How To Repair Hsu Vtf-2 V2

1 of the offset "serious" subwoofers I ever owned was fabricated by Hsu. The audio of that quondam sub led me to become something a bass snob.

It besides marked the offset of my ongoing habit to clean, deep bass. In one case I had a gustatory modality of that deep, low-distortion bass, I would never once more settle for some wimpy subwoofer. No fashion.

Now, many years later, Hsu is continuing to produce excellent subwoofers at ridiculously low prices. Hsu's subs are actually meliorate than ever thanks to the benefit of feel and advancements in engineering. Meanwhile the cost points are nigh the aforementioned as e'er. The VTF-3 MK5 HP Powered Subwoofer reviewed here costs only $799 just has a massive fifteen" driver, a 600 watt amplifier and variable tuning. The VTF-3 MK5 HP Powered Subwoofer rivals the subjective operation of subwoofers costing many times its request price. It likewise tested well in our objective demote tests.

Highlights

Hsu Research VTF-three MK5 HP Powered Subwoofer

• Flexible set up and tuning options
• Big cabinet
• Dual ports
• Blended well with mains
• Splendid bass extension

Introduction

Hsu Research has released a few new subwoofer models in the last year. The VTF-three MK5 HP is one of these. It is the next progression in a line of subwoofers with a flexible tuning capability whereby the user tin can use it ported, sealed or partly ported. The user can also dial in the organisation's Q (a measure of the caste of cone damping) besides as being able to choose unlike EQ curves.

HSU Research SUBWOOFER REVIEW SPECIFICATIONS

Blueprint:

Ported Subwoofer with Dual Front-Firing Ports

Commuter:

15" Fiberglas-Reinforced with Cast Frame

MFR:

18 Hz – 200 Hz, ± 2 dB

Internal Amplifier:

600 Watts Continuous, two,000 Watts Short Term

Inputs:

Line Level (2), Speaker (2)

Dimensions:

24″ H ten 17.25″ Due west x 21.five" D

Weight: 85 Pounds

Available Finishes:

Satin Black

SECRETS Tags:

HSU Research, Subwoofer, Powered Sub

What this ways is that the user has an unprecedented degree of control over the output characteristics. This capability can exist exploited to starting time room-induced response anomalies too as to let the user punch in the sound for their own personal tastes.

The commuter is a big, bad xv" long-throw transducer of Dr. Hsu's own design and information technology is the same commuter used in Hsu's elevation of the line subs. The subwoofer is driven by a born 600 watt plate amp. The whole package is bachelor factory direct at the unheard of toll of just $799.

Design and Setup

The Hsu Research VTF-three MK5 HP subwoofer is built effectually a very thoughtfully designed fifteen" main commuter. It is the verbal same driver found in Hsu'southward top line subwoofers. Information technology features a fiberglass-reinforced cone and a bandage metal frame. It is a loftier excursion blueprint with multiple shorting rings to reduce flux modulation distortion. Hsu also claims low baloney due to a symmetric magnetic field.

In the case of the VTF-3 MK5 HP, this main commuter is mounted forward-firing in a ported chiffonier with dual, asymmetric ports at the lesser of the cabinet. The dual ports are where the model'due south "VTF" designation originates. This stands for "Variable Tuning Frequency" and indicates that the cabinet tin can exist "tuned" by opening or plugging one or both ports.

Amidst other controls, the plate amp has a toggle called "Operating Mode" that switches the amp's equalization manner betwixt either "EQ1" or "EQ2". This switch works in concert with the ii included port plugs to let five different tuning configurations recommended past Hsu. The below narrative was taken from the owner's manual –

1. Ported Max Output Mode: 2 ports open, and operating mode switch set to 'EQ2'. This way is ideal for those with medium-to-big room sizes who listen at high playback levels and desire the strongest mid-bass possible…
2. Ported Max Extension Way: four˝ port open, and operating mode switch set up to 'EQ1'. This mode is platonic for those with medium-to-big room sizes, or modest to medium rooms but who listen at depression-to-moderate playback levels where the rising low bass from room gain will assistance recoup for the ear'southward insensitivity to bass at lower levels.
3. Ported Max Headroom Manner: iv˝ port open, and operating mode switch set to 'EQ2'. This mode is platonic for those with medium-to-big room sizes who listen at high playback levels and desire the deepest bass extension.
4. Sealed Max Extension Mode: 0 ports open up, and operating style switch set up to 'EQ1'. This mode is platonic for those who prefer a sealed box sound and deepest bass extension.
5. Sealed Max Headroom Mode: 0 ports open up, and operating manner switch fix to 'EQ2'. This style is ideal for those who want the sealed box sound and listen at high playback levels.

