Can you ever have too much sub???

[Johnny Canuck]

Just curious about something. When you go to the Hsu website, you put in all your info such as room size, components, music/movie preference yada yada , it comes back with the recommendation. Hsu recommended, for my room now, the STF 1.

I also see people using big subs like the VTF3, STF3 etc with little sattelite speakers. I have large tower speakers with a power amp on them in addition to my Denon 3805. I don't plan on living in my apartment, with a living room of 12 x 12 very much longer...shopping for a house. I have seen with the PSB 6i I have been auditioning that it is VERY loud in this room.

My question is: can one ever have a sub too big? Is it easy enough to just turn it down? On the sub volume control knob? Will it "blend" in the same no matter if it's too big/powerful?

My thinking is better to have too much than not enough. If you push a smaller, less powered sub like the one I blew recently, it really is putting a strain on the sub. You can see the woofer moving like crazy. With a bigger sub, you barely need to push it to achieve the same results. Considerably lowers the risk of blowing it. Much more efficient. Almost like driving a Porsche compared to a Toyota Echo. both will get you to 100 miles an hour, one just does it with less effort.

So when Hsu recommends a STF 1 for me is it because they think i will not necessarily need to waste money on a STF 3 or is it because the STF 1 will sound better? If I was to buy the STF 3, can i just turn it down in my present environment and still achieve the sound of the STF 1 like I was recommended? And have that extra just in case? or is a smaller sub recommended for a reason other than cost?

Sorry if I am not making sense.

 

[golfhack]

No need to apoligize Johnny, you made perfect sense (and it's a good question). Hsu (as well as SVS) are well known to not oversell you their products. Their recommendations are the minimum for your room dimensions. So if you wanted to save money, then you can go with their minimum recommendations. But like I said before, If you plan on moving in the future, you might be better off to go with the bigger sub (especially if it just costs a few coins more).

 

[Francious70]

In a short answer, yes and no.

Paul

 

[WAF!]

Ditto what Golfhack mentioned. As far as turning down a sub to blend with your mains that should be no problem at all with a quality sub. There are people out there buying Revel B-15's and the supersized SVS subs. These are the types of subs that can provide enough spl for movie theaters. I doubt their rooms are as big as movie theaters. So guess what they do? They turn the sub down until they are ready to be knocked over by extreme bass. More sub will provide better bass in the sense that the sound will be effortless as compared to a lesser sub. Hey you have already experienced this haven't you?An effortless sound at normal listening levels will provide a much better experience.

 

[warpdrive]

If you are moving into a new house, then you might as well buy more sub than you need now...if you plan on setting up your HT in your basement, then you'll need a lot of sub to fill up your typical basement.

I don't think you can ever have too much extension. 20Hz is meant to be felt in the bones....that's why the sound track people put it there.

Secondly, you can always equalize it out. Some people run their subs 2-5 dB above the flat level, you could always do the reverse. You could run your mains with a low crossover freq, and let your sub gently fill in the extremes. It's your choice!!!

But it's nice if the sub reproduces those really deep sounds, because that's what you hear in real life. If a real earthquake happens, you feel it. Your system should at least convey a bit of that.

 

[Johnny Canuck]

I ordered the Hsu STF 3 today!! Hopefully it will arrive before the long weekend!! $700 Canadian...delivered, taxes and shipping in. I am happy. And anxious. I also emailed Hsu to get a foam plug after reading the article on plugging the port on the STF series...wanting to know how much they will charge to send one, or if even they will at all. Sure you can use a towel...but if it's cheap enough....

 

[Rob Babcock]

I'm anxious to hear what you think of that bad boy when it shows up.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

I ordered the Hsu STF 3 today!! Hopefully it will arrive before the long weekend!! $700 Canadian...delivered, taxes and shipping in. I am happy. And anxious. I also emailed Hsu to get a foam plug after reading the article on plugging the port on the STF series...wanting to know how much they will charge to send one, or if even they will at all. Sure you can use a towel...but if it's cheap enough....

That thing is a monster! Almost 80lbs. Hope the neighbors are kind to you! Can't wait to see your comments after "Saving Private Ryan" and "U2".

 

[Johnny Canuck]

Funny buckeye you mention U2. You know the song "Numb"? the one the Edge sings from than stupid Zooropa album? Not one of my favorites, but the bass in that would probably blow my windows with this thing!!