STF-3 reviews, thoughts and comparisons

[smartbot]

Well it fianally came today and boy I was glad to see it. For those HSU owners it thought it might interest you that the box is all fancy. No "HSU true subwoofers" and thats it. It has grafics all over it.
Anyway, It's double boxed and before I set it upright I made sure all the screws on the driver where tight. Not sure if you all know but there has been a few issues with the S-2's and air-tightness. I tightghtened about five screws a 1/8 to 1/4 turn. But I'm sure it would have been fine with out me tightening them. You must be carefull not to strip them out.
The finsh is nice I actually like it. I had a VTF-2 and recently sold it for this and I would say I prefer this finish. A little more satin looking.
Enough of all that. The sound. Well I'm gitty with delight. It is so powerfull its hard to believe. Talk about athourity!!!
To compare it to the V-2 is almost night and day. It has such athourity and plays even lower then the V-2 in max extention.
I played the free CD tha came with my V-2 and heard things I just didn't hear before.
At 20hz I could hardley hear anything but my house shaking. I could hear my door knoker vibrating on my front door.
At $600 this thing is a complete benchmark, even for HSU. Looking forward I think this will be the sub to beat in the 'best bang for the buck'. It will beat out the HSU line-up in that catagory. It certanly will give the new MK2's thier run for the money. I really can not see why anyone wouldn't buy this over the new or old V-2's. Believe me it is really worth the little extra.
Anyway, sorry to blab on.
Its good. Really, REALLY good!
By the way no problem with the rattle noise on mine.

[Ddavidson]

Well it certainly sounds like you are one happy little camper. I have several good friends who are looking at the STF-3 and they have just wanted to get the initial feedback before jumping in the deep end. They have heard my VTF-3 (many times) but did not want to part with $850 and seeing as though the STF-3 is basically a VTF-3 in max output mode they have long waited for it to ship.

Unfortunately we still have not seen any photo's of the STF-3 which is for those awaiting a decision quite unfortunate. By the time the images are here they probably will be B/O. What is your system and how did you go balancing it all up? Sounds like you where impressed with the packing. Sasha mentioned that the manuals and presentation are a little better than the previous sheets of paper that formed my VTFs manuals (not that I am fussed about manuals for subwoofers)

Keep us posted on your STF-3's performance and your findings. It looks like another great Hsu sub.

Ddavidson

[Mackie]

can you verify for me the line level connection to the STF3 is stereo (one input each for L and R) or is there only a single 'sub-in' connection?

[sputnikv8]

Originally posted by Ddavidson

Unfortunately we still have not seen any photo's of the STF-3 which is for those awaiting a decision quite unfortunate. By the time the images are here they probably will be B/O. What is your system and how did you go balancing it all up? Sounds like you where impressed with the packing. Sasha mentioned that the manuals and presentation are a little better than the previous sheets of paper that formed my VTFs manuals (not that I am fussed about manuals for subwoofers)

Keep us posted on your STF-3's performance and your findings. It looks like another great Hsu sub.

Ddavidson

At your request. I threw together a quick webpage with various pictures of my STF3. My wife will attest that I'm a terrible photographer, but, hopefully it gives an idea. The camera picks up any fingerprints and makes it look like a "splotch" on the finish. Rest assured, the finish is immaculate and is a somewhat silky black. There are no cosmetic flaws.

STF pics (http://mysite.verizon.net/res0cq8i/)

Note that I barely have the gain moved and it is thunderous. Not sure what the point of having the rest of the dial is to be honest if I can barely use 1/6th of it.

I threw in a picture of the outer box because it sounds like this is a big upgrade compared to previous shipping material. Also, the manual is quite robust. 8 pages, nicely done and easy to read with graphics, etc.

I'm very happy with my purchase at this point!!

[cschang]

Looks like your crossover is set to "in"? Are you using the crossover on the receiver?

[sputnikv8]

Originally posted by cschang
Looks like your crossover is set to "in"? Are you using the crossover on the receiver?

Yes, this Yamaha has it set internally to 90Hz. Can't remember how I ended up setting it that way. I'm still playing with settings. Should I not have it set to "in" for this scenario?

[cschang]

If you are using the crossover on the receiver, there is no need to use to the crossover on the sub. So just set it to "out".

Glad you are enjoying the sub! I love my VTF-3.

[Lwang]

Is that a port plug in one of the port? variable tuning a-la some other company's method?

[cschang]

yeah.....I missed that...is that a port plug?

[Michael Bain]

Those pictures are actually pretty good. You have the distinction of being the first person on this forum to post an STF-3 pic. Always remind Sasha Goodman of this fact when you speak with him in the future :D

I too am very curious about what appears to be a port plug. Very interesting indeed.

[sputnikv8]

Originally posted by cschang
yeah.....I missed that...is that a port plug?

Yes. There is a plug in the right port. The manual says nothing about removing it or what would happen if one did.

(I forgot to mention that....)

