Help me choose..SVS, Hsu or PSB

[Johnny Canuck]

I would imagine this has been asked a ton here, but what is my best buy?

Remember I live in Canada. SVS and Hsu have to be shipped across border for a fee.

I am demoing a Psb Subsonic 6i this weekend as we speak...sounds great.

i can not hear a SVSPB10 or the HsU products. Can I get some help please??

What is the diff between the ST series and VT series from Hsu?

I can get the SVS PB10 delivered to my house for approx $700 Canadian. All taxes and fees.

I can buy this Psb 6i (12") for approx $840.

A Velodyne SPL series 2 800 for $1040.

The HSU's have great reviews and I just noticed a price drop.

THANK YOU!!!!

 

[snakeyes]

little above the prices you have but look at the axiom ep500 and ep600

 

[Tex-amp]

Hsu has a Canadian distributor now. I'd e-mail Hsu and find out about it.

 

[warnerwh]

I'll second the HSu now that you can get them in Canada. I feel for you guys. I've shipped up there several times and it can be an extra pain. Not to mention you get dinged by UPS and customs is awful. Dr. HSU has an excellent quality line of subs and the prices are very good for the money. Spend a bit of money and you won't be wanting.

 

[Johnny Canuck]

A few questions:

1)Regarding the SVS PB10. it says to place it minimum 3 feet from your TV. My current set up is a sub 6-8 inches from my TV...it's a 12", PSB subsonic 6i. My Polk 404 was fine there too...is this sub shielded? Fairly well?


2) is the extra $150 for the PB12 worth it? Will the 10 be enough?

3)Conserning HSU, i read they are down firing. Will my neighbours downstairs hear that more, especially with hard wood floors?

I am leaning towards the PB10 right now. delivered to my door for just under $700 canadian

 

[shokhead]

I just got the SVS 20-39pci and it is for sure the WOW factor and the cylinder tucks real nice into the corner. You can call or e-mail SVS with your room size,layout and equipment and they will give you an honest answer what will work best. Cant go wrong with HSU either.

 

[golfhack]

Hey Johnny,

As for question #1, you might contact SVS to find out if the sub is shielded. I don't think it is though (but don't quote me on that). I read somewhere that magnetic influences only affect tube TV's, so if you have a rear-projection, it may not affect it - so you might want to keep that in mind.

As for question #2, IMO the extra $150 is worth it for the 12", especially if you want the extra extended low frequency as well as the higher spl output. This is especially important in movies (in particular - action movies). But if you mainly listen to music and don't watch all that many action flicks, then the 10" should suffice.

As for question #3, lol...I don't know how you will get around your neighbor not hearing the effects of a subwoofer. But, keep in mind that frequencies around 20 Hz are subsonic (wall-shaking bass). Having said that, in order to minimize the disturbance to your neigbors, you may very well stay away from those frequencies. Remember bass is omni-directional so it shouldn't matter if the woofer is down-firing or front-firing.

In your quest to find the best subwoofer from a choice of two or more, all I can say is don't drive yourself crazy. All of these subs you have listed are good subs. Just try to narrow your decision down to the options that you will NEED with your sub (i.e. balanced or unbalanced inputs, continuously variable phase, high level outputs, etc. etc.). Good luck and I hope this helps. BTW, you can always just do a coin toss, as most people end up doing anyway.

 

[Johnny Canuck]

Thanks golfhack! great advice.

i only wish i could hear the hsu or svs products, this is why i ask so many questions hoping to hear from people who have heard them.

The svs is not shielded...just got that info from an email from svs. But neither is this psb apparantly and my Tv (a Panasonic TAO tube) is not discoloured at all and it's sitting right beside my TV!! maybe 6" away!!

Are the Hsu's shielded?

so now I am just waiting to hear back from Hsu dealers in canada for a price and shipping costs. I don't know which hsu models to compare. I do like the fact the VTF models can be set to loud or low, but i like the fact the SVS has a variable phase. maybe that's not important? Also the STF series (the STF 3) looks good, better than the VTF 2. Decisions Decisions!! maybe flip a coin like you said.

 

[golfhack]

No prob. Johnny. Glad to here there's no discoloration from the PSB. The HSU probably isn't shielded either. You'll find that a lot of sub manufacturers leave this option out since subs are usually placed long distances away from the tv - usually. I too like the multiple porting/flexibility option. Almost like getting two different subs in one. Phase is important, but whether a continuously variable phase is that much more important - I don't know. Phase is frequency dependent. Remember, at the crossover point sound is coming from both your satellites as well as your sub, so it is important that at this frequency both are in phase with each other. Yup...more than likely a coin toss.

