Debating JL 212's vs 2 Gotham (and eventually 2)
 

Hello everyone. I want to get subs for home theater only. I already own a pair of REL 25's but those will only be used for 2 channel audio, as they don't perform as well for HT use but are absolutely marvelous for music.

My room is: 19 X 21 X 8 feet. The room has three walls and one wall is open to another room.

I'm considering getting 2 gotham's or getting 2 212's. Which would be better? Would the gotham's be too much bass for my room? I have room in the budget for both but don't want to kill the room with so much bass.

I also have bass traps all over the room to clean up the bass.

Sorry I just realized the title of this thread doesn't make sense. It should read "debating 212's vs 2 gothams"

If you can afford 2 Gothams, get FOUR F212s for about the same investment! It will even out the bass throughout the room having front and rear subs. Nothing says you have to blast the subs to overpower the room, keep them at the volume you prefer.

I can be a bad influence.

Some guy named Ivan has 2 very nice Gothem's in the marketplace, but do like Gary's thought, you now have options...

The only issue i see is in the back of my room, i only have 15 amp lines. can i plug the gothams or fathom's into these? or do i have to have 20 amp lines there

my 20 amp lines are in the front of the room and i could run a long power cord but the manual specifically says to use the cord that they provide, which is not long enough.


What should i do?

the gothams are straight up beautiful. utterly gorgeous. that's one reason i want them over the fathom.

If you are looking for a beautiful piece of hand made furniture, get the Gothams. As I debated this issue myself three years ago, Ivan gave me some great advice when he told me that the F212 has 90% of the performance at half the price of the Gotham. Hence I went with two F212s.

I also made the decision to go with 2 212s. 15amp outlet works fine. Only use for HT and have them set up as two separate sub channels off a Datasat RS20i processor. With DIrac setup these subs are awesome. Imagine the Gothams are awesome+ but I don't feel like I am missing any bass speed or authority. My room is 19x23x8

will the 25s be connected on the mains via REL high-pass while the JLs are used for LFE for HT? if so, you may be doubling up on bass in the overlapping regions depending upon where you have the RELs crossed over and blended in...

I chose 2 Gothams. Each one weighs around 400lbs and they are more than I'll ever need for my room. That said, the construction of the cabinet and the headroom they offer make them disappear. I can't compare to the 212 because I never heard them but the Gotham is very capable for movies and music. Solid deep bass down to the last octave. I have the version 1 and expect v2 to be even better.

BTW...for a room that size a pair of 212 v2 will be more than enough to paste you into your seat IMHO 😎

I vote pair of 212s more than enough!

Yes I would remove the life from the rel. I would probably turn the subs off in general during movies as I don't want to over drive these subs and only use them for music.

The jl audio subs will be in the back of the room as the rel are in the front.


Ok seems like people are suggesting grabbing a pair of 212s.

That's a whole lot of power on one 15 amp circuit, has any one had issues with being on a 15 amp circuit ?

When I bought mine the advise I was given is that the 212s give 90% of the sound for 60% of the price of the Gotham’s. I’m very happy with the 212v2

I would say buy Ivan's two Gotham's.

I used to have two F212s amd they were more than enough.

Debating JL 212's vs 2 Gotham (and eventually 2)
 

I believe the max current draw is 1200V so 10amps on 120v circuit. I have my two on separate 15amp dedicated runs and have had no issues. These are class D amps

For the right price that’s what I’d do too

These are all really great inputs. Leaning toward two 212's. But I want to make sure it does this:

I really like jaw-dropping, heart thumping bass in movies. A plane taking off is like me actually being underneath a 747. The bear scene in the Revenant is like I'M getting attacked by the bear. A gun shot gives me goosebumps. A lions roar in planet earth is so real that i feel like i never need to do an african safari because I just experienced it. An explosion makes me jump out of my seat and makes my heart race. I want tactile sensations from these subs.

would the 212's do that for me?

Also, would it be okay to put these (212's or gothams) in the back of my room?

I had two F212s in my HT. It was great, but not heart thumping.

