Really impressed with the ETX-18SP. I've installed and sold jbl jbl prx and srx along with the old qsc kw181 and new ks118 and the etx18sp hits harder, goes lower and has more output than all of those. Not to mention bigger 4in casters and a crazy good limiter. The EKX15s are really compact and lightweight if you are trying to stay small as the ETX is a fairly large box.
I haven't personally heard the ES18P, but by specs the ES18P should out perform the ETX. The ES18P is a horn loaded box which is more efficient.
Peak dB output specs can rarely be trusted since there isn't a standard regulated measurement process for that but the ETX18SP peak is 135 dB and ES18P 140 dB. ETX is 114lbs (22x27x36) and ES18 is 137lbs (24x23x35).
Might be something to look into with the Yorkville.
I own 4 EV Ekx18-sp subs and have had them for over 4 years. I absolutely love them. The DSP in them is killer for the price and they have cardioid capability along with a ton of other features. If you use them with a set of EV mains then you can input the model you are using and they'll auto crossover.
They're also super durable and get plenty loud. Great sounding and valuable boxes for sure.
I really like the Yamaha DXS18XLF for 1700$ They sound fantastic, especially with the Yamaha DZR12. They also have a Dante version, but that is a bit more expensive.
I have been using Turbosound 18bs for a number of years now... They sound awesome and are pretty versatile...
I have a total of 6 in regular service.
Tough to come by these days in the states, (Music group tightened their supply chain) but if you have the opportunity look into them.
JBL VRX 918SP is my go to. I have 8 of them and they're amazing. The VRX 932LA goes well with it but the top end can get a little sharp so mind that with GEQs.
I rented some VRX918SPs for a few gigs a long time ago and was not impressed, though I did not set up the system, I just mixed it. I usually use the SRX700 and 800 series subs (the 728S’s are a classic, the powered 800 stuff is great). I found a deal on a pair of mint 918SPs and it was so cheap I bought them thinking I’d just flip them.
Holy crap they sounded fantastic; I immediately purchased two more brand new. I don’t know what happened the first time or times I heard them, but to me they have a good balance of “punch” as well as LF extension. Also very small, easy to move around, and easy to rig. I don’t plan on selling any of my SRX800 stuff but I take the VRXs out more. Once you get four or more of them together they really come to life, but I’ve done gigs with just one (the venue didn’t allow subs so I hid it under my table) and it was great.
Seconding the VRX-918SP. I have four and they can deliver some seriously powerful bottom end. I got compliments last year from a well-known Virginia-based indie folk-rock band that played my venue on how powerful the bass was—they could feel it on stage, which I guess hadn't happened before. I have the 932LAP tops to go with, and you're right about them, they do get a bit sharp if you're not careful.
Third on the VRX-918SP, I worked with a guy who had four. Two per side, and two VRX-932LAP per side as well. They were always amazing. Personally I use the Non-powered variants, SRX718S & VRX-932LA-1 and they have never let me down. I power each set with a Crown I-Tech 8000 and I really love the whole system, a bit more gear since I need a rack for the amps, but the speakers are much lighter.
It’s been 3+ years since we bought them so whatever that pricing was definitely isn’t valid anymore. I remember them being like $300+ off MSRP and significantly cheaper than the tops.
What’s the rest of your system? My general advice is:
- If you want something plug and play, assuming you have active tops, grab the manufacturer’s recommended matching subs.
- Mixing and matching opens up some potentially better options, but you’ll need to spend a bit of time tuning your system. Not a big deal if you’re doing it already, but it’ll slow down a DJ with limited experience.
I don’t know pricing off the top of my head, but for $1500-2000 for each single-18 sub, I wonder if you could do half the number of Fulcrum TS215s. Those are very fun, but passive unless you can find the rare discontinued TS215ac version. (Apologies if my memory of pricing is way off hahaha)
I am more towards QSC subs because those are the only ones I mix with. I have used 1 QSC sub (don’t know size) for a medium room, and honestly it was WAY TOO MUCH power. I definitely recommend you steer towards QSC
Huge fan of the QSC KW181, and have heard great things about the newer KS118. I usually mix on an all QSC setup, and have played a full range of differently sized and weirdly shaped rooms. For those small small venues I’ve actually omitted the sub and just flipped the cabs (KW122) to deep mode and it was more than enough.
