My new - VERY HEAVY - F112

[AudioNut]

I took delivery on a new Fathom F112 sub yesterday. (Thank you very much Ivan for the quick, painless delivery) Please, keep in mind that I am a retired, 65 years old, former semi-athlete gone to pot, rack, and ruin . . . . Anyway, FedEx brought the thing and deposited it in my garage. I got it turned over and unpacked without much trouble - but - the room where the sub is to be used is at the top of two flights of very steep stairs - and, I wanted to get the sub in place before my wife (who is still working for a living) got home, hoping that she wouldn't notice my newest acquisition.

I got my trusty hand-truck, strapped on the sub and began the extremely arduous task of, by myself, pulling the 115 pound billet of lead up to my listening room.

I made it, pausing every two steps or so to breathe, and hoping that I wouldn't let the thing go, crashing to the bottom. I really don't think a major collision would do the, probably fragile, beauty any good.

Well, the sub is now safely installed in my system with SF Mementos, and I love it! Working hard to get it properly set-up and dialed in.

Please, y'all, give me any suggestions relative to setup etc., especially if you have used a F112 with Mementos.

[Dj_AmTraX]

You are a determined person. I would do the same. Congratulations!

[250TiMan]

I just started laughing when I got to the part about hoping " The wife wouldn't notice". I am still laughing and have not even finished reading the rest of your post. Hope all went well with getting that beast up 2 flights of stairs!!! & of COURSE in time

Thanks - Jack

[AudioNut]

I am afraid that I have created a real problem for myself. As earlier reported, This week, I bought a new JL Fathom 112 sub woofer to complement my Sonus Faber Guarneri Memento speakers in a second system.

Thanks to Ivan, who sold me the thing, and JDandy (Dan) who assisted me in figuring out how to set the sub up, I have succeeded in making it sound extremely good, So good, in fact, that now the second system sounds better than my "first" and supposedly "best" system. See my signature below for description of the first and second systems. In the main system, I switch back and forth between a pair of Avalon Eidolons and a pair of Audio Physic Caldera speakers and, unbelievably, the Mementos plus sub sounds "better" than either of them. :confused-5:

In the Memento system, I'm using a lowly integrated amp and a universal disc player - as opposed to the supposedly, "much better" Spectral/Esoteric electronics in the other system.

Who can figure? What do I do now with my main system? Anybody need a boatload of very expensive hi-fi cast-offs?

The Sonus Faber speakers were great, with the addition of the JL Audio sub-woofer, they are spectacular.

[two dot]

Wow... another stellar recommendation for the JL subs...

One correction... I wouldn't call the might 7000 lowly...

But, you sure do have some fine gear in your "main" system.

One question... you have GM's but your avatar are Auditors correct?

Have you had or do you have both?

[AudioNut]

Originally Posted by two dot

One question... you have GM's but your avatar are Auditors correct?

Have you had or do you have both?

The avatar is indeed a picture of Cremona Auditors that I posted on Audiogon when I sold them . . . . was taken in my back yard. . . just thought it was a nice picture and I don't have one yet of the Mementos. (And on their stands, they are much too heavy to carry outside)

[mgard]

I love it, a man after my own heart. I had a great mental picture of you hauling your new sub up the stairs and then scrambling to get it set up! So did you wife notice? That's the same thing I do when wife goes home to visit her family. New audio equipment magically appears. I take a beating for a day or two but it's not long and she's sitting tapping her toe to the music! So what kind of music have you been playing on those GM's and JL? Congratulations on a beautiful system.

[AudioNut]

Originally Posted by mgard

So did you wife notice? So what kind of music have you been playing on those GM's and JL? Congratulations on a beautiful system.

She (my wife) hasn't noticed yet (holding my breath). Right now I am listening to Eva Cassidy and she has never sounded better!

Thanks for asking and your kind comments.

Julian

[mgard]

I have two Eva Cassidy CD’s that I really like also. I first heard her mentioned here on AA. It’s great when the guys mention what they are listening to. She even sounds good on my Spicas. I am happy to hear that the GM’s and the JL subs goes so well together. I knew they probably would. It just seemed like most were using the REL subs with Cremona Auditors, GM’s and GH’s. I am saving my pennies for the same speaker combination that you have. I am 54 now but probably will be 65 by the time I have enough saved up. Don’t forget to post some pictures and any other impressions when you get a chance.

Mike

[Milimetr]

@ jprice,
Congratulations of your new purchase. I hope that your Memento supported with sub will satisfy you.

Unfortunately my two attempts to using subwoofer in high-end stereo setup failed. I have started from floorstanding Thiel CS2.3. Because I used them in the same room where I have second (separated) home theater system I found that would be great to integrate both systems a little.

I sold florrstanding stereo speakers and purchased Thiel monitors and Thiel sub. It is worth to mention that Thiel developed really interesting and effective system to integrate subwoofers with main speakers. This system bases on passive crossover that is specially developed for particular front speakers model. It eliminate all dialing with crossover frequency setting and subwoofer volume level setting. Also Thiel subs have regulations allowing to correct performance depending on position of the sub in the room. So it was very promising.

Unfortunately the whole effect was far from my expectations. Bass was great, but I cannot place my subwoofer between front speakers. It was positioned near right channel speaker. Regardless of the subwoofer settings it would not integrate well with the front speakers and sound was not homogenous. I sold Thiel sub (I do not liked them also from other reason).

After that I purchased quite unusual and unique in construction sub from Wilson Benesch. I also could not place them in center between stereo speakers, so I do not use them in stereo system. It is intended only for use in second home theater system and works very well in this system regardless on positioning in the room.

Of course I have tried this sub also with my Mementos, but only for a while. Torus is great match both sonically and visually with black Mementos, but I will not use them in stereo system if I cannot place them between speakers and one-two feet behind them.

However I am not surprised that you like Memento with sub better than you Avalon. Before I purchased Memento, I auditioned Avalon Indra and Avalon Ascendant in my system. Both speakers are nice, but I definitely preffered Sonus Faber top of the line monitors. If your Mementos will integrate well with the sub it can be a bargain.

If I can advice you something about setting the sub – many users sets roll off frequency in sub too high and sub volume level too low. Try to set it the opposite way.

You can also purchase SPL meter – even cheap one from Radio Shack. Download some test tones – for example from Real Traps web site and try to get the same SPL level at your listening point from your sub and from main speakers.

Hope it helps.

Regards!
Milimetr


BTW if we talk about heavy subs look at this Thiel monster. It is their top of the line SS4 (currently discontinued). It measure 50 inches high and weights almost 300 lbs. I never heard it but I suppose that it could be nice weapon to destroy building walls.