What is Hsu's and BIC's relationship?

[Newbie 13]

I noticed that CompUSA's sticker on the STF-2 identified BIC as the distributor source. Is there a production relationship or just distribution?

[daMaster]

Yes, this is a very valid question and I'd like to have a response about this as well. Seems like the HSU STF-2 is very similar, if not equivalent, to the BIC v1020 (http://www.sounddistributors.com/buynow.asp?action=detail&prid=950&crid=165&cat_name=BIC+America+Speakers) which sells for less than half the price of the STF-2, only $165!

[Dudley]

There is no comparison. The internals are different.

[diad98]

So similar even the warranty is the same

[Stats]

You might as well go to the source:

http://www.bicamerica.com/subs_specs.htm

... where, although similar, the specs definitely do not match. But then move over to:

http://www.bicamerica.com/dv660%20dv680.htm

Why, they look like the VT-12s! But you think, "that's OK, the sub there is only 100W - I can get the STF-2 and VT-12s for less here".

But if you shop around, that 100W sub can be thrown in almost for free:

http://www.electronicaccessory.com/mall/v680.asp

I don't know if that's a real price, or if it's available. And, I'm not the first to note the VT-12/BIC/Gateway relationship. So, why am I here? Research on subs - but the $199 Ventriloquist price did catch my eye. Currently, I'm leaning towards the deal on the VTF-3 MK2.

IMHO: I doubt the BIC subs are equivalent. However, I am leery of a system that uses one speaker to make up for some of the deficiencies of the others (VT-12).

[Newbie 13]

I'm not too sure. link (http://www.bicamerica.com/subs_specs.htm). Obviously cheaper exterior and ports used but ... 250 watt Bash amp, 7yr waranty on the driver, two years on the electronics. Read the specs at the bottom of this link (http://www.sounddistributors.com/buynow.asp?action=detail&prid=942&crid=165&cat_name=BIC+America+Speakers) sure looks like the VTF-3 to me at half the price.

[jwygal]

Originally posted by Stats
However, I am leery of a system that uses one speaker to make up for some of the deficiencies of the others (VT-12).

Fair enough. But this seems better than a system that does NOTHING to make up for the deficiencies of the others, which is the case for every other micro satellite system. If you are restricted to this type of system, as I was, the VT-12 is a great option.

[daMaster]

I don't want to be jumping to any conclusions, but I truly hope that the BIC subwoofer link I posted above is not equivalent to my STF-2, for less than half the price.

I'd really like to hear the input of Dr. Hsu or another HSU Research staff member on this topic.

[Dudley]

The 12" BIC sub is the same size as the STF-2 and the 10" BIC is much smaller. I asked BIC about the difference, and they said that the HSU subs were better than theirs (specifically that the stf-2 is deeper and louder than the 12" BIC). They manufacture them for HSU to a different standard than their own subs.

[Sasha_G]

The STF subwoofers are comparable to the VTF line, NOT the BIC line. All of them look like black boxes on the outside, but the insides are different, and that's what counts.

The STF and VTF lines share the 6th order vented design, low Q driver, and the latest & most powerful American designed BASH amps with all the "secret" things we do to the circuitry. The BIC subs don't have any of these features.

Our relationship with BIC is that we share resources for distribution channels. Some people in BIC have been in the audio business longer than I've been alive, and have incredible contacts, creativity, and talent.

Make no mistake, HSU Research is an engineering oriented company. We engineer our products for high performance. The proof is in the pudding.

[Newbie 13]

Originally posted by Sasha_G

The STF and VTF lines share the 6th order vented design, low Q driver, and the latest & most powerful American designed BASH amps with all the "secret" things we do to the circuitry. The BIC subs don't have any of these features.


How are the BASH amps in Hsu subs different from the BASH amps that BIC uses?

[cschang]

Originally posted by Newbie 13
How are the BASH amps in Hsu subs different from the BASH amps that BIC uses?

Well...he said it was a secret. But is no secret that Hsu has purpose designed EQing features in their amps specific to the chosen drivers/sub design.

[Dudley]

EQing makes a big difference. I have tested many subs with my SPL meter, and most of the cheaper ones are all over the place. They can have huge peaks in the 50-60 Hz range then gradually drop from there. This means they may be 20 Db down by 30 hz or so. Even though it may be able to play the deep bass loudly, it is always overwhelmed by the upper bass. EQing fixes this problem.

[Lwang]

It is not just EQing, since if that is the case, any cheap $99 subwoofer could be EQ'd to be flat to 1hz. It is the fact that the overdamped alignment (low-Q) is complemented by a amp that brings the sub back to critically damped alignment. Meaning you start with a tight bass sub, and normalize it electronically. There are advantages to the design. One would only think whether it is possible to EQ a boomy/loose & tubby woofer back to being a tight one.