HSU STF-2 or a BIC H-100?

[HJMiller]

I had researched for quite some time and settled on getting an BIC H-100 sub to round out my new 7.1 setup:
Onkyo 605
Polk R150's front, rear, and sides
Polk CSR Front

However after researching around here even with the many accolades for the H100 I see a lot of posts recommending going with a HSU or SVS and I can't help but wonder if should spend the extra coin. My room is 19X17 - 10' ceiling, with one wall 1/2 open to the kitchen/hall. I know most will recommend going to a larger sub for this room-but $200-300 is my limit. My research hasn't pulled up many options in that range better than these two. I know the BIC will fit this price range, but I may also hold out and wait for a STF-2 B-Stock (or used) to come available which would be higher priced but in the range.

I plan to listen to music and movies, but my main driver for the sub is impact for movies. Which would provide better movie performance?

 

[j_garcia]

Spend the extra and get the HSU. A room that size will be too much for the typical $300 sub, so getting the best one you can is advisable IMO.

 

[skizzerflake]

I had researched for quite some time and settled on getting an BIC H-100 sub to round out my new 7.1 setup:
Onkyo 605
Polk R150's front, rear, and sides
Polk CSR Front

However after researching around here even with the many accolades for the H100 I see a lot of posts recommending going with a HSU or SVS and I can't help but wonder if should spend the extra coin. My room is 19X17 - 10' ceiling, with one wall 1/2 open to the kitchen/hall. I know most will recommend going to a larger sub for this room-but $200-300 is my limit. My research hasn't pulled up many options in that range better than these two. I know the BIC will fit this price range, but I may also hold out and wait for a STF-2 B-Stock (or used) to come available which would be higher priced but in the range.

I plan to listen to music and movies, but my main driver for the sub is impact for movies. Which would provide better movie performance?

I can't speak for the SVS, but I have an HSU STF 2 and it really cranks. The room is about 12 X 15 but has a low ceiling. I had to rein it in when I first bought it and no movie boom has even seen it get winded. You get a lot of bottom for not much money.

 

[Exit]

A lot of people try to buy a low priced subwoofer and later find out it really doesn't have the slam for sound effects in movies. I think you need to save up and spend a little more for something that will do the job right the first time. I think you should aim for a speaker that reproduces from 20 Hz which is the lowest point in the full music range. The lowest price subwoofer that does this that I know of is the SVS PB10-NSD for $429. If you want to move up a step to a speaker that goes lower than this, the AV123 MLF15 is $599 and is a most bang-for-your-buck leader in that price range. It takes about this much money to get something good that you won't want to replace down the road. Under these prices, designers have to make compromises that affect the low bass output in order to keep the price down.

 

[Gimpy Ric]

Be it Hsu, SVS, AV123, or others, for a room that size, spend at least $600-$750. Can one ever have TOO MUCH sub? Heck no. I've got the best Hsu has to offer in a dual sub setup, and it might be "overkill" to some, but I NEVER ever worry about my subs. We pound the hell out of them, making things in the room move or fall off shelves, the wall, etc.

Please save up and get the appropriate sub

 

[gliz]

just got an HSU myself well worth it save a little longer and get the vtf2 mk3 $552 shipped