Dual SVS PB-1000 Pro vs Dual Hsu VTF-2 MK5

[RedHotFuzz]

Hi,

I have an open-concept floorplan that honestly could justify the biggest subwoofers I could find. However, budget, space for placement and WAF are prohibitive (I'm putting my home theater in the primary living space, not in a basement cave). Going dual I will need to stick with the narrower sub options (15"-ish cabinet width) since my giant speakers (JBL Studio 590) and UST projector setup will eat up a lot of my available wall space. Subs will have to be on the front wall. I have no available side wall space, can't put a sub behind the sofa, and my wife is not going to go for subwoofer end tables. ***le sigh***

Expert consensus seems to be dual smaller subs would be preferred to a single giant sub.

I know the Hsu VTF-2 MK5 would be the obvious choice over the old SVS PB-1000, but the new PB-1000 Pro offers some significant upgrades. The app control is particularly compelling. The VTF-2 Mk5 has been out some 5+ years now and I assume is long overdue for a refresh, but who knows when that will happen. (They'll probably announce it the day after my return period ends for whatever I buy, because that's the way my luck rolls.) I've owned an Hsu VTF-3 Mk 2 for over a decade and it has served me well (after I opened it up and cut the wire to the ridiculous lighted blue logo on the front).

Can anyone illustrate any clear advantages of the current Hsu that would counter the app control and more modern technology of the SVS? I know the power rating is higher for the Hsu, but we all know that isn't an end-all be-all spec for audio gear.

The SVS pair would be about $150 less than the Hsu, offers a longer return period, free shipping on returns, longer warranty (5 years "bumper to bumper" vs only 2 years for the Hsu on the amp), plus the app control. These are the primary advantages I see over the Hsu.

In what ways would the Hsu top the SVS?

 

[Mark E. Long]

Hi,

I have an open-concept floorplan that honestly could justify the biggest subwoofers I could find. However, budget, space for placement and WAF are prohibitive (I'm putting my home theater in the primary living space, not in a basement cave). Going dual I will need to stick with the narrower sub options (15"-ish cabinet width) since my giant speakers (JBL Studio 590) and UST projector setup will eat up a lot of my available wall space. Subs will have to be on the front wall. I have no available side wall space, can't put a sub behind the sofa, and my wife is not going to go for subwoofer end tables. ***le sigh***

Expert consensus seems to be dual smaller subs would be preferred to a single giant sub.

I know the Hsu VTF-2 MK5 would be the obvious choice over the old SVS PB-1000, but the new PB-1000 Pro offers some significant upgrades. The app control is particularly compelling. The VTF-2 Mk5 has been out some 5+ years now and I assume is long overdue for a refresh, but who knows when that will happen. (They'll probably announce it the day after my return period ends for whatever I buy, because that's the way my luck rolls.) I've owned an Hsu VTF-3 Mk 2 for over a decade and it has served me well (after I opened it up and cut the wire to the ridiculous lighted blue logo on the front).

Can anyone illustrate any clear advantages of the current Hsu that would counter the app control and more modern technology of the SVS? I know the power rating is higher for the Hsu, but we all know that isn't an end-all be-all spec for audio gear.

The SVS pair would be about $150 less than the Hsu, offers a longer return period, free shipping on returns, longer warranty (5 years "bumper to bumper" vs only 2 years for the Hsu on the amp), plus the app control. These are the primary advantages I see over the Hsu.

In what ways would the Hsu top the SVS?

I just installed two SVS- 1000 pros in my system as an upgrade from 25 year old jbl subs it’s a huge difference in performance night and day really the app does so many things has pre sets for music which I didn’t know till a fella on here told me about it . Right out of the box setup and integration is a snap dialed right in for movies, music was not as good at first till I was enlightened about the presets then Iam pleased with that too now . I’ve got a very large room and these fill her up . I can’t speak of the HSU subs never experienced them but have herd and read just as good reports as the SVS .

 

[Pogre]

Reading your post it's clear you did some good research! You're spot on in fact. At one time I would have recommended HSU without thinking about it. The upgrades to the 1000 series are indeed significant and I believe puts them in a much better position to compete, and the price is very competitive also when you factor shipping and the generous return policy.

I vote PB1000 Pros! Those would be my choice now. There's one other reason for going with SVS that I like for you. It sounds like you have a pretty big space and there's a possibility a pair of 12's might struggle a bit. You have a full year to take advantage of their trade up program. They give you full credit trade in if you decide you want more subwoofage down the road. They've even offered to let me trade up after my year was up when I was considering the Ultra center. They're a great company to deal with. I really liked being in their ecosystem. Great support and warranty services too.

