Hsu Ventriloquist 5.1 Speaker System at Show? [Archive]

Sasha_G

May 27th, 2003, 3:22 PM

Ddavidson,

Yes! We will be demonstrating all the products at the show. It won't be for sale yet. I strongly recommend anyone interested in purchasing a sub to come by and audition our offerings.

The ~$610 Ventriloquist system will include a subwoofer about the size of the VTF-2 with a 10 inch driver, spikes, and a vinyl finish. Note that the price is estimated. As I mentioned previously, this sub will have the same 25 Hz performance as the VTF-2, but without the maximum output mode. Without the max output mode it will get about as loud as the VTF-2 in max extension mode.

The sound quality on the speakers is *very* good. There is a track we play that really demonstrates this system: it is a male vocal track with a string bass. Most similar packages have a hole in the upper bass cased by wimpy, small satellites, but this system sounds seamless. The center channel has a crossover that handles the upper bass for the left and right satellites.

Dr. Hsu wouldn't do a home theater speaker package unless it really could offer an advantage over the other packages. It is going to be an excellent value.

Ddavidson

May 27th, 2003, 9:09 PM

That really sounds like a great little system. If the Ventriloquist sub can stay as tight and about as loud as the VTF-2 in max 25Hz ext mode then that is amazing value for $610. A true 25Hz capable micro sub/sat system at this price range is a good effort. As we know with Hsu subs the depth and bass output in any Hsu design is simply fantastic. The opposition might have to look at re-designing their system. Can they get flat to 50Hz let alone 25Hz at this price?

I am going to try to get to the show. Any expected release date you are aiming for?

Ddavidson

Ddavidson

May 28th, 2003, 11:16 AM

While we are talking about the show. Will you be demonstrating the TN-X1? I am sure people going to see the show to see the TN series would like to see/hear this variable tunable unit. Nothing like taking a new toy for a test drive while its in town for a visit.http://hsuresearch.com/forum/images/icons/icon10.gif

Ddavidson

DavidD

May 28th, 2003, 1:06 PM

Actually, I'm very interested in all the upcoming products -- the TN-X1 or VTF-1 to upgrade my 1225, and the Ventriloquist system for the bedroom system I'm building.

Sasha_G

May 28th, 2003, 5:53 PM

Originally posted by Ddavidson

I am going to try to get to the show. Any expected release date you are aiming for?
Ddavidson

Unfortunately, we don't have a release date on the Ventriloquist system yet. We will post the estimated release date the front page and the forum calandar when we know. I would guestimate 4th quarter.

The TN-X1 and VTF-1 are not ready to be demonstrated, however. Dr. Hsu is concentrating on the Ventriloquist. To us, the Ventriloquist will offer new levels of sound quality for a low price. After this, we will focus on for new levels of sound quality for a higher price (the TN-X1 and VTF-1, amongst other projects). The VTF-3 and TN-1220 can go to 115 dB and more and they go below the range of human hearing. Most importantly, they have sound quality and quickness to match high end speakers. To us, that is a good start. It would be nice to have a smaller package in the VTF-1, or change a thing or two on the TN. Right now we are trying to bring the things we have learned doing all-out sound quality subs to the lower cost packages.

Sasha_G

June 3rd, 2003, 9:45 PM

Update: the Ventriloquist will be released by Christmas.

Lwang

June 3rd, 2003, 10:08 PM

Will the sub be available seperately? I have a POS mini-system in which I want to have the option of adding quality bass to it, but nothing in the practically free range sound close to anything good. If the Ventriloquist sub's price could be lowered enough by using vinyl papering for its cover and ikea bolt together technology, its price might come down low enough so that I don't need to follow Dr. Hsu to costco and buy their top of the line sub.

Ddavidson

June 4th, 2003, 11:30 AM

Update: the Ventriloquist will be released by Christmas.

That sounds great. Will it be only be available from Hsu or will BIC have it as well ? Any pictures of the Ventriloquist sub at the show please post them. Is the sub amp 150w ?

