Hi all...

I spent the last few days searching the forums... lots of conflicting info, lots of opinions...

Some say this Midbass sub is just a marketing ploy, others say it adds new life to your home theater...

My current setup... i'd say pretty low end compared to what ppl have on here...

Denon Avr-2807
JBL Cinema Series 3-way Bookshelves
JBL Center
Klipsch Rears
HSU VTF-3 MK 2 (SPL tuned to room)

Room size: 20ft x 20ft x 9ft

I love the HSU VTF-3 MK 2, very deep and great low bass... but what I find lacking is the punch in my current setup. That is probably because of my lack in tower speakers... And ya, direct from the marketing engine, it's said that the MBM-12 adds punch...

but what I want to know, is this really as good as its 'written' to be especially if I'm pairing it with an older VTF-3 and not the VTF-3 HO as demoed at the shows?
Has anyone had first hand experience?

Is your room really 20' by 40'? If so, that is a very large room, you might be better off getting a second VTF-3.

I was intrigued by the concept of the MBM-12 as well. As an experiment, I placed my Outlaw audio LFM-1 next to the couch to see how it would perform. I was considering the MBM-12 (which is supposed to be placed directly behind or next to the couch/seating area). Granted, the Outlaw isn't the same as the MBM-12 and the Outlaw sub wasn't filtered to only cover 50-80hz, but I found putting the Outlaw next to the couch made it too localizable as well as muddying the bass coming from my other sub (Adire audio Rava). Of course, this was just a rough experiment in my room, which might mean absolutely nothing for anyone else or their room.

Is your room really 20' by 40'? If so, that is a very large room, you might be better off getting a second VTF-3.

I was intrigued by the concept of the MBM-12 as well. As an experiment, I placed my Outlaw audio LFM-1 next to the couch to see how it would perform. I was considering the MBM-12 (which is supposed to be placed directly behind or next to the couch/seating area). Granted, the Outlaw isn't the same as the MBM-12 and the Outlaw sub wasn't filtered to only cover 50-80hz, but I found putting the Outlaw next to the couch made it too localizable as well as muddying the bass coming from my other sub (Adire audio Rava). Of course, this was just a rough experiment in my room, which might mean absolutely nothing for anyone else or their room.

Oh crap, typo.. 20ftx20ft.

Ya, i thought about doing that with one of my extra subs too.. but ya, it doesnt have the low pass, and probably give you a headache.

Hmmm...in a way, 20 X 20 is even more problematic in that having a square room can result in more room nodes. I still think you might be better off with another VTF-3 in a different location in your room. An EQ of some sort would probably help out a lot as well.

I do have some experience with the MBM-12.

I used to have the MBM-12 in the corner, next to my listening position. The bass was really tight/fast/punchy, and it was basically impossible to tell where the bass came from. But on some songs the bass became 'to much', and got kind of "boomy", so you could tell where it came from.

Since then, - I have refurnished my room.. and both the MBM and the listening position is in another place. I know had the chance to put the MBM directly behind the listening position, and so I did. No more boom from it, - and pretty much all songs sound great. But only at the listening position. If I move away from the listening position, much of the 'punch' disappears.. although, it is still there... just not as much.

I will hopefully have a real subwoofer up&running within a week or 2.. Then I can finally hook the MBM-12 up like it's supposed to.. together with a TRUE subwoofer. I'll soon find out if the MBM-12 was worth it then, for me :)

If I were you, I would try one out. It adds a lot of punch, - and if you manage to integrate it with your mains/sub, im sure you'll have what you were looking for ;)