What the "other company" will do to combat HO

[Michael Bain]

Today some of us have talked about Dr. Hsu's genius and innovative ideas in subwoofer design, and how some others have copied his designs for their own gain.

My thoughts on what the "other company" will do to combat HO:

To combat VTF3HO, they will come out with a much larger box than the VTF3HO that has two or three 4" ports utilizing a 90 degree port bend (ala Hsu HRSW12Va), variable tuning, linear motor 12" driver, and 500-650 watts R-M-S amplifier power. They will advertise their subwoofer as having turbo built-in, in order to belittle Hsu's own turbocharger idea. They will need time to thoroughly test the VTF3HO in groundplane environment. Since VTF3HO will not be ready until winter, they will have to wait until spring of next year when the temperature is warmer again in order to finish thoroughly testing VTF3HO turbo. Expect new product details to leak out by spring of next year, and new product to be available near summer of next year.

To combat VTF2HO, they will come out with a much larger box than the VTF2HO that has two or three 3" ports utilizing a 90 degree port bend (ala Hsu HRSW12Va), variable tuning, linear motor 10" driver, and 300-400 watts R-M-S amplifier power. They will advertise their subwoofer as having turbo built-in, in order to belittle Hsu's own turbocharger idea. They will need time to thoroughly test the VTF2HO in groundplane environment. Since VTF2HO will not be ready until winter, they will have to wait until spring of next year when the temperature is warmer again in order to finish thoroughly testing VTF2HO turbo. Expect new product details to leak out by spring of next year, and new product to be available near summer of next year.

For their "small" subwoofer, they will come out with a fairly large box (between 14"-16" cube) utilizing a single linear motor 12" driver and dual opposing passive radiators (ala Hsu VTF-1).

In other words, expect the same ol' strategy: build a bigger box/larger amp than Hsu, but use the same or similar features as current and prior Hsu subwoofers when possible, in order to gain the marketing edge/angle,

The real question is, will Hsu be prepared for this? They tried to topple you before with larger size and SPL, and you know they will not stop in trying to topple you again with larger size and SPL.

[Ddavidson]

Personally I purchase what sounds best not what looks best on paper, so *who cares* how big or loud something else plays. This mine is bigger than your SPL chase is *just a *marketing gimmick* to avoid you comparing what is really important in buying audio reproduction equipment.... "*Sound*".

No matter what marketing spin audio companies put on it you simply cant give a numerical number to ratify and compare SQ. You ears and direct comparisons are your only true guide to its sounds worth.

The old anthology of just because you own a bigger pickup truck than me doesn't automatically mean it does the job best.

PS:
Of course if like many car audio guys you only want some form of male *bragging rights* or just want to win the local *spl drag race* then sure buy into the loudest spec sheet that you can find.

Ddavidson

[lradden]

It seems the other company has always touted each driver as being better than the last so I expect them to have a new driver as part of their marketing along with, as you said a bigger box. They may even go with an 18 " driver or a box with two 15" drivers. Who knows even Hsu may have some things in the works that we don't even know about to counter them. The other company has been awfully quiet on the boards lately. You can bet they are working hard to defeat a technolgy they couldn't pirate.

Oh yeah expect a larger amps from the other company too. I really don't expect anything new or innovative from them, just the same old bigger amp, new driver, bigger box.

The genius is over here and we're happy to have him and let's keep Peter too. Can you imagine what would happen if Peter the voice of Hsu ever defected:( .

[Pete_Hsu]

Dear Michael,

We have had plenty of customers say that they prefer the sound quality of our subwoofers to others that have more enclosure volume, more porting, more amplifier power, etc., so I wouldn't dismiss a product based solely on this. Dr. Hsu has nearly twenty years of design experience, and he really knows how to design a well balanced subwoofer. That is the key, balance.

Subwoofer design is all about tradeoff, whether it be size or output or cost or extension. Technologies like turbocharger help to alleviate some of the tradeoffs that we are normally faced with in ported subwoofer design.

When I say that Dr. Hsu is a visionary, I truly mean it. If it is not evident today, it will be evident soon enough I believe.

Have faith my friends, have faith!

[Lwang]

Time for Hsu to focus back on the area of sound reproduction that actually cares about sound quality. Getting into the mud with the SPL chasers is pointless because their client base only cares about quantify. And when a person could only quantify instead of qualify, one of the easily graspable concept for them would be SPL/$. If you also expand to the market that trust beyond the needle on the meter or how loudly their trailer creaks during the LFE, you will expand into a market that has alot more spending power. I'm not saying abandon the guys who wants their sub to giggle the lard on their body so as to get shake the food crumbs once in a while, but market beyond them.

[Michael Bain]

Yeah lradden they might also eventually branch out into using several driver sizes (8", 10", 12", 15", 18") for a couple reasons. their new driver designer (who is a better driver designer than the company's head of R&D, but still no Dr. Hsu obviously) loves Velodyne's business model and product lineup, so he will be looking to copy their signature of using multiple driver sizes in one lineup; and two, this is one way for them to claim they are not copying Hsu Research, and to take advantage of the fact that other factory direct companies are not yet offering all these driver sizes. In other words it is good for their spl driven marketing angle.

[Hans Gruber]

Is there any picture of the HSU Turbocharger on the existing VTF-3 MK2. I would like to see what my VTF-3 MK2 will look like with the Turbo charger attached.

[Kjohn]

I must say I have been all over the USA on every audio board on the net looking for advice on my subwoofer choice not wanting to make another mistake in purchasing audio equipment only to be dissapointed and go though the hassel of selling and starting again only to gain little or no benefit from spending much more only to find that what I had was just as good for half the price and I must say I just ordered 2 VTF-3 mkII's and with the ABSOLUTLY GREAT!!!!!!!!!! responses Peter gives and the customer service I have heard and read about I am VERY VERY proud to support this company with the world the way it is HSU subwoofers are a dying breed and I suspect it is the reason they are and will be in business a long time and are so sucessful. Peter Thank You and Dr. HSU for being stand up guy's and working and owning a stand up company. :D :D :D

[tafguy]

The real question is, will Hsu be prepared for this?
They tried to topple you before with larger size and SPL,
and you know they will not stop in trying to topple you again with larger size and SPL.
Should HSU be prepared? IMO, I'm not sure that HSU has to be. And probably not! Look at the current pipeline of HSU products from TN/STF/VTF series, serious consumers in look for very musical sub and knowing also the popularity of HSU in the field of subwoofer design, will always take a serious look of HSU products. And look where we are serious consumers, we end up buying HSU products. All of this for the simple reason is quality in sound that Dr. HSU has always care to perfection them.

The same thing still holds for new products such as HO for better claimed sound and power when these are coupled with turbocharger, are certainly to make competition desire to study HSU new HO serie and probably either by fear or by jealousy, try to find any possible weakness to advertise their better or came up with better design if they can.

Like Ddavidson says "Who cares" and it is probably true and it seems to be always like this. Dr. Hsu always let his products do the talking and this why it is so outstanding in a way that no matter how many times you have auditionned other products elsewhere, have surfed so many forums in search for best subwoofers, there is chance you'll read or hear someone mentionning how great HSU product.

In my personal view, there is no need at all for preparation to face competition. A smart person in today's world wants to spend his well earned money to get quality in product and that person knows the truth whether the product is good or not to buy one. So, if HSU product is so good and deserves a closer look, he or she knows what to buy.

[Kjohn]

You said it all HSU ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOCKS!!!