 

[RedHotFuzz]

There's one other reason for going with SVS that I like for you. It sounds like you have a pretty big space and there's a possibility a pair of 12's might struggle a bit you have a year to take advantage of their trade up program.

I'm going to build my homebrew entertainment stand (one of the several dilemmas posed by UST projectors) first and then determine exactly how much linear space I'll have to work with. If I want to toe in my Studio 590s I'll need some extra space, and I don't want everything crammed in edge to edge and looking stupid. I do have a ton of airspace to fill, but I'm not one that needs so much bass for the sofa to levitate underneath me.

 

[ryanosaur]

I'm not one that needs so much bass for the sofa to levitate underneath me.

...
Says that now.



Considering your space... PC2000 Pros would be my vote for the minimum woofage necessary.

 

[Pogre]

I'm going to build my homebrew entertainment stand (one of the several dilemmas posed by UST projectors) first and then determine exactly how much linear space I'll have to work with. If I want to toe in my Studio 590s I'll need some extra space, and I don't want everything crammed in edge to edge and looking stupid. I do have a ton of airspace to fill, but I'm not one that needs so much bass for the sofa to levitate underneath me.

I would plan for, and build around the right sized subs for the space if I really wanted good sound. It's not about levitating furniture, it's about having clean, effortless bass. Undersized subs can struggle to fill the space and either leave you wanting or running them hot to compensate which can lead to more distortion.

When I got the proper subwoofage for my space, replaced a pair of 12"s with a pair of 15"s, it was transformative in ways I didn't expect. I now had lower distortion bass that was cleaner and as a result actually came across as quieter. At first I thought something was wrong, but then realized they sounded quieter because there was so much less distortion. Everything was cleaned up. I felt like I got a whole system upgrade. I had no idea what I was missing until I experienced it. I wish I could bottle it and share it because you really do need to experience it to get it.

My furniture only levitates when I want it to. Bigger subs aren't about that tho. Not if set up correctly.

 

[RedHotFuzz]

I would plan for, and build around the right sized subs for the space if I really wanted good sound.

Unfortunately with my space this is an impossibility, at least with a UST projector setup. Yes, there's a lot of floor space and a metric ton of air space, but precious little wall space that isn't filled with a doorway, a low window, or a brick fireplace. And there are no good spots to park a sub that's not on the front wall. It is what it is, and I'll just have to live with the compromises. I can only aim for the best I can get for the space I'm allowed.

 

[Pogre]

Well not for nothin'... the PB2000 Pro and PB3000 aren't much bigger at all in volume. Just a couple of inches, and I only mentioned the trade up as one of SVS' great perks should you change your mind down the road. No one is telling you what to do, lol. You're the one buying at the end of the day. I vote PB1000 Pro of your 2 choices.

 

[Mark E. Long]

The SVS do have a somewhat smaller foot print but they are wider and deeper but a 1 1/2 inch shorter that really don’t help much as fare as floor space .

 

[Mark E. Long]

Bang for the buck for 12 inch drivers I’d say the SVS pros are hard to beat . In talking with there techs they tell me they used a lot of the technology that’s in there ultra series, the dsp and upgraded the driver , amp . I’ll be the first to admit I was skeptical on there clames to me I was just going from one 12 inch. Driver to another man I was so wrong . I don’t suffer from the lack of decent equipment never have but these are in another league I don’t really understand how they can sell these in pairs at this price .

 

[Hetfield]

You cannot beat the app for making life easier in my opinion. I honestly do not think I'll own another sub brand just because of that app. It makes set up and tweaking easy. I never have to go behind the sub to change any settings.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

 

[Mark E. Long]

You cannot beat the app for making life easier in my opinion. I honestly do not think I'll own another sub brand just because of that app. It makes set up and tweaking easy. I never have to go behind the sub to change any settings.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

It’s definitely a game changer Iam like you I’ll probably never look elsewhere for subs .

 

[Hetfield]

It’s definitely a game changer Iam like you I’ll probably never look elsewhere for subs .

I don't think so on my end. Plus my PB 2000 Pro is awesome. I mean it really, really impresses me. I am thrilled with it.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

 

[Mark E. Long]

I don't think so on my end. Plus my PB 2000 Pro is awesome. I mean it really, really impresses me. I am thrilled with it.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

I’ve got to say the same with my duel 1000 pros I might go up to the 2000 pro next spring but these are working really well they are impressive .

