18SOUND 18NLW9000
18SOUND (Eighteen Sound) 18NLW9000 — 18" / 18 inch · High-Performance Woofer · Subwoofer / Bass · Neodymium
5.35" voice coil · 8 Ω
Part no.: 42A-CHS-TT-18S-0039
Documents
18SOUND 18NLW9000 — 18" · Woofer
1800 W AES · 97 dB Sensitivity · Frequency range 32 Hz – 2500 Hz
Technical data
- Diameter: 18 "
- Voice coil: 5.31 "
- Power handling: 1800 W AES
- Sensitivity: 97 dB
- Impedance: 8 Ω
- Magnet: Neo
- Weight: 12.5 kg
- Mounting depth: 237 mm
- Frequency range: 32 – 2500 Hz
Datasheet (PDF) · Manufacturer page
Series: NLW · Part no.: 42A-CHS-TT-18S-0039
18Sound 18NLW9000: 18" neodymium bass with 5.31" voice coil, 1,800 W AES and 97 dB
With the 18Sound 18NLW9000 everything revolves around the voice coil: 5.31" diameter is exceptionally large for an 18" driver and the reason it handles 1,800 W AES without the cone having to become heavy at 218 g Mms. The neodymium motor delivers 28 Tm, sensitivity is 97 dB, and the stated range runs from 32 Hz to 2,500 Hz. That combination makes the 18NLW9000 the all-rounder of the NLW series: subwoofer power handling with full-range bandwidth.
The parameters read classically for a PA bass: Fs 34 Hz, Qts 0.31, Vas 206 l, Xmax 14 mm, Le 1.9 mH. The in-house ferrite counterpart is the 18LW2400 with identical Qts and Vas 230 l, and the 18LW2420 is close too. From other manufacturers the FaitalPRO 18HP1010 and the FaitalPRO 18XL1600 at Qts 0.31 appear in the database. At 12.5 kg and 237 mm mounting depth the 18NLW9000 is the compromise between weight, power handling and bandwidth that many builders of compact high-power subs are looking for.
Use and enclosure
With an EBP of 106 the driver belongs in a vented box. The guideline is around 107 l net volume tuned to 41 Hz, with a lower cut-off f3 near 46 Hz. That suits a touring sub which, with 14 mm Xmax, has enough excursion to pull the alignment lower via DSP without bottoming out. Sealed, the guideline would be 49 l at a 78 Hz resonance, which makes no sense for a sub. Verify the design in the enclosure calculator at 42.audio, especially the port area, so that 1,800 W does not produce port noise.
The bandwidth up to 2,500 Hz and the inductance of 1.9 mH additionally allow use as the bass in a two-way full-range box with compression driver and horn. The crossover then sensibly sits between a few hundred hertz and just above 1 kHz, far below the nominal limit, so the horn takes over directivity before the 18" cone beams strongly.
What to look out for
- 8 Ω, Re 5.5 Ω: amplifier channels around 1,800 W into 8 Ω, run with limiter and high-pass.
- 5.31" voice coil: very large cooling surface, hence high continuous rating with a light cone.
- Xmax 14 mm at Qts 0.31: for bass reflex around 41 Hz with DSP headroom downwards.
- Range up to 2,500 Hz: also works as the bass in full-range boxes, not only as a sub.
- 12.5 kg, 237 mm mounting depth: neodymium, but no lightweight because of the big coil.
Frequently asked questions
18NLW9000 or 18LW2400?
Both have Qts 0.31 and end up in similar vented volumes. The 18NLW9000 offers 1,800 W AES and 14 mm Xmax with its 5.31" coil, the ferrite 18LW2400 with its 4" coil sits below it in power handling and excursion. If you need the power handling and excursion, take the 18NLW9000; for smaller budgets and lower levels the ferrite 18LW2400 is enough.
Which enclosure is a sensible guideline?
Bass reflex around 107 l tuned to 41 Hz with f3 near 46 Hz. With 14 mm Xmax the alignment can be stretched lower with DSP equalisation. Sealed at 49 l with a 78 Hz resonance gives no extension with this driver.
How much amplifier power makes sense?
Around 1,800 W into 8 Ω per driver, with a limiter. Sensitivity of 97 dB ensures that considerably less power still delivers high levels. A high-pass below the tuning frequency protects the cone from over-excursion.
At 42.audio you get the 18SOUND 18NLW9000 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 | 34 Hz |
| Total Q Qts | 0.31 |
| Electrical Q Qes | 0.32 |
| Mechanical Q Qms | 7 |
| Equivalent volume Vas | 206.0 l |
| Moving mass Mms | 218.0 g |
| Cone area Sd | 1,222 cm² |
| Linear excursion Xmax | 14 mm |
| Force factor BL | 28 Tm |
| DC resistance Re | 5.5 Ω |
| Voice coil inductance Le | 1.9 mH |
Enclosure suggestion
The EBP of 106 suggests a bass-reflex enclosure. EBP = fs / Qes = 34 / 0.32
Sealed (Qtc 0.707)
- Enclosure volume Vb
- 49.0 l
- System resonance Fc
- 78 Hz
- Cut-off frequency F3
- 78 Hz
Bass reflex (QB3 after Small)recommended
- Enclosure volume Vb
- 86.4 l
- Tuning frequency Fb
- 45 Hz
- Cut-off frequency F3
- 50 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 18LW2420fs 34 Hz · Qts 0.31 · Vas 208 l · in the database
- 18 Sound 18LW2400fs 35 Hz · Qts 0.31 · Vas 230 l · in the shop
- FaitalPRO 18HP1010fs 35 Hz · Qts 0.31 · Vas 225.9 l · in the database
- FaitalPRO 18XL1600fs 32 Hz · Qts 0.31 · Vas 201.1 l · in the database
- 18 Sound 18NLW4500fs 37 Hz · Qts 0.31 · Vas 127 l · in the database
- B&C Speakers 18SW115fs 34 Hz · Qts 0.3 · Vas 149.1 l · in the database
Specifications
| Allgemein | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | 18SOUND |
| Category | Low Frequency |
| Series | NLW |
| Magnet | Neo |
| Impedance (Ω) | 8 |
| Power handling (W) | 1800 |
| Sensitivity (dB) | 97 |
| Frequency from (Hz) | 32 |
| Frequency to (Hz) | 2500 |
| Abmessungen & Korb | |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 18 |
| Voice coil (inch) | 5.31 |
| Mounting depth (mm) | 237 |
| Weight (kg) | 12.5 |
| Thiele-Small-Parameter | |
|---|---|
| Re (Ω) | 5.5 |
| Le (mH) | 1.9 |
| Fs (Hz) | 34 |
| Qms | 7 |
| Qes | 0.32 |
| Qts | 0.31 |
| Vas (l) | 206 |
| Xmax (mm) | 14 |
| BL (Tm) | 28 |
| Mms (kg) | 0.218 |
| Sd (m²) | 0.1222 |