Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Another Sub Question

I'm about to pull the trigger on a new sub. I've been on the B stock list with Hsu for a VTF3 MK II and am about 90% sure that I will go that route. A friend brought up a question that I don't have a definitive answer for this weekend.

We use our HT system about 60% for music and 40% for movies. We're set up in a 25" x 12" room which opens into another 12 x 12 room. With 3 kids less than 6 years old in the house we have few opportunities to crank up our system very loud. I was discussing my potential new sub purchase with this friend and he wondered whether I would be better served with a couple of smaller subs. (He's interested in the 10" Rockets).

Any opinions given we don't have much opportunity for much volume? At low volumes will we still get the "oomph" and bang for the buck $$ from the Hsu. I'm feeling that if I don't go with the Hsu I"ll always be wondering if I should have. It would be nice to avoid upgraditis for a while. I thought that the WAF might be higher with a couple of smaller subs, but she assures me that she's ok with a big box as well. She doesn't want a cylinder sub of any kind. Any ideas or opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Well all I can say is that you won't regret buying the HSU. I have it and I love it. It works very well at low levels and also when the volume gets going.

However, going with two smaller subs is also appealing. I know a few people who run dual subs and they swear by it.

In the end I don't think you will go wrong either way.

One thing you won't get from two smaller subs compared to one larger one is lower frequency extention.Say you went with the two smaller ones ( two Vtf 2s ),they will still only go as low as the tuned frequency allows.With one larger one ( say the Vtf 3 ) you will still get the output of the two smaller ones but the tuned frequency is lower.

I did go from two Hsu Vtf 2s to one Stf 3 and I am quite happy with the results.

Stay with the bigger sub for better lower frequency response.

When I got my SVS several weeks ago, the wife asked what it was. When I told her, she said why did you need that thing, its ugly.

I knew that she would get over it. She hasn't said much since.

I think that it looks great next to my M80s. Believe it or not, it is the same height, give or take just a little.

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I did go from two Hsu Vtf 2s to one Stf 3 and I am quite happy with the results.

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Rick: Any particular reason that you went to STF 3 instead of VTF 3 MKII (apart from the price difference)? From the specs, and from the new "turbo" feature, VTF 3 seems better.

I own a pair of the 10” Rocket UFW-10’s in a space a little larger than yours.

They work very well for music, and the parametric EQ was a very big help to get a 20 db room mode bump fixed. The bass is fairly smooth and even now. However, they only hint at shaking the room and there are times I know I’m missing something. I picked the dual Rockets mainly because of space/location constraints and also because I needed a good musical subwoofer to support my M22’s (really the Rocket is an excellent woofer rather than a subwoofer). The trade-off was I don’t have the full impact for some movie scenes.

Unless you place a much higher priority on space minimization and accurate bass response (musicality) like I did, I’d go for the bigger subwoofer. You could always get a second one later if it doesn’t fill the room enough, and there are separate component equalizers to handle room mode problems. I didn’t go this route again for space minimization of equipment.

I will say I do like that dual front mounted subwoofers seem to make higher frequency crossover points much less noticeable, but your H&K reciever may not have the bass mangement constraints of my Denon.

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Rick: Any particular reason that you went to STF 3 instead of VTF 3 MKII (apart from the price difference)? From the specs, and from the new "turbo" feature, VTF 3 seems better.

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I had a conversation with Dr. Hsu about this very question.He had asked me what type of music I listened to.I had told him I mainly listen to classic rock and blues.With that in mind he recommended The STF 3 for my system.When I had asked about the VTF 3 MK2 he told me for my application I would not be taking advantage of the lower tuned frequencies the VTF had to offer.A person can also plug one port on the STF 3 if they want to reach into the 20 hz zone.As been noted on the forum before the STF 3 is tuned at 22 hz,although it does not state this on the Hsu website I beleive this to be true.I played a 20hz test tone through mine and it seemed to have quite a bit of energy at 20 hz.

The STF 3 will be able to take advantage of the " Turbo " also.

Thanks for all the help and opinions-Dr. Hsu had a Rosewood VTF3-MK II in B-stock. The price was right so I did the deal. Now the anxious waiting begins.

Congrats,I'm sure you will enjoy it.

Hey Wid let me ask you- Your saying that if you listen to Rock, say DMB and Dire Straits, Allman brother, the STF 3 would be better? I also love to listen to Jazz - contemporary and fusion, Marcus Miller for instance, Still the STF3? I am in the research stage of looking for a sub to replace my 175.
All though these posts on subs no one has mentioned Sunfire, I wonder why as I think they make a great sub all be it pricey.