I've got a theory: Howard Hughes never actually died, and is the current creative force behind Danley Sound Labs. We covered their eleven-driver SH-96 enclosure a while back, and now we've simply got to relay this one.

According to Danley, the U.S. Military approached them about designing and building a subwoofer that could accurately reproduce the sonic impact of battle field explosions for combat simulation training. The project resulted in the Matterhorn, currently the world's biggest single subwoofer enclosure.

The Matterhorn started life as a 20 x 8 x 8 foot military cargo container. This converted steel box now houses 40 woofers, driven by 40,000 watts (integrated amplifier -- they didn't have the gall to sell the military a passive box). The internal baffling and speaker mounting required:

• 53 - Sheets 4′ x 8′ 18mm 13 ply Baltic Birch plywood
• 645′-- 3″x 3″ 1/4″ angle iron
• 23′-- 4″x 4″ square steel tubing
• 39′-- 1″x 1″ X 1/4″ angle iron
• 23 lbs -- .030 welding wire
• 95 - Tubes of heavy duty construction adhesive
• 1100’ -- 12 Gauge speaker cable
• Approx. 5000 mechanical fasteners (1/4″and 3/8″) screws and bolts

Additionally, Danley went through 2 drills,1 grinder,1 portable band saw, and over $200 worth of drill bits. But the best part about the Matterhorn? Since it was paid for with taxpayer money, we all own a part of the world's biggest subwoofer! All you have to do is fill out the appropriate requisition form (67 pages, double-sided) and wait for your name to reach the top of the forty-year-long wait list (there's a good chance you'll get it in time for V.Iq. day).