SVS vs. HSU

gregure
gregure Posts: 871
edited June 2004 in Speakers
Ok, I've read enough on this forum to see that most of you guys love SVS above all. But I'm just wondering what your opinion of HSU subs are. I was looking at the V3 at it looks very nice. Are SVS subs that much better than HSU, or are they in the same league? Thanks.
Current System:

Mitsubishi 30" LCD LT-3020 (for sale**)
Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Concert Grand (Rosewood)-Mains (with Audioquest Mont Blanc cables)
CSi5-Center (for sale**)
FXi3-surrounds (for sale**)
Martin Logan Depth-Sub
B&K AVR 507
Pimare CD21-CD Player
Denon 1815-DVD Player
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Post edited by gregure on
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Comments

  • hellotheworld
    hellotheworld Posts: 205
    edited June 2004
    Dr. Spec's review on HTF
    http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=190398

    not exactly but close to what you want...
    hope it helps...
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited June 2004
    They are both good subwoofers.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited June 2004
    Yeah, they're both equally excellent. SVS markets their subs for HT, whereas Hsu leans more towards music. I've owned them both and Hsu edges out SVS in music by a slight margin, and SVS has more options to offer for the HT enthusiast. Really comes down to personal preferences for the under $600 subs.

    In fact, I just ordered a Hsu STF-2 today for my 2-channel system. It is probably best sub you can buy in it's price range.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • francis1967
    francis1967 Posts: 161
    edited June 2004
    Though it isn't HSU or SVS, the Dayton Titanic MKIII sub has gotten a lot of good reviews and is fun to assemble in an hour or so. When I was done and listened to it, I went "Wow, did I make that?" Of course I didn't make it, but heck, it didn't hurt my pride any. It sounds tight and fast, musical but with a huge reserve to really shake your bells in HT. Not bad at all for an under $300 sub.

    Partsexpress are unloading some on Ebay and I found that the Ebay reserve price is $262 and change, so with the shipping it is less than $300 total. Not bad. Sells for $349 incl shipping at partsexpress.com so you save yourself $20 fishing it off Ebay, same terms as "in the shop". Check out the link for more info on current auction. No affiliation.

    Dayton Titanic MKIII
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  • Dr. Spec
    Dr. Spec Posts: 3,780
    edited June 2004
    Both products are very good.

    The VTF-3 MKII is probably best compared to any powered variable tune SVS (PC+ or PB1+).

    The STF-3 is best compared to the PB1-ISD.

    The passive TN1220HO is comparable to a passive 20-39 CS+.
    "What we do in life echoes in eternity"

    Ed Mullen (emullen@svsound.com)
    Director - Technology and Customer Service
    SVS
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  • kureboy99
    kureboy99 Posts: 53
    edited June 2004
    Both are great companies...I actually had a hard time deciding at first but settled with my PCi SVS in the end...best sub I had in my system so far...a very pleased audioholic ;)
    ...See the Music, Feel the Music, Be the Music...
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited June 2004
    Sorry to hijack the thread for a minute. but I was over at my friends house over the weekend.. he has a Velo 15' sub. While i love my 20-39PCi. it doesn't quite sound as good as his Velo. I'm sorry i don't know the model number on his VElo.. it's a older one.. i think it's something like a C15 , not a CHT15 or the like. it's about 5 or 6 yrs old.

    I think he paid like $950 for it. Retailed for like $1200.

    On low volumes the bass sounds so low and just natural. It blends in better than my SVS. MY SVS doesn't hit as low as his does. Mine is loud.. but his is loud and deep.

    anyway, for what it's worth.. i'm impressed by his Velo sub.

    bye
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • kureboy99
    kureboy99 Posts: 53
    edited June 2004
    Originally posted by danger boy
    Sorry to hijack the thread for a minute. but I was over at my friends house over the weekend.. he has a Velo 15' sub. While i love my 20-39PCi. it doesn't quite sound as good as his Velo. I'm sorry i don't know the model number on his VElo.. it's a older one.. i think it's something like a C15 , not a CHT15 or the like. it's about 5 or 6 yrs old.

    I think he paid like $950 for it. Retailed for like $1200.

