Subwoofer buying advice: Amazon.com vs Hsu

ccscanlon
ccscanlon Posts: 17
edited May 2008 in Subwoofer Hookup & Bass Management
I have a gift certificate for Amazon for $250. However, it seems like alot of people like the Hsu subwoofers. I'm looking at the VTF-1 for $430 but I'm also considering 2 subs from Amazon 3rd parties:

http://www.amazon.com/Dayton-T1003K-Titanic-III-Subwoofer/dp/B0002W5TEI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1211215078&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/KEF-PSW2500-250-Watt-powered-subwoofer/dp/B0019GORBM/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1211215365&sr=1-6

I'm just wondering how much better the Hsu would be than these two. Using the $250 would take alot of the sting oof the "You spent HOW MUCH?" conversation! I'm 50/50 music to ht. I have Polk rti a3's up front, csi a4 center, and fxi a4 surrounds. Room is 2400 cubic feet.

Thanks!
Post edited by ccscanlon on
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Comments

  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited May 2008
    With a room size of 2400 c.f., you're looking at subs that are much too small. I'd suggest you get a single sub with a 15" driver or dual 12" subs. Go big or go home.

    Use the gift certificate and buy something nice for your wife. Then treat yourself to a killer sub.
    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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  • ccscanlon
    ccscanlon Posts: 17
    edited May 2008
    Thanks Early B., I'm sure you're right. I spent an okay amount of money on the speakers and now I'm trying to get be cheap on the sub! Shame on me! I thought the Hsu might be a little underpowered, is it really way underpowered? Thanks!
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2008
    What about these:

    Velodyne DLS-5000R

    15" Titanic MKIII

    They are mighty subwoofers and are from Amazon; best of both worlds.
    Jake
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  • ccscanlon
    ccscanlon Posts: 17
    edited May 2008
    Thanks Zingo, those 2 look like they could do some serious damage! I think I might need to build a new room just to house them!
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  • chargerman426
    chargerman426 Posts: 419
    edited May 2008
    My suggestion is to get some thing that the lower db (-3) is below 20 hz. I have to of the psw 404s and thats alot bass but i always wounder what its like to just feel the bass and not heir it. So now im on the search for a sub but im just to poor. I have looked at the sunfires volodyne and jl audio subs. So buy bug now and save time latter.
    If life had more tubes it would be a lot smoother.
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  • kingtut
    kingtut Posts: 813
    edited May 2008
    I'd go VTF2-MK3, if you're looking at Hsu. I have the previous generation (VTF3-MK2) sub, which is the same as the current VTF2-MK3. It is a very nice sub. I've owned it for a few years and do not feel a need to upgrade.
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  • ccscanlon
    ccscanlon Posts: 17
    edited May 2008
    Is my room considered big at 2400 cf? On the Hsu website 2400 C.F. is in the "2" range which matches the VTF-1. Is their chart not-so-reliable?
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited May 2008
    ccscanlon wrote: »
    Is my room considered big at 2400 cf? On the Hsu website 2400 C.F. is in the "2" range which matches the VTF-1. Is their chart not-so-reliable?

    I dunno, but my room is 2080 c.f. and I have a kick **** 15" sub and two 10" subs. Eventually I want to add a fourth 12" or 15" sub.

    The rule is -- always buy more sub than you think you'll need.
    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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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2008
    It's better to have a sub that you can turn down than one that's not loud enough.

    Save and get something better as the others suggested.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited May 2008
    Early B. wrote: »
    The rule is -- always buy more sub than you think you'll need.


    That is until you noticed crack in the drywall plasters :)

    EB, do you calibrate your subs hot?
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited May 2008
    What you want out of a sub(s) is one that can pressurize the room. This means when a bomb goes off in the movie, the entrie room literally vibrates and gives the impression that a bomb actually went off. You become part of the action. It's not enough to merely hear a sub. You gotta feel it. But you want clean bass, not the crap that sounds very distorted and one-notey. If you plan to get a Hsu, go with a VTF-3 or forget it. Also check out Epik, SVS, VMPS, etc.
    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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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited May 2008
    polkatese wrote: »
    EB, do you calibrate your subs hot?

    Of course. Is there any other way to calibrate them?;)
    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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  • devani
    devani Posts: 1,497
    edited May 2008
    you can buy BIC H-100 at Amazon...
    http://www.amazon.com/Acoustech-H-100-Front-Firing-Subwoofer-High-Gloss/dp/B0006DNW6U/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1211312738&sr=8-1

    this sub is regarded as one of best budget subs ever..
    Video: LG 55LN5100/Samsung LNT4065F
    Receiver: HK AVR445
    Source: OPPO BDP-93
    HT: POLK SPEAKERS RTi6, FXi3, CSi5, VTF-3 MK2
    2Ch system: MC2105, AR-XA, AR-2A, AR9, BX-300, OPPO BDP-83
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  • DannyD
    DannyD Posts: 133
    edited May 2008
    I'm using a 15" velo dls5000r and let me tell you this thing rocks. It can walk a vase off a table. More then enough..........for now;)
    Fronts: RTI10's
    Center: CSIA6
    Rears: RTIA3's
    Sub: 15" Velodyne DLS5000R x2 Stacked:D:D:D
    Amp: Marantz MM-9000 150wpc (bi-amped for RTI10's) and CSIA6
    Blu-Ray: PS3
    Harman Kardon AVR247
    Monster Cables
    Signal Analog II IC's
    Panamax MP-5300 Power Conditioner
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  • Rivrrat
    Rivrrat Posts: 2,101
    edited May 2008
    I just bought an Outlaw LFM 1 plus. It's handling 3000cf with 12" and 350 watts without any troubles. I doubt it'll pressurize the room like EB wants, but in my house, with my family, that's over the top. I can feel explosions, cannon fire etc. just fine.

    Now like Face said, it is better to have to turn it down than to not have enough, which is good advice. I've had to turn ours down more than once. It'll shake the couch, the furniture, rattle the walls, make my daughter come running downstairs complaining, and send the animals running for cover. But, I doubt it'll do any real damage to my house. Oh, and it does music pretty well too.

    It's simillar in size and specs to an HSU vtf II mk 3, but it has more amps (350 vs 250), and they were both designed by Dr Hsu.
    My equipment sig felt inadequate and deleted itself.
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  • brabus420
    brabus420 Posts: 38
    edited May 2008
    I love Dr. Hsu and his products. I've owned 2 pairs of HRSW10's, STF2, and VTF2 and they all sounded great. The HRSW's are very musical and all go very low. You don't always necesarrily want to hear the bass, but 'feel' the bass. For the money, I don't think you can go wrong. Aesthetically, they are not the pretiest, but they are a budget sub for a reason. I now have a Velodyne ULD-18 but this beast is a totally different story......
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