Monitor Audio

Anthra W15 Subwoofer

£2,500 RRP

The general perception is that most subwoofers are anonymous cubes distinguished more by the size of the driver they accommodate than any specific technology or acoustic benefit they may offer. They get a pass as long as they fulfil their primary function, which is to drop low on cue.

While this may be true of the mediocre boxes that ship with everyday soundbar systems, it's certainly not the case with subwoofers aimed at the higher end of the market. These artfully designed enclosures are tuned for maximum low-frequency impact and subtle nuance. The Anthra Series from Monitor Audio is one such example and is an altogether more advanced deep bass diver than most.

There are three models in the Anthra range: the W10, W12, and W15, with corresponding 10-inch (25cm), 12-inch (30cm), and 15-inch (38cm) drivers, respectively. The W15 on test here is the biggest and baddest of the trio. It tips the scales at a hefty 35.4kg and requires a two-man lift to get into position. So have your osteopath at the ready

UP CLOSE

I am immediately impressed by the W15's build quality. This is a classy-looking subwoofer, suitably imposing yet refined. A sealed-box design, its cabinet is crafted from thick MDF, with 36mm external walls and 19mm internal bracing. I'm assured all have been acoustically optimised. My sample came finished in High Gloss Black, which invariably means fingerprints aplenty, but it's also available in Satin White.

Rear panel connectivity is extensive. There's a pair of stereo unbalanced RCA inputs, of which the right input doubles as the mono LFE input for use with AV receivers; there's also an RCA phono output, XLR in/outs and a 12v trigger for wider AV system integration. It's possible to daisy-chain up to four Anthras, and the thought has me salivating.

Unusually, there's also an illuminated menu display, which can be navigated using a clickable rotary dial. This offers on-body control of Volume, Low Pass Filter, Service options, and EQ presets. The latter comprises Music, Movie, and Impact, plus a trio of custom settings available for your own EQ settings. The three pre-defined EQ curves are well-judged. The Music preset is entirely flat, while Impact has a more overt lift. I recommend the Movie EQ mode, as the real value of a big sub is to bring home the dedicated LFE information in Dolby and DTS multichannel sound mixes, and this nails that perfectly.

Set up is relatively straightforward, not least because no elaborate calibration of the subwoofer is required. You can also configure things using the MaestroUnite app. Just pair the subwoofer to your mobile device over Bluetooth and then connect it to your local network. This is worth doing as once online, the W15 also supports over-the-air firmware updates.

The W15 employs a 15-inch (38cm) Rigid Surface Technology II (RST II) C-CAM (ceramic-coated aluminium magnesium) high excursion driver powered by a beefy 1,400 RMS Class D amplifier. This may seem like overkill to some, but having this much power on tap ensures substantial headroom and transient attack. The stablemate W10 and W12 models have 425W and 900W amplifiers respectively.

We've seen Rigid Surface Technology II, as evidenced by those hexagonal dimples which add additional strength to the driver cone, used elsewhere by Monitor Audio. However, this is apparently the first time it's been applied to a subwoofer. This dimpled driver dominates the front facia, which glares like a concave death star of deep bass. To the right is a Monitor Audio logo, while to the left is an LED status lamp. This communicates via a colour code, so you know when the sub is resting, updating or has a fault.

Included in the box is a circular fabric grille, which attaches by magnets, although whether you opt to use this depends on individual preferences and circumstances. I chose to operate the W15 sans grille, not least because I like to see the driver exercised at volume. Helpfully, the brightness of the fascia LED is adjustable from the MaestroUnite app so that you can minimise any distraction it might cause in a fully dark room.

For this audition, I partnered the W15 review sample with my resident Definitive Technology Reference array, comprising UIW RLS11 L/C/R speakers and UIW RSS11 surrounds/heights. Content sources include a Panasonic DP-UB900 UHD Blu-ray player, Sky 4k Dolby Atmos satellite system, PlayStation 5 and Fire TV streamer.

THE LISTENING

The most immediate sonic characteristic of the W15 is its natural execution. This subwoofer doesn't strain to smack you in the face with deep bass; rather, its output is controlled, deep and solid. There's an organic weight to its presentation that helps it serve other speakers in the system, rather than supplant them.

Obviously, with 1,400 watts at its disposal, the W15 can play very loud indeed, and it pressure-loaded my home theatre room with ease. For a point of reference, I typically operate three subs in this room, but these had been disconnected to make way for the big Anthra. In truth, you really don't need to crank the volume high to appreciate its output, but that's not to say I didn't succumb to temptation.

This sub's sheer slam is formidable. In Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice, the climactic battle with Doomsday really shifts some air. Doomsday's fisticuffs with Superman land with resounding, gutty thumps and his footfalls stomp with delicious weight. I've seen this action sequence umpteen times, but with the Anthra, I also became aware of other less obvious elements low in the mix.

The W15 makes a virtue of being fast and tight. The bombing run that opens the WW2 drama Unbroken is a textbook example of terrific sound design and a perennial challenge for any subwoofer. When the lead bomber first flies into flak, the sub announces the fact with fast, powerful booms. Then, as the bomber's payload hits its target, the W15 reports back with a deep, satisfying rumble, subtle at first but distinct.

It's worth paying attention to the low pass filter, which here is customisable. This is used to prevent the subwoofer playing frequencies above a selected cut-off. Most commonly, it would be set to 80Hz, which is standard in most home theatre installations – and recommended by THX. However, in almost all cases, this cut-off will be managed by the AV receiver or processor itself. So, theoretically, you can set the LPF on the W15 to off. If you're not setting the LPF in your AVR, then select 80Hz on the subwoofer. Several movies in, and I'm left with the impression that the Anthra W15 is as smooth as cellar-aged bourbon and just as profound. I measured it down to 20Hz, enough for a highly visceral low-frequency experience.

This sub finds its natural habitat on Avatar: The Way of Water: Return to Pandora. During the sequel's opening set-up, when the 'Sky People' return, their ships decelerate with their afterburners disgorging enough deep bass to dislodge plaster. They land with a bass-heavy clump before diggers start ripping up the soil. The cacophony is utterly destructive. Having a subwoofer that is able to realise the audio design of a movie like this brings you so much closer to the creator's intent. Similarly, when the Navi ambushes the monorail early in the film, sending it careening into the dirt, the resulting rumble is seismic.

On the flip side, the W15 can also be surprisingly agile. Lin-Manuel Miranda's song We Don't Talk About Bruno, from Encanto, positively skips along. The sub is light enough to propel the rhythm with rounded, juicy beats, and there's no overhang or residual bass getting in the way.

The W15's ability to hit hard and fast, like some sort of sumo ninja, also brings much to the multichannel sound mix of Call of Duty (PlayStation 5). Not only does it wonderfully underscore various bounties and game FX, such as kicking open a metal door, the sub also adds satisfying weight to heavy weapons fire and thermobaric grenades. I was also aware of the deep rumble of my Hummer's engine in a way I never noticed before.

THE VERDICT

With the stylish new Anthra series, Monitor Audio has created a versatile subwoofer line ideal for multimedia use – and the W15 is a formidable range-topper. Smooth and fast-sounding, it boasts massive power. So, if you want to add depth and bass detail to your home theatre system, the Anthra comes highly recommended.

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