Information technology appears that EQ1 yields the most extension possible while setting the switch to EQ2 limits the extension which would provide more than output in the mid bass region.

This is an incredible caste of flexibility which is farther augmented by the plate amp's variable Q Command. This Q Control is by mode of a punch on the amp that allows the user to continuously select a "Q" of anywhere from 0.iii to 0.7.

A speaker organization's Q is a measure of the degree the commuter is damped with a loftier Q being nether damped and a depression Q existence over damped. This parameter is typically controlled past the speaker designer through their selection of the driver, cabinet and porting. I am not 100% certain how this is done electronically other than to speculate that it is also via a form of electronic equalization. Notwithstanding, this is simply one more than user command that Hsu makes available to dial in an ideal response for your room and set up.

I tried Q settings of 0.5 and 0.vii during the review catamenia and more often than not preferred 0.5 over 0.7 though the differences were very subtle.

The big chiffonier of the VTF-3 MK5 HP is only available in black satin and though it was large, the flat blackness finish fabricated the box appear much smaller than I had expected. When it comes to bass reproduction there is no substitute for large drivers, big cabinets and powerful amps. The amp in the VTF-3 MK5 HP is rated at 600 watts continuous so I recall Dr. Hsu has all the bases covered!

The sub came completely assembled and this included some rugged rubber feet. I would typically use spikes on my carpeted floor, but the Hsu performed excellently with the stock feet.

Since all was assembled and gear up to go, gear up up was a breeze. I placed the sub in the front left corner of my infinite, connected the line level interconnect from my pre-pro's subwoofer out and then plugged in the included IEC power string and I was ready to dial it in.

For most of my listening, I had the VTF-3 MK5 HP set with the iv" port open, EQ gear up to "EQ1" and the Q control on 0.5. The Phase was set to 0 and I used the bass direction in my pre-pro so the sub'due south low-pass filter was set to "Out".

In Use

The Hsu Inquiry VTF-3 MK5 HP proved to be a very worthy subwoofer throughout the review period. Information technology was capable of producing thundering bass with excellent extension and low distortion, hands filling my big room with oodles of cinematic goodness. While the VTF-3 MK5 HP was less accomplished on music, I was withal impressed with the sub's counterbalanced sound particularly when you consider the unit's very fair if not amazingly depression price.

In deference to current fashion, my listening impressions volition be explained through a series of alliterative expressions around the letter "B". (It seems similar everybody's into ingemination these days, whether it is Taco Tuesday or March Madness.)

The Babadook

On the Blu-ray of Babadook, the Hsu sub displayed its excellent Balance. Babadook is a very entertaining horror film that was shot in Commonwealth of australia. Consistent with almost horror films, the deep bass helps set a fearful tone and then supports the fearfulness scenes with depression bass furnishings.

In many cases, the bass in horror films can be overtly strong and even in-your-confront. On Babadook and with the Hsu VTF-3 MK5 HP in my arrangement, the bass was in near perfect residuum with all the other sounds – voices, effects, music, etc. This was a very satisfying screening of a bang-up film.

Birdman

Adjacent I watched Birdman and was amazed by the sub's ability to Alloy with the remainder of the sound band. This movie has several narrative voiceovers by the Birdman character. If your sub doesn't blend well and then you might get a chesty or thin vocal. Not then with the Hsu. It offered only the right amount of weight to the voice without crossing the line into the chesty category. The Hsu sub also shined with its rendering of the environmental sounds on this disc.

The Black Keys "El Camino"

For a little music, I tried the Black Keys "El Camino" CD and the Hsu VTF-3 MK5 HP helped me find the Bottom of the musical scale. This is a bass-heavy disc and the Hsu sub was correct in its comfort zone. The boot drum in particular stood out with its bully impact and slam. Merely really all the depression bass had excellent pitch definition. Unfortunately, it did lag the action by a very slight amount. Despite that I could happily live with this sub.

