SVS or 2 HSU?

[lomic]

I've had my HSU STF-2 for about 8 months now. For music it's simply amazing, however when things go Boom in movies, I find the output a bit lacking - or a bit strained if I turn it up. It rattles your exterior, but I'm missing the bass you can feel in your chest - though my living room isn't that large (18x14), so I don't want overwhelming.

I'm considering either buying an SVS 16-46PC or a second STF-2. Just looking for any pros and cons with either setup.

[Mjr7531]

I do know that if you get two subwoofers that you reduce the chance of standing waves in your room, something to think about...

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

WIth 2 of those subs, you'll only get a 3db increase, and the extention wont be helped at all...

With the SVS, it will be considerably louder and will hit ALOT lower than the HSU...

[gregure]

For a room that size, I really recommend going with SVS's PB 10 ISD. It is simply an amazing sub for its price, or even without taking cost into account. I'm sure the Ultra drivers hit a little lower and a little harder, but for a smaller room the PB 10 has all you need-power, accuracy, extension, and strength.
Return of the King and Master and Commander leave nothing to be desired in the lower range with this sub. I find it more than adequate. Of course, if you're willing to spend more dough, I know SVS is planning to issue a single 12" Ultra sub in the coming months. Still, though, for a smaller room, the PB 10 willl blow you away. I think it's probably a much better performer than the PC cylinder, especially considering how much R&D went into making such a great, yet affordable, sub. It sounds great with music too, and not too overwhelming considering CD's are not really programmed the way .1/LFE signals are.

[PolkThug]

If you want "to feel it in your chest", then go with SVS 16-46PC.

Adding another HSU of that same model won't make it go any deeper.

[gregure]

The PB 10 will also give you that "feel it in your chest" (and everywhere else for that matter) effect.

[Early B.]

The PB10 is too small for what Iomic is looking for.

I agree, another STF-2 won't cut it, unless you can place them on both sides of the primary listening position. Oh yeah.

What type of fronts do you have? I recently changed out my fronts with speakers that go down to 25Hz and it is utterly amazing. It'll scare the sh*t out of you in some movies.

If you listen more to music than movies, keep what you have. The STF-2 is excellent for music.

Before you buy something else, try other placement options.

[lomic]

Thanks for all the input. Looks like I'm going to go for the SVS PCi20-39 once my tax refund comes in :)

As much as I do love my HSU for music (a lot), it's just too noticable when it tries to exert itself during movies. And I'm doing about 80% movies, 20% music currently.

Plus I really like the look of the cylinders, just have to give the roomate's cat a hard lesson about clawing something that can defend itself :D

[danger boy]

i really like my 20-39PCi. every time people first see it. they can't belive how big it is. it suprises them every time. but they are impressed with it's output.

are you going to be running the SVS with your HSU together? Just curious.

[lomic]

Nah, gonna have to sell the HSU in order to buy the SVS. My job doesn't pay very much, but I have cheap rent and no girlfriend right now, so I have a small window in my life to build up a HT before returning to college and relationships take everything over again :)

[Tour2ma]

SVS is easier to pronounce...

Originally posted by Mjr7531
I do know that if you get two subwoofers that you reduce the chance of standing waves in your room, something to think about... Sorry, couldn't let this go...

Multiple bass radiators contribute to bass management issues, i.e., nulls and peaks from wave cancelation and reinforcement. It's one of the main reasons that co-location of dual subs and running mains set to small are recommended.

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

Tour,
I believe it is said if you put a subwoofer on the center of each wall in a room, it can help the room with nulls and peaks...

Thus having multiple subs better...

[jdhdiggs]

Tour is mostly correct. Having mor ethan one sub, not co-located, can cause all sorts of issues with standing waves, nulls, etc... without CAREFUL placement. Since subs are generally just thrown into a room where they fit, two subs will most likely cause issues.

If, however, you spend the time to find the optimum placements, phase correction, etc, you can correct some of the issues with one sub.

In summary: If you can place the subs anywhere and are willing to spend a whole day working on placement, go with the two smaller ones. Otherwise get one big one, find a good spot and leave it.

[Tour2ma]

Yup... That's what I be sayin'...

A single bass source interacting with the room creates standing waves. The addition of a second creates interactions with the first, the reflections from the first and interactions between its reflections and the firsts... Bass Management complexity goes up around a factor of four.

Multple bass radiators complicate things... Doesn't mean it's impossible to utilize them to benefit overall system response.

[rnp614]

So for music you guys would recommend a Hsu over the SVS PB10? I will have a 80/20 music/movies usage and am looking at somethign in the same bracket

[lomic]

Unless you regularly listen to music that trolls _really_ low, I think you'd be extremely happy with the HSU. I'm still reluctant to give mine up - even though it lacks a bit for HT in terms of overhead, for music it's still wowing me 9 months later.

[Dr. Spec]

The subwoofer doesn't care if the source material is music or movie. An accurate subwoofer plays both equally well.

Evaluate things like overall frequency response, deep extension, dynamic output capability while still retaining a linear FR, and clean (i.e., distortion limited) output capability particularly in the 20-40 Hz bandwidth.

As much as I do love my HSU for music (a lot), it's just too noticable when it tries to exert itself during movies. And I'm doing about 80% movies, 20% music currently.

When you start to hear things like cone cry, port chuffing, and obvious harmonic distortion, it's time to either turn things down, move the sub close to the listening position and recalibrate, or upgrade to a more capable unit.

I find the biggest improvement with DVD performance will come from improved clean output capability in the 20-40 Hz bandwidth.