Ddavidson

Sasha_G

June 7th, 2003, 7:08 PM

The Ventriloquist system will be available directly and through a substantial number of dealers. Hsu Research will be the only online retailer. It will not be released throuigh BIC, but through HSU Research. Dr. Hsu has made many changes to the design of the satellites and center to the point where it will be released under our brand. Details on what packages and configurations will be released, and details on the subwoofers will be released over the coming months as we come closer to releasing everything.

DavidD

June 8th, 2003, 10:17 PM

It may be a bit early for this question. However....what sort of efficiency can we expect from this system?

vraxoin

June 8th, 2003, 11:52 PM

I listened to this system today with both the VTF-2 and 3 alternately rounding out the low end. I don't know whether this is the final iteration or not, but the system sounds great in its current form. The electronics used were very ordinary, inexpensive, mass-produced products and the whole thing worked very, very well. For the price mentioned by Dr. Hsu at the show I can't possibly fathom finding a small 5 speaker satellite system that sounds as good.

Lwang

June 9th, 2003, 9:03 AM

Any more details on these speakers? Are they slightly modified BICs? From the picture, they look like one way ported design with no tweeter, not even a whizzer cone. And if it is ported, is it a good idea to have a resonance port for the midrage?

9mileskid

June 9th, 2003, 3:48 PM

I understand the 3 speaker stereo hook-up (L/R to Center and then out to sats) but what about 5.1? Are there L/R/C inputs so the center signal goes to center in 5.1 while the L/R does its thing during stereo?

Was at the show and the demo was really great. I'd like to hear them again in my room with the matched sub. Seems this setup will solve many space and sound concerns.

Thanks again

vraxoin

June 9th, 2003, 8:44 PM

Here's a very brief, but positive mention of the system on the SGHT web site from their show coverage: (second to last paragraph)

http://www.guidetohometheater.com/shownews.cgi?1564

Sasha_G

June 10th, 2003, 5:20 PM

Originally posted by 9mileskid
I understand the 3 speaker stereo hook-up (L/R to Center and then out to sats) but what about 5.1? Are there L/R/C inputs so the center signal goes to center in 5.1 while the L/R does its thing during stereo?

Yes, there are L/R/C inputs on the center. The big center channel also has a full range driver like the L/R, so it can handle the 5.1 center channel as well.

Lwang,

The speakers, especially the center channel, are quite modified from the BIC prototype but very similar to the system demonstrated at CES. Dr. Hsu is a fan of full range drivers, and I think it is safe to say that the left and right speakers will remain small, and the system coming out this year will not have a tweeter. There may be a port, but it is likely that it will not.

DavidD,

The efficiency is currently quite good, with the ordinary Pioneer electronics being able to drive it very loudly.

vraxoin,

Thanks for the link. Many people could not believe the price of the system. I saw two friends arguing that the five speaker system could not cost under $1400 :D. SGHT got the price a little wrong. The five speaker system without the subwoofer is estimated to cost $220 retail, with a minimum advertised price of $200. The smallest subwoofer/ satellite package with the 8 inch woofer will go for about $550 retail with a $500 minimum advertised price.

vraxoin

June 10th, 2003, 8:24 PM

Yeah, the $200ish price was mentioned by Dr. Hsu at the show and my friend and I looked at each other in fairly stunned silence. What can you get for $200 these days that actually sounds like something? Not much, that's for sure and nothing with 5 speakers. These sats with a VTF-2 and an Outlaw 1050 would be a killer base setup for under $1300. It will be my new default recommendation for people looking for an inexpensive home theater and music system.

DavidD

June 10th, 2003, 8:30 PM

Sasha -

You mention a price of $500 - $550 or so for a 5.1 system including an 8-inch sub. What are the other woofer choices under consideration for this set?

Dave

Lwang

June 10th, 2003, 9:44 PM

What kind of high end response can they have with a 2-3" midrange? Or is this suppose to be one of those retro gears like 47 Lab's Essence (http://www.sakurasystems.com/products/essence.html) speakers.

Or is Dr. Hsu still living in his Quad days?

Sasha_G

June 11th, 2003, 1:22 AM

vraxoin,

Thanks for the kind words.

