Help me choose..SVS, Hsu or PSB

[shokhead]

I belive most by posts said you cant go wrong with either. You cant. I still say a good sub is a good sub,movies or music. Pretty sure i never said,buy this because everything else is crap. Come on. I just think SVS and HSU are good bang for the buck and i like the cylinder sub. I throw it out there,it up to the person to use it as he will. How's this,i love HSU,better then sex.

 

[Tdekany]

How's this,i love HSU,better then sex.

I'd say you'd need some form of professional help.

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

to compare apples to apples, the natural HSU competitior to the SVS PB10-isd is the STF-2, not the STF/VTF-3. (both 10" drivers, smallers amps, etc).

And SVS's are not "boomy". A Bazooka 8" bass-tube is "boomy".

And its practically impossible to determine if SVS or HSU has the more "musical" sub from reviews. As the reviewer is more likely to try and sell the brand he/she owns over "the other guy". You'll really have to get one of each and hear for yourself! (like that could be a bad thing).

 

[golfhack]

BOYS...BOYS, let me step in here and just mention a sub that would whip both of their butts...BOSE!!! ...WHACK,POW,BANG,OUCH...OKAY,OKAY...you can stop throwing things now!!! Seriously though, Ninja is right (in a way). Apples to apples should be cost to cost and not size of woofer to woofer from a consumer's point of view. But from a performance point of view Ninja is right. Where I do disagree with Ninja is in the statement "You'll really have to get one of each and hear for yourself! (like that could be a bad thing)." I believe this is a bad thing, because not too many of us can afford both, let alone the lost of a couple hundred dollars due to shipping cost. Don't kick my a** for saying that Ninja!!! It's hard to beat the musicality of a sealed sub. But don't forget, above the ported frequency, the ported sub will act similar to a sealed one. Which lends the case to the benefits of frequency extension (i.e. the lower the extension, the lower the ported frequency and let us keep in mind that music rarely falls into the lowest octave).

 

[MDS]

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?

Actually anyone who believes otherwise is the one that needs to learn more about subs. A sub reproduces BASS - it neither knows nor cares if the source of the bass is music, movies, or music within a movie. If it has a relatively flat frequency response over its stated range and can achieve the SPL you require, then it will be good for movies and music.

When people say that one sub is good for movies but no so 'musical', that means that the sub is a poor performer. That's because explosions and stomping dinosaur feet rely purely on loudness for their effect which is different than accurately reproducing the subtle differences between bass notes one would find in music. So instead of the tired debate of 'good for movies vs good for music' one should concentrate on finding a sub that they feel sounds good on music - then it will automatically do well for movies.

 

[shokhead]

Thats it,its either good or not. The few subs i've ever heard were either not a good sub or were good subs. Now your going to get the boxy,boomy,not tight enough for music,you know all that stuff.

 

[golfhack]

Hmmm...could the keyword here be transient response?

 

[cownd]

I'm a little surprised that you haven't auditioned any subs from Paradigm?? They can "perform" just as good as those others which have been mentioned here, and they are local.

 

[Johnny Canuck]

So I heard from electronicsforless.ca today and I think I got a deal that is unbeatable...i will post it on another thread.

Hsu VTF2 for $642 Canadian, all taxes and shipping in, delivered to my door.

The STF 3 can be had for $50 more. It might be too big for my room.

What do you think? Is that a deal? $200 less than the PSB 6i with taxes.

 

[warpdrive]

Go for it.

VTF-2 should do well for you

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Actually anyone who believes otherwise is the one that needs to learn more about subs. A sub reproduces BASS - it neither knows nor cares if the source of the bass is music, movies, or music within a movie. If it has a relatively flat frequency response over its stated range and can achieve the SPL you require, then it will be good for movies and music.

When people say that one sub is good for movies but no so 'musical', that means that the sub is a poor performer. That's because explosions and stomping dinosaur feet rely purely on loudness for their effect which is different than accurately reproducing the subtle differences between bass notes one would find in music. So instead of the tired debate of 'good for movies vs good for music' one should concentrate on finding a sub that they feel sounds good on music - then it will automatically do well for movies.

I have to agree with that quote. I am in the market for a new sub right now. I use a very inexpensive 10" vented box style sub that sounds excellent with movies but terrible with music.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Sunfire subs. For the size, nothing seems to compare. Great for those in condo's and apartments. Has anyone demo'd them lately? How about the Martin Logan subs? Anyone demo those? They are one of the only subs that can be placed anywhere in the room and still sound excellent.

 

[shokhead]

SVS not good for music? Wow,now i know thats a joke,right. Got my 20-39pci today,hooked it up, volume control about 3/4 up. So i put on Joe Bonamassa and its after about a minute i just start laughing. I am blown away. Wow i repeat Wow. Double pains making noise,cabinet doors in the other room,just like in an earthquake and i only have my reciever at around 35 or so. Its so exact and detailed. You can hear the guys finger hit the string and then the bass,Wow. Not good for music,LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL. Can you tell i'm happy with it after 5 minutes. I cant even think whats a good action flick is going to be.

