Subwoofer buying advice: Amazon.com vs Hsu

[ccscanlon]

I have a gift certificate for Amazon for $250. However, it seems like alot of people like the Hsu subwoofers. I'm looking at the VTF-1 for $430 but I'm also considering 2 subs from Amazon 3rd parties:

http://www.amazon.com/Dayton-T1003K-...1215078&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/KEF-PSW2500-25...1215365&sr=1-6

I'm just wondering how much better the Hsu would be than these two. Using the $250 would take alot of the sting oof the "You spent HOW MUCH?" conversation! I'm 50/50 music to ht. I have Polk rti a3's up front, csi a4 center, and fxi a4 surrounds. Room is 2400 cubic feet.

Thanks!

[Early B.]

With a room size of 2400 c.f., you're looking at subs that are much too small. I'd suggest you get a single sub with a 15" driver or dual 12" subs. Go big or go home.

Use the gift certificate and buy something nice for your wife. Then treat yourself to a killer sub.

[ccscanlon]

Thanks Early B., I'm sure you're right. I spent an okay amount of money on the speakers and now I'm trying to get be cheap on the sub! Shame on me! I thought the Hsu might be a little underpowered, is it really way underpowered? Thanks!

[zingo]

What about these:

Velodyne DLS-5000R

15" Titanic MKIII

They are mighty subwoofers and are from Amazon; best of both worlds.

[ccscanlon]

Thanks Zingo, those 2 look like they could do some serious damage! I think I might need to build a new room just to house them!

[chargerman426]

My suggestion is to get some thing that the lower db (-3) is below 20 hz. I have to of the psw 404s and thats alot bass but i always wounder what its like to just feel the bass and not heir it. So now im on the search for a sub but im just to poor. I have looked at the sunfires volodyne and jl audio subs. So buy bug now and save time latter.

[kingtut]

I'd go VTF2-MK3, if you're looking at Hsu. I have the previous generation (VTF3-MK2) sub, which is the same as the current VTF2-MK3. It is a very nice sub. I've owned it for a few years and do not feel a need to upgrade.

[ccscanlon]

Is my room considered big at 2400 cf? On the Hsu website 2400 C.F. is in the "2" range which matches the VTF-1. Is their chart not-so-reliable?

[Early B.]

Is my room considered big at 2400 cf? On the Hsu website 2400 C.F. is in the "2" range which matches the VTF-1. Is their chart not-so-reliable?

I dunno, but my room is 2080 c.f. and I have a kick ass 15" sub and two 10" subs. Eventually I want to add a fourth 12" or 15" sub.

The rule is -- always buy more sub than you think you'll need.

[Face]

It's better to have a sub that you can turn down than one that's not loud enough.

Save and get something better as the others suggested.

[polkatese]

The rule is -- always buy more sub than you think you'll need.

That is until you noticed crack in the drywall plasters :)

EB, do you calibrate your subs hot?

[Early B.]

What you want out of a sub(s) is one that can pressurize the room. This means when a bomb goes off in the movie, the entrie room literally vibrates and gives the impression that a bomb actually went off. You become part of the action. It's not enough to merely hear a sub. You gotta feel it. But you want clean bass, not the crap that sounds very distorted and one-notey. If you plan to get a Hsu, go with a VTF-3 or forget it. Also check out Epik, SVS, VMPS, etc.

[Early B.]

EB, do you calibrate your subs hot?

Of course. Is there any other way to calibrate them?;)

[devani]

you can buy BIC H-100 at Amazon...
http://www.amazon.com/Acoustech-H-10...1312738&sr=8-1

this sub is regarded as one of best budget subs ever..

[DannyD]

I'm using a 15" velo dls5000r and let me tell you this thing rocks. It can walk a vase off a table. More then enough..........for now;)

[Rivrrat]

I just bought an Outlaw LFM 1 plus. It's handling 3000cf with 12" and 350 watts without any troubles. I doubt it'll pressurize the room like EB wants, but in my house, with my family, that's over the top. I can feel explosions, cannon fire etc. just fine.

Now like Face said, it is better to have to turn it down than to not have enough, which is good advice. I've had to turn ours down more than once. It'll shake the couch, the furniture, rattle the walls, make my daughter come running downstairs complaining, and send the animals running for cover. But, I doubt it'll do any real damage to my house. Oh, and it does music pretty well too.

It's simillar in size and specs to an HSU vtf II mk 3, but it has more amps (350 vs 250), and they were both designed by Dr Hsu.

[brabus420]

I love Dr. Hsu and his products. I've owned 2 pairs of HRSW10's, STF2, and VTF2 and they all sounded great. The HRSW's are very musical and all go very low. You don't always necesarrily want to hear the bass, but 'feel' the bass. For the money, I don't think you can go wrong. Aesthetically, they are not the pretiest, but they are a budget sub for a reason. I now have a Velodyne ULD-18 but this beast is a totally different story......