 

[Johnny Canuck]

Like I said, waiting to hear from Hsu. want to see what it costs in Canada.

Funny, the lower costing Psb's have video shielding.

So between the SVS PB10, the Hsu VTF3 or STF3, what would you buy??

The Htu STF3 has better specs than the VTF3 but it's not adjustable like the VTF. Then again, the SVS PB10 is cheaper.... Argh!!!

 

[shokhead]

www.ecoustics.com has lots of reviews.

 

[Tdekany]

.

So between the SVS PB10, the Hsu VTF3 or STF3, what would you buy??

The Htu STF3 has better specs than the VTF3 but it's not adjustable like the VTF. Then again, the SVS PB10 is cheaper.... Argh!!!

If you can afford the VTF3 MKII (or the STF3), it is a no brainer. Never heard an SVS sub though, but Dr Hsu's subs are excellent with music and match truly high end speakers as well. I also have a STF2 and in a larger than normal living room I am afraid to push it to it's limits. With a pioneer 912 receiver at -25 the 10" woofer shakes the whole building.svs is not the only sub that goes low and loud. The STF3 will also get the upgrade option later this summer. That is also something to consider.

The STF doesn't have better specs than the VTF.

 

[shokhead]

Of course SVS isnt the only sub. If you havent heard of SVSubwoofers,better refresh yourself on subs. Not many in the 600 dollar price range will shake your house like they will. People that have had $2000 subs will they ya they tried one and couldnt belive how much better they are. But for sure,there are others out there but i must say,all the reviews i have read by the pro's couldnt say enough good things about them.

 

[Johnny Canuck]

Tdekany

are you afraid to push it in fear of blowing it? Or afraid the windows will blow??? I just blew a Polk PSW 404 so i am afraid of blowing my next sub.

Upgrade? Where did you hear that?

 

[warpdrive]

Like I said, waiting to hear from Hsu. want to see what it costs in Canada.

Funny, the lower costing Psb's have video shielding.

So between the SVS PB10, the Hsu VTF3 or STF3, what would you buy??

The Htu STF3 has better specs than the VTF3 but it's not adjustable like the VTF.

No. The VTF-3 has better specs than the STF-3. You are reading it wrong.

The VTF-3 is the superior of all the subs you listed.

You have to buy a Hsu sub in Canada through retail or distributor. You CANNOT order it directly.

 

[Tdekany]

Of course SVS isnt the only sub. If you havent heard of SVSubwoofers,better refresh yourself on subs. Not many in the 600 dollar price range will shake your house like they will. People that have had $2000 subs will they ya they tried one and couldnt belive how much better they are. But for sure,there are others out there but i must say,all the reviews i have read by the pro's couldnt say enough good things about them.

Every sub has a trade off - I'll take HSU's ACCURATE sound and 18Hz extention (more like 16Hz really) any day for $599 or even $649 not to mention the upcoming **UPGRADES**

There are several svs owners who have posted about their sub not being *tight* enough to match their speakers. If you are a bass head that may not be an issue, but you never hear that about Hsu subs. With Hsu, **I** get the best of both worlds (music/movies)

There are alot more positive reviews about Hsu, but Hsu has been building subs a lot longer than svs.

Btw, I don't really care what the original poster ends up purchasing, (every story has 2 sides) I just hope that he will be completely satisfied like you and I.

 

[Tdekany]

Tdekany

are you afraid to push it in fear of blowing it? Or afraid the windows will blow??? I just blew a Polk PSW 404 so i am afraid of blowing my next sub.

Upgrade? Where did you hear that?

No, I am afraid to loose my lease. In my girlfriend's house I abuse the STF3 (in max extention mode ) when my girlfriend's isn't home. I also have 2 12" HSU 1203s in my car. I abuse them all! They are very reliable.

There will be a *turbo* upgrade for the vtf2/3 and stf3s more extension, more spl is what I hear. visit www.hsuresearch.com and join the forum. Search for ""turbo""

 

[warpdrive]

Every sub has a trade off - I'll take HSU's ACCURATE sound and 18Hz extention (more like 16Hz really) any day for $599 or even $649 not to mention the upcoming **UPGRADES**

There are several svs owners who have posted about their sub not being *tight* enough to match their speakers. If you are a bass head that may not be an issue, but you never hear that about Hsu subs. With Hsu, **I** get the best of both worlds (music/movies)

There are alot more positive reviews about Hsu, but Hsu has been building subs a lot longer than svs.

Btw, I don't really care what the original poster ends up purchasing, (every story has 2 sides) I just hope that he will be completely satisfied like you and I.

Tdekany

Yes I agree....I would pick Hsu myself as the top contender.

