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View Full Version : My STF-2 Test results


htenthusiast
December 5th, 2003, 10:36 AM
I just finished putting my STF-2 through the paces of several dvd's along with the Avia calibration disc and a Rat Shack SPL meter.

Let me say I'm totally impressed and pleased with this subwoofer. This is my first home subwoofer so I don't have anything to compare it to but it goes very deep.

Here's my setup:
Axiom M3ti Fronts
Axiom VP100 Center
Axiom QS8's surrounds
HSU STF-2
Denon 3803 receiver
Panny RP-91
(all speakers set to small with 100hz crossover on receiver. Sub crossover set to OUT)
Room Size: 11'x17'x10' with a 10' opening to stairs leading to living room with 20foot vaulted ceiling.

The dvd's I have used so far are Matrix, LOTR:FOTR, Star Wars EP1, and Finding Nemo. I just watched my favorite/bass scenes.

I first calibrated the sub to match my speakers at 85db, The FR speaker with the sub on the same side was hard to match(the both were in a corner) so the sub was a tad (3 to 4db) higher there. Other than that it matched up perfect.

First of all I experienced zero distortion or flutter with the SPF-2 and I was playing at reference level just to make sure. The deep rumbling effect played perfectly smooth. The intro to LOTR where Sauron gets his hand whacked off rocked my whole room. The Matrix lobby scene was crystal clear with great sounding guns. The chopper scene with the gat gun was perfect to my ears. The SW:EP1 pod race scene sounded great. The rumble of the engines and the surrounds were seamless throughout the race.

Finding Nemo, I tested 3 low bass scenes. The sub on the cliff, the inside the whale belly part, and Darla tapping on the tank. These scenes easily hit the 20hz mark and the STF-2 blew threw it with ease. This scene created SPL peaks well over 100 and I could not hear and distortion or the STF-2 straining at all.

All and All I'm very impressed with this subwoofer. It sounds a whole lot bigger than it is and I'm going to enjoy my Home Theater even more now that I have it. I just hope the neighbors don't kill me! hehe!

BTW there's a ton of low bass test tones in the AVIA disc. I'm not sure how to use them all effectively but right now the STF is invisible setting the 100hz crossover to the mains.

Ddavidson
December 5th, 2003, 10:59 AM
I have not tried the STF-2 but have had the VTF-2 for about 6 years and its still sounds awesome. I am told that the STF-2 sounds identical and has the same performance as I get in deep bass mode (25 Hz). So its bound to get the same amazing reviews and very happy customers as the VTF-2 has. These new STF models look like they will only add to the Hsu legend of musical accuracy.


After putting up with my rambling about rumbling, you can understand why I am impressed with what Dr. Poh Ser Hsu has accomplished at Hsu Research. I am always impressed by a clearly effective solution to a problem. But I am particularly impressed when an audiophile-type problem is solved by a mass-fi priced product. Dr. Hsu has garnered a reputation for building subwoofers that have some of the deepest bass output on the market-but at reasonable prices.

Dan Dzuban - Stereo Times - 14 April 2003

I like Dans quote as it sums up Dr Hsu and his subwoofers.


Ddavidson