Hsu??

[yepimonfire]

considering buying this sub, i've heard good things about HSU, what do you guys think? http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/stf-2.html

 

[skizzerflake]

I have one, an STF-2 and it's great in my relatively small 10 X 12 movie/music room. It provides a massive bottom, down to about the mid-20's and melds well with my NHT speakers when I set up my receiver to use a hard break at 70hz. The only problem I have with it is that it wants to walk around the room and strain on its wire when the movie is a boomer. I put about 30 pounds of books on top. Buck for buck, I doubt that you can do better.

 

[yepimonfire]

hahahaha thats awesome for a demonstration! i just want to make sure i can play WOTW on full volume without it sounding like a harley

 

[anamorphic96]

hahahaha thats awesome for a demonstration! i just want to make sure i can play WOTW on full volume without it sounding like a harley

I own one as well and it's a pretty impressive sub for the price. As stated above, it's flat to 25hz then starts rolling off.

If your looking to play WOTW at near reference levels you need to look elsewhere. The STF 2 only goes to 25hz and WOTW goes much lower. 15 to 16hz if I'm not mistaken. You should probably look at the ED A2-300 or something with much better extension and output.

Here is a good review with measurements.

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/forum/thread/189521/hsu-research-stf-2-subwoofer-test-review

 

[sholling]

I'd save a bit longer for something like a PC12-NSD. I understand that it's twice the price but it's going to go lower and play louder. Or perhaps an eD A3-300. I haven't heard the eD but the specs are better than the Hsu.

 

[j_garcia]

Yep, what everyone else said. I had an earlier VTF-2, which is similar in specs to the STF-2 (except that it had variable tune) and it also didn't really dig that deep, so this isn't the sub that you are going to want for WOTW performance. I'd seriously be looking at the Epik Legend.

 

[rnatalli]

At $350, HSU and eD are the best picks IMO. But the Epik Legend at $500 is hard to pass up.

 

[GranteedEV]

At this price range you can't go wrong with HSU.

But if you want the full war of the worlds experience, you should look into DIY

 

[shadyJ]

If he wants the War in the Worlds experience, nothing in that price range will get him there. That being said, the STF2 is a great little sub, I used to have one. Terrific for music, and great for movies. Mine never moved around at all though. To the advice to save for a Epik Legend, I really doubt the Epik Legend will get you that much closer to a visceral WotW experience. For just a bit more than the Legend, you could have the Outlaw Audio LFM-1 Plus or Hsu VTF2 mk3, which will most likely get much more out of WotW. I would say though, if you are not interested in deep bass home theater, but care more about music, go for the VTF1 which is on sale right now for nearly the same price as the STF2, and run that in max output mode. By the way, I used to have a Elemental Designs A3-300, and even it struggled with War of the Worlds if you took it anywhere near reference, so I'm guessing you would definitely be pushing the A2-300 to its limits.

 

[j_garcia]

To the advice to save for a Epik Legend, I really doubt the Epik Legend will get you that much closer to a visceral WotW experience.

I have the Empire and I didn't think it would have the kind of output that it does, so I do think the Legend would be a significant step up from the STF-2 both in quality and output by a fairly large margin. We are talking dual 12s sealed (claimed 16Hz capability) vs a single 12" vented tuned to ~25Hz. We haven't seen actual numbers on the Legend, so we can't really say for sure, but I don't doubt that it will be a very good sub for the price. I have to be honest, the VTF-2 and the LFM-1 Plus also probably won't be able to compete with the output of the Legend I am guessing. You'd have to be looking at the VTF-3 to get comparable IMO.

I was concerned that the Empire would leave me wanting for output compared to my former Tempest, but that concern went right out the window the first time I fired it up.

Aren't you in the area YIOF? http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68961 I'd jump on that one.

 

[GranteedEV]

If he wants the War in the Worlds experience, nothing in that price range will get him there.

Totally agree

 

[bandit]

j_garcia -

I saw you have the Empire - I was planning to do DIY system awhile back and a few gave me some great advice - only issue is that I seriously never get the time to take it on.. I've also been thinking of the Empire - sounds like your satisfied with it and the output is good. I've seen your replies comments on the boards for awhile and usually you do give good advice..
So.. question is do you see any draw backs to the empire?

Bandit

 

[shadyJ]

I don't doubt the legend will be a good subwoofer, but I don't see how it could have more output than the Outlaw or Hsu subs, or the ED A3-300 for that matter, especially in the deep bass regions, which is what you are claiming. From my admittedly limited understanding of subwoofer design, that just does not stand to reason. Two drivers would certainly be an advantage, but that output advantage is halved in a sealed enclosure. And then there is the matter of capability of the drivers themselves, I can't see the Epik driver having equal performance characteristics of the Hsu, Outlaw, or ED drivers. This disadvantage is made even greater by the fact that Epik's amplifier power is divided between the two drivers. If you wanted to overcome the limitations of this design to outperform the larger ported 12" subs, you would need a lot of power and high excursion drivers, like those found in some of the Sunfire subwoofers. But even then, I would not expect the Sunfire to equal the output of the Hsu, Outlaw, or ED at their tuning points, although above and below that I would expect the Sunfire sub to have more output. By the way, the Outlaw, Hsu, and EDs tuning points are 18 hertz, although the Outlaw and Hsu can be adjusted to have 25 hertz tuning points.

