Wilson Audio Subwoofers With Other Companies’ Full-Range Speakers

Ron Resnick

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We almost always see Wilson Audio Watch subwoofers and Thor’s Hammers subwoofers and Subsonics subwoofers matched with Wilson Audio loudspeakers.

Has anybody integrated Wilson Audio subwoofers with full-range loudspeakers made by other companies?

Tell us about your experience. How did you accomplish the integration?

Did you use Wilson Audio Watch Controller(s)?

What amplifiers did you use?

Were your non-Wilson Audio full-range speakers of sealed or of ported woofer design?
 
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Ron Resnick

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Nobody? :(
 

rugyboogie

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Going to try this with my Apogee Divas. Have the watch dog sitting in the room, so why not.
Will play with this once I get a long pair of XLR as my darTZeel has rca out going to the ML-23.5.
 
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HughP3

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Curious Ron, what do you find lacking in your 4 tower setup? I ask because I think we have the same drivers but I have 4 less per speaker.
 
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Ron Resnick

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I don’t have the system set up yet. I don’t think I will find anything lacking.

But who says it’s not fun to play with subwoofers? :)
 
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Zero000

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Going to try this with my Apogee Divas. Have the watch dog sitting in the room, so why not.
Will play with this once I get a long pair of XLR as my darTZeel has rca out going to the ML-23.5.

I know it's much lower down the food chain but I couldn't get an ML Descent to work with Duettas.

That said, I only needed the Descent to work below 20Hz which is lower than a Descent's controls will allow. IIRC it had a 25Hz and a 40Hz switch but I never really knew what the slopes were.

Also, the room was constrained for space and sub placement options were extremely limited.

Since Ron's speakers use cone bass I'd expect better results than from trying to integrate with Divas. The trouble is Apogee bass panels sound inherently different to cones. But if you can switch that sub in below 20Hz you might get a result. I just don't know.

Worth trying though definitely if only for the learning experience.

The problem I find with subs is the recordings out there aren't really up to it in a lot of cases. There's a lot of LF weirdness going on that was probably never heard in the studio.

The Descent was fun when turned in with some electronic music playing loud after a few drinks. But didn't blend? No.
 
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Ron Resnick

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I agree, Justin. You are the expert on Duettas but it makes sense to me that one would need subwoofers that are very serious and can play very low in frequency. That means subswoofers that are big and expensive. That means something like Wilson Master Subsonics. No MartinLogan sub comes close.

I also agree about unexpected subterranean sonic anomalies — one must be careful about those!
 

HughP3

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Awesome Ron. Now how to do crossovers and at what frequency. My only experience was with Vandersteen subs using Richards high pass crossover design. His blocks the signal starting at 100 Hz and redirects that signal to the subs. I would not like that for the Gryphons. Be interested in what you come up with!
 

spiritofmusic

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I know it's much lower down the food chain but I couldn't get an ML Descent to work with Duettas.

That said, I only needed the Descent to work below 20Hz which is lower than a Descent's controls will allow. IIRC it had a 25Hz and a 40Hz switch but I never really knew what the slopes were.

Also, the room was constrained for space and sub placement options were extremely limited.

Since Ron's speakers use cone bass I'd expect better results than from trying to integrate with Divas. The trouble is Apogee bass panels sound inherently different to cones. But if you can switch that sub in below 20Hz you might get a result. I just don't know.

Worth trying though definitely if only for the learning experience.

The problem I find with subs is the recordings out there aren't really up to it in a lot of cases. There's a lot of LF weirdness going on that was probably never heard in the studio.

The Descent was fun when turned in with some electronic music playing loud after a few drinks. But didn't blend? No.
Justin, I've wondered if a possible sub that could be used w Duettas is the Wilson Benesch Torus. It's cabinet-less, and apparently very fast, deep and neutral. Not active, so you'd need matching amps.
Worth a listen?
 

Ron Resnick

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Awesome Ron. Now how to do crossovers and at what frequency. My only experience was with Vandersteen subs using Richards high pass crossover design. His blocks the signal starting at 100 Hz and redirects that signal to the subs. I would not like that for the Gryphons. Be interested in what you come up with!

1 big check to buy:

1 Wilson Audio Activ XO, and

2 Wilson Audio Master Subsonics

The Activ XO will allow a very low low-pass point.
 
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Zero000

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Justin, I've wondered if a possible sub that could be used w Duettas is the Wilson Benesch Torus. It's cabinet-less, and apparently very fast, deep and neutral. Not active, so you'd need matching amps.
Worth a listen?

I've heard it a number of times at shows. Especially Bristol. I always think WB sounds pretty dire but one year at Munich they turned in a better than expected result. Unsure why, but I still wasn't crazy.

Anyway firing bass vertically seems weird to me, as does firing it into the floor.

Some Apogee guys have tried custom built dipole woofers with a degree of 'claimed' success. But TBH I have written my desire for sub 20Hz bass off.

That said, for some people who really like organ music and other stuff that genuinely does plumb the depths, and those who are into A/V, I reckon there's a lot of fun to be had. About the only thing that would have made me want to keep the Descent was it was great fun turned up beyond any sensible value on movie soundtracks.
 

Ron Resnick

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. . . firing bass vertically seems weird to me, as does firing it into the floor.

. . .

I agree. (But, contradictingly (is that a word?) I enjoyed my large REL Stentor III, which happens to have a down-firing woofer. That’s not to say that I would not have enjoyed it more if it were front-firing.)
 

spiritofmusic

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Ron, Justin will find any irrelevant reason not to visit me and listen to my Zus w down firing subs Lol.
 

spiritofmusic

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Hey, YOU'RE the one moving house.
 

microstrip

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1 big check to buy:

1 Wilson Audio Activ XO, and

2 Wilson Audio Master Subsonics

The Activ XO will allow a very low low-pass point.

You are not getting Wilson speakers, why considering the Wilson subs?

I had excellent experience with the JLAudio CR1 crossover and a pair of JL113mk2 and I am moving to the Wilson Active XO and Watch Dog subs because I believe that the Wilson sub boxes will be a better subjective match for the Wilson big speakers. I am not looking for more bass, just for the improvement that a bass source placed in a plane far away from the main speakers can give, as it avoids overlapping with the same room nodes.
 

Lagonda

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I agree, Justin. You are the expert on Duettas but it makes sense to me that one would need subwoofers that are very serious and can play very low in frequency. That means subswoofers that are big and expensive. That means something like Wilson Master Subsonics. No MartinLogan sub comes close.

I also agree about unexpected subterranean sonic anomalies — one must be careful about those!
I have to respectfully disagree !
5836F132-568E-4617-AF70-8C55DCD8C1F8.jpeg
 

Ron Resnick

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marty

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You are not getting Wilson speakers, why considering the Wilson subs?

I had excellent experience with the JLAudio CR1 crossover and a pair of JL113mk2 and I am moving to the Wilson Active XO and Watch Dog subs because I believe that the Wilson sub boxes will be a better subjective match for the Wilson big speakers. I am not looking for more bass, just for the improvement that a bass source placed in a plane far away from the main speakers can give, as it avoids overlapping with the same room nodes.
Francisco,
I wouldn't disagree. I've tried to match Wilson Alexandrias with a pair of JL Audio Gothams and its exasperatingly difficult, if not impossible. The Wilsons are ported and the JL's are not. Oil and water may be a better match. I'll be curious as to your take with Wilson subs instead of JLs. On the other hand, I think the JLs could be a good match for Magico's but I'm just speculating here.
Marty
 

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