VTF-1

[distvox]

Hi. This may be a dumb question but i'm not sure. I have a STF-1 sub right now. My room is 8' high and 15' x 20'. The stf-1 does a pretty good job with the bass now. However, i've been looking at the VTF-1 because of the lower frequency response. What would be the advantage though or what would I notice different. I don't know much about speakers so sorry if it's a simple answer like "the sub will be louder". Thanks...

[kinggimp]

The vtf-1 would play louder with less distortion along with playing deeper. The deeper extension would be a benefit when you watch movies because you would hear more of the low frequency effects. Do you listen to music or watch movies more often? Also what kind of music they listen to? Most music wouldn't make use of the extra base extension.

[distvox]

Thanks for you reply. I'd say that I use it for about 70% movies 30% music. I usually listen to electronic music like industrial, but i also listen to metal and rock. I do play it loud sometimes but not extremely loud. I've never bottomed out the stf-1.

[kinggimp]

Thanks for you reply. I'd say that I use it for about 70% movies 30% music. I usually listen to electronic music like industrial, but i also listen to metal and rock. I do play it loud sometimes but not extremely loud. I've never bottomed out the stf-1.

I think it would be a nice improvement for you over the stf-1. Even though you don't listen at extremely loud volumes the vtf-1 will have more authority and will reach your desired volume with more ease. And you will enjoy the extra extension for movies especially since you watch movies more than you listen to music.

[distvox]

Thanks again for the info. So would you say that the sound improvement over the stf-1 is worth spending $450?

[Pete_Hsu]

distvox, provided that you don't feel a strong need/desire to get deeper bass extension, and would rather have smoother response and higher output, then another thing you can consider is adding a second STF-1. What available placement options do you have for a second subwoofer, and where is the current subwoofer placed?

Thanks

[distvox]

Hi Pete. Here is the speaker setup. I know the speaker placement sucks....we had to rearrange the room. How about the sub placement? I guess what I'm looking to do is have more of an enveloping feeling with the sub without real high volume levels (we live in a condo), if that's possible. If the lower extension gives more presence, then thats good. What do you think?

[Pete_Hsu]

Hi distvox,

Try placing the sub on the opposite side of the couch, or even better, in the corner near the opposite side of the couch (ie. the upper right hand portion of your picture).

Looks like you have two couches, correct? Where is the main listening position located?

Thanks

Sincerely,

[distvox]

Thanks for the tip, i'll have to give that a try. My main listening position is the couch in the middle of the room, and my seat is right next to the surround left speaker.

[Pete_Hsu]

Thanks distvox, go ahead and put the sub in the upper right corner of the pic, and adjust the subwoofer distance setting on the receiver accordingly. Also, if possible, try to avoid sitting directly in the center of the room.

Sincerely,

[distvox]

..

[distvox]

Hey Pete....okay I couldn't put the sub in the corner because there is something in that loaction already, but I did put it on the opposite side of the couch. The sound seems to be about the same. I'm guessing the corner would be better. The thing is that I can here more bass when i'm in the kitchen than in the tv room (the dotted line in my drawing is a wall that only goes halfway up, a breakfast bar). That's probably also that i'm sitting kind of in the middle of the room. Do you think the VTF-1 will help with filling out the listening area, or is it just all in the placement? The STF-1 is a great sub, but my room is probably a 2 on your room scale. Thanks for helping out.

[Pete_Hsu]

Hi distvox,

Changing subwoofer placement and/or listening position in-room will make for huge differences in the frequency response at the seats. Try placing the subwoofer at your main listening position, play some music/movie program material with deep bass content, and crawl around the room to find out where the bass sounds the strongest and most to your liking. Then place the subwoofer in that location (if possible).

Very low frequencies may sound strongest at the opposite end of the kitchen due to the long wavelengths involved.

The VTF-1 can certainly play significantly lower and louder than STF-1, but the main issues here appear related to subwoofer placement, listening position, and room characteristics. You may want to consider adding a second STF-1, as this can help to smooth out the in-room frequency response.

Sincerely,

[JerryMeeker]

Sitting at the midpoint of a listening room is the worst spot for bass response (you will have bass nulls at 28 Hz and 37.5 Hz). You can test this out yourself using a sound pressure meter and measuring response at other locations than the room's center. Or, you can probably hear the difference by ear, e.g. better bass in the kitchen. Unfortunately, room dimensions and furniture placement impose penalties on smoothness of the frequency response that are difficult to address. Optins are to add more subs (brute force), or re-arrange the room (talk to your wife!). ;)

[distvox]

Thanks for all the advice. I now have one final question. The main reason I didn't want to get an extra sub is because of placement. If I can find a good place for it though it sounds like it would be the best option. In the picture that i have here, if my current sub is on the right hand side of the wall couch, where would be the best location for a second sub?

[Pete_Hsu]

You can try one sub in the nearfield (ie. close to the main listening position), and one sub in the farfield (ie. well-enclosed corner up front)...

Sincerely,

[distvox]

So I got the VTF-1 yesterday, and it is a big difference. It's still in the same location that the stf-1 was but I can hear the bass more and actually feel it when i'm sitting on the couch in the center of the room. Nice improvement. Thanks again Pete.

[Pete_Hsu]

You are most welcome distvox, thank you so much for the update! Good to hear that the VTF-1 is doing a nice job :)

Just out of curiousity, have you tried the STF-1 with the VTF-1?

Thanks

Sincerely,