18SOUND 15NTLW2500
18SOUND (Eighteen Sound) 15NTLW2500 — 15" / 15 inch · Woofer/Midrange (WM) · Subwoofer / Bass · Neodymium · Dual-Gap
2x2.5" voice coil · 8 Ω
Part no.: 42A-CHS-TT-18S-0046
Documents
18SOUND 15NTLW2500 — 15" · Woofer
600 W AES · 100.5 dB Sensitivity · Frequency range 45 Hz – 3200 Hz
Technical data
- Diameter: 15 "
- Voice coil: 2.5 "
- Power handling: 600 W AES
- Sensitivity: 100.5 dB
- Impedance: 8 Ω
- Magnet: Neo
- Weight: 3.8 kg
- Mounting depth: 210 mm
- Frequency range: 45 – 3200 Hz
Datasheet (PDF) · Manufacturer page
Series: NTLW · Part no.: 42A-CHS-TT-18S-0046
18Sound 15NTLW2500: 15" neodymium woofer with 100.5 dB and dual-gap motor
100.5 dB sensitivity at 3.8 kg – the 15NTLW2500 shows what a neodymium dual-gap motor with two 2.5" voice coils can do on a light 15" cone. 18Sound lists it in the NTLW series as a woofer with midrange capability; the stated range of 45 Hz to 3200 Hz and the low 0.65 mH inductance back that up.
The Thiele-Small parameters fit a high-efficiency bass for tops: Fs 45 Hz, Qts 0.3, Qes 0.31, Vas 143 l, Mms 95 g and BL 21.2 Tm. Power handling is 600 W AES and linear excursion 8 mm. The double-gap design uses two air gaps in the same magnet system, which yields more motor force and more uniform excursion for a given magnet volume.
Use and enclosure
With an EBP of 145 there is no way around a vented box. The guide value is about 68 l net tuned to 56 Hz with an f3 near 63 Hz – a handy volume for a 15" top or a light full-range monitor with a horn. If you use the 15NTLW2500 as a kick bass in a larger system, you stay in the same range. The enclosure calculator at 42.audio provides port dimensions and alternative tunings.
At the top, with a 3200 Hz upper limit, the driver reaches well into the midrange, which relaxes the crossover in a 2-way box with a 1.4" or 2" compression driver. For horn selection 42.audio points to the 18Sound horns & waveguides category. The 210 mm mounting depth is slightly greater than on conventional neodymium woofers of this size because of the dual-gap motor.
What to look out for
- 100.5 dB sensitivity: very high efficiency for a 15" driver.
- 3.8 kg thanks to neodymium, mounting depth 210 mm.
- Dual-gap motor with 2x2.5" voice coil, 600 W AES into 8 Ω (Re 5.1 Ω).
- Le 0.65 mH: clean up to 3200 Hz.
- Xmax 8 mm, vented guide value 68 l.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 15NTLW2500 a replacement for the 15LW2400?
Both have Qts 0.3, but the 15LW2400 has Fs 40 Hz and Vas 131 l, the 15NTLW2500 Fs 45 Hz and Vas 143 l. The NTLW is much lighter and more efficient; if you want a bit more extension, look at the 15LW2400 in the shop.
Which compression driver goes with it?
With a 3200 Hz upper limit you can cross to a 1.4" or 2" driver in the lower midrange. The exact throat size and horn depend on the coverage you want; the 18Sound horns in the shop each state the matching driver size.
How much power does the 15NTLW2500 take?
600 W AES into 8 Ω. Thanks to 100.5 dB you need far less amplifier power for high levels than with heavier woofers, which also keeps thermal stress on the 2.5" coils low.
At 42.audio you get the 18SOUND 15NTLW2500 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 | 45 Hz |
| Total Q Qts | 0.3 |
| Electrical Q Qes | 0.31 |
| Mechanical Q Qms | 8.9 |
| Equivalent volume Vas | 143.0 l |
| Moving mass Mms | 95.0 g |
| Cone area Sd | 881 cm² |
| Linear excursion Xmax | 8 mm |
| Force factor BL | 21.2 Tm |
| DC resistance Re | 5.1 Ω |
| Voice coil inductance Le | 0.65 mH |
Enclosure suggestion
The EBP of 145 suggests a bass-reflex enclosure. EBP = fs / Qes = 45 / 0.31
Sealed (Qtc 0.707)
- Enclosure volume Vb
- 31.4 l
- System resonance Fc
- 106 Hz
- Cut-off frequency F3
- 106 Hz
Bass reflex (QB3 after Small)recommended
- Enclosure volume Vb
- 53.8 l
- Tuning frequency Fb
- 61 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 %.
- Beyma 15P1000Fe/V2fs 45 Hz · Qts 0.3 · Vas 80.7 l · in the shop
- 18 Sound 15LW2400fs 40 Hz · Qts 0.3 · Vas 131 l · in the shop
- FaitalPRO 15HP1030fs 40 Hz · Qts 0.3 · Vas 88.3 l · in the database
- B&C Speakers 15CLA76fs 40 Hz · Qts 0.3 · Vas 176 l · in the database
- SICA 15PF3fs 45 Hz · Qts 0.31 · Vas 118 l · in the database
- 18 Sound 15ND730fs 44 Hz · Qts 0.29 · Vas 156 l · in the shop
Specifications
| Allgemein | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | 18SOUND |
| Category | Low Frequency |
| Series | NTLW |
| Magnet | Neo |
| Impedance (Ω) | 8 |
| Power handling (W) | 600 |
| Sensitivity (dB) | 100.5 |
| Frequency from (Hz) | 45 |
| Frequency to (Hz) | 3200 |
| Abmessungen & Korb | |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 15 |
| Voice coil (inch) | 2.5 |
| Mounting depth (mm) | 210 |
| Weight (kg) | 3.8 |
| Thiele-Small-Parameter | |
|---|---|
| Re (Ω) | 5.1 |
| Le (mH) | 0.65 |
| Fs (Hz) | 45 |
| Qms | 8.9 |
| Qes | 0.31 |
| Qts | 0.3 |
| Vas (l) | 143 |
| Xmax (mm) | 8 |
| BL (Tm) | 21.2 |
| Mms (kg) | 0.095 |
| Sd (m²) | 0.0881 |