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So if what you say is true then why does't the different sub makers go with mutipule 10" drivers for there subs instead of a single 12".It would seem that this is what they would do if the smaller driver were a better choice for sound quality.

The Stf-3 can hit higher spls than the dual Vtf-2s.I hear no degrading of sound quality when compared.The 12" has more of a hit ya in the chest feeling when called upon to do so.

In reply to:

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So if what you say is true then why does't the different sub makers go with mutipule 10" drivers for there subs instead of a single 12".It would seem that this is what they would do if the smaller driver were a better choice for sound quality.

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Bass extension. This is probably the only time I can compare an entire product line. I demo'ed the whole STF-1-3 line (and the VTF-2), American Hi-Fi of Canada (yes, AH-F of C, makes me worder if there's a Canadian Imperial Bank of Congress, of America) has them here - I also got to hear the Ventriloquist series.

Bought along one of my two trusty test CDs (I have one for setting up subs with sine wave test tones from 20-100Hz in 5Hz increments. Also, a 100Hz cut channel, a 100Hz tone with the right channel 180 degrees out of phase (both for testing hook-ups through amplified speaker-level hookups), a short duty cycle of low frequencies - I don't have it in front of me, I forget what I use for frequencies and timing (for testing driver response), pink and white noise, and two subjective pieces, Bootsauce - Whatcha Need and NiN - Dead Souls.

I'm not sure why Hsu quotes the same bass extension for the STF-3 as the 2, while I didn't bring an SPL meter, subjective listening would say that the 3 did dip down lower than the 2. Really nothing came as a surprise. the STF-1 had the least low bass but performed remarkably well to the "punch" torture test (and the sales guy was less than impressed with playing something that sounded like Lars Ulrich playing double kick on a really REALLY big kick drum), the STF-2 was in the middle and the STF-3 went down the furthest but glossed over each individual "hit" a little. The VTF-2 unbunged definately dug deeper than the STFs and yet remained nice and responsive. (as a side note - this test probably would have caused a voice coil to weld itself together in the 80s - a testament to new driver technology!)

Since I went down with my brother (due entirely to the fact he drives something with a cargo area) the bassist in him drooled over the VTF-2, and I picked up the STF-2 (for the cheap bugger in me). In every case, there's a different want from every customer. For me, I probably could have gotten away with an STF-1, my STF-2 in it's new position (finally moved it over the weekend) now runs at a level around 2.5-3 out of 10. Whereas someone like my old neighbour would buy the biggest thing SVS makes, set it to 11 and rip off the knob.

As a side note - the Ventriloquist series sound good, they'd be a step up from say a Sony or Bose HTIAB, but the satellites are really wispy (thin, ethereal - choose your adjective) - like 4 tweeters floating around the room and all the midrange centered right in front of you in the centre channel. It was kind of distracting for me hearing a car drive by panning from FL to RL, sounded like the road noise was moving, but the engine rumble wasn't. But for the price, maybe good for a bedroom setup or a less discerning ear.

Bren R.

Just caught up to this thread....

The STF-3 is actually tuned closer to 22Hz. In 25Hz tune, the VTF-2MKII and STF-2 are virtually identical. The STF-1 has virtually the same capabilities above 32Hz as the STF-2.

Here is some real cool news:
http://www.lyrtech.com/investors/details.php?pkiddocument=191&types=N

Cool Curtis! Is this the same kinda thing that Velodyne is doing? It seems to be the coming thing. Of course, now you'll be saving your pennies for a new sub. HAH! And you thought you were done after the MX-700 and the Ideal-Lume.

hahaha...stay away from me Jack!!

I don't really know if it is the same thing as Velodyne's EQ system.....but I can't imagine it being anythingelse besides EQing. It should be pretty interesting. Everybody I know that has EQ'd their subs says it is a "revelation" of sorts.

Curtis
Is this part of the "HO" going into the VTF3?

Don't know.....I know the HO's will have new cabinets, drivers, and amps....not sure if DSP will be part of it.

Bren,
That's a nice little review of the Hsus.
I didn't know AmHF had them in town now (Dennis Penner owns that place no?).
I had contacted them about a line of audio towers once before. They sell some really swanky stuff.
You should have been around when we tried out the SVS PCi46 and my EP350. After about 20 minutes of test tones my wife came downstairs wondering if we had broke something and were trying to figure out what it was. A couple of times i had been in Advance or A&B Sound to demo some units and the salesmen weren't too impressed with me running ranges of frequency sweeps with their equipment either. In fact, one salesman at Advance actually asked me what i was doing when i was sitting in a listening chair going through the 14 songs on my listening test disc (reall music though). Why would he ask such a silly question? Did he really expect me to listen to a single song of their material and then decide on a purchase?
Silly salesman.