Quote:
Originally Posted by Gsheley
Jacques,
It is great to see you are still using the Thor’s Hammer. Can you give an update on your impressions of it now that you have owned it for some time?
I also see you are using a Nagra amp while you were using the MC2kw previously. Can you help with insights on this change?
I am looking at Thor’s for my system and out will be very appreciated.
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I'm obviously not Jacques but I have owned one Hammer for a long time. There are some things I don't understand about Wilson subwoofers.
1) Why does Wilson strongly recommend using the Hammer as an adjunct, i.e. no HP? I can tell you that in my system I use no HP and it sounds much much better but I don't understand why. I tried it both ways fully expecting that the HP crossover would be preferable. Absolutely not. Wilson is correct.
2) I tremendously like using my Hammer in a horizontal lie situated right between my Alexx and in the same plane as the Alexx woofers. I simply could not have better bass. I'm not sure why having the Hammers out of plane way behind the Alexx works very well. I want all my woofers to work together and in the same plane. But it obviously works well.
Although the Hammer is quite efficient you need a lot of power, at least the equivalent of a 1.25KW per Hammer with dedicated lines. A significant amount of the time its hard to tell if the sub amp is on. I run the Hammer summed mono LP 30 Hz 18 db roll off, no HP. This gives me a very smooth bass to well below 20 Hz by test CD. One of the things I like the best is the increased sensitivity to very soft bass notes. I notice zero slowness with my Hammer. On movies it can literally bring down the room so you must be careful. A second Hammer only provides 3db more. I simply don't have room even if I wanted one, which I don't. In addition I found the cabling very critical to the performance of the Hammer. I use very high quality AQ pc's, IC, and speaker cable along with a dedicated Niagara 5000 and dedicated 20 amp line straight out of the fuse box. Recently I replaced my AQ Coffee USB with a Diamond. The difference in the bass to my overall system was significant. Every change in cabling I have made to my system has caused a significant improvement/change in my bass. I was totally surprised at the difference in speed/articulation/sensitivity of my Hammer when I changed out my copper Kimber Kable to much more expensive AQ. Also, a Mac 601 is not nearly sufficient to power a Hammer. You need a massive amp to get the best out of a Hammer.
Lastly, I think you are making the right decision about going with Hammers as opposed to Subsonics.
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Charles Updated System
Most recent update: AQ Diamond USB replaces AQ Coffee
Amps: McIntosh 1.25KW’s (3) set on floor on custom made cultured marble slabs
Preamp and DAC: McIntosh D1100
Sources: McIntosh MCD1100 SACD player, MVP881 BR player, MVP851 DVD player, MR87 tuner, Marantz 510LV Laser Disc player, ASUS laptop USB (JRiver Media Center 23)
Speakers: Wilson Audio Specialties Alexx
Sub-woofer: Wilson Audio Specialties Thor’s Hammer (1) horizontal lie and Wilson Watch Controller (abbr: WC)
Cables main system: Audioquest Wel Signature speaker cables and balanced IC (preamp to amps); Wel Signature AES/EBU balanced digital IC for CD playback; Audioquest Diamond optical (1) for tuner, (1) for BR player, and (1) for LD player for total of (3); Diamond USB cable; McIntosh MCT cable for SACD playback; Dragon power cords (5 HC cords and 3 source cords for total of 8); Thunder HC power cord for tuner; cables for DVD player not listed
Cables subwoofer system: Audioquest Redwood speaker cable (1); Wolf balanced subwoofer IC from WC to amp; Wind balanced IC from preamp to WC; Hurricane HC (2) and Dragon HC (1) power cords
Power conditioners: Audioquest Niagara 7000 (1) and Niagara 5000 (3); (4) dedicated 20-amp lines with no. 10 wire straight out of fuse box
Cabinet: Double Custom Woodwork & Design (CWD) solid walnut cabinet on large casters; holds all sources and preamp; also, Niagara 7000; 11 feet minimum distance from speakers
Acoustic Treatments: Room and Echo Tunes enough to turn the room into a virtual anechoic chamber if desired; however, at present my room is significantly reflective giving me a bright, vibrant, dynamic, highly resolving, smooth sound free of harshness and grain and perfect for my taste; zero slap echo; gorgeous midrange
AC: Dedicated to this room only, an ultra-high efficiency and quiet Trane split system 2.5-ton heat pump with 4 returns; active electrostatic filter and top-grade digital thermostat
Room (mancave): 40’L x 15.5’W A-frame; max ceiling height 8’ min 5’; wall within wall construction built of 2 x 6’s; built over garage with custom hardwood floor with gym seal with over 40 Lowes stiffened wooden I-beams supporting floor; complete isolation from rest of house