[Howard Ferstler]

DW wrote:

Hsu?
SVS?
Acoustech?
Klipsch?
Energy?
CV?

Personally, I like the Hsu VTF-2 Mk3.

Read my review of the bigger VTF-3 MK 3 in issue 111
(Jan/Feb, 07) of The Sensible Sound. There is also a good
review by me of the SVS "Ultra" sub in issue 102 (Jan/Feb,
05). I also have other subwoofer reviews in still earlier
issues of the magazine, as well as in The Audiophile Voice.

Under most listening conditions the sound of these two subs
is interchangeable, although the built-in parametric
equalizer (single band, cut only) in the SVS unit can give
it an edge in some situations.

I reviewed the earlier version of the VTF-2 you mentioned in
issue 88 (Nov/Dec, 2001) and found it to be a terrific item.
That same issue also had a review of an early SVS 16-46
system (the first version the company produced) that I
obtained and later on modified to the extent that it goes
deeper and louder down deep than it did in its original
form, as well as deeper and louder down deep than the later
"Ultra" model and even than my Hsu TN1220, which I reviewed
in issue 67 (Jan/Feb, 1998). Not by much, though, and for
all intents and purposes those units are equal to each other
at sane volume levels, with the VTF-2 only falling behind
the others below 25 Hz. Ironically, NHT, a company that
continues to produce excellent satellite speakers, offers a
big sub (or pair of them) with their Evolution sub/sat
package that can play very loud down to 30 Hz, but tapers
off fast below that frequency.

Incidentally, my own reference sub remains the Velodyne
F1800RII I have in my main system for almost ten years. At
reasonably loud levels it sounds pretty much the same as the
ones noted above (with the VTF-2 again falling behind below
25 Hz), and also sounds identical to later Velodyne HGS-15
and HGS-12 models I reviewed for The Audiophile Voice and
The Sensible Sound. An earlier VTF-3 MK2 Hsu model also had
a review by me in The Audiophile Voice, and its only
deficiency was a bit of excessive port noise at really low,
loud frequencies. The MK3 version eliminates that artifact.

I also have an older Velodyne FSR-12 servo unit in my third
AV system that can match the F1800RII at levels that are not
too loud. (Both Velodyne models were reviewed by me in The
Sensible sound in issue 67, Jan/Feb, 1998.) I have a review
of the new, small SVS SB12-Ultra sub in the editorial
pipeline. It is on par with the older VTF-2 I reviewed,
although it is both smaller and more expensive.

Good subs all tend to sound the same, at least up to their
maximum levels, and down to the frequency point where they
begin to roll off. The top-tier Velodyne, Hsu, and SVS units
are all pretty much acoustically interchangeable, in spite
of the measurable distortion edge exhibited by the servo
Velodynes. Oh, yes, one other sub I reviewed in The Sensible
Sound (issue 71, Sept/Oct, 1998) was the Paradigm Servo 15.
Just about as good as the F1800RII note for note right into
the cellar.

In terms of bang for buck low bass, few subs can surpass
what Hsu and SVS offer. I have reviewed a number of subs
from companies that mainly offer good satellite speakers,
with subwoofers possibly only there as afterthoughts, and in
many cases those subs are really not much more than outboard
woofers. OK, and often potent down to 30-40 Hz, but not
really subwoofers.

Howard Ferstler