try to be brief but, probably won't be :).

i have an x-sub that i love and fit my budget at the time BUT, unfortunately as much as i wish it would- it cannot keep the pace with my room and my system. the great thing about the little x-sub is placement options. the actual viewing area isn't huge, actually rather small but has an opening to a small kitchen area. so i had considered for a long time to run dual x-subs because even though it is strained at higher volumes it does sound nice with music. on the HT end it does a decent job but well you know what i mean...

i thought dual x-subs would add some more low end and even out the response. guess it would but, in the end i think my beloved x-sub belongs in my pc room hooked up to my pc and some mission bookshelves i already am using in there.

so here are my requirements:

cost- under or at $700- preferably $500-ish. this will be the budget it will NOT increase. this will be my last piece of equipment for a good while (i think :) ) and will hopefully carry me beyond into when we purchase a home- with a bigger or separate viewing area. i've already dropped a nice chunk (on my budget) and can't justify any more for now. i am also restoring a bronco.

viewing area- as mentioned smallish at 13W x 20L x 8' ceiling. but, a large opening into a small 10Wx15x8 kitchen/ dining area. right next to viewing area.

listening- lets say 60 HT/40 music. one of the things i like about the little x-sub is it's music handling.

receiver and speakers: modest to most, to me- i love.

pioneer elite 81
mains- mission m31
center- mission mc1i
sides- mission m7ds
rears- mission m70

subs considering-

HSU 2.3- probably RIGHT NOW to me the no-brainer. i am 30 minutes from HSU i can pick up in person, pay cash avoid tax AND shipping for cash purchases. plus i get to see HSU. and bang for buck would prefer to spend $500. cons- size. backorder is of no issue as i plan to make my purchase around 4/13 anyway.

HSU 2.2- cheaper, a little more placement options than the 2.3. see above for HSU pros.

svs pb10-nsd- read great things. placement options, smaller. cost. option of adding another down the road?

svs sb12-plus-- b-stock- possible no brainer? - not sure how it would hold up vs. the hsu 2.3 though due to reduced cabinet size. placement options huge plus though. cons- more than i really want to spend but, within budget.

onix-ULW10. price, placement. musicality? a bigger version of x-sub? dual option in time? cons- not enough oomph?

onix mfw-15. price $599? should be nice. order date? cons-size.

dark horse- dual x-subs. very dark horse...

thanks.

any other recommendations on other brands / models welcome.

If you can take a short drive, and see, touch, and hear something before you buy it, that would always be my first choice.

Though it's not out yet, the MFW-15 should smoke eveything else in it's price range. The big question is: When?

Also, it's not exactly small.

If you can take a short drive, and see, touch, and hear something before you buy it, that would always be my first choice.

yes i will do this. however if for some strange reason i don't like the HSU subs...

If you are in the "preferably" $500 range, then I would strongly suggest the PB10-NSD. I have had many, many subs. In that price range you will be amazed at the quality and quanity of ouput.

I still have two of them, and hate to part with them despite selling a dozen of so other subs. I have since upgraded many times over, but they PB-10 is just a great (not real little) sub. I can promise you that you will not be dissapointed with it.

As you mentioned you can always add a second on down the road.

Good luck with whatver you decide to purchase.

The way they look?

Yes, they are very industrial looking, but that's one of the ways they keep prices down.

I used to own the PB10, and it is very industrial looking as well. The SB-12 is definitely the best looking of the group.

It will have more output than the X-sub, but it isn't going to match the larger ported subs in output. But the sound quality will be top notch.

looks really have no place here. it's more footprint. WAF factor is not a consideration. this is my thing she has no place in it. she is my life partner but marriage is not in our plans, she will learn to deal... that may sound harsh but, we are adults we make certain sacrifices for one another. the reality is she will not pout because of a bigger sub. footprint is MY concern. i am OCD about things like this.

that being said... HOWEVER i will sacrifice footprint for quality. i can make it "work". $$$ is another factor. but i have a window of say $500 to $700 this will be my last sound piece for a good while- IMO that is an acceptable window of $200. of course i would like to spend less but, that is not always the best way to go. i can spend less on mains but, i have found with the subs you really need to put your money where your mouth is but, i have to mantain a budget.