 

[shadyJ]

Hi,

I have an open-concept floorplan that honestly could justify the biggest subwoofers I could find. However, budget, space for placement and WAF are prohibitive (I'm putting my home theater in the primary living space, not in a basement cave). Going dual I will need to stick with the narrower sub options (15"-ish cabinet width) since my giant speakers (JBL Studio 590) and UST projector setup will eat up a lot of my available wall space. Subs will have to be on the front wall. I have no available side wall space, can't put a sub behind the sofa, and my wife is not going to go for subwoofer end tables. ***le sigh***

Expert consensus seems to be dual smaller subs would be preferred to a single giant sub.

I know the Hsu VTF-2 MK5 would be the obvious choice over the old SVS PB-1000, but the new PB-1000 Pro offers some significant upgrades. The app control is particularly compelling. The VTF-2 Mk5 has been out some 5+ years now and I assume is long overdue for a refresh, but who knows when that will happen. (They'll probably announce it the day after my return period ends for whatever I buy, because that's the way my luck rolls.) I've owned an Hsu VTF-3 Mk 2 for over a decade and it has served me well (after I opened it up and cut the wire to the ridiculous lighted blue logo on the front).

Can anyone illustrate any clear advantages of the current Hsu that would counter the app control and more modern technology of the SVS? I know the power rating is higher for the Hsu, but we all know that isn't an end-all be-all spec for audio gear.

The SVS pair would be about $150 less than the Hsu, offers a longer return period, free shipping on returns, longer warranty (5 years "bumper to bumper" vs only 2 years for the Hsu on the amp), plus the app control. These are the primary advantages I see over the Hsu.

In what ways would the Hsu top the SVS?

The case for the Hsu is raw performance. The upgrade from the PB-1000 to the PB-1000 Pro closed much of that gap, but the Hsu still offers more output, deeper extension, and less distortion. The case for the SVS sub is nearly everything else, except that SVS doesn't offer variable tuning.

As for the app, the only useful thing it has, from my perspective, is the parametric EQ. Everything else is something that should be controlled from the AVR, not the sub itself. In order to use the EQ correctly, however, you need a way to measure the response and adjust the subs accordingly, so you need to get a real calibration microphone if you don't already have one.

 

[Hetfield]

I’ve got to say the same with my duel 1000 pros I might go up to the 2000 pro next spring but these are working really well they are impressive .

I really was going to order 1 PB 1000 Pro and then another down the line but I already had a PB 1000 and decided to just go up one to the PB 2000 Pro and try to blend the two together and ya know what, it worked out great. It's very impactful and I love it.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

 

[Mark E. Long]

I really was going to order 1 PB 1000 Pro and then another down the line but I already had a PB 1000 and decided to just go up one to the PB 2000 Pro and try to blend the two together and ya know what, it worked out great. It's very impactful and I love it.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

I’ve moved my room around this week and am going to see how this will work out changing the furniture up . I may upgrade to two Pb-2000 pros if this changes them up in performance it should make them even better I hope they’ve got a great trade up plan at SVS .

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

The case for the Hsu is raw performance. The upgrade from the PB-1000 to the PB-1000 Pro closed much of that gap, but the Hsu still offers more output, deeper extension, and less distortion. The case for the SVS sub is nearly everything else, except that SVS doesn't offer variable tuning.

As for the app, the only useful thing it has, from my perspective, is the parametric EQ. Everything else is something that should be controlled from the AVR, not the sub itself. In order to use the EQ correctly, however, you need a way to measure the response and adjust the subs accordingly, so you need to get a real calibration microphone if you don't already have one.

Was going to say exactly this. Now I don’t have to click clack on my phone!

I’d buy the “shoes” and spend the rest on a umik.

Or if SVS is really where you want to be, PC2k pro would be better than the 1000’s all day, and take up less space.

 

[lovinthehd]

My vote would to be to suck up the extra cost and ignore waf (yes am single) and simply get the 15" you need....the VTF-3 mk5 or the VTF H15 mk2 seem good choices and good value

 

[RedHotFuzz]

Was going to say exactly this. Now I don’t have to click clack on my phone!

I’d buy the “shoes” and spend the rest on a umik.

Or if SVS is really where you want to be, PC2k pro would be better than the 1000’s all day, and take up less space.

Too tall, would block projection screen.