18 Inch Sub Bass Drivers
Two 18 inch sub bass drivers, both rated 1800 W continuous: the WM18X451 for scoops and folded horns and the WM1850/8 for reflex and mixed systems. At £345 and £275 that is 19.2p and 15.3p per rated watt.
18" Heavy Bass Subwoofer
For scoop bins and folded horns.
- 1800W RMS
- 3600W max
- 4.5" copper coil
- 8Ω / 4Ω
18" LF Sub Bass Driver
Vented ferrite motor, Sd 1244 cm², for reflex and mixed systems.
- 1800W AES
- 125 mm coil
- 12 mm Xmax
- 8Ω
Specifications
| WM18X451 | WM1850/8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 1800 W RMS / 3600 W max | 1800 W AES / 3600 W peak |
| Impedance | 8 Ω (4 Ω option) | 8 Ω |
| Voice coil | 115 mm (4.5"), copper | 125 mm |
| Motor | Ferrite, double spider | Ferrite, vented |
| Sensitivity | On request | 93.5 dB |
| Fs / Qts / Vas | On request | 42.9 Hz / 0.644 / 120.9 L |
| Sd / Xmax / Vd | On request | 1244 cm² / 12 mm / 1493 cm³ |
| Cut-out / depth / weight | On request | 392 mm / 202 mm / 20 kg |
| Built for | Scoops, folded horns | Reflex, mixed systems |
| Price / per rated watt | £345 / 19.2p | £275 / 15.3p |
Which one for your cabinet
- Scoop bins and folded horns: WM18X451. Horn loading favours a strong, well-damped motor and a suspension that stays centred under sustained load; the double spider and 4.5" copper coil are built for that. T/S data on request for Hornresp modelling.
- Reflex and mixed systems: WM1850/8. Qts 0.644 is a direct-radiator figure, not a horn one. Sd 1244 cm² × 12 mm Xmax gives 1493 cm³ of displacement, and the 125 mm coil on a vented motor carries 1800 W AES.
Compare cabinet types in scoop vs reflex vs horn.
Before you buy
- Fit: check cut-out, bolt circle and depth against your cabs. The replacement guide lists published dimensions for common 18s.
- Load: two 8 Ω drivers in parallel give 4 Ω per channel. See impedance and wiring.
- Amplifier: to reach the 1800 W rating on two drivers per channel, the amp needs about 3600 W into 4 Ω. See amp matching.
Both drivers can be heard in our listening room by appointment. More detail: choosing an 18" driver for scoop bins.
Sources: Wavemark WM1850/8 spec sheet and WM18X451 product data. Price per watt = price ÷ continuous rating; Vd = Sd × Xmax. Calculated values rounded.
Questions
Which Wavemark driver is best for a scoop bin?
The WM18X451. It is built for scoop bins and folded horns, with 1800 W RMS (3600 W max) handling, a 115 mm (4.5 inch) copper voice coil, ferrite motor and double spider. It costs £345.
Which Wavemark driver suits a bass reflex box?
The WM1850/8: 1800 W AES (3600 W peak), 8 ohm, 125 mm voice coil, vented ferrite motor, Qts 0.644, Sd 1244 cm² and 12 mm Xmax, at £275.
Are Wavemark drivers available in 4 ohm?
The WM18X451 is available in 8 ohm with a 4 ohm option. The WM1850/8 is 8 ohm.
What is the price per watt of Wavemark 18 inch drivers?
Dividing price by the continuous rating gives 15.3p per watt for the WM1850/8 (£275, 1800 W AES) and 19.2p per watt for the WM18X451 (£345, 1800 W RMS).