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Help me pick a new SUBWOOFER.

A

amnesiac

Lifer
My current HT setup looks and sounds great so far, but is in dire need of some low-end lovin'.

I've done research, research, and more research, and have come up with the following candidates. All have gotten rave reviews, awards, and kudos from users and critics. All are phenomenal values. All have demonstrated excellent quality, hard-hitting bass thanks to tests by Tom Nousaine. However, these have NEVER had a direct face off as far as I can tell which makes comparison harder.

Asking around on audiophile forums just causes all the fanboys to pop out and say why THEIR sub (usually SVS vs. HSU vs. DIY) is best without giving any good reason one way or the other. It seems NO ONE has heard / compared these subs directly.

Choices:

Hsu Research VTF-3 MKII (Preorder) $699 + Free Shipping + Tax = $750
Hsu Research STF-3 $599 + no shipping + no Tax = $599
Adire Audio Dharman or Daeva $599 + $50 shipping = $649
SVS PB1-ISD $599 + $50 shipping = $649


- I watch movies EXCLUSIVELY. I couldn't give half a rat's ass about how good a sub is for music. I want the sub to liquefy my organs.
- I will NOT consider DIY. I haven't the time or energy to deal with it. I want to plug it in, calibrate, and play. Plus I have no tools.

Help?
 
Personally I'd go with SVS but I haven't compared your choices. For bang for your buck I don't think they can be beaten. Plus their customer service and build quality is exceptional. I also prefer the look of the SVS over the black box...
 
I have the SVS 25-31 PCi, and it's totally awesome... Given the size of the room (3000+ cu. ft.) it does very well. IMO SVS pretty much defines bang (or in this case BOOM) for the buck, and their customer service is unequaled.

Dave
 
See, that's the thing. With all the choices, you have a company that is dedicated not only to the pursuit of sonic perfection, but to excellent customer service, and all these subs are of excellent quality, both acoustically and build-wise. Tom + Ron of SVS, Dr. Hsu, and Dave(?) of Adire always personally interact with customers and are very honest and up-front. In all respects, these subs are equals. The problem is figuring out which one will give me the best HT experience.
 
Originally posted by: amnesiac
Originally posted by: Anubis
i say go with the SVS also
Click to expand...

Why?
Click to expand...

other then teh shear bang for buck arguement that has allreay been stated.

1) the look cool as hell. big round things they are
2) sound amazing, i have heard the 25-31 PCI alot and it is awsome. im guessing the 20-39 is just the same. just hitting a lil lower
3) they sound just as good as many of the 3000$ subs that are out there
 
SVS.

I love my 25-31 PCi.

This tube has some serious low end. It will vibrate my couch and walls with no problem. On top of that...the bass it out puts is clean and distortion free. Its not boomy but extremely accurate. Its really an awesome sub.
 
Originally posted by: ThisIsMatt
No DIY? Bah 😛

Considering you can buy the parts for the adire for about $200 (plus wood), I'm not so sure it's a huge bargain.
Click to expand...



matt, what are your specs and such on that sub?
 
Yet another satisified SVS owner, cust service blows away newegg (and thats a damn hard thing to do)
 
Originally posted by: Ameesh
why are there no velodyne models on your list?
Click to expand...

Because to get a Velodyne that will stand up to the models listed I'd have to get something like a Servo 15 which is expensive.

The comparably (read: budget) priced Velos don't have the same oomph.

Just got an email from Dr. Hsu himself who said I can take a STF-3 for $599 out the door if I come by with cash, no tax no shipping. Jawesome.

 
Ugh, man. Those all look like great choices. I'm partial to boxes, so I'd probably take a PB1-ISD over the 20-39PCi, but they're all great choices. Wish I could help. 🙂

I'd personally skip the STF-3 as a choice, since $50 isn't too much more to pay (with the VTF MKII) for the extra tuning.

I've got a B4+, but will hold back the fanboi comments. 😉 Heck, I was considering an Acoustic Visions Everest (dual tumult + 4 passive radiators), before picking up the B4+.
 
Hmm, Dr. Hsu said that for my needs he'd suggest the STF-3 over the VTF-3 MKII.

I guess what I'll do is pick one up this week and test it out. They're right down the freeway anyhow.

edit: Hey Apex, what's your current setup? I remember seeing those pics of your HT room ripped to shreds for the wiring. 🙂

Oh, also I think with the VTF-3 I would have to wait about a month for release, plus I dont think they'll waive tax, so it's actually another $150
 
Originally posted by: amnesiac
Hmm, Dr. Hsu said that for my needs he'd suggest the STF-3 over the VTF-3 MKII.

I guess what I'll do is pick one up this week and test it out. They're right down the freeway anyhow.

edit: Hey Apex, what's your current setup? I remember seeing those pics of your HT room ripped to shreds for the wiring. 🙂

Oh, also I think with the VTF-3 I would have to wait about a month for release, plus I dont think they'll waive tax, so it's actually another $150
Click to expand...

