Another help me decide Hsu or SVS thread

[foobrew]

I know there's a lot of similar threads to this already but after a couple weeks of scouring the forums here and a few other places...well, I'm much closer than I was but still have some questions. Getting down to it, my room is around 2,200 cu ft (maybe a little more), popcorn ceiling at 8', listening position is about 9' from fronts and 4' from the back wall and it's carpeted. I'm single and I have no neighbors For various reasons, chief among them is customer service reputation, I've narrowed my purchase decision down to SVS or Hsu. I'd like to stay under $1k..or so. The subs..

SVS: PB10-NSD, PB12-NSD
HSU: VTF-1, VTF2 MK3, VTF3 MK3

I've all but eliminated the VTF3 MK3 because of the side-firing thing. I'm just not sure I can put it somewhere it'll have more than a few inches in front of the driver or not be firing directly into the side of a front speaker or Blu-ray player, etc. This is the same reason I'm not so sure about considering Epiks either.

I just got a pair of Polk RTi A7's and am really liking them for music (once I dampened the high end with the EQ). They sound great with classical and rock so I don't think music will be much of a concern with the sub; it's mostly for HT. My current sub is a single Polk PSW350 (10", 100w, two ports). I thought it was going to explode watching Terminator: Salvation. It really hated that movie.

I suppose the biggest question I have is: are two smaller subs better than one big one for my situation and for the same/similar cost? Like two VTF-1's instead of a single VTF2 MK3? Or two PB10's instead of a 12? Do I even need to be thinking of dual subs for my size room or would something like a PB10 be plenty? I know all these options are probably good, I'm just trying to find something to push me towards one more than the others.

 

[sholling]

You're got some nice choices listed. The only thing I see as a potential problem is if things are all that tight you may not have enough clearance for down firing subs like the Hsu models you listed. And I'd stay with models that are rated down to at least 20hz (eliminating the VTF-1). Anyway just for fun I'll toss out some other ideas.

My master bedroom is 3000cuft and a Hsu ULS-15 does the job nicely. You can get a b-stock in walnut for just over $1100. I just wouldn't want to challenge it with more than about a total of 4000cuft including any adjoining areas the room might be open to. The advantage is it's front firing and dinky and does 15-200hz +-1db. I'm really happy with this sub.

Another possibility that I had on my short list was a pair eD's A5s-300. You can get two of those for $1000 including shipping. I haven't heard one but they claim 19-100hz +-3db. Again small front firing sealed subs.

A pair of PB10-NSD should rock. So would a PC12-NSD in a back corner of the room Or the PB12-NSD you suggested either up front or as an end table. I like to have plenty of sub.

 

[Matt34]

I know there's a lot of similar threads to this already but after a couple weeks of scouring the forums here and a few other places...well, I'm much closer than I was but still have some questions. Getting down to it, my room is around 2,200 cu ft (maybe a little more), popcorn ceiling at 8', listening position is about 9' from fronts and 4' from the back wall and it's carpeted. I'm single and I have no neighbors For various reasons, chief among them is customer service reputation, I've narrowed my purchase decision down to SVS or Hsu. I'd like to stay under $1k..or so. The subs..

SVS: PB10-NSD, PB12-NSD
HSU: VTF-1, VTF2 MK3, VTF3 MK3

I've all but eliminated the VTF3 MK3 because of the side-firing thing. I'm just not sure I can put it somewhere it'll have more than a few inches in front of the driver or not be firing directly into the side of a front speaker or Blu-ray player, etc. This is the same reason I'm not so sure about considering Epiks either.

I just got a pair of Polk RTi A7's and am really liking them for music (once I dampened the high end with the EQ). They sound great with classical and rock so I don't think music will be much of a concern with the sub; it's mostly for HT. My current sub is a single Polk PSW350 (10", 100w, two ports). I thought it was going to explode watching Terminator: Salvation. It really hated that movie.

I suppose the biggest question I have is: are two smaller subs better than one big one for my situation and for the same/similar cost? Like two VTF-1's instead of a single VTF2 MK3? Or two PB10's instead of a 12? Do I even need to be thinking of dual subs for my size room or would something like a PB10 be plenty? I know all these options are probably good, I'm just trying to find something to push me towards one more than the others.

You can't go wrong with either company IMO. Check the availability of B-stock products and you could get dual PB12-NSD or VTF-2 Mk3 for around the top of your budget.