18SOUND 15NLW9401
18SOUND (Eighteen Sound) 15NLW9401 — 15" / 15 inch · Woofer · Subwoofer / Bass · Neodymium
4" voice coil · 8 Ω
Part no.: 42A-CHS-TT-18S-0049
Documents
18SOUND 15NLW9401 — 15" · Woofer
1200 W AES · 97.5 dB Sensitivity · Frequency range 37 Hz – 2300 Hz
Technical data
- Diameter: 15 "
- Voice coil: 4 "
- Power handling: 1200 W AES
- Sensitivity: 97.5 dB
- Impedance: 8 Ω
- Magnet: Neo
- Weight: 7.5 kg
- Mounting depth: 180 mm
- Frequency range: 37 – 2300 Hz
Datasheet (PDF) · Manufacturer page
Series: NLW · Part no.: 42A-CHS-TT-18S-0049
18Sound 15NLW9401: 15" neodymium subwoofer with 1200 W and 10 mm Xmax
If you are after a 15" bass driver with plenty of excursion and high power handling at low weight, 18Sound's 15NLW9401 is an obvious stop. This NLW series driver pairs a neodymium motor with a 4" voice coil, handles 1200 W AES and weighs 7.5 kg. Its 97.5 dB sensitivity is high for a driver with 10 mm linear excursion and 140 g of moving mass.
The Thiele-Small data show the intent: Fs 39 Hz, Qts 0.26, Qes 0.28 and a Vas of 134 l that is moderate for a 15". The motor with BL 25.4 Tm is among the strongest in this class; the 1.9 mH inductance is the price of the long 4" coil. The stated range runs from 37 Hz to 2300 Hz, so this driver is meant for subwoofer and bass duty, not midrange.
Use and enclosure
A vented box is the natural choice: EBP 139 and Qts 0.26 leave little room for sealed designs. The guide value from the TSP is around 42 l net, tuned to 55 Hz with an f3 near 67 Hz – a very compact volume for a 15", thanks to the small Vas. For deeper extension you go larger in volume and lower in tuning and pay with efficiency; such variants are easy to try in the enclosure calculator at 42.audio. The strong motor is also a good starting point for bandpass or horn designs.
With 10 mm Xmax and 1200 W the 15NLW9401 takes serious amplifier power into 8 Ω. Cross low as a subwoofer; as the bass in a 2-way system stay well below the 2300 Hz upper limit. The 180 mm mounting depth is moderate for a 4" neodymium woofer.
What to look out for
- 1200 W AES power handling and 10 mm Xmax: built for high continuous power.
- 8 Ω, Re 5.2 Ω: work with the real impedance when paralleling several drivers.
- 7.5 kg thanks to the neodymium magnet, mounting depth 180 mm.
- Le 1.9 mH: upper limit 2300 Hz, not a midrange driver.
- Vas 134 l and Qts 0.26: small vented volume around 42 l as a guide value.
Frequently asked questions
15NLW9401 or 15NLW9300 – which one is right?
The 15NLW9401 has more power handling (1200 W), more excursion (10 mm) and a stronger motor with BL 25.4 Tm. The 15NLW9300 is somewhat weaker at 800 W and 8 mm Xmax but lighter on the cone and rated for a wider range at the top. For subwoofers with high output demands take the 9401.
How low does the 15NLW9401 go in a vented box?
The guide value is an f3 around 67 Hz in 42 l tuned to 55 Hz. That is a compact, high-output alignment; for deeper bass you increase the volume and tune lower, which the enclosure calculator lets you follow step by step.
Which power amplifier fits?
A channel delivering around 1200 W into 8 Ω makes full use of the driver. A high-pass below the tuning frequency protects the 4" voice coil from over-excursion.
At 42.audio you get the 18SOUND 15NLW9401 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 | 0.26 |
| Electrical Q Qes | 0.28 |
| Mechanical Q Qms | 4.13 |
| Equivalent volume Vas | 134.0 l |
| Moving mass Mms | 140.0 g |
| Cone area Sd | 850 cm² |
| Linear excursion Xmax | 10 mm |
| Force factor BL | 25.4 Tm |
| DC resistance Re | 5.2 Ω |
| Voice coil inductance Le | 1.9 mH |
Enclosure suggestion
The EBP of 139 suggests a bass-reflex enclosure. EBP = fs / Qes = 39 / 0.28
Sealed (Qtc 0.707)
- Enclosure volume Vb
- 21.0 l
- System resonance Fc
- 106 Hz
- Cut-off frequency F3
- 106 Hz
Bass reflex (QB3 after Small)recommended
- Enclosure volume Vb
- 31.4 l
- Tuning frequency Fb
- 61 Hz
- Cut-off frequency F3
- 74 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 15NLW9300fs 39 Hz · Qts 0.26 · Vas 170 l · in the shop
- 18 Sound 15ND940fs 39 Hz · Qts 0.26 · Vas 170 l · in the database
- 18 Sound 15NLW4500fs 35 Hz · Qts 0.26 · Vas 111 l · in the shop
- FaitalPRO 15FH510fs 35 Hz · Qts 0.26 · Vas 191.8 l · in the database
- FaitalPRO 15FX600fs 38 Hz · Qts 0.27 · Vas 128.3 l · in the database
- FaitalPRO 15HP1020fs 40 Hz · Qts 0.27 · Vas 126.6 l · in the database
Specifications
| Allgemein | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | 18SOUND |
| Category | Low Frequency |
| Series | NLW |
| Magnet | Neo |
| Impedance (Ω) | 8 |
| Power handling (W) | 1200 |
| Sensitivity (dB) | 97.5 |
| Frequency from (Hz) | 37 |
| Frequency to (Hz) | 2300 |
| Abmessungen & Korb | |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 15 |
| Voice coil (inch) | 4 |
| Mounting depth (mm) | 180 |
| Weight (kg) | 7.5 |
| Thiele-Small-Parameter | |
|---|---|
| Re (Ω) | 5.2 |
| Le (mH) | 1.9 |
| Fs (Hz) | 39 |
| Qms | 4.13 |
| Qes | 0.28 |
| Qts | 0.26 |
| Vas (l) | 134 |
| Xmax (mm) | 10 |
| BL (Tm) | 25.4 |
| Mms (kg) | 0.14 |
| Sd (m²) | 0.085 |