Wilson Audio Thor’s Hammer or Master Subsonic Subwoofers

[Ron Resnick]

Who owns presently or who used to own one or two Wilson Audio Thor’s Hammers or Master Subsonic Subwoofers?*

These giant and heavy subwoofers are almost mythical in their size, cost and rarity. Unlike most modern subwoofers using enclosures barely bigger than their drivers and equalizers and high power Class D plate amplifiers, these Wilsons generate low frequencies the old fashioned way: big drivers in enormous boxes with outboard crossovers and outboard amplifiers.

So who owns these?

Do you use a crossover other than the Wilson Audio Watch Controller?

What amplifiers do you use to drive these behemoths?

*I know Jacob Heilbrunn had a pair of Thor’s Hammers and now has a pair of Master Subsonics with his WAMM Master Chronosonics.

 

[RogerD]

Ron, although I have not heard the Wilsons. I do have a ported dual 16 in sub built the old fashioned way. About 42 x 22 x 46 and weighs about a 1,000 pounds+ . Separate amp And crossover. A magnificent beast....and bass you can feel....clean and explosive when the occasion arises.
Yoo want them...get them. The benefits are mind blowing.....you can play anything and it’ just adds a quality that says wow.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Very cool, Roger! Can you post a photo of this beast?

Is this a home brew?

 

[RogerD]

Very cool, Roger! Can you post a photo of this beast?

Is this a home brew?

Ron, there were a pair of these made by a Reno Co. named ParAcas owned by a audio and electronics engineer by the name of Carl Staub. Carl manufactured these a long with speakers amplifiers and preamps. We were audiophiles and friends so I was lucky enough to own many of his products. About 1992 Carl left the audio business and became well known for making automated computer controlled coffee roasting equipment.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Interesting; thank you. It sure is a monster!

 

[Steve Williams]

I never owned the Wilson Thor or the Master Subsonic although I have heard them both


Many years ago I did own the Wilson XS Subwoofer which stood over 84" high and had 2 18" drivers. My house shook when it was playing

 

[LL21]

Steve - I remember long ago reading that you preferred the JL Gothams over the big Wilson XS...why was that?

 

[jeff1225]

I never owned the Wilson Thor or the Master Subsonic although I have heard them both


Many years ago I did own the Wilson XS Subwoofer which stood over 84" high and had 2 18" drivers. My house shook when it was playing

Steve,
Can you tell us why you moved from the XS to the JL Audio subs? I know you've totally removed the subs from your system now, but I'm curious why you made the move.

I've always had a side spot for the big Wilson subs.

 

[RogerD]

I can see why these big subs could be a problem in a less then large room, they move a ton of air. My 16 x 20 room opens into another 1200 sq ft space,with a staircase to the top floor.This allows my D16 and my Vel-18 to be adjusted and controlled very well.
I run the D16 with about 200w a woofer and at 11:30 on the volume. In my experience with big subs less volume is better and the quality of the bass is articulated well and clean.
But like I said, the room is the deciding factor in my opinion

 

[Steve Williams]

Steve - I remember long ago reading that you preferred the JL Gothams over the big Wilson XS...why was that?

I did say that. Reason being it was totally impossible to dial in the XS unlike the Pair of Gotham G213 and finally Fathom 113's.Having said that the JLAudio subs were also an exercise in futility and finally discovered as everyone was telling me that the pair of F113's were just unnecessary

 

[LL21]

Thanks, Steve. A word to the wise. Will keep that in mind.

 

[Steve Williams]

Thanks, Steve. A word to the wise. Will keep that in mind.

Lloyd

please remember that these were my findings based on my room. As always YMMV

 

[microstrip]

Not the Wilson Audio Thor’s Hammers or Master Subsonic Subwoofers, but Wilson Audio WatchDogs using the same two WatchDog controlers http://www.theaudiobeat.com/blog/vtl_wilson_system.htm .

One of the main advantages of using subs with large speakers is being able to put them at a significantly distance from the main speakers, interacting the with room modes in a different manner and exciting the room in the bass with a different pattern - even filling the nulls that no electronic or DSP can fill. Surely in order to use this mode of operation you need a large room - considering that my room is 31 feet long I am very interested in subs, and I am rather pleased with my experiences, both in measurements and in sound quality. The subs are located arout 6 feet behind the main speakers.

For more information on this subject see the section on Geddes work for example at http://www.acousticfrontiers.com/20...fers-to-improve-bass-the-welti-devantie-html/

 

[LL21]

Lloyd

please remember that these were my findings based on my room. As always YMMV

For sure, Steve. Thanks as always...in our case, we just finished watching a few action flicks last nite...well worth having the big Sub! Same for Kingdom of Heaven Soundtrack tonite (which is excellent by the way)

 

[Folsom]

Feedback has a very limited amount usefullness for subwoofer frequencies. Once you start getting under 100hz you begin to see a decline the deeper you go, where distortion isn't helped any by the feedback and even hurt by it. So it can often sound strange.

With a subwoofer that's ported you get the benefit of the port blurring up the response a little bit. It's not a lot since people can design them so well, but without a question it is occurring. Most will hear this as beneficial if they have too much feedback to really do the subs any favors.

However, I don't prefer the ported sound, to me it's not as natural. It's lower definition. The problem is if you're not using ported that you can go down a path with the wrong amp & sound really fast. They don't all sound right.

 

[Steve Williams]

For sure, Steve. Thanks as always...in our case, we just finished watching a few action flicks last nite...well worth having the big Sub! Same for Kingdom of Heaven Soundtrack tonite (which is excellent by the way)

Lloyd

that brings back memories of my last room which was much larger and also served as a home theater. When I showed films that were heavy in deep bass, my house literally shook

What was that submarine movie U571??

When those deep sea explosives went off we had to hold on

Saving Private Ryan was another

 

[LL21]

Yes...i still remember the photo from your audiogon website page with the Ratatouille shot on it...crystal clear shot. I will have to check out U571...have always heard good things about it. I know someone who worked on that movie early in his career.

 

[Folsom]

It's easier for a ported subwoofer to hold a note more consistently, that should be noted. It can be really great for home theater.

 

[Steve Williams]

I first heard U571 while living in Northern California’s a friends house who was using a Thigpen Rotary Woofer. In fact Bruce Thigpen flew in on his own plane from Florida for the event. I remember I was standing in the right rear corner when those under water explosives went off. I felt like it was a California earthquake and so much so that I could still feel myself moving many minutes later

 

[ddk]

Not the Wilson Audio Thor’s Hammers or Master Subsonic Subwoofers, but Wilson Audio WatchDogs using the same two WatchDog controlers http://www.theaudiobeat.com/blog/vtl_wilson_system.htm .

One of the main advantages of using subs with large speakers is being able to put them at a significantly distance from the main speakers, interacting the with room modes in a different manner and exciting the room in the bass with a different pattern - even filling the nulls that no electronic or DSP can fill. Surely in order to use this mode of operation you need a large room - considering that my room is 31 feet long I am very interested in subs, and I am rather pleased with my experiences, both in measurements and in sound quality. The subs are located arout 6 feet behind the main speakers.

For more information on this subject see the section on Geddes work for example at http://www.acousticfrontiers.com/20...fers-to-improve-bass-the-welti-devantie-html/

Wonder why no one's asked you about time alignment yet ?

david