Need your expert Polk assistance!

michael_w

Yea I too am a bit amazed... but what is even more amazing is that this thread has no pics yet !!!! Usually its the pics or some mad argument that keep threads alive (well I suppose there was that somewhat off topic NHT conflict hehe)

HBombToo

Originally posted by michael_w
Yea I too am a bit amazed... but what is even more amazing is that this thread has no pics yet !!!! Usually its the pics or some mad argument that keep threads alive (well I suppose there was that somewhat off topic NHT conflict hehe)

I see at least my implication is well understood:p

1/4twin

Laura Palmer

Hmmm, okay those HSU dealer prices look okay.

STF-1 $399
STF-2 $549
VT-12 $399

Which of these do you suggest I get? Like, I said... I know nothing about subwoofers so I'm at your mercy

There were some others listed on the site, but I'm affraid they're a tad over my budget....unless someone can convince me that I should look past my budget and try to work in a more expensive one.

I suppose ANY of these though would at least be way better than the PSW505 or PSW12 that I was looking at before?

michael_w

Well if you are trying to stay between 5 and 600 I'd say either the stf-1 or stf-2. The VT-12 is actually a sattelite / center channel home theater in a box style 5 ch speaker set. HSU also makes the VTF series (variable tuning frequency). They are basically the same as the STF subs except you get the option to change how it performs. You can make it so that it plays lower frequencies or so that it is a bit louder but its low end frequency is cut off slightly (still goes really low though). The VTF series is a little more expensive - vtf-2 is $700 - but give you that option of tuning it. To be honest I have never heard any sub made by HSU but from what the people of this forum have told me they are awesome just like SVS.

F1nut

I'll be your huckleberry!

disneyjoe7

Originally posted by F1nut
I'll be your huckleberry!

A little Toby Keith / Unleashed ?? Love that CD


To the thread that never quits......

Toxis

Originally posted by disneyjoe7
A little Toby Keith / Unleashed ?? Love that CD


To the thread that never quits......

or the movie Tombstone...

Willow

Originally posted by Laura Palmer
Excellent, do you know of any Canadian e-tailers for that model? I don't mind buying online if I have to.

http://www.homedigitalav.com/HSUSubs.html


out of Toronto

Sorry didn't see some one else posted this link

cfrizz

I would go for the STF-2.

Cathy

Willow

For 200$ more she can get the pb10 svs delivered to canada... I think the 200 would be worth it

jdhdiggs

Originally posted by Willow
For 200$ more she can get the pb10 svs delivered to canada... I think the 200 would be worth it

I don't. Laura, check some of the AVS Forums pages and look for paradigm subs. After duties and shipping costs are added, certain paradigm models compete $ for $ with SVS. If HSU has a distribution network up there, it is probably the value leader all around assuming you can not get the paradigms on accomedations.

I also like the fit and finish of the HSU subs over SVS and paradigm in the price bracket from about $300 to just under $1000.

When dialed in correctly, you will should have a very hard time telling if the sub is even running. If it sounds boomy, somethings wrong.

And the only thing wrong with holding off for more research is you delay your enjoyment. Not a bad trade-off for avoiding buyers remorse.

Willow

the xtra 200$ was with taxes, duties and delivery. to each their own

jdhdiggs

Originally posted by Willow
the xtra 200$ was with taxes, duties and delivery. to each their own

Exactly and $200 more on a $400 sub.... well that hurts. If she was shopping in the $1200+ range, SVS would be a no brainer, but at the lower end and with accomedations, there should be better deals to be had...

Willow

you are not keeping in mind we have to pay in CAD.....so it's not a big deal

Laura Palmer

Oh Paradigm makes good subwoofers? Cause at Audiotronic they sell the PDR10 ($468), PS1000 ($698), and the PW2200 ($1,088)

I suppose I should be looking into those as well as the HSUs?

jdhdiggs

IIRC people were comparing the PW2200 to the SVS PB2 ISD sub as far as performance go.

