Help choosing between Subs

[audion3wb]

First off my main problem is that I live in Alaska so shipping is a thorn in my side. I am trying to get a sub in the 1k price range. So far I have narrowed it down to...

MFW15 is $700 plus $340 to shipped= $1040
EP500 has shipping included so shipped=$1200
HSU VTF3 MK3 is $699 plus $240 ship= $940 (if I add turbo it tacks on another 120 from shipping)
SVS PB12 Plus is $950 plus $315 shipped=$1265

So those are my choices from what I have been reading. What I need to know is how do these subs stack up against eachother. I honestly lean towards the EP500 because if I have a warranty issue Axiom will ship replacement parts for free which with the other guys would be really expensive (like $150-$200 for a replacement amp). With the other guys the warranty is almost pointless because shipping costs for replacement could be 20%-30% the cost of the sub.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks

 

[mazersteven]

MFW15 is $700 plus $340 to shipped= $1040
EP500 has shipping included so shipped=$1200
HSU VTF3 MK3 is $699 plus $240 ship= $940 (if I add turbo it tacks on another 120 from shipping)
SVS PB12 Plus is $950 plus $315 shipped=$1265

So those are my choices from what I have been reading. What I need to know is how do these subs stack up against eachother. I honestly lean towards the EP500 because if I have a warranty issue Axiom will ship replacement parts for free which with the other guys would be really expensive (like $150-$200 for a replacement amp). With the other guys the warranty is almost pointless because shipping costs for replacement could be 20%-30% the cost of the sub.

I wouldn't want to be in your snow shoes.

I'd be worried about structural damage to the igloo.

 

[jamie2112]

SVS is my vote for the sub.

 

[Midcow2]

Another vote for SVS

SVS is my vote for the sub.

I second Jamie's vote. But ... it looks like you have a good set of choice. As with other speakers, is there anyway you can audition? The ultimate person to please is YOU

 

[Gimpy Ric]

SVS or HSU. I've ownend both, and they are excellent.

 

[speakerman39]

First off my main problem is that I live in Alaska so shipping is a thorn in my side. I am trying to get a sub in the 1k price range. So far I have narrowed it down to...

MFW15 is $700 plus $340 to shipped= $1040
EP500 has shipping included so shipped=$1200
HSU VTF3 MK3 is $699 plus $240 ship= $940 (if I add turbo it tacks on another 120 from shipping)
SVS PB12 Plus is $950 plus $315 shipped=$1265

So those are my choices from what I have been reading. What I need to know is how do these subs stack up against eachother. I honestly lean towards the EP500 because if I have a warranty issue Axiom will ship replacement parts for free which with the other guys would be really expensive (like $150-$200 for a replacement amp). With the other guys the warranty is almost pointless because shipping costs for replacement could be 20%-30% the cost of the sub.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks

There is a member here named bugbitten that had an EP500 for sale at a very good price. You might want to see if he still has it. His name is Doug and he is a very nice guy. Not sure of the shipping to you though. Good Lord those shipping charges are high. Good luck in your decision. As far as the others you listed, you would be hard pressed to go wrong with any of them.

Cheers,

Phil

 

[MinusTheBear]

I wouldn't want to be in your snow shoes.

I'd be worried about structural damage to the igloo.

The sun is more of a problem. Now that we have global warming, in Canada our temperatures rise above 0 degrees celcius

 

[MinusTheBear]

They are all good options, in reality there is no wrong choice here. However just to let you know AV123 just issued an ECO (Engineering Change Order) for the MFW-15 due to buzzing (non-ground loop related) issues they were having with the subs. For the people that were experiencing this problem there is a DIY fix.

 

[mazersteven]

Because you are in a situation were you need to get this right the first time. I am going to refer you to some members that have auditioned, tested, and measured the subwoofers in question. I recommend you contact them for their opinions.

Ilkka
http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/members/ilkka.html

Craigsub
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/member.php?u=7441406

 

[audion3wb]

What about the cylindrical subs from SVS? They weigh a lot less which would make shipping substantially more affordable for me.

 

[mazersteven]

What about the cylindrical subs from SVS? They weigh a lot less which would make shipping substantially more affordable for me.

Also great subs.

 

[Haoleb]

They are all good options, in reality there is no wrong choice here. However just to let you know AV123 just issued an ECO (Engineering Change Order) for the MFW-15 due to buzzing (non-ground loop related) issues they were having with the subs. For the people that were experiencing this problem there is a DIY fix.

