Hi everyone.
Right now I've got a pair of M22's paired with a Merak MS-885 sub (also manufactured at Colquhoun Audio Laboratories.. its an older model, similar to the MS8 "100 Watt RMS Amplified 8” down firing subwoofer system"). I picked this sub up for $100 at radio shack one day cause my old Merak MB6 bookshelves were lacking in the bass area. Anyways.. since then I've upgraded to the M22s, but the sub is still here. It does give a punch to the music, and can actually shake my room fairly well given it's size and power, but alas, I think I need an upgrade.

I use my system 99.5% for music, and actually use it for my studio monitoring. So. I really do need quality bass in order to mix down and master my music properly, especially because the music i deal with is club style music that is bass heavy.

Since my home studio is actually in my bedroom, and with the whole setup here, the sub will be very close to my seating position. I mean, i currently use my Merak sub as a little table to put drinks on etc heh, it's within one foot of me.

Because of these rather unique situation I am wondering if the same general advice will apply (hsu or svs). I am really leaning towards an Axiom EP175 because I love the way it looks, and matching the boston cherry finish of my M22's would be very nice. Because Im sitting so close to it, and I wont be using it for movies, would this sub be good?

Thanks for any comments!

You know what I'm going to say.

Well, just in case you don't. Hsu, Hsu, Hsu...

In your case their new STF-8 would probably work great. It's supposed to be available 10/01.

It actually looks like the STF subs won't be available until October 31st. HSU quietly changed the date on their website from the 1st to the 31st in the last day or so. Pretty darn annoying, as I have been anxiously waiting to get the STF-2 (by the way, they changed the names of the subs to STF-1, STF-2 and STF-3 to track the VTF subs). They do look like they will be great options if they ever come out with them.

hmm...delays do suck don't they. But I'm sure they'll be worth the wait.

Paul, I know almost nothing about the Merak, but just based on the numbers you can apparently do a little better. There's a considerable amount of opinion that for the same price other subs(e.g. Hsu, SVS)have more to offer but there's little solid information on the point. Since cherry EP175s are on sale now for $450 it wouldn't hurt to give it a try.

thanks for the replies. i am wondering why people don't recommend the axiom subs, is there something about them specifically that is a drawback? I dont really care about low end extension, or super high volume levels that will destroy my floorboards. I just want a very controlled acurate bass. I realize that many people will say that the axiom subs are alittle expensive, but I am willing to pay slightly more for getting a cherry finish, and for dealing with a company that has such great customer service.

but.. If I am really going to be missing out on some good bass if I do get the axiom, I might reconsider.

does the hsu ship free to Canada? and do I have to pay canadian taxes on it?

I'll put a plug in for the EP175. It is an extremely good musical sub. Very tight, very clean. Blends superbly with the M22's. Not a home theater slouch either, but really shines with music. Mine sits right next to me, in the rear corner of my setup, but I still hear the base up front, where it should be.

thanks for the reply weebo.

I was just at a store called Brack Home Entertainment in downtown toronto (recommended by saturn) and auditioned a B&W ASW600. Appearently, this was the only sub they had in the $700-800 CND price range, so I gave it a listen. The salesman put on some jazz cd to start, and I couldnt really get a good sense of the bass from that (as I dont listen to jazz) so I got him to put on a dub CD I brought along. When the beat kicked in, I was fairly disappointed by the bass. It was not very powerfull, and really didnt punch out the kick drums. But, on the other hand the sound was very well integrated with the DM602.5 S3s that were set up, and produced a nicely rounded warm bass. He also suggested that the ASW675 subwoofer was much quicker and more musical, but also carried double the price tag. I also told him that I was looking into SVS and Hsu, and he actually said he had never heard of them.

So, in my opinion, I would definately not pay $750 for this B&W sub. It just didnt have the impact that I was looking for.

Oh and on a side note, I felt that my M22's actually sounded better than the DM602.5 S3s.

I too went to a store that sold B&W...wow...what an eye opener that was!