Lwang,

Dr. Hsu is a collector of full range speakers. There are quite a number of rare and antique ones at the office. Your link to the Essence speakers didn't work for me, but I guess its a full range speaker. Here is a forum dedicated to full range drivers:

http://www.f18.parsimony.net/forum31999/

The full range drivers on the Ventriloquist are crossed over so they don't go below 250 Hz, so they can specialize on the mids (where the human ear is most discerning) and the highs. You can't expect a small speaker to really play deep frequencies at decent SPLs anyhow. They will, however, play highs. I think a good question is not whether they can reproduce the highs, but if the highs can be reproduced off axis on a 2-3 inch driver without become "beamy" or narrow in dispersion.

DavidD,

Well, one of the other subs will be the 10 inch single tuning one--the one I leaked out earlier.

We CAN say that the Ventriloquist 5 system will be packaged with all of our subwoofers, not just the $300 8 inch one.

Ddavidson

June 11th, 2003, 9:16 AM

Well, one of the other subs will be the 10 inch single tuning one--the one I leaked out earlier.

We CAN say that the Ventriloquist 5 system will be packaged with all of our subwoofers, not just the $300 8 inch one.

The 8" sounds a little like TN825 deja-vu. Will the $300 8" and the single tuned 10" be avaliable as seperate items ?

Ddavidson

Sasha_G

June 11th, 2003, 5:11 PM

DDavidson,

They might be available as separate products, but nothing is guaranteed at this point.

Ddavidson

June 20th, 2003, 10:29 PM

They might be available as separate products, but nothing is guaranteed at this point.

So out of the new offshore built subwoofers we may see:

SFT Series
8" - 32Hz - $300
10" - 25Hz - $425
12" - 22Hz - $550

Ddavidson

Sasha_G

June 23rd, 2003, 5:31 PM

New model trivia: the amp will most likely be positioned on the narrow side with the port.

kameraguy

July 8th, 2003, 10:02 AM

Hi All,

I am a new member, but have been lurking for about a week now. I stumbled across HSU Research while shopping for home theater speaker systems. I must say the new Ventriloquist system seems absolutely amazing. If the speakers sound excellent, and the price of less than $700 is correct, including a sub that hits 25hz, this has got to be one of the best choices for the money!

I currently have an NHT system which I have enjoyed for many years, comprising of all SuperOnes with a SuperAudio center. I am currently looking to replace the rather small 8" NHT sub which reaches around 35hz. I have always wanted to go lower, but haven't decided on which path to take. I was intrigued to see the HSU subs and may consider one of them. However this new system seems like a tremendous choice as well. I might try this for a second room.

I am also interested in the Ventriloquist sub details. If it is available separately, would it match with my current NHT speakers? The SuperOnes state a range of 57hz-22khz. 89db sensitivity I believe?

I cannot wait for these speakers to be available! :)

Thanks,
Christian

kameraguy

July 8th, 2003, 11:26 AM

BTW- I read the press release regarding the Gateway KAS-203 sound system. How does this compare to the HSU system? The Gateway system reports to also use a HSU sub and Ventriloquist center. Price is $699?

MarkinSF

July 8th, 2003, 12:33 PM

Sasha,

I'm just wondering if you all have any plans to consolidate the new product info onto a page on the site. I'd love to have 1 place to go to find out the latest news on the Ventriloquist, the VTF1 or the other new products. Info I'd like to see is the products in development, the details you CAN share with us about them, their due dates to market, expected pricing, options, specs, and any other info the good Doctor wants us to know about them :)

I've seen some info smattered about in the forums, but its burried there and not easy to go back and find it! Also, I'd love to be able to give the new products page link to clients so they can keep informed about the upcoming products on their own.

Thanks!!!

Mark Valade
saw you at the SF show and gave you the Ray Montford CD. I now have his other 2 and they're very good also!

Sasha_G

July 8th, 2003, 6:31 PM

Originally posted by MarkinSF
Sasha,
Mark Valade
saw you at the SF show and gave you the Ray Montford CD. I now have his other 2 and they're very good also!

We just bought all 3 of his, and are waiting for them to arrive. Find any other tracks in particular good?

