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Subwoofers: Inexpensive Hsu vs REL

Does anyone feel the incremental dollars for a REL subwoofer versus an Hsu TN1220HO are well spent? I know the Hsu TN1220HO goes to 20Hz and is down only a little at 16, so it is not the depth. I would 'crossover' Merlin VSM-Milleniums at 40 or 50 Hz, so it is not a wide bandwidth involved. You don't need incredible detail below 50 Hz, so I imagine you have to work real hard to hear differences between subwoofers presuming they both roll off steep. The Hsu rolls off at -24db per octave, so you are not going to hear much above 50Hz, therefore it should not give its position away (e.g. 'directionality'). The Hsu fires toward the ceiling, not the floor, so you are not exciting the floor too much. You can get two (2) Hsu's for $1,500 - you can't come close to that with REL. Am I missing something? Has anyone heard both?
gererick

Showing 1 response by bishopwill

bishopwill
369 posts
 
Hsu subs are extremely responsive but, in my experience, can get a bit boomy and thus may be better for HT than audio. RELs, unless you go to the big ones, are a little dynamically shy for HT. If you are watching Das Boot and listening to a REL, when the rivets blow out you're impressed. If you are listening to a Hsu (or either of the brands listed below), when the rivets blow out you jump out of your chair and duck on the floor. That being said, REL subs are extremely musical and famous for mating easily with the mains.

For dual use at not too much cost, you might want to consider the Paradigm Servo 15, as suggested earlier, or the VMPS subs.

will
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