so lets say we are ruling out the the mfw-15- who knows when it will be out? rule out dual x-subs too i'll just put the x-sub in the pc room w/ my mission M70 and that should be a PRESTINE little pc setup. if the mfw-15 is available by mid april then i seriously would have to consider it in the mix.

i would like to do this around the middle of april. i have been researching for weeks and have another 3 weeks to go. sooo lets take it from here- given all my dimensions, tastes budget etc.

hsu- 2.3 or 2.2

vs.

svs pb10-nsd or sb12-plus

vs

onix -ulw10 with the potential of running duals in the furture...

of course any of them has the opton of running duals...

so if duals in the future is a thought for me- REALLY want to when we buy- to have an area dedicated to media- doesnt have to be huge. but, that is all theoretical...

should i go with 10" woofer with plans to eventually go dual. if need be when we move?

or would a 12" woofer give me the headroom for later down the road? of course the option to run duals eventually is there if the space permits.

10" quality may serve my purposes well now. will dual 10" be better than single 12" in a quality sub? in these models/ brands down the road.

any other brands or models i'm missing? i really am not interested in infinity, athena, mirage, polk etc.

how about velodyne, energy, paradigm, wharefdale, nht? anything i may be missing in my consideraton?

looks really have no place here. it's more footprint. WAF factor is not a consideration. this is my thing she has no place in it. she is my life partner but marriage is not in our plans, she will learn to deal... that may sound harsh but, we are adults we make certain sacrifices for one another. the reality is she will not pout because of a bigger sub. footprint is MY concern. i am OCD about things like this.

If available floor space and foot print is a concern, consider the 20-39PCi. It only has a 17" diameter foot print and will perform very similarly to the PB12-NSD. The cylinders are also lighter, easier to move, and less expensive to ship than their box counterparts.

thanks ed i may do this. i think i may have just plain overlooked the cylinder subs, maybe thinkng i would lose something with them. the other consideration is height with the cylinders. how does the sb12-plus perform compared to the pb12 or pb10nsd?

i think right now the front runners are:

svs pb10nsd (dual option down the road)

onix- ulw 10 (dual option as well). i like the staff at av123, i LOVE the x-sub and feel like this may be a bigger version of it with more oomph. plus there is the family discount...

hsu- 2.3

svs pb12-nsd- just thrown into the mix.

i am budging the footprint a BIT. and just making it work into the room- within reason. so these subs are workable in footprint and now i have to judge on bang vs. buck here. again budget will not increase on ths one.

so i have ruled out the HSU 2.2- may as well just get the 2.3. and probably the svs 12plus unless someone here has the 12 plus and can comment on it's performance. i feel like even with the 12" woofer it is meant more for footprint factor- which is nice- but, would probably perform more like the pb10-nsd at $200 more.

The SB12 even with the 12" driver won't go as low as the PB10. The sound quality is extraordinary and the output is very good , but drops off in the low to mid twenties. If you can get by without strong bass in the 18 - 22 hz region, it will make you happy.

I think if your considering the PB12, you may as well consider the HSU 3.3. Almost the same size as the PB12 and same cost considering you dont have to pay for shipping.

should i go with 10" woofer with plans to eventually go dual. if need be when we move?

or would a 12" woofer give me the headroom for later down the road? of course the option to run duals eventually is there if the space permits.

10" quality may serve my purposes well now. will dual 10" be better than single 12" in a quality sub? in these models/ brands down the road.

I would recommend going with the most subwoofer that you can comfortably fit into your budget. You can always add a second subwoofer or move to something more powerful further down the road. Even in smaller rooms, it doesn't hurt to have extra headroom. The main benefit of the smaller subwoofers are in size/floorspace/cost. That said, since your room opens into another room, and with no tax and no shipping, no reason not to go with the 12" woofer :)

Take care

I would recommend going with the most subwoofer that you can comfortably fit into your budget

This is really good advcie but I would take it one step further and say to stretch that budget beyond the comfort zone. Can't take it with ya! :D

(Very easy to spend other people's money)

thanks for all the info guys so that rules out the sb12-plus i figured that it would perform that way...

peter when do you expect the 2.3 back in? for me the 2.3 makes the most sense in the HSU line for the cost and performance...

anyone have a svs pb10nsd and 12nsd or heard both for comparisons?


sb12-plus- out of the mix.

