Almost ready to make sub purchase, advice?

[freddie]

I've been posting on various audio forums for about a year since I started rebuilding my kit. Last weekend I got my new center, the last main speaker I needed, so now it's time to start looking into and saving up for a sub.

I've been looking into the HSU and Outlaw subs for about 6 months since someone first mentioned them to me, and they sounded like they were what I was looking for.


I'm thinking about either of the STFs or the VTF-1, depending on what kind of money I have when I'm ready to pull the trigger. I'm thinking the STF-2 would probably be best for me. The room it's being used in is small-average so I don't think I'll benefit much from the upper boost in the VTF-1, however if there is a significant difference in build quality over the STF-2 I'll consider it.

The room is a 18x12x7 basement bedroom (carpets, insulated sheetrock walls) which is being finished now so I'm pretty much limitless in placement possibilities. However, because it's partly a bedroom, the main seating place has to be directly in the middle of the room which I'm a bit concerned about there being a null in. I will play with the room configuration as soon as I can though, hopefully it won't be bad.

I'm coming from a KLH boomy piece of crap so I'm pretty sure any of these subs will be a significant improvement. I do about 50 TV/40 music (rock)/10 movies. The rest of my setup is an older Onkyo TX-SR502 with Cambridge Soundworks Newtons all around (M80 front, MC400 center, S200/MC50 surrounds) crossed at 60hz. The M80s have pretty tight bass, so most of the time I don't even use the KLH as it kills my music pretty badly. I'm hoping my next sub will be different.


Thanks to anyone who replies.
-Freddie

PS: Anyone in the Boston area (South Shore?) running either STFs or a VTF-1 willing to do a demo? I'm really interested in hearing one of these, but on the chance I don't like it, return shipping will kill me.

[dakster]

I'm going to order a STF-2 at the end of this month, but I'm on the cape in Falmouth. Definitely a hike from Boston, but if you don't turn up another STF-2 nearby it could be an option for ya.

[kojo2001]

Hi
I have a 6 month old VTF-3 MK3 perfect condition for $475

Justin
818 577-0226

[freddie]

I'm going to order a STF-2 at the end of this month, but I'm on the cape in Falmouth. Definitely a hike from Boston, but if you don't turn up another STF-2 nearby it could be an option for ya.

That may work for me as I have family in Wareham. I'll get in touch with you next time I'm planning to be out there if that's ok...

[dakster]

No problem man. I'm waiting for the end of the month B-stock's to hit before I order the sub.

I should warn you though, if you're a audiophile, you'll roll your eyes at my setup, so don't expect too much.

I'm just starting to get into this a bit, so my rig is by no means ideal or setup perfectly. Crappy old sony 5.1 receiver, bad sony surrounds (turned WAY down), but I've got a B&W CC-3 center, and some B&W DM302 bookshelves as my mains for the moment.

Got plenty of flac/shns and movies to pump through it all though. If ya do come down, bring whatever ya want to listen to. Just hit me up with a PM when you'll be around.

[freddie]

I just bought a Cambridge Soundworks Newton P205 for $200 open box, I'm going to see how I like that. I'd still like to hear the STF-2 at some point, and if I decide I like that more I'm 90% sure I can get my money back on craigslist or ebay.

From my short listening period the P205 sounds decent. It's much tighter and hits harder than the KLH I had, but it kind of seems like something is missing. Still, I'll let myself warm up to it a bit before I make any final decisions. It's a very small sealed design (I'm not even sure how it hits the volume it does) with a 10" front firing driver and a 200 watt BASH, extension supposedly hits 25, so it's pretty comparable in spec to the STF-2 (design is a lot different though).

dakster, do you think if/when I come to demo, I could bring the P205 for a direct A/B comparison? I'm sure that would make it a lot easier for me to choose.

[dakster]

By all means, bring it by if you come down. I'd like to hear it as well, since I have a buddy asking advice on what to get for his system, the more the merrier. I should be ordering the stf-2 this week.

[dakster]

Well, I missed the B-stock STF-2 this morning, but Pete was able to set me up with a B-stock VTF-1 (man those b-stocks go fast!) that should be shipping out sometime today. If you're interested in hearing that one, I'll let ya know when I get it setup.

[dakster]

Got the VTF-1 today, and my new receiver. Sounds damn good. Still much tweaking to do I'm sure. I've never had a good subwoofer before, I was surprised how light it is. I was expecting to be blown away, but it sounds like a normal speaker, just the low notes. No doubt I could crank it up if I wanted, but I'm pretty happy with this as a starting point.

So yeah, let me know if your in town sometime and want to check it out.

[freddie]

Sounds great, looking forward to hearing it at some point. I'll definetely let you know when I'm planning on being out there. Should be fun A/Bing both subs.

Which receiver did you get? I saw Onkyo mentioned in your thread...did you end up picking one of those up? If so, how do you like it? I've always been curious about an Onkyo and B&W combination.

[dakster]

I picked up a TX-SR606 off ebay for $335, a good deal. Hard to find used ones since they're pretty new. Sounds amazing to me with the B&W's, but I was coming from a real piece of junk receiver. I did a lot of research, and lots of people saying B&W's really need a good receiver, or separates amp/processor to run well. Just wasn't in my budget, even considering used amps/processors they were too much.

I couldn't be happier with the onkyo so far. I have separate crossover settings for all the speakers, plus the LFE channel on the onkyo. My last receiver was hardwired at 150Hz crossover across the board. My DM302's sound a million times better now (have the crossover set at 80Hz on those), plus that VTF-1 sounds fantastic.

Still wanna move those DM302's to the surrounds and get some DM602's up front, but the lil woman has scoffed at having suck large speakers (the 302's) behind our couch since it's a high traffic area. Just doesn't seem right that I only spent $100 on my front channel speakers ;-) But, for small bookshelves, they sound great.

I'll save that upgrade for the next house when we have a proper entertainment room setup.