Considering a couple AV123 subs... thoughts?

[ThA tRiXtA]

After really trying my best to procure two Hsu VTF3 MK3's with turbo's, I just can't justify the landed delivery charge of about $820 to myself, or to the wife.

Part of me says just buy them anyway as I really wanted the pair of them, but on the other hand by forking over the better part of an extra $1000 just on shipping and duties and brokerage fees, I feel like I could take that extra cash and get myself an even better sub than the 3.3 for the same price. I don't want to burn good money out of my HT budget on duties and shipping 250 pounds of subs across 2 countries.

I notice that the MFW-15 from AV123 was on Craigsubs list scoring 109 points... well above any Hsu offerings and you can buy a pair of them for $998. Nice price point. I am aware that they have a seemingly long backorder but I'm not in any hurry.

The real clincher is that AV123 would be shipping the subs from Chicago, as opposed to Hsu from California... I am all the way in Ontario, Canada so the Hsu's would have had to travel across the entire width of the states, and all the way up to Canada.

So, from doing some research I see positive raves about the MFW-15, but I understand it somewhat lacks sub 20 Hz? Why should this concern anyone if it is not technically possible to audibly perceive anything below that frequency?

In your opinions, what would the main differences be between the MFW-15 and the 3.3 with turbo?

Also, just to confirm, can anyone who owns one tell me if the crossover on the sub can be bypassed? I am straining trying to see if there is a killswitch on the amp panel but the pictures are too small.

Thanks for anyone who can help.

 

[Warpdrv]

Why not go with SVS, right up in your neighborhood...

http://www.sonicboomaudio.com/

It certainly would be a viable alternative...

Sonic Boom Audio
410 Denison Street
Markham ON
L3R 1B9

 

[Exit]

Below 20 Hz is where you feel the pressurization of the sound waves and it mainly is good for HT special effects such as explosions and the like. My family does not like that effect so I have my subwoofer set to 20 Hz tune. I think you have outlined all the benefits for two MFW-15s and I would not hesitate to go for it.

 

[Gimpy Ric]

I believe your on the right track. The MFW-15's seem like a killer duo for 1k. I may have gone this route also, but my system is in my bedroom, so one PB13-Ultra will have to do.

I had a Hsu VTF-3 HO Turbo, and it is a butt ugly sub that kicks serious bass, and very musical at that.

Good luck on getting the AV123's up north. Look here though

http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-box-pb13ultra.cfm

 

[MinusTheBear]

Shipped from Chicago? I am pretty sure AV123 ships their final product from their headquarters in Colorado?

 

[mike c]

i have to add my vote on getting SVS from canada.

Mason of sonicboomaudio is right in GTA Ontario and is a cool guy to talk to ... i've been there myself, and you can demo before you buy.

the Av123 scored 109 on somebody's list. but, it has no 3rd party test nor available immediately.

i score the MAGNUS 301 18" Subwoofer 1000 points. does that mean anything (to you)?, not at all ... (magnus 301 18" nonexistent)

on another note, dual MFW's still score lower than a single PB13 Ultra on craigsub's list.

 

[Bugbitten]

My 2 MFW-15 came from CO. HQ.

Might have contributed to the earthquake

 

[ThA tRiXtA]

Why not go with SVS, right up in your neighborhood...

http://www.sonicboomaudio.com/

It certainly would be a viable alternative...

Sonic Boom Audio
410 Denison Street
Markham ON
L3R 1B9

Thanks for the link to the Canadian distributor, I really like the SVS subs too. That store is only about 5 hours from me, so getting something shipped from there would be a better price. Thanks again.

Below 20 Hz is where you feel the pressurization of the sound waves and it mainly is good for HT special effects such as explosions and the like. My family does not like that effect so I have my subwoofer set to 20 Hz tune. I think you have outlined all the benefits for two MFW-15s and I would not hesitate to go for it.

Thanks for the feedback Exit. May I ask why your family finds it undesirable for any frequency sub 20 Hz? My current sub only goes to 20 Hz so I am not aware of what it sounds like. (Perhaps "feels" is a better word.)

I believe your on the right track. The MFW-15's seem like a killer duo for 1k. I may have gone this route also, but my system is in my bedroom, so one PB13-Ultra will have to do.

I had a Hsu VTF-3 HO Turbo, and it is a butt ugly sub that kicks serious bass, and very musical at that.

Good luck on getting the AV123's up north. Look here though

http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-box-pb13ultra.cfm

Hmm. See, I really love that PB13 ultra... unfortunately I have my mind set on two subs and two of those beasts are way out of my price range and that is not even including shipping. I really envy you, any chance your offloading your ultra?

Shipped from Chicago? I am pretty sure AV123 ships their final product from their headquarters in Colorado?

You're correct, I was initially mistaken. I saw their HQ was in Chicago and assumed that's where they shipped from as well.

i have to add my vote on getting SVS from canada.

Mason of sonicboomaudio is right in GTA Ontario and is a cool guy to talk to ... i've been there myself, and you can demo before you buy.

the Av123 scored 109 on somebody's list. but, it has no 3rd party test nor available immediately.

i score the MAGNUS 301 18" Subwoofer 1000 points. does that mean anything (to you)?, not at all ... (magnus 301 18" nonexistent)

on another note, dual MFW's still score lower than a single PB13 Ultra on craigsub's list.

