Hsu Research makes great small subs, so the Audiophiliac wanted to try one
of the company's bigger (but not too expensive) subs, and wasn't disappointed.
Hsu Research VTF-3 MK4 subwoofer
(Credit: Hsu)
Just as with speakers, size matters with subwoofers. Pint-size subs can
make bass, and the best mini subs can deliver fairly deep bass, but the volume
capability, bass quality, and definition of baby subs can never match what you
can get out of something like the $449 Hsu Research VTF-1 MK2 sub I reviewed on this
blog last year. That bruiser measures 18x14x17 inches, and has a down-firing
10-inch woofer and a 200-watt amplifier. It's the best under-$500 home theater
and music sub I've heard, but I was curious about Hsu's $699 VTF-3 MK4 monster, to see what it felt
like. Felt is the best way to describe the difference in sound quality, as it's
a much more visceral experience.
This 74-pound brute is bigger, at 22.25x17.75x25.75 inches, and features a
12-inch woofer and a 350-watt power amp. The cabinet feels extra-solid. My
review sample was finished in satin black, but VTF-3 MK4s are also available in
real Rosenut veneer for $799.
Room size should play a major role in determining the optimum subwoofer
size, but how loud you like things is also a factor. That's why Hsu makes 10
different models; the company can help you pick the right one for your needs. A
big sub like the VTF-3 MK4 will be overkill for small, under-500-square-foot
rooms, but if you're lucky enough to have a big listening room, splurging on a big sub makes sense.
Just like the VTF-1 MK2, the VTF-3 MK4 can be fine-tuned to deliver the
type of bass you want. It has two large bass ports on its right side panel that
when you unbox the sub are sealed tight with large rubber plugs. By leaving the
plugs in or out and adjusting the VTF-3 MK4's "EQ" and "Q"
controls, you can get rich, very full bass; or lean, highly defined bass; or
anything in between. I prefer cleanly defined bass, because with music I want
to hear the pitch of the bass note rather than just a bloated bass sound. Point
is, you can dial in exactly the type of bass you want.
The Hsu VTF-3 MK4's rear panel hosts more fine-tuning controls than most
subs have.
(Credit: Hsu)
I played the VTF-3 MK4 first with my KEF
LS50 bookshelf speakers and easily achieved a smooth blend. I was never
aware the bass was coming from the sub; it seemed to come from the speakers.
The speakers sounded like big towers, but since I wasn't using an AV receiver
with bass management the LS50s' ultimate volume capabilities were limited. If
you like to play loud and have small speakers, use an AV receiver to reduce the
bass demands on the speakers. The receiver's bass management will redirect bass
to the subwoofer, lightening the load for the speakers. I didn't feel a need to
push my small speakers superloud, so I didn't use a receiver. My old NAD
3020 stereo integrated amplifier worked quite well with the LS50s and the
VTF-3 MK4.
I next demoed the
sub with a couple of tower speakers, the Tekton
Enzo and Zu
Omen DW (review in the works), and the VTF-3 MK4 added more than just bass
to their sound. The speakers sounded bigger, and sound stage depth improved to
a significant degree. I know that might not make sense -- why would adding more
low-end improve stereo imaging? But it absolutely does.
I had the VTF-3 MK4
's crossover for these stereo tests set very low, 40Hz, and the VTF-3 MK4's
volume level was low enough to not thicken or muddy the towers' bass one bit.
In fact, most of the time I was barely aware the VTF-3 MK4 was doing anything, until
I turned it off. The towers then sounded a lot smaller and rather thin. To
put it another way, pairing a great sub with a set of towers improves the
speakers' overall sound, so they sound like much more expensive speakers. I've
never heard an under-$10,000 tower speaker that can touch the $2,699 Enzo-VTF-3
MK4 combination's bass power and definition. Adding a smaller, but still
incredibly potent Hsu sub, like the VTF-1 MK2 with the Omen DW, would make for
a killer $1,449 pairing.
Very few tower
speakers really deliver the deepest bass frequencies, even when their
specifications claim impressive low-frequency numbers. They're nice in theory,
but the problem is that for the speakers to deliver the deepest bass, they
would need to be placed close to walls and corners, and that inevitably
compromises the speakers' stereo imaging and overall tonal balance. That's why
adding a sub makes so much sense, as you can place the speakers optimally, and
put the sub in the best spot for bass. It's a win-win scenario.
Hsu
Research sells direct on its Web site, with a 30-day return policy.
No comments:
Post a Comment