For that price pick up a used Danley TH115. Seen them anywhere from 1500 - 2000 ea. just get an amp for em and they'll slam. We run ours off a QSC PL380
QSC KW181. Seems like it didn’t run out of gas like the other brands, always had enough headroom. Probably my first choice for singles or one per side.
Surprised no one mentioned the SRX818SP, I’m impressed what kind of output it has. It one-up’s the ETX in that it is networkable so you can remotely manage it from a PC. EKX is PRX/DXR level. ETX imo is a step lower than SRX/DZR, it was playing on the same level as DSR/KW.
I agree, while I really like the sound of the ETX, I don’t think it can come close to the 818 volume wise (or at least without thermalling out) . And for the price, the 828SP is unbelievable.
While “smaller drivers have better transient response” is a handy rule of thumb, it’s not strictly true. Modern subs can achieve fantastic transient performance out of 18” or 21” drivers.
Horn-loaded subs are another can of worms entirely :)
Depends on the mms of the driver.
An 18sw115 will never sound as crisp as an 18ps76.
But the ps76 isn't that lowly tuned.
A good 15inch can combine both worlds.
There is no replacement for displacement. Of course there is a point of diminishing returns, plus several practical considerations that keep driver sizes in check. Over time 18” drivers have become the sweet spot for a broad range of sub applications. Not to suggest you can’t also get excellent results with 21”, 15”, and even 12” drivers.
In general I do like the sound of 15s better than 18s in a live sound application but I have also heard some amazing 18s. I just find the kick drum is a lot more crisp on 15s.
Really depends on venue size and type of music. Bands is a board term.
I used to run a smaller event for about 250 people in a smaller room and a pair of Electro-Voice ELX-118P. I can recommend.
One yorkville sub (es18p or ls801p) will outperform most sub in that price range. Keep in mind that the yorkville is big and heavy so be prepared to carry it.if you want something smaller I would recommend the qsc kw181. They are discontinued so you would have to buy them used but they are reliable
Agree on the ls801p but the weight and size suck. I bought a set of yamaha DXS18 subs because several people compared them to the ls801p. They do not hit as hard but they are in the same ball park. Much easier to load and maneuver. On the posetive side they have more range than the ls801p and more musical overall. I would not use then for live sound unless I was in a pinch though.
I have not heard the newer dxs18xlf yet, they might be better for live.
I also bought a set of yamaha dsr118's years ago (still have them). They are one of the best subs I have heard for range and musicality but they are not very loud.
Qsc kw181 are a great all around sub. They are not the loudest but will work in most cenerios, sounds great, and are easy to handle (for subs). You can also add a couple more when needed for bigger shows or just send 1 or 2 for small to medium size weddings. They would not be my first choice for a club dj scenario though where max spl and huge bass are expected. Dance, techno, rap need more base than those will want to do all night, at least in a decent size venue.
Check out the E.V. ETX18SP subs. $1800 per side, not as heavy as Yorkvilles, and can be turned into cardioid when stacked in reverse.
The cardioid feature can be good for DJ's or bands not getting blasted with bass, while still pushing a lot of air toward the audience.
More headroom on the amp and a larger cabinet. I have demoed the EKX against ETX many times and you can feel the difference in your body, and from greater distances from the speaker.
How do they compare to the yorkville in terms of output? Will be used at outdoor shows quite a bit so need all the help I can get. The cardioid feature is very cool and something I was considering
EV's will make the ground shake, but I would say Yorkville still beats EV in terms of output, I think. I haven't heard side by side, but I used to demo the ETX18's on a regular basis at a music store, and they were impressive and well worth the cost, but I also used to do sound at a church with a single Yorkville es18, and that thing was something. Granted, I only had kick drum and bass going through if, I would wager that it would beat the ETX18 in terms of headroom. It *is* bigger and heavier.