As others have indicated, the SB12-Plus extends down to the 23-24 Hz region and then rolls off.

The PB10-NSD and PB12-NSD extend to about 18 Hz before roll-off. The two subs sound similar, but the PB12-NSD has about 50-60% more maximum output capability across the pass band.

thanks ed i may do this. i think i may have just plain overlooked the cylinder subs, maybe thinkng i would lose something with them.

The 20-39PCi and PB12-NSD share the same woofer, amp, vent, and have approximately the same internal enclosure volume. The PB12-NSD is tuned slightly deeper (18 Hz vs. 20 Hz) but you would be hard pressed to tell them apart in a back-to-back comparison.

Similarly, the 20-39PC-Plus and PB12-Plus also share the same woofer, amp, vents, tuning frequency, and internal enclosure volume. As you might expect, they also perform almost identically.

The 20-39PCi and 20-39PC-Plus share the same 17" foot-print and external dims, but the PC-Plus offers the 12.3 Plus woofer, triple 3" ports, and a 525 watt amp. This increases output across the pass band by about 50-60% compared to the PCi.

Which of the SVS cylinder subs is comparable to the PB10-NSD? Would it be the 25-31 PCi?

Which of the SVS cylinder subs is comparable to the PB10-NSD? Would it be the 25-31 PCi?

None of the cylinders use a 10" woofer, so there isn't a directly comparable model. The 20-39PCi will have the closest frequency response to the PB10-NSD, but with about 50-60% more maximum output capability.

None of the cylinders use a 10" woofer, so there isn't a directly comparable model. The 20-39PCi will have the closest frequency response to the PB10-NSD, but with about 50-60% more maximum output capability.

So it's even more powerful than the PB10. I think I want to upgrade my sub. I currently have a Yamaha YST-SW305 (dual 8"). I live in a townhome so there's no need to overdo it. Sounds like the PB10 would be more than enough but those cylinder subs look nice.

So it's even more powerful than the PB10. I think I want to upgrade my sub. I currently have a Yamaha YST-SW305 (dual 8"). I live in a townhome so there's no need to overdo it. Sounds like the PB10 would be more than enough but those cylinder subs look nice.

I owned the PB12 and now have the PB12-NSD and for the price, the PB10-NSD is one somking deal. It easily outperforms any subwoofer I have heard in that price category. I initially just picked it up to hold me over until I saved about $1000 for a higher end sub but like it so much I might just get another one or two. :)

I owned the PB12 and now have the PB12-NSD and for the price, the PB10-NSD is one somking deal. It easily outperforms any subwoofer I have heard in that price category. I initially just picked it up to hold me over until I saved about $1000 for a higher end sub but like it so much I might just get another one or two. :)

Yeah, I've heard nothing but great things about the PB10. The cylinders caught my eye due to their appearance and space-saving design, but it seems like the PB10 will give you more for your money. If I ever move into a bigger home, I could always get a 2nd PB10 anyway.

this is actually turning into a nice little thread of info.

the difference between a pb10 and 12 is a substantial one. the hard decision is- is the 10 enough for me? big price difference. i also like the fact that they are front ported. maybe a little easier to squeeze into a tighter spot?


cylinders do look cool but, i think i'm more of a box guy.

remember my living room is 20L x 13w X 8. then opening to a kitchen space (very small but, still) 15L x 10W x8. the viewing area being a 3 cornered room, with really 2 placement options (x-sub is by my mains)- behind me about 6 feet near the rear wall behind the couch facing my back. and the front corner which is opposite from the opening.

i just have to weigh in on 10" vs. 12". 12" would seem to be the no brainer but, again space is cramped. 10" also gives me the option of duals later. whereas a 12" may last me for "life" LOL.

the more it becomes clearer the more it becomes confusing. decisions. ok well i have 18 days to think it over and decide...

this is actually turning into a nice little thread of info.

