Ok guys, Big question.

If you could get a used but mint Sunfire True Subwoofer EQ, locally from a private owner for around the same price as a new Hsu Research VTF-3 MK3 Turbo, which would you get?

I cant audition the VTF until I buy it, but I can listen to the Sunfire before buying.

I'm leaning toward the HSU, but I'm not sure.

As anyone heard both?

HELP.....

Anyone?

Unless size were a major concern I would go with the HSU.

I haven't heard the exact models listed but have heard the Mk III (no turbo) & the True Sub Signature.

Regardless go ahead & listen to the Sunfire. You may fall in love. :)

i dont know much about the hsu but i have 2 of the sunfire true subwoofer eq and i love them they rock the house. all my house guest cant believe that , that much sounds comes out of those little woofers

Listen to the Sunfire,its free and you may find it fits what you are looking for. Here people will always (or close to) push the HSU.

Sunfire subs perform well,beyond well when matched with speakers capable of a solid 50hz output and when you have an option to cross the speakers and sub at 50 or 60hz.

Else,if the cutoff is higher...the HSU will be clearly a better option.

My first quality sub was the original Sunfire Mark II,when it just came out. Even with speakers like the Dynaudio Contour 3.3's it was fantastic(crossed at 40Hz).

Ita matter of knowing the little details.Makes all the difference,and people who would have matched the same sub in the same room but say cross it over to little sats at 80 or a very high 100Hz would be disapointed,as gaps in the response and a lack of punch would be too obvious.

Give it a listen first

Guys,

Thanks for all the responses.

I listened to a Paradigm PW-2200 and it was unbelievable!!!

I'm going to listen to the Sunfire this Friday.

My only problem with buying online is the whole RMA, phone call, return ship process if I'm not satisfied with it, or if there is a problem.

I just like the whole "handshake, eye contact, my name is.." thing. :)

Again, thanks for input, and I'll let you know about the Sunfire.

Guys,

Thanks for all the responses.

I listened to a Paradigm PW-2200 and it was unbelievable!!!

I'm going to listen to the Sunfire this Friday.

My only problem with buying online is the whole RMA, phone call, return ship process if I'm not satisfied with it, or if there is a problem.

I just like the whole "handshake, eye contact, my name is.." thing. :)

Again, thanks for input, and I'll let you know about the Sunfire.

To each his own...:) Good luck!

I was able to listen to the Sunfire a little early.

I was shocked to hear how BAD this sub sounded.

Hopefully it was just defective.

It was muddy,sloppy, and just bad.

The sub was DEFINITELY struggling to reproduce the low bass from Haunting - DTS, and bass from my Bass Mekanik CD.

Yuk!! The Paradigm KILLED this sub.

I also had a chance to hear the Def Tech Supercube I, and it was VERY good also.

Having a Sunfire myself (though it's the original version, not the Signature), I don't think you necessarily heard a "defective" one. :o The Sunfires are great at one thing: packing a lot into a very tiny package. But if size isn't critical, there are so many better sounding choices. I used the Sunfire for almost ten years before I finally replaced it, and I was shocked at how much better the new sub sounded.

Darin,

Thanks for the input!

Unless the HSU Research is the subwoofer equivalent of the parting of the Red Sea, the PW2200 will be HARD to beat for the price, or even twice the price.

I also listened to the Martin Logan Abyss 12". It was good, but not close to the Paradigm PW 2200.

I also listened to the Def Tech Supercube I. It was very impressive!

Loud, low, tight, and accurate. It was amazing, it sounded like the Sunfire SHOULD'VE sounded.

I have one more to demo, the Polk Audio PSW1000.

I'll post when listen to it.

Right now,

The rankings are:


1. Paradigm PW2200
2. Def Tech Supercube 1
3. Martin Logan Abyss 12
4. Klipsch RW12D
5. Sunfire True Sub

I've listened to subwoofers if different stores, and the tough part is gauging sound quality in the showroom. The problem is that not every subwoofer is calibrated optimally in these stores. Even the most loud, low, tight, and accurate subwoofer can be made to sound horrible, if not properly calibrated. In addition, the room has a huge impact on how a subwoofer sounds. The ultimate test will be how these subwoofers perform in your own home.

Can the HSU VTF-3 part the red sea? Just looking at output alone, the average max output (10%THD) between 25 and 62 Hz for the Paradigm is 108.0 db. The HSU VTF-2 MK2 will average 107.1dB. I imagine that the HSU VTF-3 will reach a couple of db higher and lower than the HSU VTF-2 and Paradigm PW2200. Can't comment on the SQ, but IMHO the disparities in sound quality should not be huge between the above mentioned subwoofers if properly calibrated.

However, if you like the Paradigm PW2200 that much and you can get a good deal, then buy it. My point being is that you should not base your impressions on the what you heard in these showrooms.

For some reason, I thought they stopped making the PW-2200. Maybe I'm just trippin.

Comparing the Paradigm, and large ported model, so the sunfire, which is a small sealed model I believe, is really comparing apples to oranges..

And like Jhan said, they will not be comparable in different rooms under different conditions anyway.

The Paradigm has very impressive output for a <$1000 retail store sub. That's the route I would go if I were you all things considered, especially if you can get a good deal. But I would not pay MSRP for it.

Comparing the Paradigm, and large ported model, so the sunfire, which is a small sealed model I believe, is really comparing apples to oranges..
FWIW, the Sunfire is a (heavily) mass loaded passive radiator design.

I dont retail pay retail for ANYTHING, that I don't absoulutely have to, lol!

I got the PW 2200 for 845 plus tax, new.

I got the Def Tech Supercube I for 725 plus tax as a floor model.

The Sunfire would have been at least 700 for a 3 year old one.

Can the location of a sub REALLY make it struggle?

I mean in terms of bottoming out, belching, farting and other flatulence?

I mean low sound output, and maybe muddy or unprecise (is that a word) sound output, but just plain old fashoined sub distress?