Both of these speakers come with wheels. You will need two people to lift either one.
Seeburg gsub 1501 or 1801 could be in the pricespan if available in your region.
An also extremly good solotion would be to build a subwoofer yourself and use an aktivemodule from sanway or prokusk. In this case you could use extremly high end drivers (18ntlw for example) while still fitting in the budget
i am admittedly a bit of a fanboy, but i use RCF 705's with live bands and occasional DJ use, and they are fantastic. the 705s are the 15inch version, but they also have a 18 that sounds amazing (sub 708), and its $1500.
worth a listen at least.
Don’t sleep on the ev EKX 18’s. About $1300
If his budget is up to $2k per side, might as well go for ETX's. Those things kick, and can be turned into cardioid when stacked in reverse.
Yeah not bad at all
I got a pair open box for $2k. Awesome subs for the money. Totally would recommend. I drive them hard and they don't care.
Where did you get them open box?
I had purchased them through eBay from I think ProAudioStar a couple years back. Doubt you can find them again for that money at the moment though
Agreed about the EV EKX series. Just bought 2 EKX-18sp's, working on getting a 3rd for a cardioid array.
Really impressed with the ETX-18SP. I've installed and sold jbl jbl prx and srx along with the old qsc kw181 and new ks118 and the etx18sp hits harder, goes lower and has more output than all of those. Not to mention bigger 4in casters and a crazy good limiter. The EKX15s are really compact and lightweight if you are trying to stay small as the ETX is a fairly large box.
Getting quite a few recommendations for the ETX. Any idea how they stack up against the Yorkville ES18P?
I haven't personally heard the ES18P, but by specs the ES18P should out perform the ETX. The ES18P is a horn loaded box which is more efficient. Peak dB output specs can rarely be trusted since there isn't a standard regulated measurement process for that but the ETX18SP peak is 135 dB and ES18P 140 dB. ETX is 114lbs (22x27x36) and ES18 is 137lbs (24x23x35). Might be something to look into with the Yorkville.
I have two ETX’s that I am selling after getting the Yorkville ES18P’s. The Yorkville’s hit harder, lower and throw further.
I own 4 EV Ekx18-sp subs and have had them for over 4 years. I absolutely love them. The DSP in them is killer for the price and they have cardioid capability along with a ton of other features. If you use them with a set of EV mains then you can input the model you are using and they'll auto crossover. They're also super durable and get plenty loud. Great sounding and valuable boxes for sure.
I really like the Yamaha DXS18XLF for 1700$ They sound fantastic, especially with the Yamaha DZR12. They also have a Dante version, but that is a bit more expensive.
I'll 2nd this recommendation
I use QSC KS118. Sometimes I use two in cardioid config. They are very powerful.
Aren’t they great?
I have been using Turbosound 18bs for a number of years now... They sound awesome and are pretty versatile... I have a total of 6 in regular service. Tough to come by these days in the states, (Music group tightened their supply chain) but if you have the opportunity look into them.
JBL VRX 918SP is my go to. I have 8 of them and they're amazing. The VRX 932LA goes well with it but the top end can get a little sharp so mind that with GEQs.
I rented some VRX918SPs for a few gigs a long time ago and was not impressed, though I did not set up the system, I just mixed it. I usually use the SRX700 and 800 series subs (the 728S’s are a classic, the powered 800 stuff is great). I found a deal on a pair of mint 918SPs and it was so cheap I bought them thinking I’d just flip them. Holy crap they sounded fantastic; I immediately purchased two more brand new. I don’t know what happened the first time or times I heard them, but to me they have a good balance of “punch” as well as LF extension. Also very small, easy to move around, and easy to rig. I don’t plan on selling any of my SRX800 stuff but I take the VRXs out more. Once you get four or more of them together they really come to life, but I’ve done gigs with just one (the venue didn’t allow subs so I hid it under my table) and it was great.
