Is the HSU STF-1 ($299) a better sub than the 10 inch Athena/velodyne listed for around $350 at Best buy and Circuit city?
I definately can not afford the $400 STF-2 so I was wondering if the smaller STF-1 is still better than the 10 inch stuff you get in the stores like BB and CC.
I have an H/K paired with AThena AS-B2s and smaller Athenas in the back. This is in a small livingroom. Do I really need the stf-2? I would really prefer to spend much less if possible and go for an stf-1 if it is comparable to the 10 inch subs in stores. I have enough money in gift cards to bring down an AThena sp4000 sub. If the HSU stf-1 is better I would go that route and maybe use my cards towards an upgrade in wires, etc..
The Hsu subs would probably make the biggest difference during music listening as compared to the Athena sub, during HT the STF-2 will probably go deeper, cleaner and louder too.
Personally if you are prepared to spend $299 on the STF-1 (that's $299 before shipping?) I think you might as well fork over the extra $50 for the STF-2 for the extra 7Hz of extension and greater headroom. Ditto with the Athena sub...the BB website lists the "sale" price as $284 so with tax that's probably about $300.
You can always turn DOWN the STF-2's volume if it's too loud, but you can only turn up a too-weak sub so far. Also keep in mind that along with the extra headroom of the STF-2 you are getting a 200watt amp as opposed to the Athena's 100watts, and the STF-2 weighs 44lbs compared to the latter's 25lbs which reflects not only the beefier amp but probably a better driver with a bigger magnet.
To be honest I have never heard the Athena sub, but I find it very hard to believe that a sub that sells for $300 through audioadvisor.com (=2 markups) can come anywhere close to the quality of an Internet-direct (=1 markup) sub that normally sells for $400.
I don't know what to tell you to do with your gift cards though. Upgrading your wires, esp. at BB/CC of all places, is likely to yield miniscule benefits if any.
If I were you I'd use the gift cards for CDs and DVDs, or maybe sell them on eBay or Craig's List at a slight loss, rather than getting stuck with a substandard sub just because you *had* to use them up.