Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners What sub fits this bill?

I need help deciding on a sub to go with my m22’s. I know that HSU is the sub most of the people who post here prefer and I would love to have one. The WAF is the big issue here. It cannot be a big sub and it has to look nice. Does HSU fit this bill? My room is about 12*18. The m22 were a big stretch for my wife if that gives you an idea what I am dealing with.

check out SVS subs, they are just as good as HSU but they have custom finishes:

http://www.svsubwoofers.com/subs_pb1_isd_colors.htm

They cost a little more, but look real nice for the WAF.

The only good small sub is by Sunfire or Pinnacle but the SVS or HSU outperforms them in sound and price.
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_9_1/sunfire-subwoofer-junior-2-2002.html

http://www.pinnaclespeakers.com/rvubboom.htm

Personally, I think that the SVS finishes are hideous and stick out like a sore thumb. But that's just me. They're also huge.

The Hsu is smaller. On the other hand, my sub gets fairly high WAF because, "It's a piece of furnature." (It's a Cambridge Soundworks Subwoofer 1; a vertical design.) Similarly, pmbuko's SVS PB1 gets high WAF because it's sort of hidden behind a couch and under some stuff. If you can find a place to put it where it sounds good and is out of the way (and then stuff can be put on it) you might be ok. You could also look at the Sunfire True Subwoofer Jr. (they have impressive specs, and are teeny, but I don't know how they sound). That's only about a 9 inch cube.

Even though I have a wonderful SVS PB1-ISD that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to anyone, I think an Hsu VTF-2 fits the bill perfectly mainly because it is noticeably smaller than the SVS. If you're looking to tuck the subwoofer away to keep it out of sight, that's the one for you.

I wouldn't spend more than $1000 on a small sub, and that's enough reason to steer clear of the Sunfire or similar miniaturized subs.

However, if you could tweak your wife's idea about what a subwoofer is and get her to consider it as a piece of furniture instead, then SVS PB1-ISD would work better. In my living room, it was a much better solution since the same height as the two pieces of furniture it sits between. It can even double as a seat when we have a lot of poeple over. If you throw a pillow on it, it's pretty comfy -- just not while it's playing -- although some people would enjoy a little bumpus in the rumpus...

Check out the SVS SS Ultra line. Beautiful wood finishes = high WAF. A little pricey and alot more sub than you need for that room, though.

I have been leaning towards the Hsu VTF-2 because of it’s size/price/performance but now that Hsu has some new subs that will be available soon I am not sure. The new STF-1 will be available next month and is smaller then the VTF-2. Do you think I would be happy with this sub? Smaller sub = less nights on the couch, but I don't want to buy a wimpy sub either.

I heard the STF-1 at Hsu Research. Placed behind the demo sofa, during the Balrog scene of LOTR, it shook the sofa. I had thought a bigger sub was playing.

Would you be happy with the STF-1? Probably. But, if I were you, I'd go with the STF-2 at a minimum. I don't know how much you are affected by the upgrading bug, but with the STF-1, you'd be buying HSU's lowest-end sub. I'd always wonder what I was missing if I went that route.

With the STF-2 or VTF-2, you'd get a 10" woofer and better performance. I presume the STF-3 and VTF-3 are out of the size/price range. If I were you, I'd go with the STF-2 at $399. As an aside, I own the SVS PB1-ISD like PMBuko, and I absolutely love it. But, it seems like it is also out of the size/price range you are looking for.

I've got the VTF-2 in a 12x17x8 living room. Plenty of sub! It's not tiny, but it disappears under an end table or in a corner. I got mine B-stock for $399. Give them a call, more sub for less money may help avoid those nights on the couch.