The high-end subwoofer category is a very competitive space with brands like SVS, Perlisten, M&K, REL and JL Audio fighting it out for market share. Wilson Audio is expanding its presence in the category with a rather compact subwoofer that has a rather significant price tag.
Wilson Audio Speakers
Wilson Audio has been one of the premier high-end loudspeaker brands for close to 4 decades and the Utah-based company has not sat on its hands during the pandemic and let supply chain issues get in the way of product development. Their product lineup has evolved over the years and even after the passing of David Wilson, the company has looked at new ways to attract a new generation of customers with products like the TuneTot which is designed for stands or your desktop.
Some other prominent members of the Wilson Audio lineup include the following loudspeaker models:
The Wilson Audio LōKē Subwoofer
Given the price points of their other products, it isn’t a surprise that Wilson Audio’s latest subwoofer, the LōKē, is priced at $8,750. So, what do you get with that price tag? Let’s find out.
The Wilson LōKē joins other subwoofers in Wilson Audio’s product line including:
However, what makes the LōKē different from those subs is that it has a compact design that doesn’t visually take over a room and can blend in better with various room decor and smaller room sizes.
Exterior Design
The LōKē subwoofer cabinet is 20 3/4-inches high, 12 7/8-inches wide, and 21-inches deep.
Standard Cabinet Colors are:
- Galaxy Gray
- Quartz
- Carbon
Cabinet Color Upgrades include:
- Ivory
- Diamond Black
- Crimson Satin
Note: Upgraded cabinet colors also include a $1,000 increase in price.
Available grill cover color options include (no extra charge):
- Black
- Blanco
- Mocha
- Slate Grey
- Lemans Blue
Inside The LōKē
The LōKē Subwoofer houses a 10-inch front-facing driver in a cabinet supported by a front slotted port and a 500-watt amplifier.
Core Specifications
- Frequency Response: 20 to 250hz (+ or – 1dB)
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR): 98.4 dB with the volume set at 0 dB
- Input Voltage: 115-230 Volts AC, 50/60 Hz Manually Switchable.
- Protection: Output current limiting, thermal over-temperature, power on/off transient protection
Connections
The connection options provided on the LōKē subwoofer include:
- 1 Set of RCA Inputs
- 1 Set of RCA Outputs
- 1 Set of Balanced XLR Inputs
- 1 Set of Balanced XLR Outputs
Tip: The RCA (unbalanced) and XLR (balanced) outputs allow users to connect an additional subwoofer in the setup mix without needing an additional subwoofer output on an amplifier or receiver.
Additional Connection: USB Control. This is used for PC-GUI communication with custom PC software. Software only available upon request and will rarely be needed (software is PC only, not Apple compatible)
Controls
The controls of the LōKē subwoofer are located on the rear connection panel.
Power Mode: Select either energy-saving “AUTO” or always-on “ON” power mode.
- Auto: When set on Auto, the subwoofer goes into standby 20 minutes after no detected input signal.
- On: The subwoofer is always on, regardless of input signal status. It will automatically turn on (typically in one second or less) when audio signals are detected while in standby mode.
Analog input attenuation: Affects analog balanced and unbalanced inputs only.
- Normal: No attenuation.
- Hi: Attenuates input signal by -6dB.
Feature Control: Single knob digital actuator with single/double-click enabling and rotary scrolling to navigate the subwoofer’s feature control menu. The list of items in the feature control menu includes:
- HPF (High Pass Filter): Available on line-level inputs only: 30 to 125db.
- LPF (Low Pass Filter): Available via subwoofer amp output only. 30 to 125db.
- Phase: Adjustable from 0 to 180 degrees. This matches the in/out motion of the subwoofer speaker driver with speaker drivers in the rest of your setup.
- High Pass Delay: 0~10msec (0.1msec/step)
- Subsonic Filter: 25~40Hz (1Hz/step)
- Frequency Range: 30~125Hz (1Hz/step)
- Level Range: -12dB ~ +6dB (0.1dB/step)
- Q Factor Range: 0.6~14 (0
- Preset Save/Load User Settings (3 Setting Presets allowed)
Power Settings
Limiter LED: Lit when Limiter is active (Red).
