I have a few preliminary comments on the BF 212. Recently impulse bought one of these to replace the aging Descent in my home theater which is in my living room. This system consists of a Focus center channel, a pair of Aeons for the front, and scenarios for the rear in a 5 channel configuration. Prepro is a Classe Sigma SSP. I use a Rowland 8T for the Aeons and 3 channels of a Classe Sigma Amp 5 to run the center and surrounds. Sources include my direct TV box, an Oppo UDP 205, a Mojo modded Mac mini using J River into an Ayre QB9 DSD Twenty. TV is a 65" LG OLED. The original plan was to move the Descent into the big rig in my dedicated stereo room. The big rig is Summit based and consists of a VPI Prime (heavily modded), my recently rebuilt Koetsu Rosewood signature cartridge, an arc ph7 phono stage, arc ref 3 preamp, arc Ref 110 amp, Aurender NH100, PS Audio Direct Stream memory player, PS Audio Direct Stream DAC, and my trusty Magnum Dynalab FT 101 tuner that I bought in 1986 and still listen to regularly.
I installed the BF212, downloaded the custom filter from the ML website for the Aeons, adjusted the level by SPL meter and ears and listened. I quickly noticed the improved integration afforded by the custom filter. It was like the Aeons grew new woofers. The BF 212 plays louder, goes lower than the Descent and looks wicked cool in the gloss black which matches my Focus. Although the BF 212 is massive visually, it is hard to find sonically. I have not yet purchased the PBK (and do not know if I will).
What impressed me more than adding the BF 212 to the home theater was what happened to the big rig when I installed the Descent. I did get more LF extension and power but the soundstage simply exploded in all dimensions. I can't believe I waited this long to consider trying a sub in the big rig!
But life happens and this is after all 2020, the year the whole world went psychotic...No sooner than I got both systems humming tragedy struck and my arc ref 3 went haywire. Sent it back to arc for hopeful repair. So what does a stereo nut do?. Well, I moved the Summits into the home theater, downloaded the custom filter for the Summits and listened. Once again a seamless integration. If you have ML main speakers I think the ability to download custom filters is a no brainer, and I can't imagine any ML owner being displeased with a BF sub. I haven't heard other brands of subs in my system so cannot comment about this. When the big rig is back together I will try switching the two subs. I fear the BF 212 is going to wind up there because in my home stereo always trumps home theater. More to come as the saga unfolds.
