18SOUND 15LW1401
18SOUND (Eighteen Sound) 15LW1401 — 15" / 15 inch · Woofer · Subwoofer / Bass · Ferrite Magnet
4" voice coil · 8 Ω
Part no.: 42A-CHS-TT-18S-0015
Documents
18SOUND 15LW1401 — 15" · Woofer
1000 W AES · 98 dB Sensitivity · Frequency range 40 Hz – 2400 Hz
Technical data
- Diameter: 15 "
- Voice coil: 4 "
- Power handling: 1000 W AES
- Sensitivity: 98 dB
- Impedance: 8 Ω
- Magnet: Ferrite
- Weight: 12.9 kg
- Mounting depth: 163 mm
- Frequency range: 40 – 2400 Hz
Datasheet (PDF) · Manufacturer page
Series: LW · Part no.: 42A-CHS-TT-18S-0015
18Sound 15LW1401: 15" woofer with 4" voice coil for compact vented subs
The 18Sound 15LW1401 is a 15" woofer from the LW series with a ferrite magnet and a 4" voice coil, rated at 1,000 W AES continuous. Within the 18Sound range, LW stands for rugged ferrite bass drivers for subwoofers and the bass sections of PA cabinets, and the 15LW1401 is the version with a strong motor and moderate excursion: 24.2 Tm of force factor, 9 mm Xmax and a moving mass of 125 g.
With 98 dB sensitivity, a Qts of 0.27 and a Vas of 131 l, this driver sits firmly in the "small box, high output" category. The EBP of 150 tells the same story: powerful motor, stiff suspension, and therefore a candidate for vented or horn loading rather than a large sealed enclosure. The usable band runs from 40 to 2,400 Hz, although the voice coil inductance of 2.15 mH audibly rolls off the upper part of that range.
Use and enclosure
As a guideline derived from the Thiele-Small parameters, a vented enclosure of about 46 l tuned to 57 Hz gives a lower cut-off around 68 Hz. That is the classic alignment for compact bass tops or small dual-15" rental subs, where pack size and output matter more than the last bit of extension. Sealed, the guideline is roughly 22 l with a system resonance around 110 Hz, which makes more sense for a kick-bass section in a multi-way system than for a subwoofer. Other alignments can be worked out with the enclosure calculator at 42.audio.
In a 2-way top with a 1.4" or 2" compression driver, set the crossover well below the upper limit of 2,400 Hz. The 2.15 mH inductance argues for active DSP crossovers; with a passive network you will want an impedance correction circuit. For mounting, allow 163 mm of depth plus air behind the magnet, and with 12.9 kg per driver the baffle needs to be built accordingly.
What to look out for
- 8 Ω nominal, Re 5 Ω: two drivers in parallel present 4 Ω, which the amplifier must drive reliably.
- 1,000 W AES rating but only 9 mm Xmax: set a limiter, otherwise excursion becomes the ceiling.
- Mounting depth 163 mm and 12.9 kg weight: plan the baffle and handles for a ferrite motor.
- Le 2.15 mH: sluggish above the bass region, so prefer active crossovers.
- Available in 4 or 8 Ω, so match the impedance to your amplifier before ordering.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the 15LW1401 and the 15LW1410?
Both share Fs 42 Hz, Qts 0.27 and Vas 131 l, so they fit the same enclosures. The 15LW1410 has less than half the voice coil inductance at 1 mH, but 8.5 mm instead of 9 mm Xmax. As a pure subwoofer they are equivalent; in a 2-way top the 15LW1410 has a slight edge at the top of its range.
Which amplifier suits the 15LW1401?
An amplifier in the region of the 1,000 W AES rating at 8 Ω makes sense, but a properly set limiter matters more than raw wattage. With two drivers in parallel the amplifier runs at 4 Ω and must handle that continuously.
Is the 15LW1401 suitable for home cinema or hi-fi subwoofers?
With Qts 0.27 and an EBP of 150 it is designed for small vented PA enclosures, not for deep tuning in a living room. The lower cut-off around 68 Hz in the guideline box points the way; for home cinema, drivers with higher Qts and more excursion are the better choice.
At 42.audio you get the 18SOUND 15LW1401 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 | 42 Hz |
| Total Q Qts | 0.27 |
| Electrical Q Qes | 0.28 |
| Mechanical Q Qms | 5.36 |
| Equivalent volume Vas | 131.0 l |
| Moving mass Mms | 125.0 g |
| Cone area Sd | 850 cm² |
| Linear excursion Xmax | 9 mm |
| Force factor BL | 24.2 Tm |
| DC resistance Re | 5 Ω |
| Voice coil inductance Le | 2.15 mH |
Enclosure suggestion
The EBP of 150 suggests a bass-reflex enclosure. EBP = fs / Qes = 42 / 0.28
Sealed (Qtc 0.707)
- Enclosure volume Vb
- 22.4 l
- System resonance Fc
- 110 Hz
- Cut-off frequency F3
- 110 Hz
Bass reflex (QB3 after Small)recommended
- Enclosure volume Vb
- 34.8 l
- Tuning frequency Fb
- 63 Hz
- Cut-off frequency F3
- 75 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 15LW1410fs 42 Hz · Qts 0.27 · Vas 131 l · in the shop
- 18 Sound 15W700fs 41 Hz · Qts 0.27 · Vas 180 l · in the database
- FaitalPRO 15HP1020fs 40 Hz · Qts 0.27 · Vas 126.6 l · in the database
- FaitalPRO 15FX600fs 38 Hz · Qts 0.27 · Vas 128.3 l · in the database
- B&C Speakers 15NBX100fs 37 Hz · Qts 0.27 · Vas 109.6 l · in the database
- B&C Speakers 15NDL88fs 41 Hz · Qts 0.28 · Vas 154 l · in the database
Specifications
| Allgemein | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | 18SOUND |
| Category | Low Frequency |
| Series | LW |
| Magnet | Ferrite |
| Impedance (Ω) | 8 |
| Power handling (W) | 1000 |
| Sensitivity (dB) | 98 |
| Frequency from (Hz) | 40 |
| Frequency to (Hz) | 2400 |
| Abmessungen & Korb | |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 15 |
| Voice coil (inch) | 4 |
| Mounting depth (mm) | 163 |
| Weight (kg) | 12.9 |
| Thiele-Small-Parameter | |
|---|---|
| Re (Ω) | 5 |
| Le (mH) | 2.15 |
| Fs (Hz) | 42 |
| Qms | 5.36 |
| Qes | 0.28 |
| Qts | 0.27 |
| Vas (l) | 131 |
| Xmax (mm) | 9 |
| BL (Tm) | 24.2 |
| Mms (kg) | 0.125 |
| Sd (m²) | 0.085 |