Hmm, thanks for the info... I will peruse that sonicboomaudio site, it will save me any duty and brokerage fees if I buy from there. I am definitely not willing to budge on getting two subs, so can you guys recommend two reasonable SVS's?

On a side note, Craigsub is not considered a third party review? or when you use that term do you mean a professional reviewer like those of Audioholics or Tom Nousaine or the like?

Thanks again guys.

 

[mike c]

Hmm, thanks for the info... I will peruse that sonicboomaudio site, it will save me any duty and brokerage fees if I buy from there. I am definitely not willing to budge on getting two subs, so can you guys recommend two reasonable SVS's?

On a side note, Craigsub is not considered a third party review? or when you use that term do you mean a professional reviewer like those of Audioholics or Tom Nousaine or the like?

Thanks again guys.

sorry i wasn't clear on my terminology. i meant 3rd party objective ground plane tests like that of avtalk.co.uk, hometheatershack.com and sometimes audioholics (tests by Mark Sanfilippo - he has access to anechoic chambers)

instead of two midlevel subs, start with a single ultra (since they're in canada anyway) - they have cylinder models that are significantly cheaper than the box ultras and take up less floor space.

 

[ThA tRiXtA]

They are $1849 before shipping, each.

Ouch dude.

Correction: $1849 is for a piano black PB13 ultra. However, that just so happens to be the finish I like. Damn you expensive tastes

 

[mike c]

They are $1849 before shipping, each.

Ouch dude.

Correction: $1849 is for a piano black PB13 ultra. However, that just so happens to be the finish I like. Damn you expensive tastes

i've had both textured black and piano black myself, and i prefer textured black. PB simply attracts too many fingerprints.

no go on the cylinder?

sonicboomaudio does offer discount on pairs...

 

[fredk]

Well then, a pair of PB13 ultras it is then!

Its nice to know that SonicBoom will demo the subs because I only live an hour away.

Fred

 

[ThA tRiXtA]

i've had both textured black and piano black myself, and i prefer textured black. PB simply attracts too many fingerprints.

no go on the cylinder?

sonicboomaudio does offer discount on pairs...

I have had a piano black Energy sub for years... I never seemed to have a problem, but then again I have a feeling I know who is causing your fingerprint problems...

Could it be that you live with spiderkid?

As for the cylinders, I love the big box enclosures, and especially if I were to go with an SVS, I would not pass up their beautiful boxed finishes.

I'd love to get 2 PB 13 ultras... oh to be rich.

 

[mike c]

I have had a piano black Energy sub for years... I never seemed to have a problem, but then again I have a feeling I know who is causing your fingerprint problems...

Could it be that you live with spiderkid?

As for the cylinders, I love the big box enclosures, and especially if I were to go with an SVS, I would not pass up their beautiful boxed finishes.

I'd love to get 2 PB 13 ultras... oh to be rich.

spiderkid hasn't even started to mess up my stuff yet.

he can't walk yet, but you're right, i should start armoring my stuff.

textured black:

 

[ThA tRiXtA]

I am in love with the driver on those ultras, looks so sweet.

I hate you for having two

 

[Exit]

"Thanks for the feedback Exit. May I ask why your family finds it undesirable for any frequency sub 20 Hz? My current sub only goes to 20 Hz so I am not aware of what it sounds like. (Perhaps "feels" is a better word.)"

Actually it is my daughter that complains about the low bass in general. She claims it is too loud and is damaging our ears. It is not the loudness, as I keep that low, but the low frequencies she is objecting to. I moved the tunig point to 20 Hz (didn't have to go to 25 Hz) and she does not notice the bass as much. She usually has to look at the receiver and see that it is lit before complaining (now she thinks every time the audio system is on we are getting harmful low bass). I guess the frequencies below 20 Hz perceived as a pressurization on the body and ear drum is mostly her objection. My test tone generator and discs only go to 20 Hz so I can not say that I can identify the below 20 Hz frequencies except by correlation with sounds on DVDs where people have identified the low bass frequencies use (i.e. reviews and SVS low bass listing). I think it may be that some people are genuinely bothered by low frerquency bass (i.e. below the music range) and it is a good idea to have a subwoofer with tuning flexibility to 16 Hz, 20 Hz and 25 Hz just in case you or someone in your family finds really low bass objectionable. I don't know if finding low bass objectionable is just a fabrication by my daughter or if it is a real consideration. Maybe someone can find an article to shed light on the subject.

She leaves for collage in about a year and I will probably retune the subwoofer for 16 Hz I think. Recalibrating the BFD will be a pain.

 

[zhimbo]

I don't know if finding low bass objectionable is just a fabrication by my daughter or if it is a real consideration. Maybe someone can find an article to shed light on the subject.

She leaves for collage in about a year and I will probably retune the subwoofer for 16 Hz I think. Recalibrating the BFD will be a pain.

Well, it may bother her, but it isn't going to hurt your hearing. The higher frequencies are what you have to worry about.

If low frequencies were an issue in hearing loss, THIS would be quite a problem:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fdiajaVrT0