Regarding new products, the best way right not to stay abreast of the new releases is to send an email to sales@hsuresearch.com and say you would like to be added to our monthly newsletter. This newsletter will contain updates regarding the Ventriloquist systems. I'll add a signup form in the coming week, but for now just email me.

We always welcome input on people's experience on the website, so thanks. We'll post some more detailed information in the coming month about the Ventriloquist, and that will go on the "Coming Soon" area of the front page as well as the calandar. A month or so before the final Ventriloquist release, a section will be added to the products section (which is being redesigned this very day by yours truly).

Dr. Hsu has some great ideas for a TN-like design that may come out later next year, but for bureaucratic reasons we need to get a patent pending first. The VTF-1, which uses special passive radiators and is less efficient than a ported design, is still in deep hibernation.

So, the Gateway systems are finally official! Wasn't sure how Gateway was going to package them or if they would make it public that HSU was involved, but it no longer is a secret. Dr. Hsu designed their subwoofers. They are not "HSU" subwoofers per se, but Gateway subwoofers that were "designed by Dr. Hsu". Here is a press release:

http://www.beststuff.com/article.php3?story_id=5321

The KAS-203 package might be using the slim Ventriloquist center. It might be a "slim line" version of the deep one we use in our demo room. Need to check on that.

Ddavidson

July 9th, 2003, 7:27 PM

The VTF-1, which uses special passive radiators and is less efficient than a ported design, is still in deep hibernation.

Please say it aint so?
Hsu flagship MIA.

They are not "HSU" subwoofers per se, but Gateway subwoofers that were "designed by Dr. Hsu".

Sasha certainly looks a lot like the soon to be released Hsu "SFT series".

http://www.beststuff.com/images/articles/070203a.jpg

Ddavidson

Lwang

July 9th, 2003, 9:23 PM

The VTF-1, which uses special passive radiators and is less efficient than a ported design, is still in deep hibernation.

If SVS could find a 900w plate amp for their subwoofer in a fly, how hard would it be for Hsu to find one? Dr. Hsu doesn't have to build it from scratch you know.

Ddavidson

July 10th, 2003, 9:56 AM

If SVS could find a 900w plate amp for their subwoofer in a fly, how hard would it be for Hsu to find one? Dr. Hsu doesn't have to build it from scratch you know.

That is what makes absolutely no sense, no matter which way you look at it.

To me it seems like there is no time or interest for expanding the Hsu flagship lineup, and in doing so expand the Hsu customer base. The time is obviously better spent doing designs for Outlaw and Gateway. Such a shame when you can see small companies like SVS doing it well and yet they are still finding time to develop a real hang your hat type flagship for the range (B4+).

Its common knowledge now that Svs are selling even more box subs than their cylinder range and they now have an across the price range selection of cube subs. Hsu desperately need model/s above the VTF-3 and I am not talking about rosewood veneer. I am talking what Hsu owners buy Hsu subs for "performance". For a company who threw out a real challenge to Velodyne for performance and value I really feel Hsu is totally missing the boat on this issue.

Where is the Svs PB2+ or even B4+ challenger ? We know Hsu can do it but its vaporware and allowing customers to shop elsewhere. A customer survey would quickly show the desire for a flagship is very strong. Not to mention the company moral and advertisment potential of having a real kick butt flagship.

I like many Hsu customers want to move up to a bigger and better subwoofer than anything in the current lineup. I just find it very sad that it can not possibly be a Hsu subwoofer because obviously no one is interested in producing one.

Ddavidson

Sasha_G

July 10th, 2003, 3:24 PM

Making an accurate subwoofer is a little bit different than making a big thing that pushes tons of air. Some of our competitors think that by pushing a lot of air, they are achieving something special. In reality, this SPL= sound quality myth is going to blow up in their face.

Making tiny flagship subs that still pushes the price/performance barrier, on the other hand, is another area to be explored once the Ventriloquist and STF subs are done (which, for you information, are not pictured in that photo above).

Please, please, please give us some time to do things right! We like to do one thing at a time and not multitask. If we were a bigger company we would have a dozen AES engineers cracking on the flagships.