B&W has such a good name, but such lousy product! Maybe their high end stuff is nice, but there more entry level speakers were pretty dreadful. I heard the entire line of 600 series. Bleck... (they look darn nice though)

That was the point when I realized that unlike most other things in life, with speakers you don't always get what you pay for.

B&W are good from the CM series and up. Did you try the mirage's at Bracks?
None of the local retailer in Toronto would know SVS and HSU.
There's nothing under $800 that wil get the ummmphh of a SVS or HSU. My Mirage Bi-Polar BP150 2 x 8" gets pretty low. Buts it is $1000cdn.
Audio Excellence Yorkville I believe has Rel subs...They go as low as HSU I believe but they arent cheap.

I have a friend that has a B&W set-up. That had been my reference for good sounding speakers. But at over $3000, they were out of my price range. I think they have a more mellow sound, more base maybe, but I like the detail of my Axiom setup better, at half the price.

Actually the salesman said that they had stopped selling mirage speakers there. from what he was saying, it sounded like he didnt really like them.

Actually I do not like the people there. I only go there to listen to Dynaudio and Martin Login speakers and Rotel product. Other than that the salepeople are no help.
I find a lot of local shops in Toronto are snobbish for no apparent reason.

yeah I got that impression when I was there. But they do have some nice equipment, and the individual listening room setup is very nice.

spiff,how was the room placement,or the room itself set up when you listened to the 600 line of subs?the reason i ask is because my neighbor has the asw 600 and it sounds really good in his room,both music and movies,and he picked it up for 350 usd,i thought it was a pretty good deal...ron

I wasn't speaking of the B&W subs, it was their 600 series bookshelf speakers that I heard. Very muddy sounding. Not much clarity in the midrange at all.

You should take a look at the Adire Daeva...its a sealed sub using the tempest driver and a 300w class d amp. Its basically a Rava w/ higher output and more extension. It should compare very favorably to the SVS and HSU subs in the $600 price range. Its not listed on the Adire website but it is available for order.

Ok, so I have concluded that I won't be purchasing the EP175. I don't think I could handle buying it, meanwhile knowing that it was not the best sub I could have got for the money.

Right now the Hsu VTF-2 is looking very good. the only problem is the ports on both sides. right now I have my sub up against a desk side, and it would be right were a port is. I dont have many alternative positions for the sub, unless I have it in the middle of the walking area(lol). I might wait for the STF subs to come out.

This adire daeva sounds interesting. has anyone else had any experience with it? and what about the Rava or Rava SE? any good?

I also noticed the Vance titanic 10" sub kit on parts express. I would have no problem with a kit, but does anyone know how this sub sounds? In one review I read it was better for HT than for music.. and music is really what I'll be using it for.

You could always keep that port plugged. You only need to be sure that at least one of those ports are free. I can't remember if one port plugged gives you more depth or more spls...but it's designed to have one port plugged if you prefer it that way.

One port plugged gives you more depth.

You need about three inches of clearance for the ports to breath.

alright, I think I've settled on the Adire Rava. I did alittle searching on this sub and all reviews seem good. Also, the $400 price tag is alot easier on my wallet.

BTW, I was on the waiting list w/ Hsu and got a Bstock VTF-2 for $399 + $49 shipping.

I don't think they even charge shipping anymore.

how long were you on the waiting list before one became avaliable?

well.. i did it.

I ordered an Adire Rava subwoofer. With the exchange rate, shipping, taxes, customs, and all that the $400 price tag was just alot more appealing than the $500 hsu or $550 svs.

Plus, the sub actually appears to be really good. Everything that I've read so far has praised it for its amazing price to performance ratio. A quick search on this forum also revealed that a fair number of people use the m22/rava combo and are more than satisfied with it.

So.. I had ordered the sub on sunday, and apparently they were supposed to contact me on the next buisness day to confirm shipping prices (as none appeared on the online order).. but still no call. I can't wait to get this sub!

You'll be happy with the Rava. I made my own sub using the same driver (Shiva) as the Rava and 250 watt plate amp from Parts Express and the thing is amazing. Mines ported so it will go a bit lower but you'll have more energy from the sealed sub.

Frank