VTF-15H or VTF2-MK3 + MBM-12?

[jrittz]

I've been looking at an upgrade and don't know which would be the best option.

I currently have a VTF2-MK3 (Which seems to be more than adequate for my space) and was curious if it would be better to add an MBM-12 to it or just sell the VTF2 and go with a VTF-15H?

Thoughts?

[jrittz]

Anybody? Someone has to know the answer to this? Please...? :)

[shadyJ]

Just sell your VTF2 and get a VTF-15H. From measurements, it looks to have harder midbass than you could ever get from a MBM, and will certainly will have more deep bass output than a VTF2. It is the best of both worlds.

[jrittz]

That's exactly what I was looking for in an answer. Now to talk the wife into letting me sell the 2-Month-Old VTF2-MK3 so I can order the VTF-15H. :)

Thank you very much shadyJ, I appreciate your time to answer my question.

[Canadianboy]

If you are going to sell your VTF 2-MK 3 let me know how much for. I might be interested.

[jrittz]

I'm pretty sure I'm going to sell it, it's just a matter of time.

I'm in Portage, MI (49002) and shipping was not something I had considered due to the cost. I have a few local interests and the sale price will be approx. $500.

I have a fairly large write-up I did and posted it in the for sale section but nobody has been around from Hsu Research to approve of the posting... I'd get do it all over again but it's just like writing a paper for school... It's always the best the first time you write it and if you have to try and recreate it again, it's never as good and never the same. :)

Anyways, just a couple details.

Purchased from Hsu directly.
First setup/use was on Nov. 19th.
Original Cost was $600 delivered.
Never listen to anything over reference.
99.99% HT
Approx. ~70 hours use (40 Blu-Ray Movies) After thinking about it, the original estimate was ~35 hours (20 movies) but I realized I've watched about double that in the last two months.
Original Box/Packing/Manuals/Test CD
Invoice which entitles the owner to the fully transferrable 2-year electronic (amp) and 7-year woofer warranty
As-new condition and never abused or pushed.
Gain has been set to 8:30-9:00 since first use, anything more is too much for my setup
Used with Denon AVR-3311 CI and calibrated with Audyssey MultEQ XT
Most common use was Blu-Ray movies at -20 to -15 volume
Current set up in the AVR for -3/4db level
Non-smoking home
Adult owned (37, me)
As you can blatenly see, looking to sell because I want to upgrade, nothing more, nothing less.
Sounds beautiful and there is certainly a wow factor with this sub.


If there are questions, feel free to PM or ask away.

[Pete_Hsu]

I just approved the post jrittz, so sorry for the delay, I've been catching up on sleep this weekend after averaging 4-5 hours of sleep all of last week :o

Sincerely,

[cacihome]

Yep. Just sell it and go with the VTf-15 as shadyj said.

[jrittz]

I ended up buying the 15H and the wife said I could keep the VTF2 as well...best of both worlds. :)

[lradden]

N,o no jrittz you mis-understood her. She said you could keep the VTF2 and send the 15H to me. You just weren't listening.:D

[jrittz]

:D

On a more serious note though...I've been spending countless hours trying to set up the subs without any luck.

I have had no luck what-so-ever with setting them up together.

The 15H sounded best alone behind me and to the right a little.
The VTF2 sounded best from the front left corner.

I've done the subwoofer crawl, first with the 15H. I placed it where I got the best results. I then took the VTF2 and placed it in the 2nd best spot. I ran some graphs with REW and came up with the best curve I could after adjusting Q, Port configurations, EQ, and phase. I also did the same with the VTF2. I literally tried probably 50+ different combinations and tweaks between the two of them.

I calibrated them one last time with Audyssey MultEQ XT with perfect precision (what I think is at least). Both subs came out at -0.5db in the AVR set by Audyssey.

I then ran the full 8 position calibration and saved it. I popped in The Hulk and jumped to my favorite scene with the sound canons on the university campus and to my disappointment, even though it sounded good, I had zero thump or pound.

I give up and I'm about to jump back to one sub because either a) I'm doing it all wrong or b) my room just completely sucks for HT and 2 subs.

I'm certainly up for any feedback and help I can get because right now I'm just lost.

I have attached the room layout and my REW generated curve for the two subs. VTF2 is on the blue square, 15H is on box #1 and on a platform about 10" off the ground.

Regards,
Jaime

[jrittz]

I dunno, I just watch Takers and that seemed to be well rounded. Maybe I have a null or I'm not used to a more even response curve...

I'm not convinced either way yet. I'll have to watch some more movies and decide later.

I would still welcome any feedback regarding my previous post because I still may be way off on my attempts to position and calibrate.

[Enthused]

Flip the phase switch on one of the subs.

[Pete_Hsu]

Hi Jaime,

May I ask exactly what settings you have on the back of the VTF-2 MK3 and VTF-15H amplifier switches and knobs?

Thanks

Sincerely,

[jrittz]

15H: Q=.7, EQ=1, 1-Port Open
VTF2: 1-Port Open and EQ Set Accordingly...

I jumped to conclusions in my previous post. In the Onkyo TX-NR708 Audyssey levels problem thread, I basically retracted what I said above. I was frustrated but I guess a flatter bass response needed some getting used to and now, I feel it sounds damn good. I have a feeling that when the 15H breaks in, it will sound even better...

For now, lets just call it a win as I have accepted what it sounded like and watched a couple other movies in the mean time and my conclusion has changed for the better.

I hope I didn't stir the pot too much with my previous post.

I can say...each sub individually kicks major ass...and putting them both together is something I'm just not used to...I have never calibrated anything other than using Audyssey and throwing my sub in the corner up front because that's what I thought was supposed to be done.

Now that i've gone through the sub crawl with each sub and REW calibrations (spending countless hours tweaking settings and sub positions)... I'm finally able to believe I've actually done more good than harm with my HT. :D

[dnoyeb]

I'm surprised that the 15H doesn't just drown out the 2 making it a waste. I never had much luck calibrating lower power speakers with higher ones on the same channel. Do you even notice when the 2 is off? Do you notice worth $500?

[jrittz]

Good question...I never tried to see what the difference is.