I am sure you will like the HSu. 🙂.
 
Originally posted by: ThisIsMatt
No DIY?Bah 😛 Considering you can buy the parts for the adire for about $200 (plus wood), I'm not so sure it's a huge bargain.
Click to expand...

Holly-taking-up-a-lot-of-space-and-boomy-bass batman. :Q
 
Originally posted by: amnesiac
Hmm, Dr. Hsu said that for my needs he'd suggest the STF-3 over the VTF-3 MKII.

I guess what I'll do is pick one up this week and test it out. They're right down the freeway anyhow.

edit: Hey Apex, what's your current setup? I remember seeing those pics of your HT room ripped to shreds for the wiring. 🙂

Oh, also I think with the VTF-3 I would have to wait about a month for release, plus I dont think they'll waive tax, so it's actually another $150
Click to expand...

Yeah. Tom at SVS actually laughed when he heard that the B4+ I ordered from them is going in just a 3000 cubic foot room. They recommend it for 6000+. Hehe. Remember, if it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing. 😉

My current setup? Not too much has changed.

MAIN THEATER ROOM:

ELECTRONICS:

Lexicon MC-8b 7.1 Channel Pre/Pro
Adcom GFA-7807 300w per channel into 8 ohm into 7 channels (actually tested to 600w into 4 ohm, which my speakers are)
Crown K2 2500w bridged at 4 ohm pro amplifier (for subwoofer - still in transit)
Lite-On 5001 DVD Recorder
Sony DVP-NS755V SACD Player
ReplayTV 5504
Panamax Max5300 (for Lex & minor electronics)
Panamax Max4400 (20amp, for GFA-7807)
Panamax Max4400 (20amp, for Crown K2 amplifier)
3.2Ghz HTPC in Antec Overture case with ATI 9700 Pro
Gefen 4x1 DVI switcher with remote

VIDEO:

100" 16:9 Stewart Model A tensioned Electric screen with Firehawk fabric. THX microperf'd bottom blackout, custom size borders. 12v trigger (automatically rolls down when Lexicon turns on, up when Lex turns off)
Dukane 9017 1400x1050 native LCOS/DILA projector. It's the twin of JVC's DLA-SX21U. I believe Bruckheimer uses (or at least used, who knows how long he keeps stuff) this in his home theater.

SPEAKERS:

2 Aurum Cantus Music Goddess (fronts)
1 Aurum Cantus MR-C (center)
4 Aurum Cantus Leisure 2 Deluxe (sides & rears)
2 Atlantic Technology 374SR THX Ultra certified Surround Channel Speakers (um, being used as speaker stands for rears)
1 SVS B4+ subwoofer (four high excursion 12" drivers, 200lbs, 2500w continuous power handling, 10000w peak power handling)
1 Atlantic Technology 372PBM 12" subwoofer (until my K2 arrives, then it gets kicked to some other room)


SITTING ROOM
JVC 36" TV
Sherwood RD-6108 5.1 Channel A/V Receiver
ReplayTV 5040 w/160GB HD
2 Atlantic Technology 371LR THX Ultra certified Front Speakers
1 Atlantic Technology 373C THX Ultra certified Center Channel

MASTER BEDROOM
Panasonic TH-42PWD6UY 42" Plasma
JBL TLX Speakers
ReplayTV 5504

GUEST ROOM
Akai PDP4294 42" Plasma (clone of 42" Samsung SPN4235, with DCDi, DNIe, DVI w/HDCP, speakers, dual tuners, etc)
Bravo D1 DVI DVD Player

Here's a few picts of the main room:

Front of room, with screen down

Front of room, with screen up (while construction was still going on)

Projector mount, being put together (it's DIY, I was too cheap to buy one)

Projector, as mounted (cables not bundled and cleaned yet, and access panel cover not made)

SVS B4+ gets here. It's HUGE. That's a 5400lb SUV behind the box

B4+ next to the Atlantic Technology 15" subwoofer

B4+ with the Aurum Cantus L2D speaker on top of it. I had it colormatched. SVS did an awesome job

An old look at the seating (before I redid theater). Using same recliners. 5 positions fully recline

Really old look at the equipment rack, before the new Lexicon MC-8b and others

Got the MC-8b in, still old pict

That's about it. Haven't taken any new picts. It was a fun project. You should see some of the crazy rooms real HT enthusiasts have. Compared with many of those, my room is just a step above consumer stuff, barely scratching mid-fi.
 
Hey I got this thing sitting in my closet. If I were to build my own ht subwoofer would this be ok to use with it. What would be a fairly cheap 8ohm sub I could use for this? I dont want to use a car sub cause it is 4ohm's
 
Changed my choices a bit (considering the Daeva as well, and the PB1-ISD instead of the PCi).

Also, Hsu offered me the STF-3 sub for $599 out the door if I come pick it up. HMMMMMMMMMMMMM.
 
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