Wait for Hsu's new sub or go MBM-12

[RipcordAFF]

Hey guys. I have a 3.3 w\ turbo farfield running with a old Athena 10-inch sub as a "poor-man's" MBM nearfield and have a question. Sometime in the not too distant future, I want to either

A) switch the 10-inch 200 watt athena out for a MBM-12

or

B) wait for this mysterious ultra-deep, 10-hz, true subwoofer that Hsu has been all hush hush about.

I suppose I don't know what to do becuase of the lack of details on the latter. Issues are complicated by the fact that AV123 released the MFW-15 that, for $1K, you get dual 15s with supposedly crazy depth and SPLs. I believe Craigsub (in his expansive thread over on AVSforum.com) rated them as the 3rd or 4th best sub tested (w\ the 3.3 turbo being like 15th or 17th or something).

I love my Hsu, but the thought of adding another 400-450 for an MBM when I could sell the 3.3 and get the dual MFW-15s for about the same as mbm + 3.3 turbo is a little disconerting. I really havent read anythign comparing the two so I don't know what to think.

Now the waters become even muddier with this mysterious sub Hsu has the in the works. If it is even close to the buzz people have said about it, it may blow the dual MFWs out of the water. But how would I integrate that with a 3.3 turbo? Would I not want the 3.3 turbo anymore? Would it replace it? Would I run the 3.3 MO non-turbo nearfield and this (supposedly) deeper sub far? A little lost in all aspects. Thanks so much in advance and I hope this is clear. If not, please let me know..

Best,

Reed

[Pete_Hsu]

Hi Reed,

I would probably just add MBM-12 for now, it will make a huge difference in your system. Note that the ideal location for deep bass reproduction is almost always different than that for mid-bass reproduction, so the MBM will always give you the flexibility to optimally position the true subwoofer and mid-bass module for optimal reproduction of those frequencies.

You can always upgrade at any point down the road, and the MBM should hold it's value very well.

[RipcordAFF]

Hi Reed,

I would probably just add MBM-12 for now, it will make a huge difference in your system. Note that the ideal location for deep bass reproduction is almost always different than that for mid-bass reproduction, so the MBM will always give you the flexibility to optimally position the true subwoofer and mid-bass module for optimal reproduction of those frequencies.

You can always upgrade at any point down the road, and the MBM should hold it's value very well.

Thanks for the quick response Pete, you must have a pager that alerts you to a new forum post.:D

So, if I understand you correctly, you are suggesting that the MBM-12 would be "necessary" with the new sub anyway? I guess what has always confused me a little is the Hsu theory behind the MBM. This is my first real subwoofer so I have nothing to compare it to. But I do know that even the effect of adding my crappy 10 Athena was substantial. Why do no other companies do this? Are their customers getting this mid-bass from a design aspect of their subwoofers as well as deep bass or are they all just missing out?

So the new sub will not end up being "all-encompassing"? In other words, offer the great extension of the turbo WITH the mid-bass slam of MO? (although granted maybe not the MBM-12 which I understand you are saying could be integrated).

[bsoko]

Get the MBM-12 and setup as the manual says and then relax and be prepared for the ultimate in bass. I was so impressed that I got 2 of em'.

Bill:) :) :)

[Pete_Hsu]

Hey Reed,

I like to respond quickly to forum posts and email when I can :)

The new sub will definitely extend even deeper than the VTF-3 MK3/t, and will have excellent mid/upper bass headroom as well. However, we still run into the issue that deep bass reproduction is optimal in, say, a front corner, while mid-bass reproduction will be optimal somewhere else (either in the nearfield, or flanking the L/R front mains).

The MBM-12 can blow the rankings system out of the water in some instances. We just recently had a nice customer who had the Epik Conquest subwoofer (ranked very high on the list) and Ascend Sierra-1 speakers (extremely well regarded everywhere), and the addition of two MBM-12 made an extraordinary improvement to the entire system.