I actually I ended up buying a Mirage for various reasons, but I'd rather buy the Hsu VTF-3 overall any comparable SVS myself for reasons you listed above.

They have taken time to set up a Canadian distributor....which is better for us Canadians.

This is a minor point but....some of the unprofessional arguments in other forums from SVS fanboys/spokepeople really turned me off them personally. I like the fact that Dr Hsu himself answers emails, phone calls, and genuinely like to listen to the customers and address their concerns. Very refreshing.

Personally, for us in Canada, I would NOT take the chance with a sub imported directly. If there are problems, it's a big hassle and expense to have to ship stuff back to the USA. Hsu being officially distributed in Canada doesn't have this problem.

For the original poster, I'd rather take advantage of great pricing on local Canadian brands like Paradigm, PSB, Energy, Mirage....some of their great subs are often overlooked in the deafening SVS/Hsu fervent momentum. No doubt SVS/Hsu makes a great product....if you can handle a Hsu VTF-3 (size/price), it's a definite top pick. I'd skip over SVS for reasons already mentioned, and keep the PSB 6i near the top of my list. As I said in the other thread, I bought a Mirage Omni S12 which really is a great sub, and met my needs (size and price). While it is no VTF-3, it's a worthy sub, and I have a local dealer that gave me a great price.

Here are the CDN prices for the Hsu line
STF-2 $549
STF-3 $799
VTF-2 Mk2 $699
VTF-3 Mk2 $999

You might be able to save 7-10% over those prices if you ask nicely. Add shipping + tax

So here is my picks in order
#1 Hsu VTF-3
#2 either PSB 6i or STF-3 (both comparable in price, similar measured performance)
#3 SVS PB10

 

[shokhead]

Every sub has a trade off - I'll take HSU's ACCURATE sound and 18Hz extention (more like 16Hz really) any day for $599 or even $649 not to mention the upcoming **UPGRADES**

There are several svs owners who have posted about their sub not being *tight* enough to match their speakers. If you are a bass head that may not be an issue, but you never hear that about Hsu subs. With Hsu, **I** get the best of both worlds (music/movies)

There are alot more positive reviews about Hsu, but Hsu has been building subs a lot longer than svs.

Btw, I don't really care what the original poster ends up purchasing, (every story has 2 sides) I just hope that he will be completely satisfied like you and I.

A good sub is a good sub,better for music or movies is crap,imo of course. I can only go on what i've read and heard and most like SVS and HSU but most end up with SVS and i havent heard from an unhappy byter yet,nor from HSU. Never seen the DR. answer anything other then e-mails as his spokemens are on the other forums alot answering questions and has said he's to busy to get on forums or talk to peopole on the phone. Spokemen from HSU and SVS are ofter on forums debating there subs and its great to listen to until somebody thinks thay are fighting and they stop posting and screws up a great debate. Those SVS fanboys are SVS owners saying how great they are,HSU has the same boys,owners of great subs.

 

[Tdekany]

A good sub is a good sub,better for music or movies is crap,imo of course. I can only go on what i've read and heard and most like SVS and HSU but most end up with SVS and i havent heard from an unhappy byter yet,nor from HSU. Never seen the DR. answer anything other then e-mails as his spokemens are on the other forums alot answering questions and has said he's to busy to get on forums or talk to peopole on the phone.Never seen the DR. answer anything other then e-mails as his spokemens are on the other forums alot answering questions and has said he's to busy to get on forums or talk to peopole on the phone. Spokemen from HSU and SVS are ofter on forums debating there subs and its great to listen to until somebody thinks thay are fighting and they stop posting and screws up a great debate. Those SVS fanboys are SVS owners saying how great they are,HSU has the same boys,owners of great subs.

A good sub is a good sub,better for music or movies is crap,imo of course. Shall we say you need to learn more about subs?

most end up with SVS since neither one of us know who sells more subs, you are just speculating. The "svs" voice on these forums are no doubt overwhelmingly in favor of svs. Maybe the owners of HSU listen to their systems instead of spending their time selling Hsu Research to others on line.

Never seen the DR. answer anything other then e-mails as his spokemens are on the other forums alot answering questions and has said he's to busy to get on forums or talk to peopole on the phone.

Nothing could be further from the truth. If he is in the office he will talk to you. Where do you get your info from? Dr Hsu spends alot of time on R&D that is why he isn't on line all the time like some other owners. He can also be reached on the HSU website in the forums.

I am not sure what *how he condacts business* has to do with the 1st post.

Hey - you like svs and you recommend it. I like Hsu and I recommend it. Give the original poster some credit and let him chose. After all it is his money, not ours.

Let me make your day.

Buy svs, it is the best man!