Help with sub purchase!

acstech

I am looking to upgrade my subwoofer soon and would appreciate any help you may give me. I am looking to spend around $500.00 but may be able to come up with a little more money if it is really worth it. From everything I read I think my best choices are SVS and HSU subs. I like the looks of both so it’s really comes down to quality and performance. I have no way of listening to either sub so I will be making my decision from reviews. My room is 25’X10’ and has 2 openings that can be closed off via doors. I would also like to know what is the difference between the SVS cylinder subs and box subs. My wife really like the looks of the cylinder sub and so do I but I want what’s best for the money. The SVS 20-39 would be a stretch right know but if there is a big difference I would be willing to wait and save a little longer. These are the subs I am looking at. If there are any other subs which I am not listing that would be good choice please let me know.

SVS PD10-ISD http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-box-10isd.cfm $429.00
SVS 25-31 http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-cyl-pcpow3.cfm $549.00
SVS 20-39 http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-cyl-pcpow2.cfm $599.00
HSU VTF-2 MK 2 http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/ $499.00

Thank you for your help and thank God for this forum!!!

kingsqueak

I got the 25-31PCi, it's in a room with a large volume of air, open on two sides that I can't close and with cathedral ceilings that overlap the spaces.

I've been extremely happy, bang for the buck, it's simply over the top from my expectations.

I went with the 25-31 because I use the same system for music and it has a reputation for being a bit tighter with more emphasis in the range that music hits most often. I've been very happy. After some fiddling with position and my receiver settings I've got it blending in quite well with some very small RM3000's as my main channels.

The home sub experience I've had has been consumer market JBL/Cambridge/Velodyne in the same $500 price range. I firmly believe the SVS cannot be compared to those models, it's no contest in sound quality, the SVS kills them.

As far as cylinder goes, I liked the way it looked better and the concept of using a tube so you don't have the resonance issues of a cube struck home and the enclosure is 'invisible' compared to the cheap cubes I've experienced before.

The 20-39 hits lower, but I have no way to say how it would compare. I've been more than happy with the range of the 25-31 but without knowing for sure I couldn't tell you. If you look at waterfall plots from movies, many of them reach well below 25Hz, but the bulk of the LFE is right in the meat of the 25-31 range anyway.

Give SVS a call, they'll be more than happy to help you work out the choice.

As for Hsu, that's a tough one as the VTF-3 MkII was the other model I was tossing a coin over vs the 25-31PC+. I don't regret my choice, but the curiosity of how the Hsu would compare is still there. I decided to save a few bucks with the PCi and I haven't had any regrets. If anything I've spent more time turning it down than anything else.

Early B.

If you and your wife like the looks of the cylinder, by all means get the 20-39. The rule is -- buy as much sub as you can afford.

jerm357

I just ordered a 20-39PCI on 3/2 and cant wait. Ill report back when I get it and tell you what I think.

acstech

Please let me know what you think. I bet you can't wait to get it setup.