 

[golfhack]

Hey Johnny,

Sorry I've been away for awhile. Out of those three choices you listed, if it were me I would purchase the STF-3. BUT HSU is coming out with a "turbo" device that adds extra port area and it may not be compatible with the STF-3 (not positive on that though), but I'm pretty sure that it will be compatible with the VTF models. Having said that, I don't recall if you ever mentioned your room dimensions, but I would think the STF-3 will be more than enough for you unless you have a very large room (say over 3000 cubic feet). Save yourself the $150-$200.

BuckeyeFan,

The Paradigm Seismic 12 I bet will give the Sunfire a run for its money. And would probably surpass it in music.

 

[Peter Marcks]

Dear golfhack,

The VTF-2 MKII, STF-3, and VTF-3 MKII will all be able to accept upgrades in the near future.

Cheers

 

[Johnny Canuck]

Thanks golfhack. I am close to making a decision, possibly tomorrow. I will go with Hsu in Canada, as i feel better staying within my country and avoiding brokerage etc.

You say to get the STF 3 over the VTF 2? It is a little more ($50, not important) and has BASH compared to the variable tuning. What is more important? The idea of plugging in that foam thing to get lower bass, or taking it out to go louder (or vice versa) sounds pretty cool. The VTF3 would be too much for my room so i thought the STF 3 would be too??? My room is small now (planning on moving soon ) and this PSB 6i I have here now I am auditioning seems too loud!! It';s drowning out the rest of my system. However, i haven't really spent much time configuring it yet...

so before I make up my mind, for once and for all, maybe you can help me between the two models, or if any of you other fine fellows can offer a hand I would really appreciate it??

and to throw a kink into things, i know someone selling a barely used Velodyne SPL 1000 (not the new series 2) for $600 Canadian...it was $1500 new

 

[golfhack]

Peter,

Thanks for the clarification.

Johnny,

Well, after going back to HSU's site to look at these two models, I didn't realize that the STF-3 extended only to 25 Hz. I was thinking that it extended further than that. This must be the model that the Outlaw LFM-1 was modeled after. Keep in mind that the size of the woofer, the more watts, and the bigger size will all contribute to the better (lower distortion) low frequencies. This equates to more tactile response (i.e. wall shaking); whereas the other will be more of an audible impact. Lower distortion in subsonic frequencies = more vibration (imagine feeling a dinosaur's footstep). So even though both subs are rated down to 25 Hz, I'm more inclined to think that the STF-3 will handle the lower frequencies better. But, as you say the VTF-2 is more versatile. Where it comes in handy is that you can tradeoff the lower extension for the higher output (spl). How much higher of spl can you achieve with the VTF as compared to the STF, I don't know. But unless you want to watch movies at extremely high levels, I would think the STF puts out plenty enough output. Also, you might want to consider the possibly of moving, in which you might end up in a bigger room then the one you're in now. Also as Peter mentioned the STF-3 will also be compatible with the upcoming "turbo" update.

As for too much bass...all I can say Johnny is that you must properly dial in that sub to get proper sounding bass. The boominess that you hear can be cured by 1) setting the level to match the level of all your other speakers by using an spl meter, 2)positioning the sub in an area that gives the flattest frequency response (you may want to try the "position the subwoofer in the listening position and crawling around on the floor until you hear good tight bass" method), and 3) By using an outboard parametric equalizer (Behringer has one for around $100). If you don't want to go through the trouble of using a parametric eq. then just follow the first two steps. I would guesstimate that 9 times out of 10 the best position for the sub would be nearfield (near the listening position such as behind the couch or next to it as an endtable). This has the benefit of taking the room mode out of the equation since you will here the bass before any reflections take place. Don't worry, if it is a good sub you won't be able to tell the bass is coming from next to you. But to ensure that keep the crossover low but as close to 80 Hz as you can (start at 80 Hz and if its localizable then start lowering it)

Whew!!! So having said all that, if it was my choice, I would take the STF-3. And definitely not the Velodyne only because of the age of the model.

Good luck Johnny; and let us know what you decided on and how it sounds when you get it hooked up and DIALED in.

 

[warpdrive]

golfhack

If you just want deeper bass, and don't need a lot of output...you can actually plug one of the ports of the STF-3 which will get you deeper extension like what the VTF-3 can give you.



Looky here
http://www.hsuresearch.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1407

 

[Johnny Canuck]

Thanks Warpdrive again!!

so it appears the STF 3 may be the better now from what you say if I can use this "variable" method. Are the port holes the same size? Will hsu ship me a foam plug if I ask nicely???

so my thinking the VTF2 being the less powerful was a better fit for my room size might be wrong thinking? I can just turn down the STF 3 and not be overwhelmed? It seems like more sub for the money. I asked this already, but the STF has BASH and the VTF is variable....what is more important?

 

[warpdrive]

As posted, you can just stuff the port with towel. Don't know if Hsu offers plugs...can't hurt to ask them

The VTF also has a BASH amp

I would go for the STF-3 over the VTF-2 personally.

 

[golfhack]

Warpdrive,

Thanks, I didn't even realize the STF-3 had more than one port until you mentioned that. BTW...very nice link. Good info offered by Dr. Hsu in the last post.