Сабвуферы — Wilson Benesch IGx

The IGx, or Infrasonic Generator, is an active subwoofer from Wilson Benesch, the British loudspeaker and turntable maker from Sheffield, and the company's only subwoofer. It is a refined evolution of the Torus Infrasonic Generator introduced in 2006. Wilson Benesch designs it to work beneath its Fibonacci Series loudspeakers, which range from the Discovery 3zero and Horizon to the Resolution 3zero, Eminence and Omnium.

Key specs that matter

An 18 inch unit forms the driver, using a carbon fibre and PET diaphragm weighing less than 100 g, which Wilson Benesch says supports 1,000 times its own mass. Its motor combines a large steel core with two 82 mm voice coils at the front and rear and two neodymium magnets in push-pull. Its Class D amplifier delivers 100 W continuous and 500 W maximum into 4 ohm. Frequency response is 12 Hz to 90 Hz at -3 dB at the highest filter setting. A fourth-order passive filter is adjustable from 30 Hz to 90 Hz, phase is adjustable from 0 to 180 degrees through a balanced passive all-pass network, and gain runs from -30 to +45 dB. THD is below 0.04% at 1 W. Inputs are stereo RCA with 500 mV sensitivity, stereo XLR with 250 mV per phase and a high-level Speakon input with 5 V sensitivity and 180 kOhm impedance. The IGx is 432 mm high with spikes, 510 mm in diameter and 368 mm deep, and it weighs 54 kg, plus 3 kg for the magnetic grille. Power draw is 10 to 15 W at idle and 650 W maximum.

Engineering and use context

A diaphragm that is both very light and very stiff lets the large driver follow the amplifier signal closely at the lowest frequencies. Placing voice coils at both the front and rear of the motor, with two magnets working in push-pull, makes the force on the diaphragm more symmetrical in both directions of travel. The cabinet is braced horizontally by a 10 mm steel ring and vertically by 12 mm steel bars held under tension, which stiffens the enclosure against the pressure of the large driver. The control boards were developed with CASS Audio, and filter and phase networks are passive rather than digital. Through the Speakon high-level connection the IGx is fed from the amplifier's speaker terminals, so it works from exactly the signal driving the main pair. Finishes include wood veneers, coloured carbon and automotive pearl and metallic paints, and versions for 230 V and 110 V mains are built.

Pairing

The IGx is designed to extend Wilson Benesch speakers such as the Discovery 3zero and Horizon into the infrasonic range. The high-level input connects in parallel with the main speakers, and the XLR and RCA inputs accept preamplifier outputs.

Alternatives

Wilson Benesch builds no other subwoofer, so the IGx has no alternative of the same category within the brand.