Ultra High End Subwoofer
With the Subsonic, Thor’s Hammer and Watch Dog, Wilson Audio has a number of low-frequency connoisseurs in its range that do things a little differently. No subwoofers, but speakers optimized for the reproduction of lowest octaves of the frequency spectrum. That may seem the same, but in the ears of Wilson Audio it is an essential difference. These mighty 10 to 100Hz specialists from Wilson Audio all have something in common. They are passive, so just like a ‘normal’ Wilson Audio loudspeakers, they require their own amplifier and they are not really compact. Wilson Audio’s latest subwoofer breaks with that tradition. The Wilson Audio LōKē Subwoofer is designed to support the Tune Tot, SabrinaX, Yvette and Sasha DAW but also fits perfectly with Wilson’s previous generations, equipped with its own power amplifier and – in our opinion – a graceful companion.
What the Sub is the difference?
Of course, every subwoofer has been developed for the reproduction of low frequencies. In fact, a subwoofer is nothing but a loudspeaker with a strong woofer that is limited to say 100Hz at the top of its reproduction. Interestingly, however, almost every manufacturer approaches the subwoofer design process from the perspective of squeezing as much energy as possible from the smallest possible cabinet. Where a woofer in a ‘normal’ loudspeaker is tuned to its ideal acoustic air volume, possibly with a bass reflex port, almost all subwoofers are equipped with an oversized woofer in a cabinet that is acoustically much too small. The fight against the laws of nature, and with it the falling low bass reproduction as a result of the small cabinet, is electrically compensated by pumping the woofer full loads of power. A colossal, extremely flex-happy subwoofer follows that signal with enormous diaphragm excursions and therefore an effective reproduction of bass from a small cabinet where sometimes just big enough to fit the actual driver.
Wilson Audio does things differently, approaching the 2-digit frequency spectrum with the same dedication and philosophy as its full-range loudspeakers. The bass drivers are larger, the diaphragm masses higher and the motor structure more powerful than the woofers in Wilson’s regular loudspeakers, but not of the extreme heavy-weight caliber designed to simulate earthquakes. To Wilson Audio that’s not so interesting. The lifelike simulation of the keynote of a grand piano is. Wilson Audio Subwoofers are therefore engineered for pure bass extension and seamless integration with its ultra high end speakers. Elastic, dynamic and fantastically defined. The LōKē continues that tradition in a relatively compact size for Wilson Audio standards and with a realistic reproduction down to 30Hz.
The active LōKē
LōKē was developed from that same thought. A special low resonance frequency woofer selected for musical quality, housed in a ported enclosure, perfectly matched to the ideal air volume for the woofer. Tracking the music signal as closely as possible instead of quantitative air displacement. The LōKē woofer is paired with a 500 Watt power amplifier incorporated in the rear of the cabinet. It can therefore easily driven from, for example, the RCA or Balanced pre-out of an amplifier. A variety of adjustment options including adjustable phase (0 to 180 degrees), crossover frequency and equalization allow us to seamlessly integrate the subwoofer with the main speakers. We write ‘us’ because we believe that a subwoofer can only come into its own when its installation is combined with knowledge and measuring equipment. That is why we are happy to assist with the placement and optimization of the LōKē.
In practice
We can be honest – it’s not easy to properly place a subwoofer. We were therefore about 47 measurements, various test positions and hours of fine-tuning on crossover and phase further before we went from good to magical. But once that point falls there is no turning back. In our listening room we combined the LōKē with the already phenomenal SabrinaX. And in all honesty, even the SabrinaX – just like the singer from the 80s – really lacks anything. The bass is cleanly defined and the Wilson Audio has familiar power and energy. However, the SabrinaX transforms to a completely different level when we turn on the tuned LōKē. In fact, the whole space transforms. The entire sound image gets more stability, more substance and extends even deeper next to and behind the speakers. There is a gain in resolution and emotional charge that is difficult to capture in a newsletter. And then, of course, there’s the extension of the frequency response. It should be clear that the triangular relationship of the room size, sitting- and speaker position are very decisive for the bassresponse. Virtually no room escapes the big bad standing wave that amplifies certain low tones and weakens others. Thanks in part to the free positioning of the LōKē, however, we are able to smooth out the wave somewhat and achieve a much more balanced bass response – clearly visible in a picture of our measurements below.
It is striking that this has not only given the system more body and authority, but is also faster and shows more subtle nuances without wanting to be spectacular. Of course, some of these features are achievable with other good subwoofers, but not with this level of energetic transparency and realism. The LōKē is the ultimate partner for the TuneTot and Sasha DAW, and everything in between. Built with Wilson Audio’s unconventional cabinet material and extreme attention to detail. A bass specialist who has taken our beloved SabrinaX to an even more addictive level without the use of a single drug.
