PASSIVE SUB
Cinema · Subwoofer
M218E
Cinema Subwoofer
Passive cinema subwoofer with dual 18-inch drivers of large-bore voice coil in a single cabinet driven from one amplifier channel, for high-output LFE reproduction. Hall depth ≤ 16/22 m (1 unit), ≤ 22/31 m (2 units), ≤ 31/43 m (4 units)1
Frequency response35 Hz – 500 Hz±3 dB @ 2π
Drivers18" LF × 2low-frequency section
SystemPassive Subwoofer135.0 dB rated max SPL @ 1 m, 2π
Hall depth≤ 16/22 m (1 unit), ≤ 22/31 m (2 units), ≤ 31/43 m (4 units)continuous / program power
Applications
Cinema LFE channels · Large commercial auditoriums · Screening rooms · Large-format screens · Dome cinemas
01
Features
Performance
- Two 18-inch woofers, each with a Φ99 mm voice coil and 26 mm winding, sharing one bass-reflex enclosure.
- Usable down to 25 Hz at −10 dB, keeping the deepest effects content inside the working band.
- Φ45 mm magnet-vent hole and 20-strand heat-resistant copper tinsel leads give a thermal path for sustained high-power work.
Engineering
- 1095 × 690 × 554 mm, 71.6 kg — dual-18-inch output from one installation position that stays put once placed.
- Recommended 140 Hz low-pass to the screen channels and 27 Hz high-pass for driver protection, settable straight from the specification table.
Economy & maintenance
- Both woofers present a single 4 Ω load inside the cabinet, driven from one amplifier channel.
02
Overview
The M218E is a passive cinema subwoofer in the M Series for the LFE channel in large auditoriums. The system comprises two 18″ low-frequency drivers (99 mm voice coils) in an MDF bass-reflex enclosure with a PVC laminate finish, with a 35 Hz–500 Hz response (±3 dB), 25 Hz usable at −10 dB and a 4 Ω nominal load.
At 103 dB sensitivity and a 1600 W AES 100-hour rating it produces 135.0 dB rated maximum SPL on a continuous basis. Both drivers run as one 4 Ω load on one amplifier channel, concentrating output at a single installation position. A 140 Hz low-pass is recommended for integration, with a 27 Hz high-pass protecting the drivers. The cabinet measures 1095 × 690 × 554 mm and weighs 71.6 kg net.
03
Specifications
| Product Type | Cinema Subwoofer |
|---|---|
| System Type | Passive Subwoofer |
| Driver Configuration | 18" LF × 2 |
| Nominal Impedance | 4Ω |
| Frequency Response (±3 dB @ 2π)2 | 35 Hz–500 Hz |
| Frequency Range (-10 dB @ 2π)2 | 25 Hz–500 Hz |
| AES 100-Hour Power Rating3 | 1600W |
| AES 2-Hour Power Rating | 2000W |
| Program Power4 | 3200W |
| Sensitivity (2π) @1W/1m | 103dB |
| Rated Maximum SPL /1m @ 2π | 135.0dB |
| Calculated Maximum SPL /1m @ 2π5 | 141.0dB |
| Recommended LPF | 140 Hz@24 dB/oct |
| Recommended HPF | 27 Hz@24 dB/oct |
| Coverage Angle (H×V) | — |
| Enclosure Type | Cinema subwoofer enclosure |
| Enclosure Material / Finish | MDF · PVC laminate |
| Input Connectors | Binding posts |
| Mounting Options | Floor-standing |
| Dimensions W×H×D (mm) | W1095 × H690 × D554 mm |
| Net Weight | 71.6 kg |
04
Frequency response
05
Dimensions
W × H × D · net weightW1095 × H690 × D554 mm · 71.6 kg
- 1Two length values are given: the first is the usable range on continuous power, the second on program power. Program power is a short-term maximum output and is not a level the system can sustain continuously. Target levels follow the SMPTE ST 202 / RP 200 cinema reference level: 95 dB for LFE plus 20 dB peak headroom, measured at the reference listening position (RLP); hall depth = listening distance x 1.5. Listening distance is derived from free-field distance attenuation. The continuous-power range uses the rated maximum SPL in this table; the program-power range uses the rated value +3 dB (program power being twice the continuous power). The calculated maximum SPL (rated +6 dB, short-term peak) is not used for these figures. Subwoofer arrays use non-coherent summation (+3 dB per doubling of cabinet count, +3 dB per doubling of power). Screen loss, power compression, system limiting and room gain are not included - this is a theoretical estimate, not a measured guarantee; on-site verification is recommended. Operating beyond the recommended figure may result in, but is not limited to: dynamic compression, increased distortion, extraneous noise, and in severe cases equipment damage.
- 2Low-frequency response and sensitivity specifications are referenced to half-space (2π) conditions, representative of typical cinema baffle-wall installation. Frequency-response graphs are measured in an anechoic free-field (4π) environment unless otherwise noted. In the low-frequency region the same loudspeaker measures about 6 dB higher under 2π than under 4π (in practice 3–6 dB depending on frequency and baffle conditions); this is a difference of measurement convention, not of performance.
- 3Rating based on an IEC filtered random-noise test signal, band-limited 30 Hz–500 Hz, with a peak-to-average ratio of 6 dB
- 4Recommended amplifier output at the applicable impedance should not exceed the program power, giving an unclipped output waveform while avoiding loudspeaker damage; an amplifier capable of at least the RMS continuous power (AES 100 h) is recommended to realize full loudspeaker performance. The actual amplifier match should be determined by calculation for the listening distance (see note 1).
- 5Calculated maximum SPL is derived from the rated (continuous) power and half-space (2π) sensitivity and is a calculated, not measured, figure; at a 6 dB peak-to-average ratio it exceeds the rated value by 6 dB, representing short-term peak capability rather than a level the system can sustain.
- 6The frequency-response graphs on this page are measured on-axis at 1 W/1 m in an anechoic free-field (4π) environment with 1/6-octave smoothing; the frequency response and sensitivity in the specification table are stated under half-space (2π) conditions. Lower readings in the low-frequency region of the graph therefore reflect the difference in convention rather than a difference in performance. 2π-format curves are available on request.
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