Brand new VTF-2 horribly wrong right out the box :-(

[Matt_Stevens]

I posted this over at AVSforum.com and will be calling HSU today, but I figure why not get maximum coverage for opinions on this.

OK, my setup was a Denon 3805 with Boston VR2's, a VRC center, little JBL rears and a JBL sub with a 150w amp. I did auto EQ on the Denon with this setup and it sounded quite nice.

So I received my HSU VTF-2 today. A sub I have wanted for years. I read the entire manual (small as it is), removed the JBL sub and hooked up the VTF-2 to the Denon in what I thought was the correct manner. I paid very special care to follow the directions.

1. One of the VTF-2's ports was plugged and the switch was for the 25hz setting, just like the manual said.

2. Crossover was on OUT, so that the Denon would control the Crossover frequency, which was set at 80hz.

3. The Volume was set almost to the lowest point and the Denon's master volume was near muted when I first powered everything up.

I pop in the HSU CD included with the sub and that first track makes my sub sound as though it is going to explode. I quickly stop it and then throw in a normal CD. I listened to music for a while and everything sounded fine.

OK, so then I have THE MATRIX in and the volume is pretty low and everything that has deep bass sounds terribly muffled. It just sounds wrong. Very wrong. But simple dialogue seems fine, if a bit thin (lacking mid-range)

I switch to normal TV with dialogue and again, it is OK, if a bit thin, and I go back to the MATRIX and while there seems to be some incredible bass, the muffledness of it is terribly bothersome. Then the scene where the chopper hits the building and explodes causes the sub to get real strange and do what I believe is called "Farting." I instantly thought the sub just blew itself out. It was just horrible sounding and my heart sank.

I tried changing the phase, or the crossover setting. The sub still sounded broken.

I pulled the plug out of the port and set the switch to 32hz, which is supposed to make the sub louder, but with less bass extension. Well, it sounded better, but the chopper explosion was still muffled. Less farting though.

I redid auto EQ with the Denon and it did improve matters, but the farting on low bass sounds is still there and sounds horrible. While my old JBL sub lacks deep bass, it destroys the HSU in regards to clarity and smoothness. And it does not fart out or get muffled. I hooked it back up this morning and my system sounded great again. That should not be.

People, I need help. I am terrified that the sub I waited a month on backorder for is bad right out the box, or that the HSU CD busted it. It sounded wrong as soon as the bass from that first track kicked in. I am praying that I simply have it hooked up wrong or that it needs to be broken in.

Advise, please.

[Dudley]

Unfortunately it sounds like you have an air leak.

The thinness you describe is probably because the auto eq had lowered the upper bass for the JBL because the JBL was strong there. The extreme bass on the test CD was probably because the JBL was weak in the very low bass, and needed boosting. The HSU does not need boosting in those frequencies, and was thus overboosted.

I think most of your sound problems would stem from not redoing the eq. It does sound like things got better once you did that.

If your volume was up extremely loud then this could have damaged your sub, but it seems like this was not the case, so more likely the sub was defective from the start. Unfortunately that does happen.

Call Hsu, and I am sure they will be able to work something out with you. Maybe they can cross ship a new sub, or just send replacements for the defective components - are you comfortable with replacing parts?

[Matt_Stevens]

Hell no! I am not the man to replace parts. :) I actually did the Auto EQ before playing the CD. I re-did it this morning and it sounded slightly different. When i first had the sub playing, my volume was near the mute point. Very very low. And I slowly turned it up.

The packaging was not damaged in any way, so it may just be a problem from the factory. Who knows? All I know is that I am terribly depressed about it because HSU has ZERO of these subs in stock. They are on back order for another month. I am not going to be happy if I have to wait a month for a replacement, if this sub is in fact toast.

[Dudley]

Call HSU - they may be able to work something out with you. They have gloss black in stock right now, maybe they can upgrade you to that for a nominal charge, since you have already waited once for a backorder, or maybe the turnaround is not that long for repairs, and you could have your sub back fairly soon. Let us know how it works out.

I know it seems like a hassle now, but once everything is working fine it will be worth it. I went through the same thing with my reciever. I bought a Sherwood, that gave me fits. I had waited so long for a new reciever, and was not very happy. I just sent it back and got an Onkyo, and that has worked wonderfully. It was a hassle at the time, but everything sounds so good now I don't mind that I went through all that.

[Sasha_G]

Please give us a call and Dr. Hsu can troubleshoot this.

[Sasha_G]

Also, the current VTF-2 MK 2 requires more break in time than the original because the spider is a bit stiffer. We are being told that sometimes a week is needed.

[Ddavidson]

Well good people, it was a combination of things. I went at them one at a time.

1. I set the Denon's sub level to 0 db.
2. I replaced the Cable going from the Denon to the sub.
3. I removed the carpet from the floor in the living room.
4. I tweaked the Denon's settings (and there are a lot of them).

With each step, things improved to the point where it sounds sensational 98% of the time. It very clearly bottoms out during certain sections of FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, which has a cooked bass level. I am not sure how to deal with that. I turned down the Sub's volume level and that did help.

But I think I may be OK.



Matt now that you have it sorted, do not forget to give your new room info (even before carpeted) to Dr Hsu and he will give you some of your best placement options.

http://www.hsuresearch.com/support/index.php?id=36

As a long time owner of the original VTF-2
I must say now that I have listened to it that new VTF-2 Mk2 is one "really" nice sounding subwoofer. Knowing you are mainly a videophile its good to see you still had the patience to wait so long to get one of the best value/performance subs around.

Since I own one (albit mk1) I can easily tell you that you will be more than happy with the results once you position and set it up correctly in your new room. Hsu subs have long deserved their reputation for having such a great balance of SQ and excellent output.



Ddavidson