The Gateway subs are too small for us to call them HSU Research subs--they are indeed designed by Dr. Hsu though and will handily blow away similar sized models.

The similarity between our Ventriloquist 5.1 system and the Gateway system is that the larger $699 KAS-203 package includes our Ventriloquist center and surround speakers. Their smaller system does not include Ventriloquist.

The release of the Gateway system will be accompanied by television commercials.

DavidD

July 10th, 2003, 9:30 PM

Like many of us on this forum, I look forward to the time when Hsu can add to the upper end of its product line. However, I think the VTF-3 and TN-1220 are tough products to beat, whatever the price. If you need more output, just toss in another and you're in business, and you've still spent less than for other products.

While I think output is important, I wonder if the home theater community has become obsessed with that. It seems the measure of subwoofer quality is whether it cn knock pictures off the wall, or some such thing. The only way someone is going to do that is either to set the sub level way too high, or play it at insane levels. If that is what you want, a Hsu sub can do it too, but there is more to quality bass than SPL.

As far as Hsu moving into the lower end of the market, I see it as a good thing for them. (Of course, I also think it could be a good thing for me, since I'm looking for a bedroom system.) Putting a good quality surround system (like the Ventriloquist) and a Hsu sub against 95% of the systems sold today, and there is just no contest.

Dave

Ddavidson

July 11th, 2003, 11:58 AM

Making an accurate subwoofer is a little bit different than making a big thing that pushes tons of air.

As a proud existing VTF-3 and VTF-2 owner I know all about SQ and value for money. I would expect far more from the VTF-1 or whatever cube flagship Hsu produce. I would expect the Hsu flagship to be capable of far less distortion, yet play deeper and be capable of fully reproducing a digital soundtrack at its reference headroom output (dts/ac-3).

To expect any less would be a shortcut. Sure you can get something similar with 4 or 5 - VTF-3's but you run into physical room problems and accoustical problems if you can not stack them all in the same spot. Hsu desperately need a cubed flagship that will make your knees go weak and bring a tear to your eye with its great loud and deep musical bass (tight being the key word on reviewers lips). The unpowered tube subs are good but they are not flagship material and are simply not what most people want to put in their house (esp if your wife still lives with you)

The Hsu offering has to be more in line with knocking off the new Digital Drive Velodynes at 1/3 to 1/2 of the cost. Why not produce a Hsu flagship that will make Mr Hall weap in the next big magazine subwoofer shootout. Plenty of people will buy a Hsu subwoofer if you do it right. The advertisment value will make it worth it alone. Sure its great to see the low end cheap Wal-Mart bedroom surround sets, but leave that more to people like Gateway. The VTF-2 is a great Hsu starter pack for the average system and Hsu should build on upwards from that.

Please seriously look at a performance model above the VTF-3 as soon as you can, because it is very obviously missing in comparision to all your opposition. The thing is you would crush them on value and performance but for some reason you do not. The VTF-1 proto has been around for many many years so its time to get something back on track for your long time customers. I really do not want to see Hsu as a company fade to gray and become a design house only with no products.

Ddavidson

Sasha_G

July 14th, 2003, 2:45 PM

Ddavidson,

I agree there is a halo effect, so to speak--the top of the line flagships influence people's perception of the less expensive models. This is just one of many reasons why it would be silly to skimp on our flagships. So, the idea has gelled of offering our top of the line audiofile tube subs factory direct ONLY , so we can always offer the best bang for the buck for high-end obsessed listeners. The TNs already compete with just about all subs out there in terms of accuracy, and we have more innovations in store that other companies will try and copy--except this time we will have patents.

But our new low price box subs will offer exceptional, dare I say revolutionary, quality for the money. What makes our new STF line unique will be all the things you get: subsonic filtering, unique and purpose built matching of driver and amp, sixth order vented design, ultra low Q drivers, binding posts, phase switch, high quality crossover section for stereo-only systems, spikes, BASH amp iterations our competitors don't have, even better performing internal and external flared ports, and more. We are going to do our basic subs right. Here is a picture of the STF-8 which will cost around $330 list. During initial listening tests, it received a large number of dropped jaws--it just gets louder and deeper with more accuracy than most subwoofers in department stores.

