Now, I know that in the audio industry, thunders are traditionally associated with bass and low-frequency sounds, but it seems like having all sorts of subwoofers named after the Norse thunder god Thor might look a bit too simple. Beyond this naming issue, it's the technology which counts and bring either glory or dismay upon the name in cause.

Well, since no one thought of the Mjollnir (the actual name of Thor's hammer), we're stuck here: Wilson Audio's Thor's Hammer. Indeed, unlike many other almost cretin names one meets in the biz, this one sounds very good and is far easier to remember than one like XT-P441 SE-W (sorry if there is such a piece of audio gear). The Thor's Hammer will not strike anyone down with lightning (and that's good when dealing with electricity): it's all about thunders.

Wilson Audio Thor's Hammer is a massive subwoofer derived from the Dog in the WATCH series; if the Dog has 12.5" drivers, the new bass machine boasts dual 15" woofers for an even more fearsome and authoritative LF reproduction.

The biggest problem in bass coming from such large speakers is distortion resulting from the off-axis movement: instead of moving back and forth like a piston, large diaphragms tend to swing from side to side also and thus generate unwanted distortions. Wilson Audio has resolved this issue by adding a second suspension spider: this means a more linear excursion of the cone, less distortions at huge pressure levels and an overall better performance.

Speaking of performance, the preliminary announced specs for the Thor's Hammer claim a wall-crumbling 15-70Hz frequency range, dramatically enhanced by the two massive front-firing round-hole bass reflex ports, 4 Ohms impedance and almost 190 kg in weight. Nothing was released regarding the power handling, but I expect this subwoofer can deliver more than your closed windows can take. Thanks to the symmetrical design, this bass machine can be used in both vertical and horizontal position, with any Wilson Audio loudspeakers and with other brands' units as well.



Priced around $21,000 a piece, the Wilson Audio Thor's Hammer could be the subwoofer of your life.

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