HSU Ventriloquist VT-12

[traloobuf]

What opinions do you, oh audio gods, have about the cheap HSU Ventriloquist VT-12?

 

[Orionvr6]

I'm using this with the VTF3-MK2 sub (12"), not the VTF2.

I use this system with the Onkyo TX-SR701 receiver (85W x 5).

I don't use this system for SERIOUS music enjoyment. This system is for my PC, for DVD movies, Satellite TV, PC gaming (6.1 surround) and for listening to MP3's.

For DVD-Audio I bought a pair of Polk Audio LSi9's and a Bryston 3B SST amp. STILL waiting on the Bryston amp... I did briefly hook them up to an old Yamaha amp, but it produced noticeable distortion (and begin to burn up since it can't handle the 4 ohm load). Still, they sounded amazing.

The Ventriloquist system produced clean undistorted sound. The only gaps in frequency response that I noticed was high frequencies, like in excess of 15K Hz. Which I usually don't hear in most music anyway, so it's not something I miss. Unlike, low end frequency response (20-25 Hz).

As for soundstaging it did a good job. I can't comment much on this since I have not heard a lot of high end systems in order to compare them to this one, but all I can say is I have no complaints.

The Ventriloquist cost me $200 when I bought it with the VTF-3, and with the Onkyo receiver and high quality wires, the total package ran me $1700.

Which is probably ridiculous for most PC gamers but then I've always been an audiophile by nature (always appreciated good sound, although I've only recently been able to afford it), so this system is a dream come true for me. I finally have a great system that is awesome for gaming, listening to the TV/DVD movies, and to listen to MP3's.

The Polk's do provide a LOT more midbass though so I get a lot more impact from them. Which is basically the difference with bigger drivers, smaller ones are going to lose the impact at lower frequencies. The Polk's cost me $800/pair, and the Bryston amp about $2,300...but that system I know will last me at least a couple of decades before wearing out, so it is well worth it.

 

[cbraver]

Yeah, speakers basically last forever, and newer doesn't mean better. Audio is truely something you can invest in where your system will never become obsolete. Hell, they still make tube amps and record players!

-Chad

 

[Orionvr6]

I ended up damaging the spider I think on the left surround speaker. Or it's the crossover, I'm not sure. I replaced the left surround with the rear center speaker and it sounds fine, so depending on where the crossovers are located (the center speaker is huge so I suspected it contained all the crossovers) it would point to either the crossover or the spider as the problem.

The driver's excursion was greater than it could handle, and it was making scratching sounds and just distorting like mad. Especially with deep voice material. This happened right after I had the music at full volume for 15 seconds.

So apparently they don't take abuse very well. I've had a pair of Boston Acoustic mini speakers (4" and 1" tweeter) for 10 years and abused the hell out of them, and they keep on ticking.

I'm also noticing the front center speaker is starting to clip a bit, but it's not too bad.

By comparison the Bostons cost me about $200 and are only 2 speakers. The Ventriloquist cost me $200 and is 6 speakers. So you get what you pay for. Generally if you pay more money for fewer speakers than spending the same money for more speakers, the latter is going to be of lesser build quality. At least, from my experience.