Taking stock of the Hsu VTF-2 mk5, we might judge it in comparison to its similarly priced competition. At its price point, I don’t know of any other subs that can quite match its overall performance. There are some subs of similar cost that do have more mid bass output, but they do not come close to the VTF-2’s deep bass output or flat frequency response. I cannot think of any other subwoofer in this price bracket that can match its deep bass performance. Move the budget up a couple hundred dollars and you can grab a SVS PC-2000, and you can get more output capability under 30 Hz, but you do lose maximum output capability above 40 Hz. There are some subwoofers that have a smaller size and nicer finish for similar cost, but they do not come close to its performance. Then again, not everyone can handle a subwoofer the size of the VTF-2 mk5, and that is a compromise some people must make.

Another yardstick by which to measure the VTF-2 mk5 is how does it compare to its predecessor, the mk4. According to Hsu’s CEA-2010 measurements for both, the mk5 beats the mk4 by roughly 2 dB in burst output below 40 Hz and by about 3 dB at 40 Hz and above. That is a very substantial margin; effectively a 25% to 50% boost in performance for a subwoofer that costs a bit less. However, one factor in those higher measurements may be partly due to the mk5 having both ports and driver on the same surface, which is different from the mk4’s design. This can be advantageous for this type of testing, but it does not nearly account for the full extent of the gains being seen here, not even close. In comparing the mk5 to the mk4, it should be said that the mk4 did have a finer satin black finish than the mk5’s vinyl black, and the hidden driver and ports gave it a sleeker appearance. On the other hand, the mk5 does look brawnier without the grille, which is perhaps not something everyone can appreciate but is an aesthetic that this reviewer digs.

It is difficult to find something reasonable to complain about with this subwoofer. One thing I mentioned to Hsu Research was that the gain knob is a bit sensitive, as it rises at a logarithmic rate. They agreed, and future models will be seeing a more gradual gain structure, so even that tiny nitpick is now moot. Another area of improvement that it would be nice to see addressed in the VTF-2 mk5 is the bracing. While the paneling is sturdy and there is a piece of bracing midway in the sub on the lower half of the cabinet, I wouldn’t mind seeing something that reinforces the cabinet at the midsections on all the free panels. However, this critique is more for peace of mind than anything sensed during actual listening, since, as noted previously, I didn’t hear anything that I thought might be cabinet resonance, and the cabinet does not feel to be flexing when touching it during playback of loud content. It’s worth mentioning here that the protection filters work very well on the VTF-2 mk5; this is a subwoofer that will not overdrive easily. Unless the user turns the gain knob to maximum level, and blasts some 10 hz test tones at full volume, there is no way to bottom out the sub. In other words, the user would have to deliberately be trying to overdrive the subwoofer in order to accomplish that task. 

To bring this review to a close, anyone looking for a subwoofer in the $600 point ($539 + $60 shipping for continental US) would do very well to consider the Hsu VTF-2 mk5. Its overall performance and feature set is one of the best, if not the best, that can be had at this price. It achieves our Bassaholics “Large” room size recommendation in the ported modes (meaning it is suitable for rooms from 3,000^ft3 to 5,000^ft3), except the sealed mode, which nets the “Medium” room size recommendation (room sizes of 1,500^ft3 to 3,000^ft3). The VTF-2 mk5 is the least expensive sub to capture the “Large” room size recommendation, which is a nice new precedent for those looking for the most bang for their buck (more information can be learned about our Bassaholic Room Size Rating.) The VTF-2 mk5 also carries a feature set that is uncommonly good for subwoofers in this price range as well. Along with the hardware, the buyer also gets Hsu’s well-regarded customer service, a 2-year warranty on the amp (upgradable to a 5-year warranty for an additional fee), a 7-year warranty on the driver, swift shipping, good packing, and a subwoofer with manageable size and weight that isn’t an eyesore and doesn’t need a two-man team to move around. I have to give the Hsu VTF-2 mk5 a strong recommend for what it brings to the table for the cost, and if I were shopping for a subwoofer at its price point, it would very likely be my first choice.