18SOUND 12NLW9300
18SOUND (Eighteen Sound) 12NLW9300 — 12" / 12 inch · Woofer/Midrange (WM) · Bass · Neodymium
4" voice coil · 8 Ω
Part no.: 42A-CHS-TT-18S-0063
Documents
18SOUND 12NLW9300 — 12" · Woofer
800 W AES · 97 dB Sensitivity · Frequency range 45 Hz – 3200 Hz
Technical data
- Diameter: 12 "
- Voice coil: 4 "
- Power handling: 800 W AES
- Sensitivity: 97 dB
- Impedance: 8 Ω
- Magnet: Neo
- Weight: 6.2 kg
- Mounting depth: 153 mm
- Frequency range: 45 – 3200 Hz
Datasheet (PDF) · Manufacturer page
Series: NLW · Part no.: 42A-CHS-TT-18S-0063
18Sound 12NLW9300: 12" neodymium woofer with 4" voice coil and real extension in a reflex box
Among 18Sound's 12" neodymium drivers the 12NLW9300 is the exception that is allowed to go deep. With a Qts of 0.42, a 47 Hz resonance and 56 l Vas it is laid out for bass-reflex suitability rather than maximum efficiency. The 4" voice coil rated at 800 W AES and the 8 mm Xmax provide the thermal and mechanical reserve for it.
With 97 dB sensitivity, 6.2 kg weight and a frequency range of 45 to 3,200 Hz, the NLW woofer is meant for tops that should sound complete without a subwoofer. The 0.53 mH inductance is remarkably low for a 4" coil – a sign of a magnet system with a shorting ring that keeps impedance flat and lowers distortion in the fundamental range.
Use and enclosure
The EBP of 104 sits right at the point where bass reflex becomes the clearly better choice. As a guideline you get around 70 l net tuned to 43 Hz with an f3 near 41 Hz. That is a full-range top or a compact bass cabinet that carries the low end without a sub. Sealed, 31 l gives a system resonance of 79 Hz – useful for studio monitors with equalisation or as a generous low-mid chamber. The enclosure calculator on 42.audio lets you adapt the volume to your requirements.
The top end stops at 3,200 Hz, which is entirely sufficient for a 2-way design with a 1.4" compression driver and a horn from the 18Sound range. The low inductance makes a passive crossover much easier. At 800 W AES and 8 Ω, think about an amplifier that stays stable under sustained bass load.
What to look out for
- 4" voice coil, 800 W AES: high thermal capacity for continuous use.
- Qts 0.42 – bass-reflex guideline 70 l, f3 around 41 Hz.
- Le 0.53 mH despite a 4" coil: flat impedance, easy crossover.
- Xmax 8 mm, Mms 82 g – controlled excursion in deep bass.
- 6.2 kg, mounting depth 153 mm.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference to the 12NTLS3500?
Both have a Qts around 0.41 to 0.42 and similarly sized reflex boxes. The 12NTLS3500 with its dual-gap motor and lower sensitivity leans towards studio and hi-fi, while the 12NLW9300 with 97 dB and 800 W is built for PA levels. Both are in the driver database on 42.audio for direct comparison.
Does the 12NLW9300 work in a sealed enclosure?
Yes, 31 l gives a system resonance of 79 Hz. That is usable for a studio-monitor concept with active equalisation; for PA without a sub, bass reflex with 70 l and f3 near 41 Hz is the better choice.
Which power amplifier fits?
A channel delivering 800 W into 8 Ω uses the full rating; thanks to the 97 dB, less is still enough for high levels. A subsonic filter below the 43 Hz tuning frequency protects the 8 mm Xmax at full load.
18Sound 12NLW9300: manufacturer, spellings and classification
18Sound, 18 Sound and Eighteensound all refer to the same manufacturer: Eighteen Sound S.r.l. of Reggio Emilia, Italy. The 12NLW9300 is a 12-inch woofer with neodymium magnet from the NLW series, available from 42.audio, 18Sound dealer in Germany, with datasheet and full specifications in the driver database.
At 42.audio you get the 18SOUND 12NLW9300 with datasheet PDF, all key data in the driver database and the enclosure calculator. More drivers from this manufacturer: Atlas 18Sound.
Thiele-Small parameters
| Nominal impedance | 8 Ω |
|---|---|
| Resonance frequency fs | 47 Hz |
| Total Q Qts | 0.42 |
| Electrical Q Qes | 0.45 |
| Mechanical Q Qms | 5.5 |
| Equivalent volume Vas | 56.0 l |
| Moving mass Mms | 82.0 g |
| Cone area Sd | 531 cm² |
| Linear excursion Xmax | 8 mm |
| Force factor BL | 17 Tm |
| DC resistance Re | 4.7 Ω |
| Voice coil inductance Le | 0.53 mH |
Enclosure suggestion
The EBP of 104 suggests a bass-reflex enclosure. EBP = fs / Qes = 47 / 0.45
Sealed (Qtc 0.707)
- Enclosure volume Vb
- 30.5 l
- System resonance Fc
- 79 Hz
- Cut-off frequency F3
- 79 Hz
Bass reflex (QB3 after Small)recommended
- Enclosure volume Vb
- 64.0 l
- Tuning frequency Fb
- 45 Hz
- Cut-off frequency F3
- 44 Hz
Vb is the required net internal volume, Fb the tuning frequency of the reflex port and F3 the frequency at which the level has dropped by 3 dB. Calculated approximation after Small. A starting point for simulation, not a finished build plan.
Comparable drivers
Same size, same type, Qts within ±30 %.
- FaitalPRO 12PR310fs 50 Hz · Qts 0.42 · Vas 77.3 l · in the database
- FaitalPRO 12XL1200fs 50 Hz · Qts 0.42 · Vas 25 l · in the database
- FaitalPRO 12PR300fs 50 Hz · Qts 0.41 · Vas 73.9 l · in the database
- FaitalPRO 12RS1066fs 45 Hz · Qts 0.44 · Vas 28.4 l · in the database
- 18 Sound 12NTLS3500-8fs 41 Hz · Qts 0.41 · Vas 65 l · in the database
- 18 Sound 12NTLS3500fs 41 Hz · Qts 0.41 · Vas 65 l · in the database
Specifications
| Allgemein | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | 18SOUND |
| Category | Low Frequency |
| Series | NLW |
| Magnet | Neo |
| Impedance (Ω) | 8 |
| Power handling (W) | 800 |
| Sensitivity (dB) | 97 |
| Frequency from (Hz) | 45 |
| Frequency to (Hz) | 3200 |
| Abmessungen & Korb | |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 12 |
| Voice coil (inch) | 4 |
| Mounting depth (mm) | 153 |
| Weight (kg) | 6.2 |
| Thiele-Small-Parameter | |
|---|---|
| Re (Ω) | 4.7 |
| Le (mH) | 0.53 |
| Fs (Hz) | 47 |
| Qms | 5.5 |
| Qes | 0.45 |
| Qts | 0.42 |
| Vas (l) | 56 |
| Xmax (mm) | 8 |
| BL (Tm) | 17 |
| Mms (kg) | 0.082 |
| Sd (m²) | 0.0531 |