Ted

I am not sure why it took me so long to watch the Blu-ray of "Ted", this curiosity of modern filmmaking . . . it is high art indeed! But I tin scratch it off my saucepan listing now. What I liked most about Ted (sound-wise, that is) would be the lounge-type music. With the VTF-three MK5 HP subwoofer in play, the soundtrack bounced and bubbled with a vivid energy.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

I too want to mention that the Hsu Research VTF-3 MK5 HP was the subwoofer I was using during portions of my review of the Salk Exotica three flooring standing speakers. In that review, I specifically remember writing that viewing "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" was the all-time my organisation had ever sounded.

Role of this assessment was due to the Exotica iii's just I honestly feel that the lion's share of the credit goes to the Hsu sub. This was for all the reasons mentioned above – balance, blend, bottom, etc. but more than all that information technology was just that the Hsu sub just laid down a deep and tight foundation for all the other sounds on the disc. Bravo!

On the Demote

All below measurements are in-room response. The frequency response tests were performed with the microphone on axis with the chief driver and spaced i meter from the dust cap. The distortion measurements were on-axis near field measurements with the microphone tip precisely 1′ from the driver or the open port, depending on the frequency under test. (The port was used for the everyman frequencies.)

The to a higher place plot is the frequency response. The VTF-3 MK5 HP was exceptionally apartment from 18 Hz to 180 Hz tracking at +/- v dB across this range.

I got approximately 0.22% THD+Northward at 100 Hz and 120 dB. This is very low distortion for a subwoofer and rivals the type of performance one would get with a pair of headphones.

The distortion actually dropped in the higher up plot taken at 40 Hz and 120 dB, clocking in at but 0.17%.

I tested the limits of the subwoofer at 32 Hz. It is generally understood that x% THD+N is the threshold of audibility for distortion in the bass. In the case of the VTF-3 MK5 HP the speaker hit 126.v dB while remaining nether x% THD+North. This was probably louder than I would always mind to normal fabric and any tests taken higher up this acoustic level caused the distortion to spike above the 10% limit

At the low end of the audible range, I was able to become four% THD+N at 24 Hz and 105 dB. This once again was a skillful test but equally usual, the baloney rose quickly as I increased the volume from here.

All in all, this is an excellent suite of bench test results particularly when you lot consider the very reasonable price point asked for the VTF-iii MK5 HP.

Conclusions

THE HSU RESEARCH VTF-three MK5 HP Powered Subwoofer has Splendid Deep Bass Extension.

Likes

• Flexible tuning options
• Excellent deep bass extension
• Low distortion
• Biggy output

Would Similar To See

• More finish options
• Included floor spikes
• More refined audio quality

Allow's get real for a minute. Loftier quality bass tin be expensive. Really expensive, particularly from the perspective of the everyday Joes out there like me. That's why Hsu Research has forever amazed me. They consistently produce some of the best sounding subwoofers on the planet and get them into consumers' hands at a fraction of what it costs to own a competing sub. And the Hsu products do compete performance-wise with some of the expensive subs I'chiliad thinking near.

Certainly Hsu's subs don't have quite the finesse and subtlety in the bass that can be had from the $v,000+ products that are out in that location. But that would be much likewise alpine an guild for a subwoofer y'all can have for less than $800.

What do you get for $799 then? Y'all become low-baloney deep bass that nearly rivals the performance qualities of just most whatsoever groovy subwoofer on the market. You get an farthermost amount of flexibility to set up and tune the response to your room and your tastes. This sub can shake your room besides every bit whatsoever other xv" sub out there and it sounds really practiced in doing that. And don't forget that the VTF-three MK5 HP is a very flexible unit – yous can punch in the response for just about whatsoever organisation and information technology tin be re-adjusted if you move rooms or add new components to the mix.

The Hsu VTF-iii MK5 HP sub is recommended for any abode cinema enthusiast who has a real-world budget and even those who could spend more but don't need to considering the Hsu gives them everything they want. These are well worth an audition and there is no adventure as the subs are offered with a 30-24-hour interval satisfaction guarantee.

Source: https://hometheaterhifi.com/reviews/speaker/subwoofers/hsu-research-vtf-3-mk5-hp-powered-subwoofer-review/

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