But, like I said before, my understanding of subs isn't as complete as many of the enthusiasts around here, please correct me if I am wrong on any of this theorizing.

 

[bandphan]

The legend will have more than enough usable output to justify the purchase. For the price Ill say nothing beats it yet. The empire has proved that the design works and can pressurize most rooms easily. The dual 12 will be very strong.

 

[pbmpharmacist]

For what it's worth, if my best friend asked me what sub brand to buy right now (in a reasonable price range), I'd give him 3 names: Hsu, Epik, and Rythmik.

 

[yepimonfire]

i'm not looking to hit 15hz, just play movies at reference levels without the extreme port chuffing and bottoming out of my polk. and i could never afford an epik. max is 500 for me.

 

[sholling]

i'm not looking to hit 15hz, just play movies at reference levels without the extreme port chuffing and bottoming out of my polk. and i could never afford an epik. max is 500 for me.

See whats available locally used.

 

[anamorphic96]

i'm not looking to hit 15hz, just play movies at reference levels without the extreme port chuffing and bottoming out of my polk. and i could never afford an epik. max is 500 for me.

In your price range ED is going to offer the most output and extension.

 

[jamie2112]

You know I am really kind of sick and tired of people saying their subs go down to 10hz or 15hz.....whatever, your freaking ears can't hear below 25 hz and that is super hearing people.I have read so much and also been involved in the live/studio world for 25 years now.I have done my own tests and quite a few others as well.The sub we are discussing here is a great sub for the money and will do you right in a small to medium sized room.There are only so many variables for low end pressurization in any given room.PEOPLE..... Your ears can't hear the 15hz stuff its only feeling and really, you can't feel 10hz although many idiots will swear they do.Its impossible for the human ear to pick up those frequency's,but some people will swear they can hear that low.I have been nominated for several grammy"s and have had 3 platinum discs released during my time as an audio engineer.This hz thing is BALONEY!!!!! Sorry I have had a bad day and am sick of overinformed toolbags making bogus claims and untrue statements.PLEASE ,this is a site for "truth"in audio so lets act like it.Go ahead, read, google,explore, but realize that there are many lies and snake oil in this industry and some of us actually know what we are saying to be true.Sorry for the rant and to answer the OP's question :great sub for the cost........
Also I will not talk about any of my nominations or awards here or on any site.I have no need to prove anything I just believe in truth in audio which is why people like Gene and Tom and Clint have my respect.



Thanks have a good night...........Pics of another Europe tour to come......

 

[yepimonfire]

You know I am really kind of sick and tired of people saying their subs go down to 10hz or 15hz.....whatever, your freaking ears can't hear below 25 hz and that is super hearing people.I have read so much and also been involved in the live/studio world for 25 years now.I have done my own tests and quite a few others as well.The sub we are discussing here is a great sub for the money and will do you right in a small to medium sized room.There are only so many variables for low end pressurization in any given room.PEOPLE..... Your ears can't hear the 15hz stuff its only feeling and really, you can't feel 10hz although many idiots will swear they do.Its impossible for the human ear to pick up those frequency's,but some people will swear they can hear that low.I have been nominated for several grammy"s and have had 3 platinum discs released during my time as an audio engineer.This hz thing is BALONEY!!!!! Sorry I have had a bad day and am sick of overinformed toolbags making bogus claims and untrue statements.PLEASE ,this is a site for "truth"in audio so lets act like it.Go ahead, read, google,explore, but realize that there are many lies and snake oil in this industry and some of us actually know what we are saying to be true.Sorry for the rant and to answer the OP's question :great sub for the cost........
Also I will not talk about any of my nominations or awards here or on any site.I have no need to prove anything I just believe in truth in audio which is why people like Gene and Tom and Clint have my respect.



Thanks have a good night...........Pics of another Europe tour to come......

whoa calm down buddy. younger people can hear down to 15hz, i can, sure the threshold is much higher but i can still hear it. and tbh, the frequencies you "feel" are higher, like running test tones ive noticed 40hz, and 60hz are the ones that shake your body, ive never "felt" 15hz. imo no sub needs to go down below 18hz. but there are fundamentals that "modulate" (maybe the wrong word) the higher frequencies, like a helicopter has an 11hz fundamental. and i am sorry you had a bad day, hopefully things get better.