Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo HSU VTF3 MKII....HOLY CRAP man!!!

ok. i just left my buddies house, who sold me the 2 15" def tech subs...he has 2 12" hsu vtf3 mkii now, and let me tell you, these are the BEST subs i have ever heard....and the deepest, and lowest...and most gut shaking, butt moving!!! if you have a need of a new sub, i'd look into these!!!

ps, i'm selling my Definitive Technology PF15TL+ subs now to get one!!!

$600.00 each CAD

oh ya, you should hear the sub test cd that comes with these subs!!! 15 htz....it's CRAZY!!! i thought my ears were going to pop outta my head...seriously...

Before you dump the subs you have remember how much placement and seating position affects subwoofer performance.

I wouldn't be surprised to find the HSUs outperform the DefTech subs (box size relative to woofer size seems to be a factor as well) but unless you have heard the two subs sitting in the same spot in the room keep in mind that the difference might not be as big as you think.

Having said that, I also think the VTF-3's are fantastic.

i have heard both subs in the same room, same spots, same equipment, and there IS a huge difference..

Oh good.

Also keep in mind that the EP600 and any of the bigger SVS subs will go deeper and play louder than the VTF3, and the EP500 will go deeper than the VTF3 but probably won't play louder. It's true !! There are some awesome subs on the market now; it's hard to go wrong.

Do you know if your buddy had the VTF3s in 25hz (native) or 20 Hz tune ? I think they are 25 Hz with all the ports open and 20 Hz with one of the ports plugged.

The bigger SVSs tune to 20, 16 or 12 Hz -- I don't know where the new Axiom subs are tuned.

he had one port plugged on each..so i guess 20 hz...

All the talk about subs lately especially on other sites have me a bit concerned with my order of the ep500. You say HSU sounds better than anything you ever heard before. For the price I would be better off getting 2 HSU instead of 1 ep500. How do they compare just using one sub? I think 2 subs in my room would be overkill but I bet it would sound nice.

Clarence, I wouldn't be concerned about the 500. I'd wager the farm that you'll be very happy with it. If you've been following that thread at AVS, stay tuned. It's REALLY gonna get interesting.

I tried to tell ya

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It's REALLY gonna get interesting.

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And it has .


I think Jack is right on the EP500, I wouldn't worry about it's performance one bit.

>>All the talk about subs lately especially on other sites have me a bit concerned with my order of the ep500. You say HSU sounds better than anything you ever heard before.

I don't think Jinx has heard an EP500 yet

I too say, "Wait till you FEEL the 500!"

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If you've been following that thread at AVS, stay tuned. It's REALLY gonna get interesting.

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Jack, I cruised over there for a little bit a couple of days ago and read through most of that thread. Whew, some of those fellas are a tad testy, aren't they!

Are they *still* ranting and raving over there about the Axiom speakers?

Well the hatchet job on the EP600 has tamed down, but only because one fella took his SVS and his EP600 up to Axiom for them to measure, and now Ilkka's numbers are going to be scrutinized and compared. That's given the Axiom bashers pause. Next is a trip to the NRC so both can be independently measured there.

i have not heard the ep500...but...i will tell ya that there is no way a servo 15 from paradigm could compete with 2 HSU vtf3's...that is for sure. i HAVE heard those, and there is just no comparison. i still can't believe that they are only 12" subs!!! also, my buddy is gettin the turbos for these subs, so they will get better still!!! and as for ONE sub compared to TWO..i would ALWAYS go with 2 if you can afford it...and that is the general recommendation of almost all speaker manufacturers...2 subs is the way to go for sure

wow. i was just playing this DRUM & BASS cd i downloaded..and holy crap does it shake my house. my def tech 15's might not be as good as the HSU's, but they still hit pretty hard, and go pretty damned deep. just thought i'd share. you should download some of that stuff and try it out

I can't imagine having two vtf3's. My house can barely handle one without drywall damage

I have not heard the ep500. It's what I wanted originally but with the vtf3 mkii being what it is for the dollar it was a no brainer. Would have been nice to have all matching speakers though.

But, I'll never give up my vtf3, the thing is nuts.

I have dual VTF-3 MKII subs in my 13x24 basement theater. The two VTF-3 subs hit hard as heck and can make you feel as thought the entire house is coming down around you. I've measured my two VTF-3 subs down to 16Hz at some serious decibals that is way more that I can take in a room this size. Sure you can always find a sub that plays louder, but it's not all about decibels its also about the quality of the sound and the VTF-3 is one of the best sounding subs I've ever heard. The VTF-3 is a serious performer in Hz, dB and sound quality. Very few subs are good at all these things. Also the VTF-3 is probably the first upgradable sub and by adding a turbo for only $200 you have a sub that will supposedly play as loud as "two" VTF-3 subs with the same top notch sound quality.