the difference between a pb10 and 12 is a substantial one. the hard decision is- is the 10 enough for me? big price difference. i also like the fact that they are front ported. maybe a little easier to squeeze into a tighter spot?


cylinders do look cool but, i think i'm more of a box guy.

remember my living room is 20L x 13w X 8. then opening to a kitchen space (very small but, still) 15L x 10W x8. the viewing area being a 3 cornered room, with really 2 placement options (x-sub is by my mains)- behind me about 6 feet near the rear wall behind the couch facing my back. and the front corner which is opposite from the opening.

i just have to weigh in on 10" vs. 12". 12" would seem to be the no brainer but, again space is cramped. 10" also gives me the option of duals later. whereas a 12" may last me for "life" LOL.

the more it becomes clearer the more it becomes confusing. decisions. ok well i have 18 days to think it over and decide...

Hi Adam

I agree with Peter Marcks, get as much subwoofer as you can afford and fit into your space. The HSU 2.3 is worth waiting for, however, the HSU VTF-3.3 will probably be as much subwoofer as you will need any time soon. I think it is $799 delivered. I own an SVS 20-39PCi that I got for $550 as B-Stock, and it is an excellent performer. But it is more conspicuous than my box subs.

All the Best

If you're still on the fence between the 10" and 12" you will always have that question in the back of your mind of "I wonder if the 12" would have been better." The pb10 more than likely will suffice but I will say that if you go dual now or later, overall you will spend more than just getting the next step up most of the time. I don't think you could go wrong either way but if you're the type of person that always says "what if" or wants that extra oopmh, go with the better sub.

That is very good point. Nobody who chooses the better sub of two choices ever regrets that they didn't pick the lesser sub. I cannot say that is true of the opposite choice.

yep i am the what if type. 12" it will be. you guys are right. now to decide. svs pb 12 or hsu 2.3. i know some would say "if you're going to consider the pbn12 then gt the 3.3". but IMO with hsu what fills my needs now and down the road happens to be $499 w/ svs it's $650. that may be an easy choice when only comparing price. but it's not as simple in my mind. its boiling down to sound now i guess. i may have to find someone here in the area willing to let me hear an svs. then i can go to HSU. narrowing down...

So if you are leaning towards the VTF 2.3, why not the more powerful STF-3 at the same price?

Same case and driver, just no variable port tuning (which really isn't used much). You could just plug one port to get near max. extension VTF2.3 performance.

vtf 2.3 is ordered. thanks for all the help.

So if you are leaning towards the VTF 2.3, why not the more powerful STF-3 at the same price?

Same case and driver, just no variable port tuning (which really isn't used much). You could just plug one port to get near max. extension VTF2.3 performance.
I would think for $20 more you would want the variable tuning. 50watts is really nothing.

I’m in a similar situation. I was wondering what swayed you to the Hsu?

:cool: :D

vtf 2.3 is ordered. thanks for all the help.

I think you will be happy with the vtf 2.3.

Enjoy

I’m in a similar situation. I was wondering what swayed you to the Hsu?


locality i guess and bang for buck. i guess for a 12" sub i'd be stupid to not go for it. 30 minute drive = no tax and shipping = $500. i get to see the place, talk with the people. and if for some reason, the 2.3 isnt going to cut it (i have a HARD believing it won't for me), i can go up to a 3.3. personally though for me ithink the 2.3 will be more than enough. and i REALLY didn't want to spend $700.

also the fact that you CAN add the turbo unit ($199) to the 2.3 was another factor (maybe you can add them to all of them?). plus if i DO eventually need to run duals with 12" HSU's. i can add another 2.3 and i'm sure that it would be a hell of a setup. a $1000 dual setup is easier to swallow fo rme than $1400. i'm not swimming in money.

but i think a 2.3 will be a hell of a sub on its own for a long time. i'm sure the 3.3 has it's benefits over the 2.3 but to me they are negligible. i will be seated fairly close to the sub. even though the area is fairly large it's really "not" the viewing are is small- almost too small. the opening into the kitchen does add cubic footage but the 2.3 should be able to fill it out NICE with power to spare for another 800 cubic feet or so. IMO thats decent headroom for a great price!

as for the 2.3 vs the stf-3- 50watts is neglible IMO. i may never even approach the capacity of the 2.3 and i like the option of variable tuning. gives me something to play with. plus again the turbo option if i get upgrade fever. we all do though...


i just think the 2.3 will blend better and is a better fit for me.

