Two of the most popular subs in this forum at the $700 price point and, surprisingly, I didn't see any threads asking for a direct comparison.

My HT room is 20 x 13 x 8, with an open doorway and arched opening into the dining room. My primary usage is HT (90% +).

My system...
AVR: Onkyo 705
Fronts: Klipsch RF-63
Center: Klipsch RC-64
Side Surround: Def Tech BPX
Rear Surround: Def Tech BP2X
Subs: 2 crappy Def Tech ProSubs

Any recommendations appreciated!

Since HSU is a more balanced kind of company, for me, the VTF-3 MK3.

What do you mean by balanced? Just curious.

-- jaydillyo

I forget...how much is a 3.3 these days. How much is a MFW-15?

Both are $699 in black.

What he is saying sometimes getting product from these guys is like pulling teeth..and not just AV123....

Look at Epiks page..one sub the top dog...supposedly orderable...

I got a BF special SB for 499 plus shipping.

If anything can beat that price perf ratio I don't know what it is..

I have a similar size room and the output borders on the dangerous !

(being a reasonable person...hehe..)....


The problem I have is ear fatigue, the movies were running around 80db, then on big LFE hits peaking up to 100 or so....BAM...I can really feel the dynamic range of my system now...

What he is saying sometimes getting product from these guys is like pulling teeth..and not just AV123....

Look at Epiks page..one sub the top dog...supposedly orderable...

I got a BF special SB for 499 plus shipping.

If anything can beat that price perf ratio I don't know what it is..

I have a similar size room and the output borders on the dangerous !

(being a reasonable person...hehe..)....


The problem I have is ear fatigue, the movies were running around 80db, then on big LFE hits peaking up to 100 or so....BAM...I can really feel the dynamic range of my system now...


"The problem I have is ear fatigue..."

Yes, running close to Reference Level has its down sides. A lot of people don't know that the ear loses sensitivity after prolonged exposure to very high level sound, and that continued exposure to mid-range sound at 85db or higher leads to hearing loss.

Balanced = equipment performance vs company customer service vs size vs price vs product availability

Disregarding the customer service issues, which sub gives the most bang for the buck?

Ormazd, I have an MFW-15 in cherry finish and think it is a great sub for the money. I think MUCHO had both of these subs at one time hopefully he will see this thread and chime in or you can PM him. Good luck with your choice.

Speak of the devil! :D

I had a VTF-3 HO w turbo so not exactly the same thing.

My guess is the MFW-15 output exceeds that of the HSU. The tuning point is lower. SQ is probably very simliar.

The finish is nicer on the MFW-15.

Regardless of which way you go you're getting a great subwoofer but my opinion is the MFW-15 overall is the better subwoofer.

I think a lot of the AV123 angst is blown out of proportion ... people forget for example how long it took the VTF-3 HO to ship and when it did finally ship it had driver problems.

I think a lot of the AV123 angst is blown out of proportion ... people forget for example how long it took the VTF-3 HO to ship and when it did finally ship it had driver problems.
True...and granted, Hsu has less products, but how many AV123 products are late, or even later than the HO was. It may be blown out of proportion, but it certainly isn't the same as the HO situation was. Minimizing it is the same has blowing it out of proportion.

Both are $699 in black.

I dont think many people pay MSRP on anything from the av123 website. There is always some special or promotion running.

True...and granted, Hsu has less products, but how many AV123 products are late, or even later than the HO was. It may be blown out of proportion, but it certainly isn't the same as the HO situation was. Minimizing it is the same has blowing it out of proportion.

I agree and realize it may appear I was attempting to compare on situation to another, which I wasn't trying to do. Totally different problems and handled completely different. The reason I brought up HSU's HO issues was because of post #2.

Of course - cacihome is entitled to make his opinion known but it seems his reccomendation is based on the company that makes the subwoofer, not the subwoofer itself. Nothing wrong with that - he even has his own equation. :D My sister won't shop at Walmart ... which to me is more logical than avoiding AV123 because they are less "balanced" when subwoofers from both companies are in stock.

You could also read the notes Craigsub has in the comparison testing (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9164136#post9164136) that he has done.

I have the VTF 2.3 and MBM-12 with a system and dual MFW-15's with another system. When placed in the same room, the VTF 2.3 extended about 3 Hz deeper before dropping off. However, a single MFW-15 has as much or more output at the higher frequencies (40-120) as the MBM-12. Two MFW-15's combined have quite a bit more output (by as much as 10 dB) across their frequency range than the VTF 2.3 and MBM-12 combo. My dual cherry MFW-15's actually ending up costing me less than the Hsu package because of some special pricing and I picked one up at their office while on vacation. For frequencies from 40 Hz and up, the VTF 2.3 by itself and with the MBM-12 have similar sound quality to the MFW-15. Below 40 Hz, I have decided that I like the MFW-15's better. To date, I have owned four Hsu subs and three av123 subs and have been pleased with the service and quality from both companies. All the subwoofers I have ordered have been in-stock so I obviously have no experience with delays.

What he is saying sometimes getting product from these guys is like pulling teeth..and not just AV123....

Look at Epiks page..one sub the top dog...supposedly orderable...

I got a BF special SB for 499 plus shipping.

If anything can beat that price perf ratio I don't know what it is..

I have a similar size room and the output borders on the dangerous !

(being a reasonable person...hehe..)....


The problem I have is ear fatigue, the movies were running around 80db, then on big LFE hits peaking up to 100 or so....BAM...I can really feel the dynamic range of my system now...
From your post, I first thought you purchased a sub from Epik at a Black Friday sale. However, I realized you bought a MFW-15 from av123 during their sale. ;)

That current 2x MFW-15 for $1000 deal is sweet; I'd find it hard not to choose that option... ENORMOUS bang-for-the-buck.

If you can only fit or afford one sub, the Hsu does allow you some extra flexibility with its available turbo and selectable output/extension modes.

From your post, I first thought you purchased a sub from Epik at a Black Friday sale. However, I realized you bought a MFW-15 from av123 during their sale. ;)


Yep and I am glad I did.

Although in these tough economic times you never know when somebody is going to do something squirrely.

50 billion ponzi scheme ring a bell?


If you wanted to make a big score and then hit the hills a huge BF sale could be a ticket outta here.

Take all the orders, and abscond.

It did cross my mind.

Yeah, and nothing like having your own sons turn you in! Ah, family is everything.

You can't go wrong with either one. I have heard both and there reaally is nothing negative to say about either one for the money...best bang for the buck, either way you go.

Thanks for all the feedback. I had the opportunity to pick up a gently used cherry MFW-15 at a great price. I really don't think I could go wrong with that deal.

Thanks for all the feedback. I had the opportunity to pick up a gently used cherry MFW-15 at a great price. I really don't think I could go wrong with that deal.

Congrates on the cherry MFW-15 you are going to love this sub. The finish is beautiful and the sound it fantastic. Have fun and let us know how you like it.