I'm not bashing Axiom subs or speakers and I even own some Axiom speakers. The VTF-3 is just a great sub and two has to be felt and heard to be appreciated.

i could not agree more!!! i WANT one!!!

You make it sound like the VTF3 is way more than what I need. I may have to consider the VTF2.

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You make it sound like the VTF3 is way more than what I need. I may have to consider the VTF2.

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It may be more than you need, it depends on your room and how you use it. I'm one of those people who beleive in having more headroom than I really need. I like the extra headroom for clean output. The key for me is clean output vs. distorted. That's why I run two VTF-3s, because for me sound quality is everything and I always want to know that no matter how demanding the movie is mixed I'll have the SQ I want by having plenty of headroom.

That's why I'm always amazed when people talk about their subs it's always about how low and what dB they go vs. talking about the quality of the sound at a low Hz and high dB. What good is a sub that hits 16Hz at 110dB if it sounds like crap. I think most people think subs are all about bragging rights of high dB and low Hz, and thats all good as long as the sound quality is there too.

For example SVS makes some really great subs, but to me their best sounding sub that I've heard is the PB12 Ultra. It's not their most expensive, loudest or lowest, but to me it is the best combination of low extension, high dB and sound quality that they offer in a "box" sub. I'm sure everyone with bigger and more expensive SVS subs will disagree with me, but that just what my ears have heard from the SVS subs I've listened too(nope I haven't heard them all).

OK I'm done with my rant, so how big is your room and how loud do you listen? Those two things make a big difference on which sub to get. Also do you use you sub for music or just movies? Alot of people think just any sub is good for movies, but movies have great soundtracks and belive it or not even explosions will sound different on two different subs.

The people who thinks subs are just for movies have never heard a good sub. I'd never want to try and integrate a lousy sub into my music either, but owning a good sub makes me never want to go without it!

I just put a Hsu car sub in my car and do not think I could live without a good sub in a car now.

Hey littleb, you may be okay with the STF2 as well.

I've been researching the HSU subs for a little bit now and I hope I can get mine tomorrow. I'm looking at the STF3 or the VTF3. Unfortunately, I need to go to a DR test for our company tomorrow

From what I've read, the STF's are basically the budget version. STF is set for maximum extension mode while the VTF's give you flexibility for tuning maximum extension (how deep) or maximum output (how loud). Of course, the VTF3 will go the lowest...

Actually....the STF-3 is in maximum output tune compared to the VTF-3, and the STF-2 is in maximum extension tune when compared to a VTF-2.

Thanks for the clarification..I think it was the stf3 that you could get from the factory changed to maximum extension for a slight fee..right?

Not that I know of. The early batch of STF-3's were mistakenly installed with amps meant for max extension.

If you have a STF-3 you can get it modified for the 20hz exstention.

My $.02

If you can afford it in any way, go with the VTF3 over the VTF2. Both awesome subs but here is what I heard.

Went down to the Hsu headquarters to listen and probably buy the VTF2 if it lived up to half of its praise.

It was incredible. I loved it. It was the first sub that I had ever heard to really have super clean and accurate bass. Had listened to every sub in the big brand stores including 15" velodyne's, infinities, cambridge soundworks, and many many others up to about $2500.

I began working out the details on price and color with the staff when Dr. Hsu came and started talking to me about my room layout and size. He stated that I really ought to consider the VTF3 for my situation. He made it a no brainer especially with the deal he gave on a B-stock sub.

So I said lets do it and began paying for the VTF3. Mind you I had not even heard this sub yet because I was really only interested and initialy budgeted for the VTF2. The good Dr. asked me, "Do you want to take a listen to one of these".

"But of course", I stated.

Back into the listening room armed with my CD's and some of their library of DVD's and CD's. Well it took all of the first bass hit/note to convince me of what a great decision I had made. Is it more than I need, probably. But my goodness the bass that comes out of this sub is awesome. It was a big difference in quality from the VTF2 at the same volume levels. And don't forget I LOVED the VTF2. It was awesome. Its just the VTF3 is that much better.

Of course your room is not huge but you will DEFINITELY notice a difference at any volume with the bigger sub. Its worth it to me.

I would go with two if the wife did not hate the "massive, ugly black box in the corner". Oh well, at least I get to enjoy one.

I just picked up a VTF3-MKII as well on Saturday, loving it. Still needs proper calibration and possibly to be moved around a bit though.
I have only had about 25 minutes with it so far, so I am looking forward to getting some time to play with it this week