HSU subwoofer $849

[Bite]

This is the Stereophile Guide to Home Theater 2003 Editor's Choice Gold Award Winning Subwoofer for $849.

I need to purchase a sub for my new home, and I know little about subs. I'm hoping this HSU is a reasonable deal, or if you audiophiles out there have other recommendations.

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Reviews


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[wuduhel]

 

[wuduhel]

 

[leonowski]

HSU subs are excellent for the price.

The VTF-3 is a bit too pricey for me - but it can hang with subs that cost 1000+.

I think the VTF-2 is a better buy: http://www.hsustore.com/vtf2.html

 

[Apex]

There was a buy on them recently, where you could get the much nicer looking rosewood one for the same price as the normal. Not sure if that's still going on (I sorta doubt it).

It's a great sub for the price. It just depends on what kind of output you're looking for. The SVS PB2-ISD will give you more boom, especially below 20hz for not a lot more money ($899 plus $50 shipping).

Again, it all depends on your budget, room size, listening preferences, etc.

 

[agent2099]

http://www.svsubwoofers.com/

 

[EF9]

From the looks of the design, it produces tight accurate bass(which is good for a home theatre system).

 

[Woodsea]

There are a ton of good subwoofers out there in HiFidom. Hsu is a good sub, and is packaged with the undeniable no-brainer bookshelves CBM-170's @ Ascend Acoustics SVS has a huge following at certain home theater forums. For audiophiles I have found and bought that VMPS subs are more musical, and beat the crap out of local hifi shops commercial boxes. The Original Sub is unpowered, I use a retired 100watt receiver, and bumps down to 19htz. Awesome for The Lord of the Rings, opening scene and hiding under the tree from the ringwraiths. Good luck in your search, it can become exhaustive, but very worthwhile.

 

[scornful]

For the price I'd look at an SVS. Around the same price you can get a 20-39 PC+

 

[Marauder-]

Yeah - 20-39PC+ is the bomb!

 

[Apex]

Those SVS tubes are awesome for the money. They do present some pretty big problems with WAF though. I was forced to go with the B4+.

 

[Politik]

why not ask on audioreview or something, instead of in hot deals

 

[Matt L]

I've had a Hsu sub for a few years, the TN-1220HO, and I'm very happy with it. I listened to a lot of subs and decided on the Hsu. I think it's very accurate. Go for it...

 

[onenormalman]

Don't remember the model of the HSU sub I think it's the same TN-1220HO cylinder with 12" speaker I bought when he first introduced this terrific sub. I drive it with my Mackie 1600 Watts power amplifier, it wonderful reproduces the 16HZ of the pipe organ in music and can have 115db SPL of all the actions in movies. You won't go wrong with HSU sub.

 

[Collije]

Off the bat, both HSU & SVS are well-regarded companies in the home theater subwoofer business. Their products blow away anything bought commercially.

Everyone in the home theater (HT) world seems to have their favs though. Think of the Camaro vs. Mustang arguments (both good cars, but zealous fans on each side). Let's just say that SVS has the most zealous fans of the 2 companies (for good reason, their products kick butt).

======================================================

The Stereophile award only accounts for products which pay for advertised in their mags typically (HSU is one of them), no SVS products I think were in that review.

SVS 20-39PC has been independently tested to perform better (SPL or loudness-wise) than the VTF-3. Gotta get past the cylindrical look of the subs though (I did, I got the 16-46....looooooow bass for me!). SVS does have traditional looking square/rectangular subs (like the VTF-3) if that's your fancy too.

Heck, even the cheaper SVS 25-31PC performed better marginally to the VTF-3 (although the HSU sub could go a tad lower in frequencies below 20Hz), but hundreds cheaper that the VTF-3

Read a review here comparing the VTF-3 vs. the SVS 25-31PC (& another competitor) here:
http://www.svsubwoofers.com/reviews_mitchell.htm

Here's a discussion thread on one of those HT forums that talked about both subs (HSU & SVS options).:
http://hometheaterforum.com/htforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=151597&highlight=VTF3+and+2039

You can also have someone build you one for that cost that will tear-up any commercially purchased sub. These 2 folks are well-known builders (they both are long-term stalwarts in many of the HT forums) that have many, many satisfied customers (& back-up their work):

http://www.acoustic-visions.com/~acoustic/
http://www.rutledgeaudiodesign.com/

 

[Marauder-]

And to add to the above post, if you want more power D) - Just get a PC+ - that's another 205W of ground shaking bass.

 

[EvanAdams]

I have the VTF-2 it is great, only problem is I cant turn it above 4 while watching movies or my neibhors call the cops.

It is worth it, also if you send dr. hsu a diagram of the room it will be in he will let you know where the optimum position is.

 

[mikeford]

I have listened to a LOT of subs, and for the money nothing touches Hsu products. Lots of stuff may look good on paper, but in a real room its never been even close.

 

[Collije]

You haven't heard SVS then (if we're talking real world SPL performance)

Remember guys, the power of subs from HSU & SVS if typically waaaay more excess than most non-HT folks would ever need (once you try it though in a properly setup/calibrated system though, you won't go back).

If you live in an apartment like me, I rarely get to rattle the windows & shake the floors due to the other tenants. If you're gonna spend close to a thousand on a sub, might want to keep that in mind.

 

[ClakClak]

what's the best value sub do you guys recommend for around $300?

 

[mikeford]

Yeah I have heard the SVS, the VMPS, and a few dozen nobody else on the list is likely to ever even known existed, and continue to recommend Hsu to most people. Less than about $500 nothing is really all that good, but there are often deals with a LOT of bang/buck, such as this one from Parts Express for $99 http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=300-632&orefer=dotd111003 I haven't listened to this specific sub, but the driver I think is pretty popular and I have heard it with very good results in DIY subs.

 

[mbackof]

I've been researching a new sub and the price/performance leaders tend to go like this based upon the reviews I've read: SVS, HSU, then Adire Audio comes in third. Their Shiva driver is used in a number of cost effective DIY subs. The Rava is their low end unit which can be had for around $400.

 

[vfrjim]

Originally posted by: mbackof
I've been researching a new sub and the price/performance leaders tend to go like this based upon the reviews I've read: SVS, HSU, then Adire Audio comes in third. Their Shiva driver is used in a number of cost effective DIY subs. The Rava is their low end unit which can be had for around $400.

Don't forget the AdireAudio Tempest, it's one bada$$ sub.

 

[SpaceHulk]

I just bought a Harmon Kardon HK12 12" 150Watt sub for $202.50 shipped direct from Harmon at their Ebay auction store. It seems to have good specs and I trust Harmon Kardon b/c they make high quality products and have very good customer support.

This same sub can be found at bestpriceaudiovideo,com for $200+shipping for those not wanting to mess with Ebay.

I have yet to recieve the sub, so I know not if it sounds good as yet.

 

[SuperMAC]

www.stryke.com has 15" passive radiators on sale for $45 each. go download WINISD, model you speaker with the passive radiators and build your own speaker.

Stryke also has some high value 12" and 15" subs.