, but it is still in development and runs around $750 - I think.

Anyway thanks for your answers, and thanks to the seller again for being frank. He seems like a stand up guy, just from our limited conversation.

I will order the Rythmiks on Monday.

[Deleted]

Feb 12, 2012 0:33:50 GMT -5 Darksky said:

I will order the Rythmiks on Monday.

[jlafrenz]

Feb 12, 2012 0:33:50 GMT -5 Darksky said:

Thanks, I am surprised that only one person has said to even give them a chance. I think that I have my answer.

I already have a plan in placve, but the thought of saving money got me thinking...

I actually postedf the same question at Bluray forum (they have a big subwoofer following). I thought that I might get a few answers from people that actually have them. Not one reply yet in 24 hours. I was surprised.
I tried posting there as well in order to make an educated decision quickly, so that I might actually have a chance at making the buy. To no avail.

There are a lot of threads wishing pain on the AV123 guy. Mark Seaton is also making a kit to "turbo" existing MFW-15 subs, but it is still in development and runs around $750 - I think.

Anyway thanks for your answers, and thanks to the seller again for being frank. He seems like a stand up guy, just from our limited conversation.

I will order the Rythmiks on Monday.

That doesn't surprise me. Over on Blu-ray forum it seems to more of an eD crowd and growing Epik fans. There are a few Rythmik fans. The best place to post this question would be on Audio Circle. Danny from GR research would be a great resource since he has had involvement with both from what I know. He currently sells drivers designed to work with Rythmik Servo amps. I don't know for sure what his involvement was with the MFW-15's, but I do remember at one time he had an inventory of the drivers.

[mfeust]

Feb 12, 2012 0:33:50 GMT -5 Darksky said:

Thanks, I am surprised that only one person has said to even give them a chance. I think that I have my answer.

I already have a plan in placve, but the thought of saving money got me thinking...

I actually postedf the same question at Bluray forum (they have a big subwoofer following). I thought that I might get a few answers from people that actually have them. Not one reply yet in 24 hours. I was surprised.
I tried posting there as well in order to make an educated decision quickly, so that I might actually have a chance at making the buy. To no avail.

There are a lot of threads wishing pain on the AV123 guy. Mark Seaton is also making a kit to "turbo" existing MFW-15 subs, but it is still in development and runs around $750 - I think.

Anyway thanks for your answers, and thanks to the seller again for being frank. He seems like a stand up guy, just from our limited conversation.

I will order the Rythmiks on Monday.

Hi darksky, I have no idea who this frank guy is? ;D

Don't get me wrong I think the MFW subs are really great subs for the price and someone will be getting 2 great subs for $750. But when I saw what speakers you have I know that the Rythmik will match up with them better than the MFW. Good luck with your new subs and please let us know how you like them.

Thanks
Mark

[Deleted]

Feb 12, 2012 0:33:50 GMT -5 Darksky said:

He seems like a stand up guy.

You obviously have Mark pegged exactly right: a stand up guy!

[mfeust]

Feb 12, 2012 10:41:42 GMT -5 @chuckienut said:

Feb 12, 2012 0:33:50 GMT -5 Darksky said:

He seems like a stand up guy.

You obviously have Mark pegged exactly right: a stand up guy!

Hi chuckienut,

Thanks for the kind words. My philosophy is if you don't have something positive to add, just stay out of the conversation.

[leog2010]

Go for the Rythmik in a 4 sq ft box with the 600w amp. I have them and they are AWESOME, really another kind of bass, more musical, tight... Audiophile.
Brian and Enrico can help you in the process of making a great box. Make the stronger box you can.
You can check my system in Audiogon, Virtual System, "From Ecuador"

[bigred7078]

I have owned both the MFW-15 and the Rythmik F12SE.

While the MFW-15 is a great bang for the buck, I greatly preferred the Rythmik. It was just so much tighter. The MFW-15 will certainly get loud but it just didn't quite sound as impressive. They have also been plagued with endless problems.

Now I only owned the F12SE but the F15 is even better.

[Darksky]

Thanks for your reply. I should have posted sooner that I had reached a decision. I ordered two of the F15HP kits last Monday.

I had been considering them for sometime and started a homebuilt suwoofer thread here:
emotivalounge.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=diy&action=display&thread=22288

I just was distracted by the price and the proximity of that set of MFW-15 subs.