    On low volumes the bass sounds so low and just natural. It blends in better than my SVS. MY SVS doesn't hit as low as his does. Mine is loud.. but his is loud and deep.

    anyway, for what it's worth.. i'm impressed by his Velo sub.

    bye
    Have you considered better interconnects and power cable for your sub? It can make a world of difference...also tuning your sub helps as far as your listening environment via placement and Xover tuning...
    ...See the Music, Feel the Music, Be the Music...
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited June 2004
    Originally posted by kureboy99
    Have you considered better interconnects and power cable for your sub? It can make a world of difference...also tuning your sub helps as far as your listening environment via placement and Xover tuning...

    right on! I have actually been thinking of a new sub cable. Right now i'm using a 6 meter IXOS sub cable. but i'd like to try others out there.

    As for the crossover.. my old (1999) Marantz receiver. doesn't allow for any crossover changes. I"m not sure where it's set at. Just last night i moved the sub from the rear of my room to the front. Same sound. only that i had to up the volume of the sub. it took away some of the level.

    I have not even considered a better power cable. Good idea though there kureboy99
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited June 2004
    Originally posted by danger boy
    .. he has a Velo 15' sub.

    A 15 foot sub? That sucker better rock! Kidding brother, kidding...:D
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited June 2004
    on the original question of SVS vs HSU:

    I just picked up the PCi 16-46 from SVS last weekend. My friend is picking up an HSU (being delivered this weekend) and we were going to do some testing. I don't know which one he's ordered however...

    Dr Spec (or anyone else who knows): two quick questions:

    Which of the HSU subs would you say mine compares to the best?

    Does my sub compare to any of the box subs from SVS? If so, which one(s)?

    Thanks
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  • Dr. Spec
    Dr. Spec Posts: 3,780
    edited June 2004
    Which of the HSU subs would you say mine compares to the best?

    Does my sub compare to any of the box subs from SVS? If so, which one(s)?

    The 16-46 series is tuned deeper than anything Hsu offers. The closest would be the passive TN1220HO, which has an 18 Hz tune point.

    The TN1220 must be used with a Hsu amp or a Hsu EQ box to get optimum performance from the unit, as the volume of the enclosure is rather low for the tune point and without EQ, the overall alignment is considerably overdamped.

    There is no box equivalent to the 16-46 series. Any variable tune SVS box CAN be tuned to 16 Hz, but that is not the optimum configuration; the boxes are happier at 20 Hz or 25 Hz.
    "What we do in life echoes in eternity"

    Ed Mullen (emullen@svsound.com)
    Director - Technology and Customer Service
    SVS
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  • brettw22
    brettw22 Posts: 7,623
    edited June 2004
    Originally posted by Dr. Spec
    There is no box equivalent to the 16-46 series. Any variable tune SVS box CAN be tuned to 16 Hz, but that is not the optimum configuration; the boxes are happier at 20 Hz or 25 Hz.
    Why is a box sub not going to be able to play as low as a cylinder type? Splain please.....
    comment comment comment comment. bitchy.
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  • Dr. Spec
    Dr. Spec Posts: 3,780
    edited June 2004
    Why is a box sub not going to be able to play as low as a cylinder type? Splain please.....

    It's not that a box can't play as deep; SVS just chooses not too tune its boxes that low. It's really a size issue, more than anything else. A box with a native (all ports open) 20 Hz tune would be very large.

    With quality woofers and some careful blending of EQ and a high pass filter, SVS coaxes about 1/6 octave of extension below the tune point. A (true) 25 Hz tuned sub digs strong to about 20 Hz in most rooms. Plug a port for the 20 Hz tune, and you're typically looking at 15-16 Hz extension; deep enough for nearly any DVD.

    The woofer in a 16 Hz tuned sub must shoulder the entire output load down to about 18 Hz. That's why the overall output capability of the 16 Hz tuned subs is lower - the cone excursion required by the woofer to play at say 18-20 Hz is huge and the sub can be bottomed more easily at a lower overall volume. Most people with 16-46 cylinders end up with duals for better output and resistance to bottoming.
    "What we do in life echoes in eternity"

    Ed Mullen (emullen@svsound.com)
    Director - Technology and Customer Service
    SVS
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