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18SOUND 15W930

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18SOUND (Eighteen Sound) 15W930 — 15" / 15 inch · Woofer/Midrange (WM) · Subwoofer / Bass · Ferrite
3" voice coil · 8 Ω
Part no.: 42A-CHS-TT-18S-0017

293.00 € 293.0 EUR 293.00 €

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18SOUND 15W930 — 15" · Woofer

500 W AES · 98 dB Sensitivity · Frequency range 50 Hz – 3600 Hz

Technical data

  • Diameter: 15 "
  • Voice coil: 3 "
  • Power handling: 500 W AES
  • Sensitivity: 98 dB
  • Impedance: 8 Ω
  • Magnet: Ferrite
  • Weight: 8 kg
  • Mounting depth: 185 mm
  • Frequency range: 50 – 3600 Hz

Datasheet (PDF) · Manufacturer page

Series: W · Part no.: 42A-CHS-TT-18S-0017

18Sound 15W930: 15" mid-bass woofer with 98 dB and a 3" voice coil for vented tops

The 18Sound 15W930 is a 15" driver from the ferrite W series that the manufacturer classifies as a woofer/midrange. A 3" voice coil, 500 W AES and 98 dB sensitivity make it a workhorse for the low and low-mid section of PA cabinets where one driver has to cover everything from the lower limit at 50 Hz well into the midrange. The stated bandwidth extends to 3,600 Hz, considerably higher than a dedicated subwoofer driver would go.

The motor is remarkably strong for the moving mass: BL 22.1 Tm against 97 g Mms results in a very low Qes of 0.23 and a Qts of 0.22. That is the signature of a driver built for control and efficiency rather than for maximum extension from a small box. With Fs 33 Hz and Vas 240 l the 15W930 sits alongside ferrite classics such as the Beyma 15QLEX1600Fe or the FaitalPRO 15XL2400, which also land at Qts 0.21 to 0.22. The neodymium sibling 18Sound 15ND930 shares most of these parameters.

Use and enclosure

An EBP of 143 is unambiguous: bass reflex or horn, not sealed. The guideline derived from the Thiele-Small parameters is a vented box of around 47 l tuned to 54 Hz, giving a lower cut-off (f3) around 71 Hz. That is a compact top or the low-mid section of a two-way PA system, not a sub; for more depth, add an 18" subwoofer and high-pass the 15W930. A sealed box would land at a guideline of 26 l with a system resonance of 106 Hz, which throws away extension for no good reason. Run the exact design through the enclosure calculator at 42.audio.

Towards the top the light cone and the moderate inductance of 1.47 mH let the driver run high. In a two-way top with a 1" or 2" compression driver from the 18Sound range, the crossover point belongs well below the upper limit of 3,600 Hz so the horn takes over directivity before the 15" cone starts beaming hard.

What to look out for

  • 8 Ω nominal, Re 5.5 Ω: an amplifier channel delivering around 500 W into 8 Ω matches the AES rating.
  • Mounting depth 185 mm and 8 kg: manageable for a ferrite driver of this class, fits shallow tops.
  • Xmax 7.5 mm: fine for low-mid duty, not intended for subwoofer levels below 50 Hz.
  • Qts 0.22 and EBP 143: plan for bass reflex, sealed boxes deliver no real extension here.

Frequently asked questions

Does the 15W930 work as a subwoofer?

Only to a limited extent. Fs 33 Hz and Qts 0.22 read deep, but Xmax 7.5 mm and the high EBP of 143 point to use as a low and low-mid driver from roughly 50 Hz upwards. For real sub-bass an 18" driver with more excursion is the better choice.

Which amplifier suits the 15W930?

A channel with about 500 W into 8 Ω uses the AES rating fully. With 98 dB sensitivity the driver reaches high levels even with less power. A high-pass below the tuning frequency matters more than wattage in a vented box.

What is the difference between the 15W930 and the 15ND930?

Both belong to the 930 family and share almost identical parameters: Fs 33 Hz versus 36 Hz, Qts 0.22 on both, Vas 240 l versus 206 l. The 15ND930 uses neodymium, the 15W930 uses ferrite. Enclosure design works out similarly for both; the difference lies in weight and pricing.

18Sound 15W930: 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 15W930 is a 15-inch woofer with ferrite magnet from the W 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 15W930 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 impedance8 Ω
Resonance frequency fs33 Hz
Total Q Qts0.22
Electrical Q Qes0.23
Mechanical Q Qms8.78
Equivalent volume Vas240.0 l
Moving mass Mms97.0 g
Cone area Sd850 cm²
Linear excursion Xmax7.5 mm
Force factor BL22.1 Tm
DC resistance Re5.5 Ω
Voice coil inductance Le1.47 mH

Enclosure suggestion

The EBP of 143 suggests a bass-reflex enclosure. EBP = fs / Qes = 33 / 0.23

Sealed (Qtc 0.707)

Enclosure volume Vb
25.7 l
System resonance Fc
106 Hz
Cut-off frequency F3
106 Hz

Bass reflex (QB3 after Small)recommended

Enclosure volume Vb
32.5 l
Tuning frequency Fb
61 Hz
Cut-off frequency F3
80 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 %.

Specifications

Allgemein
Manufacturer 18SOUND
Category Low Frequency
Series W
Magnet Ferrite
Impedance (Ω) 8
Power handling (W) 500
Sensitivity (dB) 98
Frequency from (Hz) 50
Frequency to (Hz) 3600
Abmessungen & Korb
Diameter 15
Voice coil (inch) 3
Mounting depth (mm) 185
Weight (kg) 8
Thiele-Small-Parameter
Re (Ω) 5.5
Le (mH) 1.47
Fs (Hz) 33
Qms 8.78
Qes 0.23
Qts 0.22
Vas (l) 240
Xmax (mm) 7.5
BL (Tm) 22.1
Mms (kg) 0.097
Sd (m²) 0.085