Sasha_G

July 14th, 2003, 2:48 PM

Here is a pic of the back. Note that the connections and switches include auto-on disablement, binding posts, phase switches, defeatable crossover for stereo-only systems, fuse, detatchable power cord, and of course a volume knob. :D

Lwang

July 14th, 2003, 3:09 PM

BASH amps? Aren't they despised for their sound? Plus how are their inability to act as a constant voltage source going to affect the driver of the sub?

Dr_Hsu

July 14th, 2003, 5:45 PM

My personal experience with BASH amps have been fine. BASH amps have a soft power supply, i.e., it has high dynamic headroom. Short term rms power is much higher than their continuous rms power. That works out quite nicely with our subwoofers which can take large short term peaks with relatively little distortion.

Unlike many class D amps that I have tried, the well designed BASH amps do not have the same high output impedance problems of the Class D amps I tried. Some BASH amps that our competitors use are bad, but I do not wish to discuss it since our competitors will find out!

Lwang

July 14th, 2003, 8:27 PM

Sasha,

That sub still looks mighty big for an 8", especially next to that plant. What's its dimension and weight? It looks like in the range of 10.5" x 12" x 15".

Dr. Hsu,

I thought BASH amps are a licensed technology, thereby having to live to their crappy standard and no more.

So does a BASH amp's constant current source play havoc on the driver? Does its ability to provide the current even at high impedence resonant frequencies allow the sub to have near infinite headroom at those frequencies?

Dr_Hsu

July 14th, 2003, 10:17 PM

Its not really a constant current source amp. Its just a very soft supply that sags a lot when the current drain is high and sustained. As long as the required swing is within the supply voltage, it still acts as a constant voltage source. Lets say the amp's max continuous power into 4 ohms is 250W. Then for loads from 4 ohms to open circuit, as long as the signal stays with the voltage swing that translates into 250W rms into 4 ohms (44.7V or less peak voltage), the amp's output will stay practically the same whether its a 4 ohm or a 10,000 ohm load. For example, if the input signal translates into a 40V peak, the BASH amp will put out a 40V peak swing into either a 4 ohm load or a 10,000 ohm load. In that sense, it still act as a constant voltage source.

Now, the soft supply simply means that it will deliver only up to 44.7 V peak before clipping when driving a 4 ohm load, but will deliver say 80V peak before clipping when the impedance goes up to say 100 ohms. It thus has the voltage swing capability of an 800 W rms amplifier (into 4 ohms) when driving a 100 ohm load. That means when driving a subwoofer which has a woofer in box resonance of 40 Hz where the impedance goes up to 100 ohms, the sub with the 250W BASH amp will be able to play a 40 Hz tone at a level that a well regulated 800 W rms into 4 ohms class AB amp can do without clipping. At 18 Hz, the port resonance where the impedance drops to 4 ohms, the BASH amp will play as loudly as a well regulated 250W rms into 4 ohm class AB amp.

What this means is that a well designed BASH amp with the same continuous power rating into the minimum impedance of the subwoofer as a class AB amp will sound equally good but can play as loud at a couple of frequencies and louder at all other frequencies than the class AB unit.

Lwang

July 14th, 2003, 10:34 PM

It is a constant current source in the sense that it cannot continue to deliver the necessated voltage as impedence drops, with a absolute current limit regardless of the impedence it is faced with. So its soft power supply is due to its puny transformer?

Doesn't controlling a driver require the amp to have a stiff power supply?

What kind of dynamic output capability would such an amp have? I understand 20msec of a bass beat is fine for rythmc music, but LFE with its long rumbles and organs and its sustained note requires reserve capacity in the order of seconds. It has to be a super version of NAD's Power Envelope.

Also, if the driver dips below 4 ohm impedence, then the class AB amp would have an advantage by providing more power.

Dr_Hsu

July 14th, 2003, 10:52 PM

In theory, the BASH amp need not have any lower peak current capability than a class AB amp. Its just an amp with very little regulation.