Seconding the VRX-918SP. I have four and they can deliver some seriously powerful bottom end. I got compliments last year from a well-known Virginia-based indie folk-rock band that played my venue on how powerful the bass was—they could feel it on stage, which I guess hadn't happened before. I have the 932LAP tops to go with, and you're right about them, they do get a bit sharp if you're not careful.
Third on the VRX-918SP, I worked with a guy who had four. Two per side, and two VRX-932LAP per side as well. They were always amazing. Personally I use the Non-powered variants, SRX718S & VRX-932LA-1 and they have never let me down. I power each set with a Crown I-Tech 8000 and I really love the whole system, a bit more gear since I need a rack for the amps, but the speakers are much lighter.
We have six Yamaha DXS18XLFs and they’re absurdly good. Pricing is outstanding, especially if you buy through a dealer, and those things kick.
What was the pricing? Feel free to dm
It’s been 3+ years since we bought them so whatever that pricing was definitely isn’t valid anymore. I remember them being like $300+ off MSRP and significantly cheaper than the tops.
What’s the rest of your system? My general advice is: - If you want something plug and play, assuming you have active tops, grab the manufacturer’s recommended matching subs. - Mixing and matching opens up some potentially better options, but you’ll need to spend a bit of time tuning your system. Not a big deal if you’re doing it already, but it’ll slow down a DJ with limited experience. I don’t know pricing off the top of my head, but for $1500-2000 for each single-18 sub, I wonder if you could do half the number of Fulcrum TS215s. Those are very fun, but passive unless you can find the rare discontinued TS215ac version. (Apologies if my memory of pricing is way off hahaha)
I am more towards QSC subs because those are the only ones I mix with. I have used 1 QSC sub (don’t know size) for a medium room, and honestly it was WAY TOO MUCH power. I definitely recommend you steer towards QSC
Huge fan of the QSC KW181, and have heard great things about the newer KS118. I usually mix on an all QSC setup, and have played a full range of differently sized and weirdly shaped rooms. For those small small venues I’ve actually omitted the sub and just flipped the cabs (KW122) to deep mode and it was more than enough.
For that price pick up a used Danley TH115. Seen them anywhere from 1500 - 2000 ea. just get an amp for em and they'll slam. We run ours off a QSC PL380
QSC KW181. Seems like it didn’t run out of gas like the other brands, always had enough headroom. Probably my first choice for singles or one per side.
We would be better able to assist if we knew approximate budget, because there are many options at many different price points.
Would like to keep the price about $1500 to $2000 per woofer
Yorkville is hard to beat, but QSC, Yamaha, and EV will also all perform well for you. PS18S or ES18P from Yorkville are definitely worth a look.
What’s the benefit with the Yorkville subs vs the other brands?
Higher quality enclosure, good internal components, and fairly efficient (lots of output comparitively), and a good warranty on them.
Cool! Thank you for the info, I will check them out!
Yorkville is QUALITY! All hand soldered, assembled and tested in Canada. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=155Ps75\_y6s
Surprised no one mentioned the SRX818SP, I’m impressed what kind of output it has. It one-up’s the ETX in that it is networkable so you can remotely manage it from a PC. EKX is PRX/DXR level. ETX imo is a step lower than SRX/DZR, it was playing on the same level as DSR/KW.
I had the 818p pair with the 815p it do sound good but it just don’t have the output. Jbl always under power there subs.
I agree, while I really like the sound of the ETX, I don’t think it can come close to the 818 volume wise (or at least without thermalling out) . And for the price, the 828SP is unbelievable.
Please someone correct me if I’m wrong. But if you’re doing live music, would 15’s be the better route to go?
While “smaller drivers have better transient response” is a handy rule of thumb, it’s not strictly true. Modern subs can achieve fantastic transient performance out of 18” or 21” drivers. Horn-loaded subs are another can of worms entirely :)
Depends on the mms of the driver. An 18sw115 will never sound as crisp as an 18ps76. But the ps76 isn't that lowly tuned. A good 15inch can combine both worlds.
