Hsu Research STF-1 Subwoofer Review

[Audioholics]

<A href="http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/loudspeakers/HSUResearchSTF1p1.php"><IMG style="WIDTH: 125px; HEIGHT: 94px" alt=[HsuSTF1subwoofer] hspace=10 src="http://www.audioholics.com/news/thumbs/HsuSTF1subwoofer_th.jpg" align=left border=0></A>Entry level is an interesting concept. For some, the home theater experience is limited to the local department/discount store, and the pinnacle of achievement is the $200 system that boasts five speakers, a subwoofer, and a receiver/DVD player combo. For others, entry level requires thousands of dollars, minimum, at a local hi-fi shop. It is all relative. Whatever entry level might be, it is important to get to what the real issue is: when one buys a product, they want it to be a good value. The STF-1 is the entry level subwoofer from Hsu Research. At a retail of $379 and a direct price of $299, some may view it as costly while others would see it as inexpensive. At this price, we simply ask: does this product represent a good value and should it be considered for purchase if it falls within budget constraints? Read on to find out!

[Read the Review]

 

[claudermilk]

Thanks for the review. This sub is at the top of my list & it looks like a solid choice. The only part that you got it on doesn't matter to me--it'll be stuffed in a corner to be heard & unseen. Now I'll have to arrange an audition at Hsu (they're local to me ).

 

[jaxvon]

I own an STF-1 and I find everything in the review to be spot-on. It is possible to overdrive the unit which results in some not-so-happy sounds, but when it is set to integrate with the system well, it will not be overdriven (at least in my experience). I also have to concur on the "musicality" of the subwoofer, meaning good transient response and no noticable resonance in the cabinet.

 

[j_garcia]

That's pretty much how I would sum up the VTF-2 that I owned too. It went a bit deeper than the STF-1, but everything else sounds pretty similar to what I thought about it. For the size and power, the VTF-2 had a lot of output (even in max extension mode) and was definitely able to make you think it was a more hefty sub. It had decent rumble and activated my large room fairly well with content that was above 25Hz. It was very good with music too.

 

[ducker]

now if we can get a review on the "entry level" SVS. I know there's a review/matchup with one of the subs on the "less expensive side" of SVS's products, but would love to read about the in/outs of the PB ISD10.

Thanks for the review Clint. enjoyed it!

 

[Shadow_Ferret]

Did I miss what the frequency response of that was?

 

[jaxvon]

Hsu rates the STF-1 at +/- 2 dB: 32 Hz. Placed properly in a room, it has usable output down to 25Hz.

 

[Audioholics]

Thanks for the review Clint. enjoyed it!

Not me - David Waratuke did the actual review.

 

[Shadow_Ferret]

Hsu rates the STF-1 at +/- 2 dB: 32 Hz. Placed properly in a room, it has usable output down to 25Hz.

Does that qualify as a subwoofer? My primary speakers go down to 30hz.

Would I notice much bass improvement with one of these puppies?

 

[jaxvon]

I think it does, as most speakers aren't full range or close to it like yours nowadays. In your case, I doubt you'd get much improvement from it unless you were using an amp or receiver that didn't have the guts to push the big watts into your woofer(s). If you were to go for a subwoofer, the only reasonable investment I could see would be for a unit that extends to 20Hz or lower (such as the Hsu VTF-3MKII).

 

[Sheep]

Does that qualify as a subwoofer? My primary speakers go down to 30hz.

Would I notice much bass improvement with one of these puppies?

And this is why we run are mains as small.....


SheepStar

 

[jaxvon]

And this is why we run are mains as small.....


SheepStar

[British Accent]

Not necessarily. You could run your mains full range if they sufficient bandwidth, as Shadow's appear to. This is of course assuming the -3dB point is 30Hz, not the "usable response" that Def Tech often claims as their lower end response.

 

[Sheep]

[British Accent]

Not necessarily. You could run your mains full range if they sufficient bandwidth, as Shadow's appear to. This is of course assuming the -3dB point is 30Hz, not the "usable response" that Def Tech often claims as their lower end response.

[Jamaican Accent]

Totally agree man. Generally though, these FR's are bull, and a separate speaker handling them will do a better job....


I always thought def techs FR's were bull, now its confirmed....


SheepStar

 

[Peter Marcks]

Thank you so much for the wonderful review, David, and thank you to Gene and Clint for being so accomodating! The quality of the reviews at Audioholics is quite excellent.

I am also extremely happy to see that David was able to capture some of Dr. Hsu's philosophies on subwoofer design. Balance is the key, in our opinion.

Finally, thank you to all the consumers who have been so supportive over the years, we truly appreciate it!

Most sincerely,

 

[claudermilk]

... Balance is the key, in our opinion.

Finally, thank you to all the consumers who have been so supportive over the years, we truly appreciate it!

Most sincerely,

Just what I wanted to hear. Once the tax check finally arrives, I have a chunk earmarked for one of these.

 

[Tomorrow]

Just what I wanted to hear. Once the tax check finally arrives, I have a chunk earmarked for one of these.

You'll NOT be disappointed. These are potent, tight, nice little subs. It almost hurt me to sell mine when I upgraded to an STF-3 (for a very large room). But someone else is enjoying the sub, now, immensely.

 

[Gbiz]

Did anyone compair this to the SVS Pb10-ISD? This is probably the champ at this price range.

 

[sweeppicker]

Excuse me for my ignorance but the only way to set up a sub is to run it through your processor/recievers LFE output correct ? I guess that means that your fronts will still try to reproduce those low freqs that are best meant for the sub ?

 

[j_garcia]

Excuse me for my ignorance but the only way to set up a sub is to run it through your processor/recievers LFE output correct ? I guess that means that your fronts will still try to reproduce those low freqs that are best meant for the sub ?

No, that is not the only way, most subs may also be hooked up via speaker level outputs. However, your speaker settings determine where that bass is sent; the bass from whichever speakers are set to small will also be redirected to the sub.