SUBWOOFER X-OVER QUESTION;
am awaiting delivery of the following system;
outlaw 970/7075 pre-pro/amp
2 magnepan mmg-w
hsu STF-1

question; the mmg-w has a low freq respose of 100 hz; the upper x-over limit of the STF-1 is 90hz, but is bypassable. if i set the front speaker x-over control on the 970 at 100 hz and by-pass the x-over on the STF-1, will the 970 send up to 100 hz to the sub? and will the sub produce up to 100 hz? or will there be an omission between 90-100hz. -it sure looked to me as if the STF and th LFM-2 were the same sound engine with different labels, but the specs don't quite agree; hsu doesn't list an upper frequency response; the LFM says the upper crossover is 90 hz, but the "huge" rear panel view looks like the dial goes up above 100 hz.

The STF-1 will play higher than 90Hz with the crossover bypassed. For some confirmation of this, check out the LFM-2's specifications: frequency response is listed as being 25Hz to 180Hz (as you've noticed, the two subs are cousins and the STF-1 should approach the same upper limit). Setting the 970's front crossover at 100Hz and disabling the crossover in the sub is the best approach.

thanks, gonk. the 970 isn't here yet, but magnepans arrived today and i just couldn't wait. the magettes and the hsu are plugged into my old receiver, from an RCA all in one HT system from radio shack. sit back down. i think the thing has a pretty good class d amp in it. sounds far better than i could have expected, once i set it to two-channel or "jazz". other settings had some pretty weird effects, like a piano behind me. i think the thing didn't know what to do with a 4/5 ohm load. check out my recent entry under speaker wire_$$$?. thanks again, happy trails.

About 2 months ago I got an STF-2 and it does a great job with my 1070. Some of you may recall that, earlier this year, I wondered whether I really needed a sub because my B&W CDM7 mains do a pretty good job with bass. I'm convinced.

I did not have an opportunity to compare subs in my system, so I can't comment on the relative merits of the LFM-2 and the STF-2. I might have needed the LTF-1 compact for my room, which is about 12 X 17 feet. Based on the sizing chart on HSU's web site, the room is on the line between the STF-1 and STF-2. The STF-2 has a little less power in the amp than the LFM-1 but I doubt that it matters in my system. I can shake the room without difficulty if I want to.

But the extra base helps with music, too.

BTW, the HSU site has said the msrp of an STF-2 is $399, but they're selling it for $349 plus $30 for shipping. It's been that way since I started shopping last spring. I assume the "Sale" is really a price reduction.