Re: PSA, Aperion, Salk or Ascend upgrade questions
Originally Posted by
Roen
...I think PSA offers great value for the money, and possibly the best subwoofers at the 800 (B-Stock), 900 (B-Stock) and 1000 price points, but it's pretty high competition in that range with Hsu as well. However, I had extra room in my budget, and based on what I was hearing about the E15HP / F15HP here and on other forums, it seemed like it fit my needs better. And it really did =).
I'm a big fan of the servo subs. I've got a pair of Rythmik LVX12s which are awesome for HT and just about as good for music (I don't listen to a lot of pipe organ, and most music, from classical to jazz to techno doesn't have a lot of really deep bass (very little below, say, 40 Hz), so the subs aren't really stressed much with most music). Velodyne also makes servo subs, Genesis does too, so it doesn't have to be just Rythmik.
In comparison to, say, SVS, HSU, and of course PSA (all internet retailers with big followings probably bigger than Rythmik, IDK) I find the servos tighter, deeper, and with less distortion. That is, they integrate really quite easily with upper range speakers like Ascend Acoustics makes. Makes the entire system sound fairly seamless, like you just tacked on another two octaves on the bottom of your upper range speakers that sounds just like those upper range speakers.
From what I can tell, this seamless integration between upper range speakers and subs is more difficult, often considerably more difficult, with conventional non-servo subs.
The trade off is of course price. Servo subs are more difficult to make and therefore cost more. But I'll pay that price every time. Because I don't want to be futzing about with my speakers, I want to be listening to music and movies.
Now the joy of all this is that no one needs to believe me. It's so easy to try out a servo sub (or a pair) in your own listening environment. Find out for yourself -- if you don't find the servo subs worth the money, send them back. But be prepared to keep them. Just sayin'.
"If it sounds good, it is good." -- Duke Ellington