The BASH amp can potentially be less powerful than a class AB amp if the speaker's impedance dips below the impedance the amp is rated comparably at. i.e., if the BASH amp is rated to be 250W into 4 ohms and so is the class AB amp with a stiff regulation (note that class AB amp can also have soft supplies), the well regulated class AB amp will deliver more power into 2 ohms than the BASH amp would. Hence, if the speaker dips below 4 ohms at some frequencies, then the class AB amp can play louder cleanly than the BASH amp at the frequencies that falls below 4 ohms. However, with powered subwoofers where the load the amp is driving is known and fixed, it is easy for the designer to make sure that the BASH amp will deliver the same power as the comparable class AB amp would at the lowest impedance of the woofer. Then the BASH amp will always play as loud and louder than the equivalent class AB amp. That is what we do.

For the above reasons, a generic BASH amp can potentially sound less powerful than a well regulated class AB amp at some frequencies if the speaker load is a demanding one. At least at the present time, I feel that BASH amps tend to be harder to get right than class AB ones. If you don't get it right, they can sound bad.

Ddavidson

July 16th, 2003, 6:47 AM

This is just one of many reasons why it would be silly to skimp on our flagships.

Absolutely.
Reputation especially in a Flagship means absolutely everything, when we are talking performance, service and price effectiveness as the desired end combo.

Now back OT to the new SFT Series that I take it will form part of the Ventriloquist 5.1 Speaker System?

Not that I actually am in the market for any of the SFT sub's, but I did not expect anything less from a Hsu model than what you have shown us all in the above images and skeleton details. I must say the little SFT- 8 looks very neat, and at $330 it's very cheap. Knowing Dr Hsu I bet it will kick some much bigger subs back to the design room, whimpering in pain after a good Hsu bass reproduction lesson.

When are the SFT series actually going to be released? Also when will all the specs and images of the various models be made available for potential customers to look at?

Ddavidson

Sasha_G

July 19th, 2003, 12:35 AM

All the information we are currently giving about the STF subs out can be found here:

http://hsuresearch.com/forum/announcement.php?forumid=2

tomes

August 1st, 2003, 12:15 PM

I think your decision to create the SFT subs was brilliant, and possibly offer the biggest sellers of your line-up, within the next year!

While some people complain you have nothing to beat the top of the line SVS subs, I am sure HSU understands that there is a much bigger market for sales in the 350-600 area, than the 1200-3000 area. A smaller company with limited resources must obviously focus on the products that will get the widest acceptance. My bet is that the SFT12 is going to be a best seller..

Ddavidson

August 1st, 2003, 9:28 PM

My bet is that the SFT12 is going to be a best seller..

Absolutely. It will out sell everything else in the Hsu line-up because its a 12" at $600 odd dollars. Once released I can see STF12's running out of stock very often. You simply can not go past that sort of value.

My concern was that the VTF-3 really will loose out big time. Most of the VTF-3 sales will soon go to buying the STF-12. Not that it matters that much to me because I love my VTF-2 and VTF-3 but it seems like "not enough" will seperate the STF to the VTF series, hence making the VTF series somewhat obsolete. The current VTF series (2/3) will fade to the background once everyone hears about the STF series.

some people complain you have nothing to beat the top of the line SVS subs, I am sure HSU understands that there is a much bigger market for sales in the 350-600 area, than the 1200-3000 area.

There is a little more to it than selling Wal-Mart volumes. Not to mention the prestige and review glamor of a top line flagship.

A cubed Flagship to compete head on with the PB2+ ($1199) and the new Digital Drive Velodynes is essential for the success of the whole Hsu range. It all rubs off down the line. Its what is missing from the lineup. Its not about sales of the actual unit.

Ddavidson

Sasha_G

August 8th, 2003, 6:10 PM

We are working on VTF changes as well, but we are keeping things quiet until we have some palpable improvements to show. You didn't think we would rest on our laurals and be satisfied with high volume sales, did you? The STF line is aimed at the high end of the mass market, but there are non mass market nitches.

Being at Hsu Research, I sense that Dr. Hsu, me, and those who are working with us still WANT it. We still have something to prove.