[RipcordAFF]

Hey Reed,

I like to respond quickly to forum posts and email when I can :)

The new sub will definitely extend even deeper than the VTF-3 MK3/t, and will have excellent mid/upper bass headroom as well. However, we still run into the issue that deep bass reproduction is optimal in, say, a front corner, while mid-bass reproduction will be optimal somewhere else (either in the nearfield, or flanking the L/R front mains).

The MBM-12 can blow the rankings system out of the water in some instances. We just recently had a nice customer who had the Epik Conquest subwoofer (ranked very high on the list) and Ascend Sierra-1 speakers (extremely well regarded everywhere), and the addition of two MBM-12 made an extraordinary improvement to the entire system.


So Pete. We are talking about a new sub that will have extension way past 3.3 turbo and STILL have that mid-bass slam (although b\c I like the tactile feedback, I would probably get the MBM12 too)? How is that possible? I have also heard that people said it is smaller than the 3.3? :eek: :eek: When is this bad boy going to be released? Are there any even general prices? less than $1k, more etc......geez this is so maddening. I wish I wasnt so impatient! ;) Thanks again. Once again, you guys are proving more than helpful.

[Pete_Hsu]

Yes Reed, the deep bass extension and mid-bass slam is also very good. However, when placed in a front corner, while deep bass response will tend to be very good, mid-bass impact will be reduced vs. nearfield placement. Also, one may experience response anomolies in the mid-bass region from the front corner placement that reduce mid-bass impact even further.

The new sub is smaller than the VTF-3 MK3. Stay tuned for more details regarding price and specifications. We hope to have the new sub in production within about 1-2 months.

How large is your room (including openings to other rooms), and what front speakers do you have?

Thanks

[RipcordAFF]

Yes Reed, the deep bass extension and mid-bass slam is also very good. However, when placed in a front corner, while deep bass response will tend to be very good, mid-bass impact will be reduced vs. nearfield placement. Also, one may experience response anomolies in the mid-bass region from the front corner placement that reduce mid-bass impact even further.

The new sub is smaller than the VTF-3 MK3. Stay tuned for more details regarding price and specifications. We hope to have the new sub in production within about 1-2 months.

How large is your room (including openings to other rooms), and what front speakers do you have?

Thanks

Well I am moving in about 2 months and don't know what the new room will look like (looking for a place now). That does limit my decision making somewhat! I am also upgrading the speakers from some small satellites to either the Axiom M80v2 set or the new Aperion Intimus 6T (also not out yet).

So really, it would seem I am bugging you guys for no good reason, but I am just trying to figure out what gear I will get and plan the room, decor, and arrangement around that. There are some advantages to being young w\o a WAF to deal with! ;)

I have a few people locally who have expressed interest in the 3.3 turbo if I chose to, and with this monster coming up (assuming it is not priced in the Pb-13 Ultra range) I will be offloading the 3.3 and going with it and possibly a MBM12...Is that ideal?

[Pete_Hsu]

Since you have a couple of months to go before moving into the new room, then I suppose you may as well wait and weigh your options at that time. We will definitely have detailed info on the new sub by then. The nice thing about MBM is that you can add it at any point in the future, and will always get a $50 instant discount as a Hsu sub owner.

[juiceblrc]

Pete,

Can we have some details on the new sub? It seems like for months it has been "1 to 2 months away" from production.

I am curious about the price. Will it be a $600 - $700 sub or a $1200 - $1400 sub.

If its the higher numbers then it is out of my price range so there will be no need for me to wait for the new sub. I will just order something else.

[RipcordAFF]

Pete,

Can we have some details on the new sub? It seems like for months it has been "1 to 2 months away" from production.

I am curious about the price. Will it be a $600 - $700 sub or a $1200 - $1400 sub.

If its the higher numbers then it is out of my price range so there will be no need for me to wait for the new sub. I will just order something else.

Yeah. Thats how I feel. All of this may be for naught if it is a 1200-1400 sub. I will just get the MBM and try not tothink about it. Buuuuuuutttt, if its 600-700 I have some planning to do!

[Pete_Hsu]

Sorry, can't give price yet. The sub was first shown less than three months ago. The best guess for availability is within two months, with all the juicy details to come shortly in advance of that.

Sincerely,