If I were you, I'd check out the AVS sight a bit and see if you can track down a demo of the HSU. I'd also go check out the paradigms, but SET THEM UP YOURSELF!!! Many of the chain B&M's setup the subs WAY too hot so all you hear is a 40-60Hz thump, and not much else.

If you don't have to pay duties and HSU, my estimate of value/dollar at the $300-$600 range would be:

1). HSU
2). Paradigm
3). SVS

Also, for more sub research, PM or start a thread for "Doc Spec" here (Ed Mullin in other HT forums) or Craigsub at AVS. Those two probably know more about subs than just about anyone not in the business of making them. You'll get much better information from them than you will from me, or most of the other yahoos here as far as subs go.

Willow

not sure if you want to listen to energy subs and I don't know how good there are but you can get the 10 for 349 and the 12for 549

TroyD

Originally posted by Laura Palmer
Oh Paradigm makes good subwoofers? Cause at Audiotronic they sell the PDR10 ($468), PS1000 ($698), and the PW2200 ($1,088)

I suppose I should be looking into those as well as the HSUs?

P'Dime makes very nice subs. The PDR-10, which I own, is a great entry level sub, however, it's an entry level sub that won't compete with the SVS's of the world.

If you are looking for lease-breaker type bass that will compete with the SVS's...I'd look at the Paradigm Servo-15.

BDT

disneyjoe7

Originally posted by TroyD
If you are looking for lease-breaker type bass that will compete with the SVS's...I'd look at the Paradigm Servo-15.

BDT

Laura,

Someone talking about SUB's other then SVS :eek: I don't believe my eyes. That Paradigm Servo-15 is one serious sub, I own one. When I went looking for this sub, the sales person showed my this and that I thinking to my self ok nice, but I'm thinking show me the SUB. So I asked he's EYEs got really BIG and got me into another room where it was along with other high end stuff, said all of the sales people their own this one. Showed me one screen from the "Haunting" I asked if this was a wooden floor (rare in Florida, you can have wooden floors over concrete slab, but not northern floor joust, wood floors) He's reply no slab my eyes got big. I know then this was the one the only one in my eye's.


Lease-Break Hell yes, those Rti12’s are too in my mind if they have some nice power behind them I sure.

BTW having a pool built my SUB sits about 22ft from within sight of water edge, I will take a picture to post if I can get the water to ripple with the SUB

Willow

Originally posted by disneyjoe7
BTW having a pool built my SUB sits about 22ft from within sight of water edge, I will take a picture to post if I can get the water to ripple with the SUB

:eek: :eek:

jmierzur

Originally posted by jdhdiggs
Exactly and $200 more on a $400 sub.... well that hurts. If she was shopping in the $1200+ range, SVS would be a no brainer, but at the lower end and with accomedations, there should be better deals to be had...

A US$400 'US' made sub from company X located in the US will cost a Canadian in CDN dollars approx:

sub - US$400 = CDN$492.04
shipping - $30 = CDN$36.92 (guess)
brokerage fees - CDN$59 (based on a prior purchase of greater value, may be less in this case)
GST - CDN$34.44
disbursements etc. - about CDN$10

Total approx about CDN$630

Maybe better deals can be had locally with accomedations, better sound for that price??

bigsexy1

DJ7 made a good point about the 12s also being a potential lease breaker. If she gets those, she won't even need a sub engaged while listening to 2 channel music as the 12s have more than enough bass on their own for that.

I also reconcur with jmierzur and others about the PB10ISD being a great sub for movies, and if she eventually gets a bigger room, then just add a second one stacked on top of the first one in the corner.

jdhdiggs

Originally posted by jmierzur
A US$400 'US' made sub from company X located in the US will cost a Canadian in CDN dollars approx:

sub - US$400 = CDN$492.04
shipping - $30 = CDN$36.92 (guess)
brokerage fees - CDN$59 (based on a prior purchase of greater value, may be less in this case)
GST - CDN$34.44
disbursements etc. - about CDN$10

Total approx about CDN$630

Maybe better deals can be had locally with accomedations, better sound for that price??

