18SOUND 18NLW9601
18SOUND (Eighteen Sound) 18NLW9601 — 18" / 18 inch · High-Performance Woofer · Subwoofer / Bass · Neodymium
5.35" voice coil · 4 Ω
Part no.: 42A-CHS-TT-18S-0038
Documents
18SOUND 18NLW9601 — 18" · Woofer
1800 W AES · 96 dB Sensitivity · Frequency range 30 Hz – 2300 Hz
Technical data
- Diameter: 18 "
- Voice coil: 5.3 "
- Power handling: 1800 W AES
- Sensitivity: 96 dB
- Impedance: 4 Ω
- Magnet: Neo
- Weight: 12.8 kg
- Mounting depth: 236 mm
- Frequency range: 30 – 2300 Hz
Datasheet (PDF) · Manufacturer page
Series: NLW · Part no.: 42A-CHS-TT-18S-0038
18Sound 18NLW9601: 18" neodymium bass in 4 Ω with 5.3" voice coil and 1,800 W AES
The 18Sound 18NLW9601 is the 4 Ω variant in the upper tier of the NLW series: an 18" driver with a 5.3" voice coil, 1,800 W AES and a neodymium motor whose Re of 2.7 Ω draws considerably more power from an amplifier channel than an 8 Ω coil. Sensitivity is 96 dB, the stated range 30 Hz to 2,300 Hz, and the cone moves 14 mm linearly.
What stands out is the small Vas of 111 l at Fs 38 Hz and Qts 0.28: the suspension is stiff, the motor with 25 Tm on an Mms of 255 g is strong, and the inductance of 1.53 mH is low for a coil of this size. This is the recipe for compact high-power subs and bass boxes with a lot of output per litre. In the database the B&C 18PZB100 with Fs 38 Hz and Qts 0.28 is the closest match, while the 18Sound 18LW2600 and the FaitalPRO 18XL1700 share the Qts of 0.28 with a much larger Vas.
Use and enclosure
An EBP of 131 places the 18NLW9601 squarely in a vented enclosure. The guideline from the classic approximation formulas is unusually compact at around 43 l net volume, tuned to 50 Hz, with f3 near 59 Hz. That suits a kick bass or a small high-efficiency bass box. For subwoofers, drivers of this type are typically run in larger, lower-tuned enclosures with DSP equalisation; the 14 mm Xmax and the high power rating provide the headroom. How far the volume can be stretched is something you explore in the enclosure calculator at 42.audio. Sealed, the guideline would be 21 l at a 96 Hz resonance, which is out of the question for bass duty.
With Le 1.53 mH and bandwidth up to 2,300 Hz the 18NLW9601 is also usable as the bass in a two-way full-range box; the crossover to the horn sits between a few hundred hertz and just above 1 kHz. At 1,800 W into 4 Ω a limiter and a high-pass are indispensable.
What to look out for
- 4 Ω, Re 2.7 Ω: the amplifier must be stable into 4 Ω; do not parallel two drivers on one channel.
- 5.3" voice coil and 1,800 W AES: large cooling surface, high continuous power handling.
- Vas 111 l at Qts 0.28: stiff suspension, compact vented boxes possible.
- Xmax 14 mm: headroom for a lower tuning with DSP, set the high-pass below it.
- 12.8 kg, 236 mm mounting depth: neodymium, but the large coil takes its toll.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the guideline enclosure so small?
The small Vas of 111 l and the low Qts of 0.28 lead to around 43 l at a 50 Hz tuning by the approximation formulas. That is a kick-bass cabinet. For subwoofer use designers go larger than this guideline and exploit the 14 mm Xmax with DSP; the calculator shows the consequences.
Difference to the 18LW2600?
Both have Qts 0.28, but the ferrite 18LW2600 with Vas 186 l and Fs 30 Hz has the much softer suspension; it wants the larger box and goes deeper. The 18NLW9601 with Vas 111 l targets compact boxes and pulls more power from the amplifier through its 4 Ω coil.
Which amplifier makes sense?
A channel with around 1,800 W into 4 Ω, with a limiter. Sensitivity of 96 dB is slightly lower than on lighter NLW models; the 4 Ω coil compensates through its higher power draw. A high-pass below tuning is mandatory.
At 42.audio you get the 18SOUND 18NLW9601 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 | 4 Ω |
|---|---|
| Resonance frequency fs | 38 Hz |
| Total Q Qts | 0.28 |
| Electrical Q Qes | 0.29 |
| Mechanical Q Qms | 6 |
| Equivalent volume Vas | 111.0 l |
| Moving mass Mms | 255.0 g |
| Cone area Sd | 1,295 cm² |
| Linear excursion Xmax | 14 mm |
| Force factor BL | 25 Tm |
| DC resistance Re | 2.7 Ω |
| Voice coil inductance Le | 1.53 mH |
Enclosure suggestion
The EBP of 131 suggests a bass-reflex enclosure. EBP = fs / Qes = 38 / 0.29
Sealed (Qtc 0.707)
- Enclosure volume Vb
- 20.6 l
- System resonance Fc
- 96 Hz
- Cut-off frequency F3
- 96 Hz
Bass reflex (QB3 after Small)recommended
- Enclosure volume Vb
- 33.3 l
- Tuning frequency Fb
- 55 Hz
- Cut-off frequency F3
- 65 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 %.
- B&C Speakers 18PZB100fs 38 Hz · Qts 0.28 · Vas 164 l · in the database
- Oberton 18XB1600fs 32.5 Hz · Qts 0.28 · Vas 267 l · in the database
- 18 Sound 18LW1251fs 35 Hz · Qts 0.27 · Vas 268 l · in the shop
- 18 Sound 18LW2600fs 30 Hz · Qts 0.28 · Vas 186 l · in the database
- FaitalPRO 18XL1700fs 28 Hz · Qts 0.28 · Vas 227 l · in the database
- Beyma 18PW1400Fe/Sfs 32 Hz · Qts 0.27 · Vas 228.9 l · in the shop
Specifications
| Allgemein | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | 18SOUND |
| Category | Low Frequency |
| Series | NLW |
| Magnet | Neo |
| Impedance (Ω) | 4 |
| Power handling (W) | 1800 |
| Sensitivity (dB) | 96 |
| Frequency from (Hz) | 30 |
| Frequency to (Hz) | 2300 |
| Abmessungen & Korb | |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 18 |
| Voice coil (inch) | 5.3 |
| Mounting depth (mm) | 236 |
| Weight (kg) | 12.8 |
| Thiele-Small-Parameter | |
|---|---|
| Re (Ω) | 2.7 |
| Le (mH) | 1.53 |
| Fs (Hz) | 38 |
| Qms | 6 |
| Qes | 0.29 |
| Qts | 0.28 |
| Vas (l) | 111 |
| Xmax (mm) | 14 |
| BL (Tm) | 25 |
| Mms (kg) | 0.255 |
| Sd (m²) | 0.1295 |