Do it once, do it right...

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...n34/Gotham.jpg

How many amps does a F212 pull at full throttle? Or for that matter a F113? Can a 15 amp circuit even feed it enough current to run wide open?

Randy... a 15 amp circuit can support a single F212, but not a Gotham. I use 20 amp dedicated lines for each of my Gotham's in both Theaters.

Thanks, Ivan. I asked because many of us have rooms with multiple duplex outlets on a single 15 amp circuit. Consequently, IMO, a comparison of two F212 vs. a Gotham should include an analysis of the available current - especially if one is looking for heart thumping bass. Having had my heart defibrillated by just listening to your HT rig I can attest that your individual 20 amp circuits to your respective Gothams makes my point. :)

Ivan, do you run a 100 amp subpanel to each one of your rooms? I have a 100 amp panel that supplies all my home theater/2 channel audio stuff. If I got my electrician to run two more 20 amp services for these beasts, would I be ok?

No, I am a little crazier than that. I have 400 amp service in each of my theaters; as well as my own dedicated transformers from the utility company. Yes, two more 20 amp dedicated lines and you will be fine.

Missing in this discussion is where best to place your subs. :) If both are in front you will get some deep nulls somewhere in your room. One front and one rear in the middle of the respective wall will give you the most even coverage. Four Gothams would be even better. :)

So I have REL 25's (2) that are in the front left and right of the room. Those are connected via high level and are only used for 2 channel.

I'm getting the JL subs for HT only, and I was thinking about putting them in the back corners of the room. My room has 3.5 walls, i.e. my left side wall is open to another room.

Any suggestions on where to put the JL subs? Ivan I would like to hear your take on this

wow 400 amp service? that's insane. i would love to watch a movie in there. is this room in which you have all of those McIntosh Amplifiers? How many of each do you have Ivan?

On a side note, would it be more effective to get 4 F113's using a master/slave format and put them in the corner's of the room? Isn't that the same amount/size of drivers as 2 gotham's for half the price?

My Gotham's are in the back of each of my Theater's.

https://www.audioaficionado.org/pict...pictureid=2237

http://www.audioaficionado.org/attac...1&d=1417819419

And a pair of F113v2's up front for good measure. ;)

http://www.audioaficionado.org/attac...1&d=1417460463

Florida:

http://www.audioaficionado.org/attac...1&d=1474562071

Cape Cod:

Left - 3 MC1.2KW's
Center - 2 MC1.2KW's
Right - 2 MC1.2KW's
Side Surrounds - 1 MC1.2KW each
Back Surrounds - 1 MC501 each

Florida:

Left - 1 MC2KW & 2 MC1.2KW's
Center - 3 MC1.2KW's
Right - 1 MC2KW & 2 MC1.2KW's
Side Surrounds - 1 MC1.2KW each
Back Surrounds - 2 MC162 bridged

Not even in the same Zip Code. :no:

thank you so much for the beautiful pictures. man that theater is stunning. and those couches! i love the color! exceptional taste sir.

What are the dimensions of your theater? Do you think that 2 gothams for a 19 X 21 X 8 room would be overwhelming?

Note Stillpoints are under all speakers; including all subs, which noticeably tightens up the Bass.

http://www.audioaficionado.org/attac...1&d=1417460431

http://www.audioaficionado.org/attac...1&d=1417460437

http://www.audioaficionado.org/attac...1&d=1417819190

http://www.audioaficionado.org/attac...1&d=1417819214

http://www.audioaficionado.org/attac...1&d=1417819195

Must.get.a.gotham!

yes.

Insane indeed!

One man's insane is another's just right! :p

Ivan's theater is so inspiring that I now measure bass response in "Ivans." :) But I repeat my warning, big subs without big current to feed them is the same as little subs.

All time great post on AA!

Well played Randy.

The F212 is rated at 1200V which in 120V system equates to 10 amps

The Gotham is rated 1800V which equates to 15 amps

As has been suggested- A single 15 amp for one F212 is fine. For Gotham a 20 amp dedicated is likely best for headroom