Short answer: the HSU Research VTF-3 MK5 HP. It ranks #52 of 110 subwoofers by sound quality at $1049; the Arendal 1723 Subwoofer 1V ranks #89 and costs $2050, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
What the HSU Research VTF-3 MK5 HP offers: Ported cabinet delivers 121.4dB CEA-2010-A average, one of the best price-to-output ratios in this weight class. Watch for: Ported design requires careful room placement, mid-size 39 kg cabinet, and mid-range output.
What the Arendal 1723 Subwoofer 1V offers: Independent CEA-2010 testing records 106.9 dB at 20 Hz and 116.5 dB through 40-80 Hz. The ported, rear enclosure with 13.8” (351mm) driver has the headroom for demanding film bass in a large room. Watch for: The 624.8H x 449.8W x 549.9D mm cabinet and 48.1 kg mass make this a serious placement and moving commitment. Ported output does not solve room modes, so careful placement and calibration remain essential.
Buy the HSU Research VTF-3 MK5 HP. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Arendal 1723 Subwoofer 1V and costs less, which settles it without a real tradeoff to make.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Arendal 1723 Subwoofer 1V. It ranks near the bottom of the 110 subwoofers, so look higher up the list instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Subwoofers rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| HSU Research VTF-3 MK5 HP | Arendal 1723 Subwoofer 1V | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,099 | $2,050 |
| Ranked | #52 of 110 in Large Home Subwoofers (Over 75 lbs) | #89 of 110 in Large Home Subwoofers (Over 75 lbs) |
| Enclosure | ported, front | ported, rear |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 100.8 dB | 104.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 108.2 dB | 106.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 113.4 dB | 107.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 118.2 dB | 110.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 121.9 dB | 114.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 122.3 dB | 116.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 121.1 dB | 116.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 120.4 dB | 118.5 dB |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 121.4 dB | 116.5 dB |
| Dimensions | 25"H x 17.2"W x 24"D (635.0 x 438.1 x 609.6 mm) | 24.6"H x 17.7"W x 21.6"D (624.8 x 449.8 x 549.9 mm) |
| Weight | 85.1 lbs (38.6 kg) | 106 lbs (48.1 kg) |
| Warranty | 7/2(+3) | 10/5 |
| Cabinet Color | black | black, white |
| Country | United States | Norway |
| Measurement Source | Manufacturer | Audioholics |
| Drivers | 15" (381mm) driver | 13.8" (351mm) driver |
| Output SPL at 12.5 Hz | - | 98.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | - | 118.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | - | 116.7 dB |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How HSU Research VTF-3 MK5 HP compares with other leading options:
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- HSU Research VTF-3 MK5 HP vs WW Speaker Cabinets X21 - B&C 21DS115-4
- HSU Research VTF-3 MK5 HP vs Pro Audio Technology LFC-24sm
- HSU Research VTF-3 MK5 HP vs Power Sound Audio (PSA) TRIAX
Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
HSU Research VTF-3 MK5 HP: $1,099 HSU Research eBay
Pros: Ported cabinet delivers 121.4dB CEA-2010-A average, one of the best price-to-output ratios in this weight class.
Cons: Ported design requires careful room placement, mid-size 39 kg cabinet, and mid-range output.
Notes: Price includes shipping
Full HSU Research VTF-3 MK5 HP review and specifications →
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 121.4 dB |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Color | black |
| Country | United States |
| Dimensions | 25"H x 17.2"W x 24"D (635.0 x 438.1 x 609.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 15" (381mm) driver |
| Enclosure | ported, front |
| Measurement Source | Manufacturer |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 100.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 108.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 113.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 118.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 121.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 122.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 121.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 120.4 dB |
| Warranty | 7/2(+3) |
| Weight | 85.1 lbs (38.6 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- These figures are manufacturer-specified rather than independently measured.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- HSU Research VTF-3 MK5 HP vs Rythmik FV18
- HSU Research VTF-3 MK5 HP vs SVS PB-3000
- HSU Research VTF-3 MK5 HP vs HSU Research VTF-15H MK2
- HSU Research VTF-3 MK5 HP vs Harbottle Audio C24 L1
- HSU Research VTF-3 MK5 HP vs JTR Speakers Captivator RS1
- HSU Research VTF-3 MK5 HP vs Rythmik FV15HP
- HSU Research VTF-3 MK5 HP vs Monoprice Monolith 13 THX Ultra
- HSU Research VTF-3 MK5 HP vs Arendal 1723 Subwoofer 2V
- See all 54 comparisons
Arendal 1723 Subwoofer 1V: $2,050 eBay
Pros: Independent CEA-2010 testing records 106.9 dB at 20 Hz and 116.5 dB through 40-80 Hz. The ported, rear enclosure with 13.8” (351mm) driver has the headroom for demanding film bass in a large room.
Cons: The 624.8H x 449.8W x 549.9D mm cabinet and 48.1 kg mass make this a serious placement and moving commitment. Ported output does not solve room modes, so careful placement and calibration remain essential.
Full Arendal 1723 Subwoofer 1V review and specifications →
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 116.5 dB |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Color | black, white |
| Country | Norway |
| Dimensions | 24.6"H x 17.7"W x 21.6"D (624.8 x 449.8 x 549.9 mm) |
| Drivers | 13.8" (351mm) driver |
| Enclosure | ported, rear |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics |
| Output SPL at 12.5 Hz | 98.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 104.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 106.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 107.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 110.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 114.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 116.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 116.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 118.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 118.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 116.7 dB |
| Warranty | 10/5 |
| Weight | 106 lbs (48.1 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Independently measured by Audioholics; the published figures above come from this ASR subwoofer measurement thread.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons