From pure performance stand point it's VTF-15H MK2 easily compares to S3000 (not i) - while still costs less.
Greater Output above 80hz is nice, but not huge advantage imo. If there a small advantage to S3000 - yes there is, but it's not blow out of water difference. Sub needs to be able to deliver sub 20hz at high level. High output above 60hz is called midbass module - not a sub.
As for sealed vs ported - i think you might be obtuse as for failing to understand basic principle of sealed sub are by design less power efficient. It's fact, not my opinion. I'm NOT calling ether design as best (unlike you).
Vented vs Ported is a matter of preference. Properly designed vented subs could be as linear and distortion free just as they sealed brethen. The difference is VTF COULD be used as sealed if so desired, but PSA sealed subs couldn't be magically ported.
“From pure performance stand point it's VTF-15H MK2 easily compares to S3000 (not i) - while still costs less. Greater Output above 80hz is nice, but not huge advantage imo. If there a small advantage to S3000 - yes there is, but it's not blow out of water difference. Sub needs to be able to deliver sub 20hz at high level. High output above 60hz is called midbass module - not a sub.”
Well, you said both originally, and were very definitive about it. But, again a sealed design and a vented design should never be compared and I’ve already gone into that. That said the S3000 will have a gentle roll off that can take advantage or room gain down to single digit frequencies. You can’t hear these, but you can certainly feel them. A vented design has little effectiveness past its tuning frequency, in this case about 20hz. The S3000 has about 3 db more head room at 31-50 hz, which is double the SPL (and we can agree all sub sound), and about 7 dB more in the 63-100 range. Since LFE tracks are at 80hz, and the THX recommended crossover is 80hz, you’ll still be getting material rolling off from 80-100 hz in your sub. You’ll enjoy about 4 times the SPL head room with the S3000 in this area. More to your point I'd consider the S3000i as a better deal than the S3000
That said, I still think this comparison is really dumb, and I’m tired of repeating myself. The V1500 is the better comparison.
“As for sealed vs ported - i think you might be obtuse as for failing to understand basic principle of sealed sub are by design less power efficient. It's fact, not my opinion. I'm NOT calling ether design as best (unlike you).”
Where did I call sealed best? I said it was best for me for sure, but that’s after I properly evaluated both designs as it pertained to MY set up. Where did I fail to understand that sealed designs are less efficient? I simply think that disregarding them on this single principle is a hasty generalization, and as stated vastly over states the efficiency downfalls of a sealed design.
“Vented vs Ported is a matter of preference. Properly designed vented subs could be as linear and distortion free just as they sealed brethen.”
Yes preference as it pertains to your set up. If your room is under 4000 cu ft, then a sealed design can better take advantage of room gain, and provide super deep frequencies. I’d argue that distortion in a vented design lower than its tuning point is something unavoidable. I wouldn’t approach any sub (sealed or vented) without a decent linear frequency response. Most ID subs qualify. A vented sub will have more head room at it's tuning frequency point. If you have a very large room this is a wise trade off, if not a sealed sub might be better for you.
"The difference is VTF COULD be used as sealed if so desired, but PSA sealed subs couldn't be magically ported."
I think you’re overstating the ‘magic’ of VTF. A VTF can never be exactly tuned for sealed and all ported modes. Tradeoffs have to be made for it to work. It can be close but never exact. Also, I’d imagine that 95% of all VTF 15 owners will want to get the most out of their sub and go one port and call it a day. Josh Ricci attested to this in his review of the mk1, and by the looks of the data, this hasn't changed. If your set up calls for a sealed design, I’d suggest going that way, and if it calls for a vented design then I’d suggest vented of VTF. The VTF 15 mk 2 in sealed mode is a really bad sealed sub. While the V1500 and VTF 15 mk 2 (one port) compare well, the S1500 absolutely smokes the VTF 15mk (sealed.) You also have increased impulse delay so that the VTF can be utilized as a vented sub, one thing that many desire in a sealed design to be super tight. The VTF 15 mk2 makes a very good vented sub however, and the comparison to the V1500 shows that they are very close, and priced very close as well.
Bottomline. You might get the idea I don’t like HSU, or the VTF 15 mk 2 in particular, but this isn’t true. I just think your comparison of the VTF 15 mk2 to the s3000 or 3000i is ridiculous, and the data simply doesn’t back up your claims. It's like you're saying that the PSA subs are rip offs, and that's very disingenuous.