Thanks, I'm debating between a used VTF-3 MK2 or a new VTF-2 MK3. Because the MK3s are out of stock I think I may have to go with the used one, the extra 100 watts doesn't hurt either. The one thing I always think about when making a larger purchase such as this is wondering what will come out in a few weeks/months, e.g. MFW-15.

well, i was told the 2.3's will be in in "2 weeks" this was yesterday when i called hsu. whether you want new or used or how good the deal is- you may hold off.

i would love to hear the mfw-15. but, i NEED to put this to bed for the year. i've upgraded everything in my audio setup since january and it's still march. so in 3 months i've dropped a chunk of $$$. wih the warm weather it's time to jump back into my bronco restoration. i think the only upgrade for the summer may be a turbo. this winter a bigger LCD and thats pretty much it for the year.

either way- 2.3 or 3.2 you will be satisfied i'm sure.

i am OCD about things like this.

i laughed when I read this. We are all converted OCD because of this bass issue we are feeding. I can't imagine someone with OCD on here reasearching subs and not becomming almost nonfunctional :-)

On a side note, I visited SVS, and I loved their finishes. I ultimately bought the turbo 3.3, the finish wasn't nearly as nice, but when it came all packaged up nice and pretty, smelling like it did. You kinda forget what it looks like, and that's even before you turn it on.

If money is an issue, the pb-10 nsd is the way to go, unbelieable output for a 10 inch woofer, cheaper to ship, and much better for someone in a home-to-home transition in their life.

hope this helps

i am OCD about things like this.

i laughed when I read this. We are all converted OCD because of this bass issue we are feeding. I can't imagine someone with OCD on here reasearching subs and not becomming almost nonfunctional :-)

On a side note, I visited SVS, and I loved their finishes. I ultimately bought the turbo 3.3, the finish wasn't nearly as nice, but when it came all packaged up nice and pretty, smelling like it did. You kinda forget what it looks like, and that's even before you turn it on.

If money is an issue, the pb-10 nsd is the way to go, unbelieable output for a 10 inch woofer, cheaper to ship, and much better for someone in a home-to-home transition in their life.

hope this helps

LOL. yes i am now nonfunctional because of this hobby and this damn forum too :).

no i guess i am obsessive. its a side effect of being a photo retoucher for a living. stare at a screen for 8 hours a day removing every enlarged pore and wrinkle from some woman's face so she can look hot enough for print- and you get really anal about things and little details. oh the horrors i could tell of the glossy underbelly of the photo world.

changed my mind :). based on customer service, wait time where everyone gets a different answer, no turbo option unless i rig it up myself- even though the user manual states it can be added- and the fact that it will work better in my world footprint wise- svs 25-31 pci it is.

Footprint wise you cant beat the SVS cylinders. I seriously considered going that route as well. I considered price vs performance and decided I wanted to work with the slight cost saving of the box and give up a little more space footprint wise.

What happened to the budget? :)

Footprint wise you cant beat the SVS cylinders. I seriously considered going that route as well. I considered price vs performance and decided I wanted to work with the slight cost saving of the box and give up a little more space footprint wise.

What happened to the budget? :)

ah... its still under $700. right at $600. lets just say that the customer service over at SVS (thanks Ed) really helped sway me too ;) . also the turbo cannot be added to the 2.3 - without rigging it up- even though the manual states otherwise- that was one of the biggest reasons i wanted the 2.3. no offense to HSU. also figure in gas in my gas guzzling bronco and LA traffic...

