HSU BIC SVS vs Polk Klipsch Infinity

[sactown024]

just curious what makes brands like HSU, BIC and SVS so much better than brands like Klipsch, Polk, and infinity?

why arnt brands like SVS sold in stores or main sites like crutchfield?

is it just overall build quality? when i look at a SVS subwoofer and compare it to a Polk and they may have the same stats as far as watts, and frequency yet the SVS is 80% more in cost.

why??

 

[markw]

When you have a specific problem, you generally get better care when you go to a specialist as opposed to a general practicioner.

HSU and SVS are primariarly subwoofer, not full range, designers and manufacurers and sell direct via the internet to save the end users money and provide better bang for the buck.

Dunno too much about BIC. Old name, new company.

 

[zhimbo]

they may have the same stats as far as watts, and frequency yet the SVS is 80% more in cost.

why??

Stats lie. Well, you can lie with stats. If the extension or output levels are given but the conditions in which the sub was measured aren't (in room? ground plane measurement outdoors?), and/or the tolerance for linearity (+/3dB? +3/-9db? ) and or the amount of tolerable distortion present, then the stats may be all but meaningless.

Good, reliable independent reviews and careful measurements are hard to come by, especially for subwoofers, which are especially difficult to measure well.

Compare these two subs:

Polk:
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_12_2/polk-psw-505-subwoofer-4-2005.html

SVS:
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_11_4/svs-pb10-subwoofer-10-2004.html

By the manufacturer stats, you might expect these to be pretty similar to each other. Maybe the Polk is a little better with its larger driver, even?

Nope. Most of the same measurements are done on each, by the same independent reviewer. The SVS walks all over the Polk. Stomps on it. Sort of like this:

http://www.svsound.com/animation.cfm

 

[j_garcia]

I wouldn't put BIC in the same category as SVS and HSU They're closer to the others.

 

[GranteedEV]

just curious what makes brands like HSU, BIC and SVS so much better than brands like Klipsch, Polk, and infinity?

Infinity has some deadly drivers, although I doubt their enclosures are all that optimal because they have to sell in stores where people can actually see the product. A real vented 12" sub is way bigger than people are willing to buy.

I'd put bic in the same class as Klipsch and Polk of "meh".

why arnt brands like SVS sold in stores or main sites like crutchfield?

Their business model is to sell individual units directly to people rather than to sell bulk shipments to resellers, where name recognition, low cost, and compromised size are dominant factors moreso than than uncompromized performance.

is it just overall build quality? when i look at a SVS subwoofer and compare it to a Polk and they may have the same stats as far as watts, and frequency yet the SVS is 80% more in cost.

I doubt the frequency responses are even comparable, and even if they were, it doesn't factor in actual OUTPUT at those frequencies. There's also matters of distortion. Some subs sound "loud" because they have a lot of extra distortion. Other subs like SVS sound "huge" but not "loud" because the tone in the original content is what's dominating, not distortion.

 

[sholling]

As the others have said (paraphrasing) there are lies, darn lies, and unqualified specifications. For example is a claimed 300watts really 300 continuous watts or is it closer to 150w continuous with the potential for up to 300 peak watts? Is the claimed frequency response ±3db or is it minus 9db at the lower limits? Is that claimed response measured outside or is it dependent on room reinforcement that may not happen in your room?