18SOUND 15ND830
18SOUND (Eighteen Sound) 15ND830 — 15" / 15 inch · Woofer/Midrange (WM) · Subwoofer / Bass · Neodymium
3" voice coil · 8 Ω
Part no.: 42A-CHS-TT-18S-0054
Documents
18SOUND 15ND830 — 15" · Woofer
450 W AES · 98 dB Sensitivity · Frequency range 38 Hz – 5000 Hz
Technical data
- Diameter: 15 "
- Voice coil: 3 "
- Power handling: 450 W AES
- Sensitivity: 98 dB
- Impedance: 8 Ω
- Magnet: Neo
- Weight: 4.6 kg
- Mounting depth: 177 mm
- Frequency range: 38 – 5000 Hz
Datasheet (PDF) · Manufacturer page
Series: ND · Part no.: 42A-CHS-TT-18S-0054
18Sound 15ND830: 15" neodymium woofer with 38 Hz lower limit and 5,000 Hz bandwidth
The rated range of the 18Sound 15ND830 runs from 38 to 5,000 Hz, a remarkable span for a 15" driver. This neodymium unit from the ND series is designed as a woofer/midrange, weighs 4.6 kg, carries a 3" voice coil and handles 450 W AES. Sensitivity of 98 dB is a good figure for the combination of low resonance and wide bandwidth.
With Fs 39 Hz, Qts 0.32 and a large Vas of 213 l, the 15ND830 is more compliant than most of its series siblings; the force factor is 18 Tm, moving mass 80 g and Xmax 6.5 mm. The lower Qms of 3.9 indicates a more heavily damped suspension. The EBP of 111 is still in vented territory, but close enough to the boundary that larger, lower-tuned enclosures work well too.
Use and enclosure
The vented guideline is comparatively large at around 121 l tuned to 46 Hz with a lower cut-off of about 50 Hz. In return, a 2-way top with this driver delivers genuine extension that covers many applications without an additional subwoofer, such as acoustic sets, speech or DJ sets in small rooms. The sealed alignment of roughly 55 l with a system resonance near 86 Hz is in turn useful as a midrange chamber in large 3-way systems. Other alignments can be calculated with the enclosure tool at 42.audio.
The bandwidth up to 5,000 Hz gives you headroom on the crossover frequency, even though the 1.54 mH inductance and the beaming of a 15" cone argue for handing over to a compression driver well below that figure. Mounting depth is 177 mm. With 6.5 mm Xmax and low tuning, make sure there is a high-pass filter below the tuning frequency, as that is where a vented box loses control of the cone.
What to look out for
- Fs 39 Hz, Vas 213 l: can be tuned low, but needs around 121 l of vented volume.
- 4.6 kg neodymium: a light cabinet despite the large enclosure.
- 450 W AES, 6.5 mm Xmax: a high-pass below the tuning frequency is mandatory.
- Re 5.7 Ω, 8 Ω nominal, alternatively a 4 Ω version: choose the amplifier accordingly.
- 177 mm mounting depth, Le 1.54 mH, range up to 5,000 Hz.
Frequently asked questions
15ND830 or 15NLW9500, what is the difference?
Both have Qts 0.32 and similar resonance, the 15NLW9500 at 35 Hz Fs with 163 l Vas. The 15NLW9500 is a pure low-frequency driver from the NLW series for subwoofers, while the 15ND830 is a woofer/midrange with bandwidth up to 5,000 Hz for 2-way cabinets.
Can I run the 15ND830 without a subwoofer?
In a vented box around 121 l the guideline reaches down to about 50 Hz, which is enough for many applications without a sub. At high levels in the low bass the 6.5 mm excursion becomes the limit, and then a subwoofer is the better solution.
How does the 15ND830 compare with the Beyma 15LEX1600Fe?
The Beyma has almost identical parameters at 38 Hz Fs and Qts 0.33, but only 106 l Vas and a ferrite magnet. The 15ND830 needs a larger box with its 213 l Vas, yet at 4.6 kg it is considerably lighter.
At 42.audio you get the 18SOUND 15ND830 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 | 39 Hz |
| Total Q Qts | 0.32 |
| Electrical Q Qes | 0.35 |
| Mechanical Q Qms | 3.9 |
| Equivalent volume Vas | 213.0 l |
| Moving mass Mms | 80.0 g |
| Cone area Sd | 850 cm² |
| Linear excursion Xmax | 6.5 mm |
| Force factor BL | 18 Tm |
| DC resistance Re | 5.7 Ω |
| Voice coil inductance Le | 1.54 mH |
Enclosure suggestion
The EBP of 111 suggests a bass-reflex enclosure. EBP = fs / Qes = 39 / 0.35
Sealed (Qtc 0.707)
- Enclosure volume Vb
- 54.9 l
- System resonance Fc
- 86 Hz
- Cut-off frequency F3
- 86 Hz
Bass reflex (QB3 after Small)recommended
- Enclosure volume Vb
- 99.2 l
- Tuning frequency Fb
- 49 Hz
- Cut-off frequency F3
- 55 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 15NLW9500fs 35 Hz · Qts 0.32 · Vas 163 l · in the shop
- FaitalPRO 15PR400fs 35 Hz · Qts 0.32 · Vas 248.9 l · in the database
- B&C Speakers 15TBW100fs 39 Hz · Qts 0.31 · Vas 96 l · in the database
- Beyma 15LEX1600Fefs 38 Hz · Qts 0.33 · Vas 106 l · in the shop
- FaitalPRO 15HP1060fs 40 Hz · Qts 0.31 · Vas 100.3 l · in the database
- FaitalPRO 15XL1400fs 38 Hz · Qts 0.33 · Vas 91.2 l · in the database
Specifications
| Allgemein | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | 18SOUND |
| Category | Low Frequency |
| Series | ND |
| Magnet | Neo |
| Impedance (Ω) | 8 |
| Power handling (W) | 450 |
| Sensitivity (dB) | 98 |
| Frequency from (Hz) | 38 |
| Frequency to (Hz) | 5000 |
| Abmessungen & Korb | |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 15 |
| Voice coil (inch) | 3 |
| Mounting depth (mm) | 177 |
| Weight (kg) | 4.6 |
| Thiele-Small-Parameter | |
|---|---|
| Re (Ω) | 5.7 |
| Le (mH) | 1.54 |
| Fs (Hz) | 39 |
| Qms | 3.9 |
| Qes | 0.35 |
| Qts | 0.32 |
| Vas (l) | 213 |
| Xmax (mm) | 6.5 |
| BL (Tm) | 18 |
| Mms (kg) | 0.08 |
| Sd (m²) | 0.085 |