Yes, people stuffing socks in there IIRC. I follow the av123 forums and it does seem like quite a few people have issues with that sub. Nearly everyone seems to have a hum, Then theres the buzz issue you talk about.. I have also read of people who have gotten subs with screws stripped out on the back plates and not being inset properly, even one guy who took the front baffle off and discovered that the driver itself was held on with only 4 out of 8 screws. Mark seems like a genuinely caring person and I doubt that he approves of this type of thing but personally, I'm glad that I canceled my order for one of them because of the shipping being too much.

Obviously if someone has an issue they are going to post in on the forums so even though they have shipped hundreds of units so far and im sure many many that are just fine it does seem like they have some more bugs to work out before its a solid enough product that I would reccomend it.

 

[MinusTheBear]

I do not have any exprience with SVS or HSU products but my experience with Axiom, all 3 seperate orders I have put into them I recieved my products in 2 - 4 days. The 2 orders I put into av123 I waited 3 months for my first order and about 4 weeks for the next. The MFW-15 is also is in high demand so depending on finish and a or b stock, you might have a long wait before you receive it

 

[ivseenbetter]

Have you considered DIY? It's usually the best bang for the buck and you aren't looking at near the same shipping costs.

 

[audion3wb]

I havent thought about DIY at all. I have zero experience making speakers and wouldn't even know where to start.

 

[Adam]

What about the cylindrical subs from SVS? They weigh a lot less which would make shipping substantially more affordable for me.

An excellent option, IMO. I own the PC13-Ultra and absolutely love it. I went back and forth between the box and cylindrical designs, but the only thing that the box designs had going for them from my perspective were nicer surface finishes. Once I got my cylinder, I was quite happy with the look of the sub - the shape, as well as the cloth.

 

[the grunt]

EP500 has shipping included so shipped=$1200

Have you looked at the Axiom Factory Outlet. I think the EP500 is presently 1,107 USD.

I honestly lean towards the EP500 because if I have a warranty issue Axiom will ship replacement parts for free which with the other guys would be really expensive (like $150-$200 for a replacement amp). With the other guys the warranty is almost pointless because shipping costs for replacement could be 20%-30% the cost of the sub.

Here is a recent article on this site about how Axiom supported one of it’s customer’s EP500s.

http://www.audioholics.com/news/editorials/customer-service


That said I also second Mazer’s recommendation:

Because you are in a situation were you need to get this right the first time. I am going to refer you to some members that have auditioned, tested, and measured the subwoofers in question. I recommend you contact them for their opinions.

Ilkka
http://www.hometheatershack.com/foru...ers/ilkka.html

Craigsub
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/member.php?u=7441406

Cheers,
Dean

 

[audion3wb]

I have looked at the outlet price for the EP500 and it is tempting. I had also previously read about Axioms great customer service which is also a good mark for them. I read the audioholics review and they made the EP500 sound like the best thing in the world but on the forums I really don't see a lot of people talking about how great they are vs SVS and HSU.

On the topic of the SVS cylinders. Anyone have experience with the PC 16-46? I read a lot at the SVS website and I am wondering what the max SPL is going to be on this sub. As you can see below I am sure a SVS cylinder would be a quantum leap forward from what I have now in freq resp and SPL but Im still curious.


EXPLANATION FOR THIS POST, by the way

I am upgrading from a Polk Audio DSWPRO 500 because I have been able to notice the sub "bottom out" when playing music. I turned the sub off and changed my front channels to full range and they actually sounded better when the bass got really really deep but still not great but I really dont expect my RTIA7s to reproduce below 35Hz. It was just a nasty vibration sound with the sub and I feel that a better sub would correct the issue.
I have noticed it on a few different songs but for some reason on Elton Johns' song Believe the first 15 seconds is enough to make me turn off the sub. Typical rock music sounds fine but its like 1 song out of 20 or so has parts that just aren't pleasing and its allways bass related.

Why don't songs like that sound like crap when I listen to them in my truck or just a cheap stereo, is it because my sub is trying to reproduce stuff that it cant?

 

[Adam]

On the topic of the SVS cylinders. Anyone have experience with the PC 16-46? I read a lot at the SVS website and I am wondering what the max SPL is going to be on this sub.

Which line are you interested in? PCi, PC-Plus, or (come on, you know you want to ) the Ultra?

As for questions about SVS gear, please also contact them (if you haven't already). I was always impressed with their responses to my questions about their products, both before and after a sale. Honestly, sometimes I was shocked at the length of the responses - much more detail and good explanation than I had ever expected.

 

[audion3wb]

Im looking at the PC-Plus. Remember I am trying to stay around 1k and I just don't think the difference from PC-Plus to Ultra is going to be worth the extra $450. Considering an extra 450 is a big jump out of my budget.

I take it the cylinder is more than capable of dealing out bass that you can feel then?