Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Subwoofer Advice

I'm looking for a subwoofer to go with my M60 v3 towers. I'm thinking about the EP350, the Hsu VTF-1 or Hsu VTF-2 Mk-3.

I listen to about 95% classical and the sub is to bring out the bottom end, especially for pipe organ music.

Any suggestions or comments on the advantages of one sub over the others? I know the price and specs on paper, but am interested in hearing from anyone who's heard any of these subs in action, especially for pipe organ music.

Thanks.

Another $600 sub to look at.

I was listening to Holst: The Planets on my M80s and EP350 the other day, and it quite shook the house in a pleasing sort of manner. But I haven't heard the other subs mentioned.

That's the feeling I'm after . . .

Of course, I was also running it just a TAD hot... and most CDs don't have that much bass.

I'm pretty sure I know what my next subwoofer is going to be. The Epik Empire




Status: Ships Immediately MSRP $1499
Regular Price $999
Introductory price $799
Single Empire

MSRP $2998
Regular Price $1998
Introductory price $1499
Dual Empires

MSRP $5996
Regular Price $3996
Introductory price $2799
Quad Empires

•Reference dual 15 inch high output subwoofer
•Exclusive 600W RMS amplifier
•Parallel Drive Technology ™
•Sealed cabinet design for improved sound quality & subsonics
•Opposed side-firing drivers cancel out cabinet vibration
•Stackable for multiple sub setups
•Outstanding midbass performance
•Massive 1 inch thick cabinet
•Dual 1 inch thick grills with acoustically transparent fabric
•Compact CAD designed enclosure
•Precision CNC machined
•Full 1 inch radius corners throughout
•High quality black laminate finish
•RCA and XLR inputs
•1500W short-term RMS
•Frequency response : 20-300 Hz +/-3.5 dB anechoic
•True 15 Hz or lower in-room extension
•Weight: 140 pounds shipped
•Size: 22 H x 18 W x 24 D (16W w/o grills)
•Designed & assembled in our USA factory

The EP350 will do very well with classical music. If you want the ultimate in low rumble for movies, you would want a sub that goes lower.

Nice sub! You sure could fit a lot of mansions into that thing.

Does your classical music listening have a lot of pipe organ? Neither of the subs you mentioned in your OP will give you true 20hz and below output. Each will roll-off much earlier and will be helped by any room gain.

If you really want low distortion, high output pipe organ you will have to spend a bit more money especially if you have a large room to fill.

If you choose not to go the Axiom route and preferred the HSU models, I would suggest you look at the "Outlaw" LFM-1 Plus or EX, they are essentially re-badged HSU models slightly modified for less money. Along with the fact that they are both "down-firing" subs, Outlaw chose to change the porting to the bottom of the cabinet beside the speaker whereas HSU has the ports on the rear.

If you look at the specs of the HSU VTF-2 Mk3 and the Outlaw LFM-1 EX, they are virtually identical. With its gloss top the Outlaw, aesthetically, actually looks a bit better too for about $60-70 less and even more so if they have one available in B-Stock.

ED are excellent subs, however, in recent times since they have been caught up in the financial meltdown and can only build most items on a "special order" basis, as a result, they have been plagued with delivery date reliability.