18SOUND 12NW350
18SOUND (Eighteen Sound) 12NW350 — 12" / 12 inch · Woofer/Midrange (WM) · Bass · Neodymium
3.5" voice coil · 8 Ω
Part no.: 42A-CHS-TT-18S-0061
Documents
18SOUND 12NW350 — 12" · Woofer
800 W AES · 98 dB Sensitivity · Frequency range 50 Hz – 3500 Hz
Technical data
- Diameter: 12 "
- Voice coil: 3.5 "
- Power handling: 800 W AES
- Sensitivity: 98 dB
- Impedance: 8 Ω
- Magnet: Neo
- Weight: 5.1 kg
- Mounting depth: 150 mm
- Frequency range: 50 – 3500 Hz
Datasheet (PDF) · Manufacturer page
Series: NW · Part no.: 42A-CHS-TT-18S-0061
18Sound 12NW350: 12" neodymium woofer with 3.5" voice coil, 800 W and 98 dB
The 18Sound 12NW350 pairs a classic 3.5" voice coil with a neodymium magnet system and arrives at 800 W AES at 5.1 kg. The 98 dB sensitivity and a frequency range of 50 to 3,500 Hz make it a woofer/midrange for tops that should deliver plenty of level at manageable weight.
The Thiele-Small parameters sit squarely in the middle ground: Fs 54 Hz, Qts 0.34, Vas 46 l, Xmax 8.3 mm and a 19.2 Tm motor with 75 g moving mass. What stands out is the high Qms of 12 – the suspension has very low mechanical losses, so damping comes almost entirely from the motor. The 0.85 mH inductance is moderate for a 3.5" coil and suggests measures against impedance rise in the magnetic circuit.
Use and enclosure
The EBP of 154 argues for bass reflex. The guideline works out to 31 l net tuned to 60 Hz with an f3 around 64 Hz – a compact top that works with or without a subwoofer depending on the programme material. Sealed, 14 l lands at a 112 Hz system resonance, which fits well as a low-mid chamber in a 3-way system. Finalise the design with the enclosure calculator on 42.audio.
With a 3,500 Hz upper limit the crossover to a 1" or 1.4" compression driver with a horn from the 18Sound range is flexible; the 0.85 mH is easy to linearise with an RC network in a passive crossover. The 800 W AES into 8 Ω calls for an amplifier with headroom, although the 98 dB sensitivity already delivers high levels with less power.
What to look out for
- Qms 12: low-loss suspension, damping almost purely electrical.
- 800 W AES into 8 Ω, Re 5 Ω – amplifier with headroom, 98 dB helps with level.
- Le 0.85 mH: moderate impedance rise, easy to handle passively.
- 5.1 kg and 150 mm mounting depth.
- Xmax 8.3 mm – set a high-pass below the tuning frequency.
Frequently asked questions
12NW350 or 12W750 – neodymium or ferrite?
Both have 98 dB, Fs around 54 to 55 Hz and Qts around 0.33 to 0.34, so they are closely related in sound and enclosure. The 12NW350 stays much lighter at 5.1 kg thanks to neodymium and handles 800 W; the 12W750 has a larger Vas of 61 l and is the choice when weight does not matter.
What does the high Qms of 12 mean in practice?
A high Qms means the suspension converts hardly any energy into heat. The total damping Qts of 0.34 is determined almost entirely by the motor (Qes 0.35), which lets the driver respond precisely to the amplifier. For the enclosure design only the Qts counts anyway.
Which enclosure for a full-range top?
Bass reflex with around 31 l tuned to 60 Hz gives an f3 near 64 Hz. That is enough for speech and most music applications without a sub; for deep bass, cross to a subwoofer and relieve the 8.3 mm Xmax.
18Sound 12NW350: 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 12NW350 is a 12-inch woofer with neodymium magnet from the NW 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 12NW350 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 | 54 Hz |
| Total Q Qts | 0.34 |
| Electrical Q Qes | 0.35 |
| Mechanical Q Qms | 12 |
| Equivalent volume Vas | 46.0 l |
| Moving mass Mms | 75.0 g |
| Cone area Sd | 531 cm² |
| Linear excursion Xmax | 8.3 mm |
| Force factor BL | 19.2 Tm |
| DC resistance Re | 5 Ω |
| Voice coil inductance Le | 0.85 mH |
Enclosure suggestion
The EBP of 154 suggests a bass-reflex enclosure. EBP = fs / Qes = 54 / 0.35
Sealed (Qtc 0.707)
- Enclosure volume Vb
- 13.8 l
- System resonance Fc
- 112 Hz
- Cut-off frequency F3
- 112 Hz
Bass reflex (QB3 after Small)recommended
- Enclosure volume Vb
- 26.2 l
- Tuning frequency Fb
- 64 Hz
- Cut-off frequency F3
- 69 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 %.
- 18 Sound 12LW801fs 54 Hz · Qts 0.33 · Vas 41 l · in the database
- 18 Sound 12W750fs 55 Hz · Qts 0.33 · Vas 61 l · in the shop
- 18 Sound 12NTLW3500fs 53 Hz · Qts 0.33 · Vas 45 l · in the shop
- B&C Speakers 12FW88fs 53 Hz · Qts 0.33 · Vas 45.7 l · in the database
- FaitalPRO 12HP1010fs 45 Hz · Qts 0.34 · Vas 56.5 l · in the database
- 18 Sound 12W500fs 49 Hz · Qts 0.35 · Vas 101 l · in the database
Specifications
| Allgemein | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | 18SOUND |
| Category | Low Frequency |
| Series | NW |
| Magnet | Neo |
| Impedance (Ω) | 8 |
| Power handling (W) | 800 |
| Sensitivity (dB) | 98 |
| Frequency from (Hz) | 50 |
| Frequency to (Hz) | 3500 |
| Abmessungen & Korb | |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 12 |
| Voice coil (inch) | 3.5 |
| Mounting depth (mm) | 150 |
| Weight (kg) | 5.1 |
| Thiele-Small-Parameter | |
|---|---|
| Re (Ω) | 5 |
| Le (mH) | 0.85 |
| Fs (Hz) | 54 |
| Qms | 12 |
| Qes | 0.35 |
| Qts | 0.34 |
| Vas (l) | 46 |
| Xmax (mm) | 8.3 |
| BL (Tm) | 19.2 |
| Mms (kg) | 0.075 |
| Sd (m²) | 0.0531 |