[cschang]

I guess we will have to wait until tomorrow to find out about that port plug. Very interesting!

Maybe the factory included it by mistake.....or maybe it is, as Lwang says, the lesser version of tuning and the STF-3 can be tuned lower!

[smartbot]

That is the first thing I saw when I took it out of the box. My V-2 was in max extention when one hole was pluged. I thought that maybe it was oposite when the V-3 was in in max extention then I remembered.. to put the V-3 in Max extention you need to plug the right hole which the S-3 has pluged.
(by the way why did they design two wholes if they where just planing to put a foam plug in it?!?!)
I need to get a new SPL meter. I went today to get it, but my Radio Shack is closed on Sundays.
I will say that you can hear alot more while using pink and warbel tones on this than the V-2 in max extention.
I did try to unplug it but before I did I thougth I'd better find out before I caused dammage. I will come out though. Like I said strange design. The only thing I could think of was that the new VTF-3's use the same back.
Another thought is that the Outlaw LM-1 (or whatever they are calling it) has two ports that fire downward into the floor. Both of those ports are open though.
Maybe it might be worth looking at another post I sarted called "My thougths on the new STF-3" ;o)

[Mlee]

One of the reasons I was so excited about the STF-3 was that it was being marketing as the "max output model" of the VTF-3. I was not concerned as much about max extension as I will primarily use it for HT.

So now many questions arise... physically, this sub appears to be a VTF-3 in max extension mode however, it's performance is being spec'd at the VTF-2's max extension mode.:confused:

I know this is silly but I prefer to think I am getting a VTF-3 in max output vs. a 12 inch VTF-2, it helps me justify the extra dough!

Can't wait to hear about your findings when you pick up your SPL meter!;)

[smartbot]

Mlee,

Believe me your not geting a VTF-2 in max extention.
Don't get me wrong the VTF-2 is good, but this thing amazes me.
I sold my V-2 and lost a good hundred dollars on it for the S-3, and I'm so glad I made that choice.
If HT is your interest I'll tell you that I have watched a few DVD's with this model and there have been times It has scared me. It is so strong I hardley have the volume set at a sixth of the way up. It just has so much output. Alot of people had been talking about a scene in Finding Nemo where they seem to have trouble with teh S-2's. It is when a little girl taps on the glass of the fish tank. Before seeing this movie I thought it was a bit of a strange test for a subwoofer. After seeing it I now know it is quite demanding. Anyway, the S-3 moves so much air in this scene it is really jaw-dopping. I've played the scene a few times thinking to myself that it beets any movie theater I've been in. Mostly because of proximity. It shakes my whole sofa.

Another note on the STF-3. In auto power-up mode it wakes up very quikly. I was often miffed that I had to turn the volume up so loud to wake up my V-2. I really appreciate that this one rises to the ocation in even the more subtle bass signals.

[Mlee]

Thanks for the positive reinforcement of my decision, it means more comming from you because you have one... I have been reading to much theory and not enough practice! ;)

Plus, I will be upgrading from a Velodyne VX-10 which I returned back to the store because it did not even come close to meeting my expectations - and that noise maker isn't even close to the quality of the VTF-2! So I am sure I will be delighted. :D

Thanks!

[sputnikv8]

Originally posted by smartbot

Another note on the STF-3. In auto power-up mode it wakes up very quikly. I was often miffed that I had to turn the volume up so loud to wake up my V-2. I really appreciate that this one rises to the ocation in even the more subtle bass signals.

I concur on this fact. The STF3 recognizes it needs to wake up very easy. On my klipsch that I had before I would find myself also turning the volume up a little higher than I'd like for late night viewing just to get it to turn on.

Not so with the "3".

[tdekany]

Originally posted by smartbot
Mlee,

Believe me your not geting a VTF-2 in max extention.
Don't get me wrong the VTF-2 is good, but this thing amazes me.
I sold my V-2 and lost a good hundred dollars on it for the S-3, and I'm so glad I made that choice.
If HT is your interest I'll tell you that I have watched a few DVD's with this model and there have been times It has scared me. It is so strong I hardley have the volume set at a sixth of the way up. It just has so much output. Alot of people had been talking about a scene in Finding Nemo where they seem to have trouble with teh S-2's. It is when a little girl taps on the glass of the fish tank. Before seeing this movie I thought it was a bit of a strange test for a subwoofer. After seeing it I now know it is quite demanding. Anyway, the S-3 moves so much air in this scene it is really jaw-dopping. I've played the scene a few times thinking to myself that it beets any movie theater I've been in. Mostly because of proximity. It shakes my whole sofa.

Another note on the STF-3. In auto power-up mode it wakes up very quikly. I was often miffed that I had to turn the volume up so loud to wake up my V-2. I really appreciate that this one rises to the ocation in even the more subtle bass signals.


What size is your room?

[smartbot]

14x15x9. It has a 8' opening to another room that is 15x25

[tdekany]

thanks!