Focal 1000 IWSUB Utopia In-Wall Passive Subwoofer

The Focal 1000 IWSUB Utopia brings serious Utopia-level bass performance into the architecture of the room.

Designed specifically to complement the 1000 IWLCR Utopia, this passive in-wall subwoofer uses three 6.5-inch Focal W-cone bass drivers in a closed enclosure that can be installed vertically or horizontally.

And this isn't a one-subwoofer-fits-all design.

Multiple 1000 IWSUB Utopia modules can be combined to build the bass system around the size of the room, output requirements, speaker configuration, and overall goals of the theater.

For a reference private cinema where the speakers need to disappear, that's exactly the kind of flexibility we want.

Three Focal W-Cone Bass Drivers

Each 1000 IWSUB Utopia uses three 6.5-inch W-cone bass drivers.

Focal's W cone uses a sandwich construction consisting of two sheets of glass surrounding a structural foam core.

This construction allows Focal to carefully control three critical characteristics of a loudspeaker diaphragm:

• Lightness
• Rigidity
• Damping

The result is fast, controlled bass with low distortion and excellent definition.

This is bass designed to integrate with a reference loudspeaker system rather than simply add more boom to the room.

Designed for 1000 IWLCR Utopia

The 1000 IWSUB Utopia was engineered specifically to complement the 1000 IWLCR Utopia.

That allows us to create a completely architectural Utopia front stage.

We can install three IWLCR Utopia speakers for the left, center, and right channels and then incorporate IWSUB Utopia modules into the same wall structure.

The entire front speaker system can disappear behind an acoustically transparent projection screen or into the architecture surrounding the display.

No towers.

No center speaker sitting below the screen.

No subwoofer boxes occupying the room.

Just the system.

Modular Bass Architecture

One of the most interesting features of the 1000 IWSUB Utopia is its modular design.

Multiple IWSUB Utopia modules can be linked together using the supplied Speakon connections.

Focal allows systems to be configured with up to 16 IWSUB Utopia modules.

That means we're not trying to force one architectural subwoofer to work in every room.

We can scale the bass system around the theater.

A smaller system may only require a limited number of modules. A much larger private cinema can use multiple units to increase output and provide substantially greater bass capability.

Configurable Impedance

As additional IWSUB Utopia modules are incorporated into the system, the impedance configuration can be adjusted accordingly.

That's important because this is a passive subwoofer system.

The amplifier isn't built into the speaker.

Instead, we select dedicated external amplification based on the number of subwoofer modules, wiring configuration, desired output, and requirements of the room.

That gives us much greater flexibility than a conventional powered subwoofer when we're engineering a large architectural system.

Vertical or Horizontal Installation

The 1000 IWSUB Utopia can be installed vertically or horizontally.

That's extremely useful when we're working around framing, screen dimensions, cabinetry, other speakers, or architectural restrictions.

Instead of designing the room around a large subwoofer enclosure, we have considerably more freedom to integrate the bass system into the structure itself.

Closed-Back Enclosure

The 1000 IWSUB Utopia uses an integrated closed enclosure.

That gives the speaker a known acoustic environment rather than relying on the unpredictable volume inside a wall cavity.

For us as system designers, that's important.

We're working with a defined loudspeaker system instead of hoping the construction of the wall provides the correct enclosure volume.

It also helps deliver more consistent performance from one installation to another.

Bass Extension to 32Hz

A single 1000 IWSUB Utopia has a rated frequency response of 40Hz to 2.5kHz, with a low-frequency point of 32Hz at -6dB.

That's substantial extension from an architectural module only four inches deep.

But in a reference home theater, bass design isn't simply about looking at the lowest number on a specification sheet.

Room dimensions, seating locations, crossover points, output requirements, room modes, and the number and placement of bass sources all matter.

Depending on the theater, we may use multiple IWSUB Utopia modules, additional dedicated subwoofers, or a combination of both.

The right answer depends on the room.

Behind an Acoustically Transparent Screen

Pairing the IWSUB Utopia with the IWLCR Utopia gives us an incredible option for a projection-based private cinema.

We can build the entire front sound system behind an acoustically transparent screen.

The left, center, and right speakers disappear behind the image.

The architectural bass system disappears with them.

Dialogue originates from the actors on screen, effects move naturally across the image, and the equipment itself stays out of sight.

That's how we want a purpose-built theater to work.

A Complete Utopia Architectural Theater

The 1000 IWSUB Utopia can become part of a completely integrated Focal theater:

1000 IWLCR Utopia for the front left, center, and right channels.

1000 IWSUB Utopia modules for architectural bass.

Focal 1000 Series in-wall speakers for surrounds and rear surrounds.

Focal 1000 Series in-ceiling speakers for Dolby Atmos.

From there, we design the processing, amplification, projection, acoustics, seating, lighting, and automation around the room.

The technology disappears.

The theater doesn't.

Key Specifications

• Type: Passive Closed In-Wall Subwoofer
• Bass Drivers: Three 6.5" W-Cone Drivers
• Cone Technology: Focal W-Cone
• Frequency Response: 40Hz–2.5kHz
• Low-Frequency Point: 32Hz
• Vertical or Horizontal Installation
• Modular Architecture
• Multiple Modules Can Be Combined
• Up to 16 IWSUB Utopia Modules Supported
• Configurable Impedance Based on System Design
• Speakon Connectivity
• Height: 29.125"
• Width: 12"
• Depth: 4"
• Mounting Height: 22.25"
• Mounting Width: 10.87"
• Mounting Depth: 3.87"
• Magnetic Paintable Grille Included
• Black and White Felt Included

Focal Utopia Private Cinema at The Grid HiFi

The Grid HiFi is a Focal Powered by Naim store and custom integration specialist in Houston, Texas.

A product like the 1000 IWSUB Utopia isn't something we choose in isolation.

We design the bass system around the room.

That means looking at room dimensions, construction, seating locations, screen size, speaker placement, crossover points, required output, amplifier requirements, room modes, and the number and location of subwoofer modules before construction is completed.

For a reference installation, we can combine the 1000 IWSUB Utopia with three matching 1000 IWLCR Utopia speakers behind an acoustically transparent screen and build the rest of the theater around them.

From there, The Grid can handle the entire private cinema—Focal speakers and subwoofers, processing, amplification, projection, acoustically transparent screens, acoustic treatment, theater seating, lighting control, networking, and Control4 automation.

At this level, bass isn't something we add to the theater after it's built.

We design it into the room from the beginning.

Let The Grid HiFi design and install your complete Focal Utopia private cinema in Houston, Texas.