Need help with subwoofer selection.

[hellotheworld]

I did some homework and have some choices in my mind. My budget is about 300$ and maximum is 350$ and mainly for home theater, but sometimes music.
My system: polk R50 fronts, polk CSi30 center, polk R30 surrounds, onkyo TX-SR501 receiver.
My room size is shown in the picture here:
http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/showc...=147_12_big.jpg (http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/showcase/closeup.php?userid=56119&pic=147_12_big.jpg)
The listening room is not very big but it opens to a big space.

I live in an apartment and can not play the sound very loud. I will lose my deposite if other residents complain about thathttp://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/images/smilies/frown.gif But I want as deep bass as possible for the sub and do not want boom. My fronts can not hit too low.

I listed the subwoofers below with this budget. Those are all 12' (except hsu)and can hit down to 25Hz at -3dB.
HSU STF-2 ~350$
Velodyne CHT12 ~270
JBL E250P(27 at -3dB) or PB12 ~280$
Infinity PS12 ~270$ off eBay

Anyother choice? Klipsch has some 12' subs but the prices are higher even on eBay. Do not know why. It makes great subs?

Basically JBL and Infinity are not good at subs as what I read. But they are cheap compared to others and not too bad. I hesitate between Hsu and Velo. Hsu is a great one but the price is alomost 80$ higher than Velo, worth it? Velo has a good reputation of subs and CHT12 looks huge. But I do not have a change to listen to them to compare. So I ask you guys' opinions about the subwoofer selection on such a budget. Especially for the velodyne CHT12, the price is really tempting.

Thanks a lot!

[tdekany]

STF2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Outstanding sub, even if it was selling for $600!

[Sasha_G]

You can see some of the measurements for these subwoofer brands at:

http://www.subwooferinfo.com

The STF-2 has about 107 dB of output, like the VTF-2 in max extension mode. There is not the typical "compression" or "dynamic distortion" compared to most other brands. Even though they claim 25 Hz, when you turn up the volume the sub can't maintain its rating.

Looking at that link, you will also see Tom Nousaines output measurements, including his measurement for a Velodyne CHT-15.

[Dudley]

I measured the JBL and Infinity in a store, and they are nowhere near their rated -3 dB points. I don't have the numbers in front of me, but I recall that they started dropping just above 40 Hz, and did not have much left below 35 Hz. They also did not introduce me to sound that my mains couldn't already play. The STF-2 that I bought was in a different league, and played sounds that I did not even realize were there.

The HSU may be a little more expensive, but as the saying goes. "Buy the best, and you only cry once"

[Matt_Smi]

In the post I linked to below, the thread starter bought a Velodyne CHT-12 at Circuit City and then returned it and bought an HSU STF-2, and was much happier with the performance of the HSU.



http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=387532&perpage=20&highlight=HSU&pagenumber=3

[hellotheworld]

Thank you guys very much!
It seems that I need to save some more money to get the HSU...

Do you think hsu is power enough for my room? Is there any problem to match my system? Will it be too much for my fronts?
Thanks.

[tdekany]

you will be just fine.

[Matt_Smi]

My room is 19x11, but near the very back it tapers off to about 7 feet wide, it’s somewhat hard to explain but see my room diagram below to get an idea. Anyway the STF-2 does just fine in my room and I feel it provides plenty of bass for it, I don’t need to run it the level on the sub very high either, between 10:30 and 11 o clock is seems perfect for movies. Your room is somewhat similar in size to mine, and you seem to have some openings, but I think the STF-2 should be fine. And dont worry about it matching your fronts, HSU states that their subs will intergrate fine with any front speakers.


Link to room diagram
http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/7/web/439000-439999/439698_16.jpg

[hellotheworld]

Thank you guys so much!

I had another question. Is there a test CD included in the STF-2 package? I did not fond the SFT-2 manual, but I read the VTF-2 manual and it has a test CD.

[Ddavidson]

No the STF series doesn't come with the test CD. It only comes with the VTF series. But if you ask Hsu I am pretty sure that Sasha mentioned they will .... for postage costs send you a copy of the disc.

The test tone sections of the disk you can download and burn to CD-Rom right here:

http://www.hsuresearch.com/mp3


Ddavidson

[hellotheworld]

Thanks a lot.
I am downloading those...