I did some additional
reading and here are the facts. RF-42 II frequency response = 59Hz-24KHz
±
3dB. Rf-52 II frequency response = 36Hz-24KHz ± 3dB. What does this
mean? Well, with a correctly configured receiver and RF-42 connected,
when listening to music in STEREO mode, it will take the audio below 60
Hz and send it to the sub. This is because the RF-42 does not produce
sound below 59Hz accurately, i.e. it can't do it well and the base is
poor (and I tested this).
The problem here is that those frequencies that are going to the sub
include a range of frequencies that the human ear is able to determine
direction from. This means that you can tell that the base is coming
from the sub. This is a NO-NO, especially for when playing music. The
purpose of a sub is to produce base in a frequency range that the human
ear is unable to determine the direction from. i.e the really crazy low
stuff!
When you move to the RF-52 and correctly configure your receiver, it
does not send any audio to the sub when listening to music in STEREO
mode. In fact, your receiver will turn the sub off, unless you add a
double base type setting (not to be confused with turning base up).
What this does is preserve base, that the human ear can hear from a
directional perspective, in the left right channels/speakers. The RF-52
does an amazing job at producing this base as well as the low base that
you cannot determine direction from. So the throatiness of a sax,
trombone, guitar, or your fav vocalist come from
the main speakers with the intended left and right proportions and most
importantly not from the sub. If you have a heavy beat type track, you
can turn on double base on your receiver to engage the sub and watch the
walls cave in around you if you want.
Ok, so what is the point of all this?
As one of the other folks on here said, the price difference between the
RF-42 and RF-52 is so small. The difference in frequency response is
so large that should buy the RF-52. I can honestly say that the RF-52 BLOW AWAY
the RF-42.