18SOUND 18NLW4500
18SOUND (Eighteen Sound) 18NLW4500 — 18" / 18 inch · High-Performance Woofer · Subwoofer / Bass · Neodymium
4.5" voice coil · 8 Ω
Part no.: 42A-CHS-TT-18S-0037
Documents
18SOUND 18NLW4500 — 18" · Woofer
1800 W AES · 97 dB Sensitivity · Frequency range 30 Hz – 1000 Hz
Technical data
- Diameter: 18 "
- Voice coil: 4.5 "
- Power handling: 1800 W AES
- Sensitivity: 97 dB
- Impedance: 8 Ω
- Weight: 12 kg
- Mounting depth: 233 mm
- Frequency range: 30 – 1000 Hz
Datasheet (PDF) · Manufacturer page
Series: NLW · Part no.: 42A-CHS-TT-18S-0037
18Sound 18NLW4500: 18" neodymium woofer with a 4.5" voice coil and 1,800 W AES
The 4.5" voice coil is what sets the 18Sound 18NLW4500 apart from the 4" models of the NLW series. More winding area means more cooling surface, which is how this 18" driver reaches 1,800 W AES continuous power handling at 97 dB sensitivity. The neodymium motor applies 30.3 Tm to a cone with 286 g Mms and allows 15.3 mm of linear excursion. The stated range from 30 Hz to 1,000 Hz marks it as a sub and bass driver that can still contribute in the upper bass.
The suspension is comparatively stiff at Vas 151 l, Fs is 35 Hz, Qts 0.33, inductance 2 mH. The result is a driver for compact high-power subs that should get by without large volumes. The 42.audio database lists the Beyma 18LEX1200Nd (Qts 0.33, Vas 219 l), the FaitalPRO 18HP1060 and the 18Sound 18W1300 as a ferrite alternative with a much larger Vas of 336 l as its nearest relatives. At 12 kg and 233 mm mounting depth the 18NLW4500 stays manageable despite the big coil.
Use and enclosure
An EBP of 103 points towards bass reflex. The guideline is about 94 l net volume tuned to 40 Hz, with a lower cut-off f3 near 43 Hz. For 1,800 W and 18" that is a compact enclosure, well suited to touring subs in pairs or stacked systems where power handling per litre counts. The 15.3 mm Xmax gives headroom to stretch the alignment lower with DSP equalisation. Sealed, the guideline would be 42 l at a 75 Hz resonance, which gives up extension and only makes sense for kick bass. Use the enclosure calculator at 42.audio to check port length and area before you cut.
Thanks to the range up to 1,000 Hz and Le 2 mH the 18NLW4500 can also serve as the bass in a two-way box with a horn; the crossover then sensibly sits in the region of a few hundred hertz, well below the upper limit. A limiter with a high-pass below the tuning is part of the package in this power class.
What to look out for
- 8 Ω, Re 5 Ω: designed for amplifier channels around 1,800 W into 8 Ω, run with a limiter.
- 4.5" voice coil: more cooling surface than 4", hence the high continuous rating.
- Xmax 15.3 mm at BL 30.3 Tm: lots of excursion under tight control.
- Vented guideline 94 l at 40 Hz: compact for the power class.
- 12 kg, 233 mm mounting depth: neodymium keeps the weight in check despite the large coil.
Frequently asked questions
What does the 4.5" voice coil offer over 4"?
More winding area means more surface for heat dissipation and therefore higher continuous power handling, here 1,800 W AES. At the same time the coil mass rises, which 18Sound offsets with a stronger motor of 30.3 Tm. Sensitivity stays at 97 dB.
Difference to the Beyma 18LEX1200Nd?
Both are neodymium 18" drivers with Qts 0.33 and similar Fs (35 Hz versus 36 Hz). The Beyma has the softer suspension at Vas 219 l and wants a larger box; the 18NLW4500 with Vas 151 l targets more compact subs. Compare power handling and excursion in the datasheet.
Can I run two 18NLW4500 in parallel?
Yes, two 8 Ω drivers in parallel give 4 Ω, which is uncritical for most PA amplifiers. The channel should then provide twice the power into 4 Ω. Make sure both drivers sit in the same or identical enclosures so the alignment matches.
At 42.audio you get the 18SOUND 18NLW4500 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 | 35 Hz |
| Total Q Qts | 0.33 |
| Electrical Q Qes | 0.34 |
| Mechanical Q Qms | 9.7 |
| Equivalent volume Vas | 151.0 l |
| Moving mass Mms | 286.0 g |
| Cone area Sd | 1,225 cm² |
| Linear excursion Xmax | 15.3 mm |
| Force factor BL | 30.3 Tm |
| DC resistance Re | 5 Ω |
| Voice coil inductance Le | 2 mH |
Enclosure suggestion
The EBP of 103 suggests a bass-reflex enclosure. EBP = fs / Qes = 35 / 0.34
Sealed (Qtc 0.707)
- Enclosure volume Vb
- 42.1 l
- System resonance Fc
- 75 Hz
- Cut-off frequency F3
- 75 Hz
Bass reflex (QB3 after Small)recommended
- Enclosure volume Vb
- 77.8 l
- Tuning frequency Fb
- 43 Hz
- Cut-off frequency F3
- 47 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 18W1300fs 35 Hz · Qts 0.33 · Vas 336 l · in the shop
- FaitalPRO 18HP1060fs 35 Hz · Qts 0.33 · Vas 184.4 l · in the database
- Beyma 18LEX1200Ndfs 36 Hz · Qts 0.33 · Vas 219 l · in the shop
- 18 Sound 18NTLS5000fs 37 Hz · Qts 0.33 · Vas 75 l · in the database
- FaitalPRO 18HW1070fs 32 Hz · Qts 0.33 · Vas 191.5 l · in the database
- FaitalPRO 18HP1030fs 35 Hz · Qts 0.32 · Vas 172.2 l · in the database
Specifications
| Allgemein | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | 18SOUND |
| Category | Low Frequency |
| Series | NLW |
| Impedance (Ω) | 8 |
| Power handling (W) | 1800 |
| Sensitivity (dB) | 97 |
| Frequency from (Hz) | 30 |
| Frequency to (Hz) | 1000 |
| Abmessungen & Korb | |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 18 |
| Voice coil (inch) | 4.5 |
| Mounting depth (mm) | 233 |
| Weight (kg) | 12 |
| Thiele-Small-Parameter | |
|---|---|
| Re (Ω) | 5 |
| Le (mH) | 2 |
| Fs (Hz) | 35 |
| Qms | 9.7 |
| Qes | 0.34 |
| Qts | 0.33 |
| Vas (l) | 151 |
| Xmax (mm) | 15.3 |
| BL (Tm) | 30.3 |
| Mms (kg) | 0.286 |
| Sd (m²) | 0.1225 |