18SOUND 18NLW4100
18SOUND (Eighteen Sound) 18NLW4100 — 18" / 18 inch · High-Performance Woofer · Subwoofer / Bass · Neodymium
4" voice coil · 8 Ω
Part no.: 42A-CHS-TT-18S-0041
Documents
18SOUND 18NLW4100 — 18" · Woofer
1500 W AES · 96.5 dB Sensitivity · Frequency range 30 Hz – 800 Hz
Technical data
- Diameter: 18 "
- Voice coil: 4 "
- Power handling: 1500 W AES
- Sensitivity: 96.5 dB
- Impedance: 8 Ω
- Magnet: Neo
- Weight: 10 kg
- Mounting depth: 232 mm
- Frequency range: 30 – 800 Hz
Datasheet (PDF) · Manufacturer page
Series: NLW · Part no.: 42A-CHS-TT-18S-0041
18Sound 18NLW4100: 18" neodymium subwoofer with 1,500 W AES, 15 mm Xmax and 10 kg
Ten kilograms for an 18" driver with 1,500 W AES and 15 mm Xmax: the 18Sound 18NLW4100 shows what a neodymium motor delivers in everyday touring. The NLW series is 18Sound's high-performance woofer line, and the 18NLW4100 is its sub specialist with a stated range from 30 Hz to 800 Hz. The 4" voice coil sits in a motor with 29 Tm, the cone weighs in at 307 g, and sensitivity lands at 96.5 dB.
With Fs 31 Hz, Qts 0.34 and Vas 180 l the driver belongs to the more moderately tuned subwoofers, which makes enclosure choice easier. A Qms of 11.2 points to a low-loss suspension, with damping coming from the motor. Close neighbours in the database are the FaitalPRO 18HW1070 (Qts 0.33) and the 18Sound 18TLW3000 (Qts 0.35); in the shop it sits next to the stiffer-suspended 18NLW4500 with Vas 151 l, and the long-throw colleague 18NLS4000 with Fs 27 Hz.
Use and enclosure
An EBP of 89 allows both enclosure types. The vented guideline is around 122 l net volume tuned to 34 Hz, with a lower cut-off f3 near 36 Hz. That is a live-sound sub that reaches very deep without DSP boost and, with 15 mm Xmax, has enough excursion for high levels around the tuning frequency. Sealed, the guideline is 54 l at a system resonance of 64 Hz; that is attractive for compact subs with DSP equalisation, where the neodymium weight and the small volume combine into a very portable package. The enclosure calculator at 42.audio gives you port dimensions and alternatives.
The top end stops at 800 Hz; the inductance of 2.29 mH and the heavy cone restrict it to sub and bass duty. The crossover to the tops practically always sits in the lower part of the band. At 1,500 W into 8 Ω a limiter with a high-pass below the tuning is mandatory.
What to look out for
- 8 Ω, Re 4.9 Ω: suits amplifier channels around 1,500 W into 8 Ω, two in parallel at 4 Ω possible.
- 10 kg thanks to neodymium: a real advantage for touring and flown arrays.
- Xmax 15 mm: excursion headroom for a low tuning around 34 Hz, protect with a high-pass.
- Mounting depth 232 mm: check the depth behind the baffle in compact cabinets.
- Range up to 800 Hz: pure sub and bass duty, not intended as a full-range bass.
Frequently asked questions
18NLW4100 or 18NLW4500?
The 18NLW4500 has the larger voice coil and more power handling, is stiffer at Vas 151 l and Fs 35 Hz and targets more compact boxes. The 18NLW4100 is lighter at 10 kg, slightly more compliant with Qts 0.34 and Vas 180 l, and goes deeper in the vented guideline. For maximum power handling take the 4500, for weight and extension the 4100.
Which enclosure fits?
Bass reflex around 122 l tuned to 34 Hz gives f3 near 36 Hz without equalisation. Sealed around 54 l with a 64 Hz resonance needs DSP at the bottom but is much more compact. The EBP of 89 makes both routes viable.
How much power should the amplifier deliver?
Around 1,500 W into 8 Ω per driver, with a limiter. Sensitivity of 96.5 dB is below that of lighter bass drivers, but the 18NLW4100 turns the power into 15 mm of excursion. A high-pass below the tuning frequency protects against mechanical overload.
At 42.audio you get the 18SOUND 18NLW4100 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 | 31 Hz |
| Total Q Qts | 0.34 |
| Electrical Q Qes | 0.35 |
| Mechanical Q Qms | 11.2 |
| Equivalent volume Vas | 180.0 l |
| Moving mass Mms | 307.0 g |
| Cone area Sd | 1,225 cm² |
| Linear excursion Xmax | 15 mm |
| Force factor BL | 29 Tm |
| DC resistance Re | 4.9 Ω |
| Voice coil inductance Le | 2.29 mH |
Enclosure suggestion
The EBP of 89 is in the intermediate range — either works; sealed plays tighter, bass reflex deeper and louder. EBP = fs / Qes = 31 / 0.35
Sealed (Qtc 0.707)
- Enclosure volume Vb
- 54.2 l
- System resonance Fc
- 64 Hz
- Cut-off frequency F3
- 64 Hz
Bass reflex (QB3 after Small)
- Enclosure volume Vb
- 102.4 l
- Tuning frequency Fb
- 37 Hz
- Cut-off frequency F3
- 40 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 %.
- FaitalPRO 18FH500fs 30 Hz · Qts 0.35 · Vas 417.9 l · in the database
- 18 Sound 18TLW3000fs 32 Hz · Qts 0.35 · Vas 185 l · in the database
- FaitalPRO 18HW1070fs 32 Hz · Qts 0.33 · Vas 191.5 l · in the database
- 18 Sound 18NLW9601 Cfs 38 Hz · Qts 0.34 · Vas 99 l · in the database
- 18 Sound 18NLS4000fs 27 Hz · Qts 0.35 · Vas 168 l · in the database
- 18 Sound 18NLW4500fs 35 Hz · Qts 0.33 · Vas 151 l · in the shop
Specifications
| Allgemein | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | 18SOUND |
| Category | Low Frequency |
| Series | NLW |
| Magnet | Neo |
| Impedance (Ω) | 8 |
| Power handling (W) | 1500 |
| Sensitivity (dB) | 96.5 |
| Frequency from (Hz) | 30 |
| Frequency to (Hz) | 800 |
| Abmessungen & Korb | |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 18 |
| Voice coil (inch) | 4 |
| Mounting depth (mm) | 232 |
| Weight (kg) | 10 |
| Thiele-Small-Parameter | |
|---|---|
| Re (Ω) | 4.9 |
| Le (mH) | 2.29 |
| Fs (Hz) | 31 |
| Qms | 11.2 |
| Qes | 0.35 |
| Qts | 0.34 |
| Vas (l) | 180 |
| Xmax (mm) | 15 |
| BL (Tm) | 29 |
| Mms (kg) | 0.307 |
| Sd (m²) | 0.1225 |