Standby/On LED: Red when the subwoofer is in an energy-saving “stand by” state. Green when the subwoofer is operating normally.
- AC main power switch needs to be in the “ON” position for the AUTO power mode to function.
- AC mains voltage selector needs to be set to the required voltage and the correct fuse installed for the region before the subwoofer is turned on. Options are 115 V/6.3 amps or 230 V/15 amps.
LōKē Tool Kit
Another thing included with each LōKē Subwoofer is a Tool Kit to assist in installation and setup. Inside the tool kit, there is:
- Polishing Cloth
- Spike Pads
- Diode and Spike
- 9/16 Inch Wrench
- 1/4-inch Allen Wrench
- Universal Allen Allen Tool
- 5/32/inch and 1/8-inch Inserts
Availability and Pricing
The LōKē is available through Authorized Wilson Audio Dealers at the previously mentioned price of $8,750. Color upgrades cost $1,000 extra.
Note: Wilson Audio recommends professional placement and setup.
Related reading: Affordable Subwoofer Shootout: REL, SVS, ELAC and Monoprice
Matthew
March 8, 2022 at 1:06 am
I’ll stick to an SVS sb2000 for those duties.
Lee
March 10, 2022 at 6:57 pm
Hey folks, have a gander at the Dayton Audio plate amps over at Parts Express website. See anything familiar?
Chris
March 8, 2022 at 2:37 am
Paying for a name, Rythmik subs are a better buy any day. Don’t see anything to justify that kind of money, average sub with Wilson name for 8x the money.
Roger Thomas
March 8, 2022 at 8:00 pm
This exactly!
King
March 8, 2022 at 3:56 am
The fact that they didn’t even run the sub through a few films or audio tracks and talk about its performance says a lot aboutthe sun itself and this ‘review’.
Ian White
March 8, 2022 at 4:02 am
It’s a NEWS article. Where does it say it is a review? Nobody even has one yet.
Ian White
Terry
March 8, 2022 at 11:31 pm
The term “high end” is so overrated and over priced. only a gullible person overflowing in funds would pay that kind of money for a sub. just to say, they own the particular brand. Wow 500 watts What a joke!
As an avid audiophile hobbyist, retired DJ. and car audio enthusiast of many years
I’ve heard and currently own a ton of gear. Some gear I felt was worth it and some I felt as if I payed more for the name vs performance.
As part of my hobby, I design and build my own speakers and powered subs.
I’ve yet to see justification for the cost of most any powered sub on the market period!
FACT:Bass is controlled distortion.
It’s all about having clean power, driver selection and most importantly, the enclosure design itself.
I build my own subs for a fraction of the price and get 20X the performance all while maintaining an unparalleled SQ/SPL. I’ve owned many costly subs and I’d put one of my own subs up against any sub on the market SQ and SPL, hands down all day long 24/7.
I’ve built a few extreme subs at slightly over $2k that would undoubtedly scare you and smoke any manufacturers sub on the market guaranteed. I can only image, what I could do with $8k LMAO
Ian White
March 8, 2022 at 11:40 pm
Terry,
My REL subwoofer (purchased on sale) ran me $800. I could buy a SVS for $1,000 to $1,500 that would be a much better deal than the Wilson and not feel like I wasted my money.
I don’t get the $8K subwoofer thing at all.
Best,
Ian White
David Purton
March 8, 2022 at 9:24 am
Utter joke with a spec. only achieved actively. Natural sensitivity will be around 86/88dB/watt unless they’ve discovered new laws of physics.
Let’s stop calling stuff “high end” which really means BS …100 times more expensive than it should be, in line with Wilson policy to create products for the gullible.
Ian White
March 8, 2022 at 3:02 pm
David,
Explains why I own a REL. For 1/10th the price.
Ian White