That said. This thread is probably done. If you have any further thoughts for me about this project, please post them in my build thread.

I can use the help and appreciate the support. Bradley

[bigred7078]

Feb 12, 2012 11:17:16 GMT -5 mfeust said:

Feb 12, 2012 10:41:42 GMT -5 @chuckienut said:

You obviously have Mark pegged exactly right: a stand up guy!

Hi chuckienut,

Thanks for the kind words. My philosophy is if you don't have something positive to add, just stay out of the conversation.

I'm fairly positive he was referring to either Mark Schifter or Mark Seaton and not actually yourself.

[Deleted]

I guess I'm a little confused here and not sure if mfeust understood my post #10.

I thought Darksky was complementing mfeust because mfeust had two MFW-15's for sale. Darksky was interested but mfeust saw that Darksky had Focal speakers and thought that Darksky would be better off with the Rythmik subs versus the MFW-15 that mfeust had for sale.

Darksky complimented mfeust for being honest and wanting Darksky to be happy with a sub that was the best match for his speakers even though it meant mfeust would have to find another buyer. Darksky complimented mfeust by saying he was a "stand up guy".

I was simply giving a plus one by repeating that:

".....You obviously have Mark pegged exactly right: a stand up guy!....." (my confirming that Mark/mfeust was indeed a great guy!)

I was not talking about Schifter or Seaton. I'm not sure about the confusion here but just wanted to make it clear.

Perhaps there was some confusion as to whom mfeust was referring to when he said:

".....My philosophy is if you don't have something positive to add, just stay out of the conversation......"

(that confused me also?)(I was adding a positive comment in confiming that mfeust seemed to be a great guy, "a stand up guy.")

Did I miss something in my foggy mind?

[mfeust]

Feb 19, 2012 3:27:28 GMT -5 @chuckienut said:

I guess I'm a little confused here and not sure if mfeust understood my post #10.

I thought Darksky was complementing mfeust because mfeust had two MFW-15's for sale. Darksky was interested but mfeust saw that Darksky had Focal speakers and thought that Darksky would be better off with the Rythmik subs versus the MFW-15 that mfeust had for sale.

Darksky complimented mfeust for being honest and wanting Darksky to be happy with a sub that was the best match for his speakers even though it meant mfeust would have to find another buyer. Darksky complimented mfeust by saying he was a "stand up guy".

I was simply giving a plus one by repeating that:

".....You obviously have Mark pegged exactly right: a stand up guy!....." (my confirming that Mark/mfeust was indeed a great guy!)

I was not talking about Schifter or Seaton. I'm not sure about the confusion here but just wanted to make it clear.

Perhaps there was some confusion as to whom mfeust was referring to when he said:

".....My philosophy is if you don't have something positive to add, just stay out of the conversation......"

(that confused me also?)(I was adding a positive comment in confiming that mfeust seemed to be a great guy, "a stand up guy.")

Did I miss something in my foggy mind?

Hi Chuckienut,

Sorry for the confusion. First I was pretty sure I know you were talking about me when referring to Mark. I think that was obvious from the previous posts.

My comment about posting positive comments or staying out of the conversation as stated is MY philosophy. So I was referring to myself not you or anyone else. I am sorry if you or anyone else took this wrong. With my philosophy, I obviously would not have posted such a comment if I was speaking about you or someone else.

I do not post much because it is so easy for someone to take something posted by someone else wrong. I am old school and very much prefer verbal conversation over written conversation, but we live in a world of computers and cell phones now and posting and texting is our reality.

Thanks for listening and again I apologize for any confusion from my posts.
Mark

[Deleted]

Mark, thanks for clearing that up. I've been talking back and forth with Darksky for some time including in PM's about his planned new sub(s) and different options he had and also following his progression with the possible DIY option with the Rythmik. I was reading this thread and saw his posts about your MFW-15's.

When you advised him to go with the Rythmiks, I thought, gee what a nice guy, to be more concerned about him getting the right sub rather than you selling your subs. That is a great buy for two MFW-15's anyway and I'm sure you will sell them.

We need more nice guys like you on this planet.

Chuckie ;D

[bigred7078]

Whoops my fault, obviously I was the confused one lol.