Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Hsu Research's New HT System

Does anyone know anything about the following? Also, will one be able to buy the new subs separately or only bundled with this satellite system?

"Combined with one of our subwoofers, the new HSU Ventriloquist 5 system with large woofers in the center channel is the only micro satellite system we know that can properly play music and five channel surround sound. With one of our subwoofers, accurate full frequency audio has never been as inexpensive. Listening tests over the past 6 months have generated a following for this system. If your friends bought an expensive home theater system recently, you may not want to play our new system for them--it may lead to buyer's remorse!"

All I know is that it's a "budget" HT package that's due out at the end of the month.

I was able to hear that system in a prototype stage when I visited the Hsu booth at the CES show in Vegas last January (almost a year ago -- wow!). Dr. Hsu was also using one of his prototype STF subs in the setup.

I have to say I was completely impressed when he demoed both music and movies. It was a very well voiced and integrated system. If the system was available for sale at that show, I would have purchased it. But alas, the release date was a long way off, so I ended up getting Axioms instead. No regrets.

The system is a joint venture with Hsu and BIC America, I believe. (At least that was the case a while ago.) BIC apparently makes some pretty decent speakers for the price. They're not much to look at, though.

I've heard the system on two seperate occasions at the Hsu Research offices here in Southern California.

I was also very impressed with the system.

For the cost of the system, between $500-$600 with the smallest sub, I think it is an outstanding value.

I would like to hear it with some of the other low cost speakers/system I have heard of late.

With an added entry-level receiver, this system should blow every other package deal out of the water.

I am hoping that I can get to compare it in 2.1 format with the Rocket ELT's I have. I have to send back the ELT's this week though.

This thread is useless without pics!

There is a prototype picture in this thread:

http://hsuresearch.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=111

But I think some of the pricing info is outdated.

Hey, curtis, you linked to another forum YET AGAIN!?!?

Seriously and out of curiousity, why did you decide to try the ELT in the first place? The ELT isn't in the same "caliber" with your beloved Ascends, no? Were you looking for a second system?

sushi,

It was the curiosity that got me. So much talk about how good they are...so I had to try, and it was easy on the credit card. Not looking to get anything new. It is the same curiosity that got me to try all the budget speakers, and the SVS sub.

IMO, the mains/surrounds, not impressed; center is good; subwoofer, not impressed; And they do not sound like any other Rockets I have heard. They do look nice, great workmanship on the cabinets. But, to me, the overall sound does not match the cabinets. It is not bad, but for $899, I would weigh in the options. Anybody that says they are great, IMO, has not heard anythingelse in that price range, much less Ascends or Axioms.

Understood, Curtis.

I briefly listened to the ELT when AV123 had their "show" in Dallas (it was the only setup I could ever hear, because I arrived "too late" -- in fact they closed down half-day earlier than initially announced ). In this movie-only auditioning, I wasn't particularly impressed with the ELT, either. They sounded like small speakers, which they are. And I agree with you that to my ears they didn't have the mellow/laid-back character of the Rockets.

By the way, Curtis, how the heck can I go to the Ascends forum on their web site??? I thought it was already up and running with you as a moderator. But I cannot find the entrance...

There is no link to it.....it is a seperate entity and not related to Ascend Acoustics.

here is the address:
www.ascendforum.com

spiffnme, MarkT, ZeN, and some other Axiomites visit once in while

-curtis

I'd visit more often, but I never bookmarked it, and couldn't find it again! I'll bookmark it now!

Aha!!! No wonder... Thanks, Curtis!

been there myself to check it out. i was suprised that a well mannered, polite, articulate handsome guy named curtis replied to many posts in a gentlemanly fashion. who could have that masked man have been???
dan

LOL!!

I just don't use the word metallic, and I do not mind people referring to other forums. I do wish we had some more debates on stuff....but the board is still very young.

Ofcourse....since I am a moderator, I can delete anything I do not like. But, I have not had to do anything like that yet.

-curtis

Yes, I did see someone else used the word "metallic" describing the Axioms there! The word is banned, you know -- it's not even listed in the official Stereophile glossary.

http://www.hsuresearch.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=248

The Hsu Research forum has a pointer to this in the Crutchfield Advisor.

In reply to:

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Another impressive demo came courtesy of Hsu Research — long known for their potent, low-cost subwoofers — who showed their aptly named "Ventriloquist" surround speaker system. Comprised of four micro-sized satellites, a somewhat larger center-channel speaker, and an 8-inch subwoofer, the Ventriloquist system sounded far larger than its modest size and $500 price would suggest. The subwoofer blended beautifully with the front speakers, yet it was actually positioned a few feet from my chair. I had no clue until the presenter pointed to it!

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http://www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/S-6ijlAuFC3IA/reviews/20030715/hes_2003.html?page=3