Impulse Subwoofer Purchase of the Day

[goobernoodles]

Just submitted an order for an HSU VTF-15H for $1018 shipped. Ouch.

Anyone else own one?

 

[Fallen Kell]

No, but I have considered them. I really don't need more bass in my current room, but I am looking to buy a new house and may very well need to upgrade if/when that happens. But for now, I live quit fine with my 2 8" and 2 10" subs (using an external crossover).

 

[queequeg99]

I just got one last week. It is part of a 5.1 setup I've made consisting of Aperion Audio Verus Forte towers (front left and right), a Verus Grand center channel speaker, and Verus Forte satellites. The Aperions held their own reasonably well in my mid-large room (25.5" x 17.5" x 8"). But when I played movies, you could tell they just couldn't hit the low notes. The Hsu filled the gap perfectly. I have never had a sub like the Hsu (it is friggin' enormous!) and cannot believe its performance. The opening battle in Master and Commander is amazing on this thing, as is much of How to Train Your Dragon. I had been looking at some SVS products but they are running into some business operational issues that caused me some concern.

About the only downside is the huge footprint. And perhaps the weight (subcrawling is not really an option with this unit).

FYI, I'm driving the setup with a Denon 2112ci (with Audyssey MultEQ XT). Sounds great.

 

[goobernoodles]

I just got one last week. It is part of a 5.1 setup I've made consisting of Aperion Audio Verus Forte towers (front left and right), a Verus Grand center channel speaker, and Verus Forte satellites. The Aperions held their own reasonably well in my mid-large room (25.5" x 17.5" x 8"). But when I played movies, you could tell they just couldn't hit the low notes. The Hsu filled the gap perfectly. I have never had a sub like the Hsu (it is friggin' enormous!) and cannot believe its performance. The opening battle in Master and Commander is amazing on this thing, as is much of How to Train Your Dragon. I had been looking at some SVS products but they are running into some business operational issues that caused me some concern.

About the only downside is the huge footprint. And perhaps the weight (subcrawling is not really an option with this unit).

FYI, I'm driving the setup with a Denon 2112ci (with Audyssey MultEQ XT). Sounds great.

Not too familiar with Asperion. How much do they run, and how have you liked them?

Have you owned any other subs, and how does the HSU compare? I keep reading that HSU subs have a more visceral feel than other subs - one of the main reasons I went with it. Do you agree?

 

[queequeg99]

Not too familiar with Asperion. How much do they run, and how have you liked them?

Have you owned any other subs, and how does the HSU compare? I keep reading that HSU subs have a more visceral feel than other subs - one of the main reasons I went with it. Do you agree?

I've owned two other subs. My first (bought back in the mid 1990s) was an Infinity (I forget the model). If died a number of years ago and was replaced with a relatively low end JBL (I don't think I paid more than $250 for it). The Hsu is in a completely different universe compared to those subs. I like your use of the term "visceral" as that is the exact term I have used to describe its impact. When you get the right scene in a movie, the sound just hits you in the stomach. Yet it's still very tight. My cheapo JBL can put out a fair amount of SPL, but it is really boomy. The Hsu hits you where it counts but still lets you enjoy the rest of the sound. With music, there is definitely a solid rounding out of the lower frequencies. However, if all I listened to was music, I would not likely have spent this much on a sub as the Aperions acquitted themselves well.

Aperion Audio is a locally based (to Portland, OR) internet direct speaker vendor. Here's a link: http://www.aperionaudio.com. I use the word "speaker" pretty specifically because although Aperion makes subwoofers, it isn't their specialty. They are sort of the flip side of Hsu and SVS, which are specialists in the subwoofer field but who also sell satellites to complement their subs. I have two Hsu HB-1s and like them. But the sound quality doesn't match the Aperion speakers. Of course, the Aperions cost a lot more. They have two main lines of speakers (Intimus, which is older, and the recently introduced Verus series). Each of the main lines is divided further (the Verus line has the lesser Forte subline and the top of the line Grand). The Verus Forte towers run $500 each. The satellites are $175. The Verus Grand channel is an eye popping $700 (eye popping for me anyway). I ended up going all out for the center channel because I will be using my system primarily for movies. And the Verus Grand Towers are just too damned expensive.

I ended up going with Aperion primarily because they are local to me and I was able to go down to their showroom and audition the speakers for a few hours. I left the showroom confident that, given the money I had paid, I would be satisfied. Having listened to the speakers for 45 days now, I don't have any regrets. But I am not one who spends a lot of time second guessing purchases like this. There are many out there who would wonder if a set made by Axiom or Klipsch might have sounded just a little better or provided a little more value. I don't get into that game too much. I was ready to part with a certain amount of money and the Aperions sound really damn good. Case closed for me.

Even if you don't live near Portland, Aperion is worth a try since they offer a free 30 trial and pay shipping both ways if you are not satisfied.

 

[goobernoodles]

Well, I got it yesterday - did a quick levels calibration using a Radio Shack SPL meter.

Goddamn, it sounds fantastic. Quick, tight bass with TONS of headroom. When it goes low, it's seemingly effortless. Just eats up everything I've thrown at it so far. Haven't had much time with the setup yet, but I'm really looking forward to it. It's the first time I've had the entire 5.1 set up in over a year, and the first time I've ever actually calibrated my system - huge difference.

I watched about 20 minutes of Black Hawk Down last night - from when the mission begins until the first chopper is shot down. It's amazing how quickly you get immersed in action movies. Even with a movie I've seen tons of time, I still felt a sense of fear during the action scenes.

Future upgrades - receiver, subwoofer isolation pad, acoustic panels and a bigger/softer area rug, bigger TV and a nice TV stand.

 

[queequeg99]

I can imagine the grin on your face when you heard Black Hawk Down. My setup is the first time I've ever had a 5.1 system. Having is calibrated through Audyssey is icing on the cake. I think I've watched Master and Commander and Star Trek (the reboot) about ten times each at absurdly loud volumes.

Fortunately, I probably won't have to do too much in the way of room treatments. I carpeted most of the room, which massively improved the echos. A huge sofa and a fair amount of shelving has also helped. And I'm not noticing any problems that would require bass traps in the corners (which is good since I would have a tough time getting spousal approval for them).