Does anyone have experience in owning both a box type sub and a cylinder sub? What are the pros and cons of a cylinder sub versus the box type? This question is in regards to the PB12-NSD vs 20-39PCi or 25-31PCi.

nevermind.. Found the answer in the SVSsound FAQ. :)

ah... its still under $700. right at $600. lets just say that the customer service over at SVS (thanks Ed) really helped sway me too ;) . also the turbo cannot be added to the 2.3 - without rigging it up- even though the manual states otherwise- that was one of the biggest reasons i wanted the 2.3. no offense to HSU. also figure in gas in my gas guzzling bronco and LA traffic...
I have heard SVS has great customer service. I was going to go with the PB12NSD but I opted to wait for the HSU 3.3 due to being local and able to pick it up. To save on gas, we could of hopped in my van and picked up our subs together. ;)
I'm sure you will be quite happy with the 25-31. :)

I have heard SVS has great customer service. I was going to go with the PB12NSD but I opted to wait for the HSU 3.3 due to being local and able to pick it up. To save on gas, we could of hopped in my van and picked up our subs together. ;)
I'm sure you will be quite happy with the 25-31. :)

thanks for that offer :). the other factor would be that i would have to take time from work to drive out there. and you know if i had the sub i wouldn't go back to work for the rest of the day :D.

have to admit i was disappointed to find the turbo will not work on the 2.3 without a rig job on it. that WAS the reason i chose it in the first place and was willing to sacrifice footprint for it. yes, maybe the turbo doesn't make a huge difference but, we all get the upgrade bug and for me that would have been a sure fire cure.

so then i started looking at the cylinders more and more and i just kind of fell in love with the look of them, and the footprint etc. plus svs will tune it down to 22hz for free. i will still be getting it around the same time i would be getting the 2.3. so waiting is not an issue.

anyhow, i will let you know when i get the svs in and setup and please do likewise. we live close enough and maybe we can compare our subs? this would be fun and i've already had one member over to check out my mission speakers to compare with his.

I was a bit surprised also to hear that the turbo would not work without a rig job. I know I saw a picture of it somewhere. I thought the only 'issue' was that the turbo would be slightly wider than the 2.3?

The only problem now is what are you going to do with the 25-31 when you get the upgrade bug? I guess you can go dual 25-31's! :eek:

With all this extra time I have found myself thinking of getting the turbo to go with the 3.3. I know I probably dont need it but the waiting has my mind going. I mean it is only an extra $100 if I get it when I buy the sub, right? :D

I will keep you updated and we can compare when we get everything set up. That will be interesting as I know we have somewhat similar size rooms.

I was a bit surprised also to hear that the turbo would not work without a rig job. I know I saw a picture of it somewhere. I thought the only 'issue' was that the turbo would be slightly wider than the 2.3?

The only problem now is what are you going to do with the 25-31 when you get the upgrade bug? I guess you can go dual 25-31's! :eek:

.

i emailed and dr. hsu was kind enough to reply directly. that no, it shouldn't be done. BUT, could be done by rigging it up. tubes are too wide and too short. i asked if they would ever consider just making new tubes so 2.3 and 3.2 owners could use a turbo. seems easy enough to me right? he said no it would be too expensive to manufacture different tubes. IMHO that makes NO sense. how can it be TOO expensive to make a different set of tubes that are longer and tapered at the subs end to fit the ports? HSU could have the same turbo unit but supply a different set of tubes for whatever model the customer has. how much can a tube cost to make? i mean the tubes SHOULD be replacable or interchangable right? what if you break or crack a tube? are you forced to buy a whole new turbo?

he also stated that the users manual is incorrect in stating you can add turbo to anything other than the 3.3- he did apologize for that though.

so that led ME to feel that - a lot of people are getting a 2.3 etc. with the thought that they CAN add turbo later if they want (like me), because it states in the user manual (which should be reprinted) that you can. then after ordering the turbo they find, that they as the end user, have to rig it up precariously to even make it work (who wants to drop $700 on a rig job? maybe it isnt a big deal but IMHO it is in principle), or send the turbo back. but, usually at this point- later down the road after you've had the sub for a while and decided on the upgrade- it's too late to send the sub back. so you're stuck with a sub that doesn't live up to what you thought it would be. IMO that didn't sit well. or if you really want the turbo you are forced to move up to a 3.3. that doesnt sit well either.