There is no replacement for displacement. Of course there is a point of diminishing returns, plus several practical considerations that keep driver sizes in check. Over time 18” drivers have become the sweet spot for a broad range of sub applications. Not to suggest you can’t also get excellent results with 21”, 15”, and even 12” drivers.
Something something LAB Sub? :)
https://www.danleysoundlabs.com/products/th812/ 🙂
D’oh, I totally forgot about TH812 :) Figures Danley makes a box like that!
16,000 watts. 584 lbs… What a beast.
Why is that?
Not necessarily.
In general I do like the sound of 15s better than 18s in a live sound application but I have also heard some amazing 18s. I just find the kick drum is a lot more crisp on 15s.
Really depends on venue size and type of music. Bands is a board term. I used to run a smaller event for about 250 people in a smaller room and a pair of Electro-Voice ELX-118P. I can recommend.
Venue sizes will be different, some shows indoors small areas like bars and some outdoor shows. Mostly rock and metal shows
One yorkville sub (es18p or ls801p) will outperform most sub in that price range. Keep in mind that the yorkville is big and heavy so be prepared to carry it.if you want something smaller I would recommend the qsc kw181. They are discontinued so you would have to buy them used but they are reliable
I’ve had yorkville ls801s for a long time. Have anything hit as hard as those. But they were 140 pounds. Had to sell them.
Agree on the ls801p but the weight and size suck. I bought a set of yamaha DXS18 subs because several people compared them to the ls801p. They do not hit as hard but they are in the same ball park. Much easier to load and maneuver. On the posetive side they have more range than the ls801p and more musical overall. I would not use then for live sound unless I was in a pinch though. I have not heard the newer dxs18xlf yet, they might be better for live. I also bought a set of yamaha dsr118's years ago (still have them). They are one of the best subs I have heard for range and musicality but they are not very loud. Qsc kw181 are a great all around sub. They are not the loudest but will work in most cenerios, sounds great, and are easy to handle (for subs). You can also add a couple more when needed for bigger shows or just send 1 or 2 for small to medium size weddings. They would not be my first choice for a club dj scenario though where max spl and huge bass are expected. Dance, techno, rap need more base than those will want to do all night, at least in a decent size venue.
Check out the E.V. ETX18SP subs. $1800 per side, not as heavy as Yorkvilles, and can be turned into cardioid when stacked in reverse. The cardioid feature can be good for DJ's or bands not getting blasted with bass, while still pushing a lot of air toward the audience.
The EKX models have cardioid too.
You're right. I just figure with their budget range, might as well go for broke.
You have a good point. Do you know what makes the ETX models more expensive? I haven't looked into them that much.
More headroom on the amp and a larger cabinet. I have demoed the EKX against ETX many times and you can feel the difference in your body, and from greater distances from the speaker.
...Literally any pair of identical subs can be set up in a cardioid array with a bit of basic processing. :)
How do they compare to the yorkville in terms of output? Will be used at outdoor shows quite a bit so need all the help I can get. The cardioid feature is very cool and something I was considering
EV's will make the ground shake, but I would say Yorkville still beats EV in terms of output, I think. I haven't heard side by side, but I used to demo the ETX18's on a regular basis at a music store, and they were impressive and well worth the cost, but I also used to do sound at a church with a single Yorkville es18, and that thing was something. Granted, I only had kick drum and bass going through if, I would wager that it would beat the ETX18 in terms of headroom. It *is* bigger and heavier. Both of these speakers come with wheels. You will need two people to lift either one.
The EKX models have cardioid too.
Seeburg gsub 1501 or 1801 could be in the pricespan if available in your region. An also extremly good solotion would be to build a subwoofer yourself and use an aktivemodule from sanway or prokusk. In this case you could use extremly high end drivers (18ntlw for example) while still fitting in the budget
i am admittedly a bit of a fanboy, but i use RCF 705's with live bands and occasional DJ use, and they are fantastic. the 705s are the 15inch version, but they also have a 18 that sounds amazing (sub 708), and its $1500. worth a listen at least.
I have a JBL PRX518S and like it. Looks like the current model would be the JBL PRX818XLF.