eD Subs -- a2-300 vs HSU STF-2 vs HSU VTF-2 MK III.

[Deleted member 4644]

I am considering the eD a2-300 vs HSU STF-2 vs HSU VTF-2 MK III.

I don't have a "budget" per se, but I hate wasting money.

I live in an apartment, and likely will live in an apartment for the foreseeable future (3-5 yrs).

I DO NOT listen to things loud. I never have, and likely never will, listen to movies where you can feel it in your chest. I sometimes get close to that level, but never crank it that high or higher.

My room currently is approximately 15x15x8.5, but its hard to say, because its a very open design with the kitchen.

I would say my use is 40% HT, 30% gaming, and 30% music. Again, I do not listen to things LOUD. I do care a lot about music quality.

I would PREFER STRONGLY to pay $350 or less, but would be willing to go higher if it were "the last sub I would ever buy."

I currently have a Onkyo HTiB 230W 10" sub that got excellent reviews when I bought it. I think it is rated to 30 hz. Would I be upgrading significantly? I also would consider a Polk psw505.

My other components are a Onkyo 7.1 100w/ch AVR, Polk Monitor 60s, CS2 center, and Monitor 30 rears.

 

[Muadib]

How do you feel about the MFW-15?

 

[Deleted member 4644]

How do you feel about the MFW-15?

15". 350 W...

I think it sounds like more power than I need. Is it uniquely good?

 

[Muadib]

If they fixed their amp problems, then yes, it's great. I went from a HSU VTF-2 to the MFW-15, and loved it to death until the amp died. I got fed up waiting for them to fix it, and got my cash back. At that price, I'm tempted to try it again.

 

[Deleted member 4644]

If they fixed their amp problems, then yes, it's great. I went from a HSU VTF-2 to the MFW-15, and loved it to death until the amp died. I got fed up waiting for them to fix it, and got my cash back. At that price, I'm tempted to try it again.

Do you think it is over powered for my application? What about the subs I listed..

 

[vi edit]

Do you think it is over powered for my application? What about the subs I listed..

There's no such thing as "overpowered" subwoofers. You can always dial back the gain. There's no replacement for displacement and the MFW delivers there. It's an INCREDIBLE value for $399. Assuming it works. They certainly have had a bad run of luck with Q/A on them. The new amps started shipping in June of last year and all b-stock/open box should be updated with the new ones. For what it's worth you get a 4 year warranty on them.

The MFW was going to be my suggestion as well. I own one that is working flawlessly and the output it produces is frightening. The "Skidoosh" scene in Kung Fu panda left my concrete floor pulsating. It was awesome.

 

[Muadib]

Do you think it is over powered for my application? What about the subs I listed..

I agree with vi. Better too much power, than not enough. I'm not familar with the a2-300, but the MFW will totally outclass the HSUs.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I live in an apartment, and likely will live in an apartment for the foreseeable future (3-5 yrs).

Do you move a lot?

The biggest downside to getting a large capable sub is probably about moving it. As stated, you can dial it in to exactly how you want it, so it's not an issue of overpowering the speakers.

On the other hand, if you get a big heavy sub that you know you'll never really push due to where you live, then it might not make sense considering the additional effort of moving it.

 

[mshan]

http://mikeshea.net/lt/editorial_89.html

(VTF-1 is current production revision of that reviewed sub).

Dayton subs designed by Hsu at Parts Express are, I would guess, just slightly more coarse and less refined revisions of the actual Hsu subs. See Yoyo's sticky at top of forum.

I've never owned or even heard an Elemental Designs sub, but my impression is that these are basically car audio enthusiasts who have crossed over into home theater.

 

[najames]

I'd personally buy the STF-2 on sale and forget about it. It still might be too much, at least plenty, for an apt. I don't game so I can't comment on that.

I just bought the VTF-1 on a recent sale for $399 and it is plenty of sub for my 12x14x8 ft room that is open on one end. It sounds great on movies and music, likely very similar to the STF-2 now with the plug out of the port. I have it set a only little above the lowest mark on the amp scale and it is still plenty loud. Audyssey setting is -6db for the sub. We watch movies usually at about -8db on the Denon 2310, with zero as the reference level. My wife thought I was nuts getting the receiver and sub until we put in the first DVD she had picked out, Transformers, her eyes bugged out, jaw dropped, and she said "WOW, this is awesome, as good as at the theater". Yup. The receiver replaced a 10yr old Pioneer that I really never got to work right, just kinda winged the settings, and never had a sub before this, and I will never go without again.

Since then, I moved out all the furniture, rerouted wires to the opposite wall, did the "subwoofer crawl", rearranged the room and it is sounding much smoother. My wife has very good hearing and said she noticed a real difference in the new recalibrated setup and likes it very much. We are both over 50 so it doesn't need to blast us out of the house. The whole setup is comfortable to listen to but we still have to almost yell to talk during the movies most of the time.

If your room is like mine, one corner away from the open side is very boomy and you feel it more, but I opted for placing the sub on the smoother sounding side, in about 3ft from the side wall, out about 1-2ft from the back wall, between the TV stand and the outside front. Audyssey just kind of magically "makes it happen". I have not measured anything with a sound meter yet. I am going to build a DIY sub riser/stand next, now it's just sitting on a foamy rug type mat thing.

Other speakers are 10yr old Klipsch 95db fronts/center and some 89db Polk Monitor 30 rears. It's a very decent setup. I spent time setting it up, the fronts are 8ft apart, 2ft in from the front wall, and used a cheap laser pointer to point them at the center of the futon/sofa. I measured the center speaker distance and also used the laser to point it upward to the center of the sofa since I read that these speakers in an MTM configuration are very directional. Rear surrounds are slightly behind us 2ft on each end pointing in towards the center of the sofa.

Look at the amp picture here, my sub is set maybe slightly over that first mark above the "Min" mark reverence.
http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-1.html

Yoyo, I like your room!! I'll have to look at those DIY acoustic panels some more. I noticed an echo in my room if I clap.

 

[kalrith]

What I like most about the MFW-15 is that it's a closed sub instead of an open sub. This will provide tighter bass rather than boomy bass. I like this sound a lot more for music. It will also be less likely to annoy your neighbors. (This is going from memory, so please correct me if I'm wrong).

I also read a lot of this 226-page avsforum thread. Craigsub ranks the MFW-15 very high, much higher than any other sub in its price range. If you're even close to this price range and have the room for it and the willingness to deal with having them fix possible amp problems, then the MFW-15 is THE SUB to get. I know for sure that when I buy a new sub, it will be the MFW-15.

And as others said, the volume knob on the back of every sub will allow you to keep the sub from overpowering your space (and neighbors).

 

[vi edit]

The MFW-15 is slot ported. It's not sealed. That being said, it's very articulate and has received high praise for both HT & music use.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Yoyo, I like your room!! I'll have to look at those DIY acoustic panels some more. I noticed an echo in my room if I clap.

Thanks. It really improved things in my room, so if you have similar issues I highly recommend getting some treatments.