anyhow for the price of a 3.3 with turbo - $800. 3.3 now add turbo later- $900. 2.3 no turbo bigger footprint- $500. svs at $600 provides me with all i need plus the advantage of footprint and 22hz tuning. customer service experience and attention to detail is what really won me over too.

as far as upgrade bug who knows? clean up wiring runs? treat the room abit to cut out some outside noise- damn LA is noisy. i'm pretty satisfied right now- or will be when my sub is here. maybe time to just let it go and enjoy it for awhile. save up for a bigger LCD later this year when prices are really supposed to plummet. oh and start my bronco engine rebuild :). probably when we get a larger place yes dual 25-31's :eek:

PS- i'm not BASHING hsu- i just felt in my case they are not right for ME. SVS was. some people may find the opposite. it's a case by case thing. in this case SVS won my business.

PSS- i will say that if i felt a 10" sub woud have worked for me- av123 would have been a STRONG runner if not THE leader. they have great service and the build of their stuff is impeccable. unfortunately their 12" is way out of my $$ range - and backordered till ? and the ulw-10 IMO wouldn't work for me. the 15" i would have considered big time but again no release date.

changed my mind :). based on customer service, wait time where everyone gets a different answer, no turbo option unless i rig it up myself- even though the user manual states it can be added- and the fact that it will work better in my world footprint wise- svs 25-31 pci it is.

Are you going to have it tuned to 22Hz, or keep it at it's native tune?

adamanteus,

The first batch of VTF-2 Mk3 had ports that were lowered by 1/4" compared to the VTF-3 Mk2 (since the cutout required for the 250w amp is slightly smaller than the 350w amp), which we were not aware of until after we received the first batch. I would argue that in the case of the VTF-2 Mk3, if one wants to upgrade in the future, instead of adding turbocharger they would be better off selling the VTF-2 Mk3 and getting a VTF-3 Mk3 instead. The VTF-3 Mk3 has larger ports, larger internal volume, and more amplifier power, so it will outperform a VTF-2 Mk3 w/ turbocharger. Also, at some point we hope to release a module for all of the VTF subwoofers which doubles the internal volume instead of double the port length to achieve a lower port tuning, so that is another performance-enhancing option that one can opt for in the future.

Designing port tubes for a VTF-2 Mk3/VTF-3 Mk2-specific turbocharger is not as easy or trivial as one would think. It is very expensive and time consuming to custom tool brand new port bends and new port flares. If one wanted a higher performance option for the VTF-2 Mk3, they would be better off performance-wise by either eventually using the module that doubles internal volume, or upgrading to a VTF-3 Mk3 at some later date.

For the VTF-2 Mk3, we were first and foremost trying to provide extremely good value in a subwoofer for less than $500 base purchase price. At higher price points, it would be better to opt for VTF-3 Mk3. Considering that you did not have to pay tax OR shipping on the VTF-2 Mk3, that makes it an even more impressive value. No one else who orders online would be getting such a good deal on the unit. Also, being relatively close to the office, you would be able to get the best customer support/service possible by talking to the designer himself in person - Dr. Hsu!

adamanteus,


Considering that you did not have to pay tax OR shipping on the VTF-2 Mk3, that makes it an even more impressive value. No one else who orders online would be getting such a good deal on the unit.
Is Arnold aware you're not charging sales tax for an in-state sale? :)

yes. i will get the 22hz tuning. after speaking with ed we both agreed that after i sent him my room layout it will work well.

I bought two 3.2 only because the HO was plagued and delayed for months and were readily available locally with discounts, very happy with them.

Also, at some point we hope to release a module for all of the VTF subwoofers which doubles the internal volume instead of double the port length to achieve a lower port tuning, so that is another performance-enhancing option that one can opt for in the future.

Peter, I’ve come to learn to accept your words with a grain of salt. Too many inexcusable blunders at every turn. Amps, drivers, now box cutouts affecting turbos, manuals. What brand doesn’t inspect the build process at various stages? This is not a quality control issue, but rather one of incompetence, the builders of the boxes can’t read Hsu’s submitted drawings, and Hsu for continuing to submit them to the same.

I’m sure you’ll understand why I may not get too excited about a module release ‘for all of the VTF subwoofers’