Your shipping seems a tad low and isn't base cost $429? The ballpark is right on from my guesswork. If she was able to get the PW2200 at ~$650 through accomedations, it would be a superior sub to the SVS. HSU has a dealer network up there so that might also be better bang for the buck as well. At this point thoug, I think we have blown her budget.

In the US, SVS is the clear winner on the $ to performance measure. But not everyone wants a gigantic black box (but my wife has actually grown to like mine).

Laura, look at as much as you can and don't limit yourself to even what has already been listed. It's a great place to start looking as a baseline. Which way are you leaning now on the 8's/12's?

jmierzur

$400 was an example from company X, not SVS or HSU.

$30 shipping was an example, increase accordingly.

Retail for the PW2200 is $1100 CDN.

Last time I checked, Future Shop (where her friend works) does not sell Paradigm speakers. Will she get accomedations elsewhere to purchase PW2200 for $650 CDN? Doubtful.

A CDN HSU retailer pays the same costs we do to get items from the US.

michael_w

Just to give you an example.... I bought a pair of speakers from Washington and had them shipped to BC. The cost of the speakers was $200 US and after everything they ended up costing me just a little over $450 Cdn. (still a good deal though)

Keep im mind the svs might be a good deal for $400 us but it sure won't get to your door for that price.

gaborow

Originally posted by Laura Palmer
I know you guys have tried to tell me that 12-inch isn't necessarily better than 10-inch, and 3-way isn't necessarily better than 2-way...but I can't seem to shake this ridiculous mentality of mine

what are you trying to say exactly?

jmierzur

If the items are MADE in the US, such as SVS, HSU or BPT, they are covered under NAFTA.

As an example, for my purchase of an SVS PCU, the item US$ amount with shipping costs was charged to me directly and converted to CDN. On delivery, I paid $107 for government changes (GST etc.) and an additional $69 in 'brokerage' fees. The big variable is the exchange rate at the time of the transaction, which was approximately 1.34. The current exchange rate is now lower, 1.23.

This is from the OOPs, sorry, I mean UPS invoice I am reading as I type.

marker

Originally posted by bigsexy1
DJ7 made a good point about the 12s also being a potential lease breaker. If she gets those, she won't even need a sub engaged while listening to 2 channel music as the 12s have more than enough bass on their own for that.

I also reconcur with jmierzur and others about the PB10ISD being a great sub for movies, and if she eventually gets a bigger room, then just add a second one stacked on top of the first one in the corner.

I asked Dr. Spec in a PM whether to get a single PB12 ISD/2, or 2 stacked PB10 ISD, and he said to go with the dual PB10 ISD set up.

Laura Palmer

After listening to the RTi12s and not being particularly impressed (I still found the bass lacking for some odd reason...) I've decided to go with the RTi8s!

So the final setup looks like it will be.

RTi8 (Front)
RTi6 (Back)
CSi5 (Center)
and either the HSU sub, or still *maybe* a Polk sub (as I read an article tonight that for sub newbies it's best to match brands if you don't know much about configuration).

It still strikes me odd that the RTi12s didn't have as much of a bassy feel as the RTi8 (not to mention the 2-way vs 3-way factor)...but I'm taking everyone here's word for it that speakers are 100% subjective and 3-ways aren't necessarily better than 2-ways...as it seems I'm hearing in all of my tests.

I found that the RTi8s were the BEST out of all the speakers I auditioned that were CLOSEST to neutral levels on the amp. (Which is apparantly the best way to decide which speakers work for you, correct?)

Other than the concern of these being my only 2-way speaklers in my final setup, another concern I have is that the reason I liked the RTi8s was because of the warmer/bassier feel, but if I end up running a sub with them, will I start noticing if they lack mids and highs? I'm worried that once I attach a sub I'll hear a completely different speaker than I heard in the store.

I was prepared to spend as much as I had to on speakers, so it's still funny to me that I wound up deciding on the cheapest of all of these floor speakers... I guess that's more money that I can throw into my sub though

Thanks everyone for your ongoing help, it's been EXTREMELY helpful. Club Polk has been an amazing resource in my buying decision.

marker

Congrats Laura! We expect pics when you get all set up!