RCF SUB 18-AX - Professional 18-inch Active Subwoofer with DSP and Bluetooth

The SUB 18-AX is a portable, 18-inch active subwoofer with a power of 2200 W, designed for live sound applications, featuring an advanced DSP processor, a color touchscreen panel, and remote control via Bluetooth®. The combination of a next-generation driver with a powerful Class D amplifier delivers sound pressure levels of up to 135 dB with exceptional clarity and headroom. SUB AX subwoofers are specifically designed for small to medium-sized venues and are ideal for portable applications. The SUB 18-AX is the perfect complement to speakers with a 10", 12" or 15" woofer diameter; it centralizes speaker management within the subwoofer, providing dual crossover filters, 8-band equalizers, routings, delays, cardioid configurations, and recallable crossover settings. The plywood enclosure is coated with a durable finish and features sealed Powercon True1 Top power connectors.

FEATURES

• Sound pressure level up to 135 dB
• 2200 W Class D amplifier
• Frequency response 35 Hz - 120 Hz
• Digital crossover with preset settings
• Remote control capability via “LiveRemote” app
• Bass Motion Control management
• 18" Woofer, 4.0” voice coil, in a bass-reflex enclosure
• Plywood enclosure with durable coating
• 2x combo XLR/TRS inputs, 2x Link XLR outputs, 2x Xover XLR outputs
• Sealed Powercon True1 Top IN/OUT power connectors

ADVANCED SUBWOOFER WITH CROSSOVER SETTINGS FOR RCF SPEAKERS

The key to optimizing a sound system is precise timing alignment of the subwoofer. This not only enhances sound quality but also boosts bass response, giving the audience both a rhythm they can hear and vibrations they can feel.
With internally factory-tuned crossover settings for RCF speakers, your sound system is ready to perform in just a few simple steps. Simply connect the satellite speakers to the SUB AX, select a crossover setting from the user interface, and you’re ready to go. The FiRPHASE processing range is extended to match the subwoofer phase to the lowest frequencies.
- Large touchscreen - 2.4-inch color touchscreen, rotary push encoder, swipe gestures for quick navigation
- Advanced DSP for your system - Eight recallable settings, full-range 8-band parametric equalizer, delay up to 45 meters
- Precise tuning - Top/Sub alignment (meters/feet/ms), Cardioid function, and L/R balance for 2.1 systems

LiveRemote APP

Whether you are a musician, DJ, or professional sound engineer, the RCF LiveRemote app, the same one used with the ART 9 AX, is now available in the SUB AX models. For subwoofers, it provides quick selection of crossover settings, system EQ adjustments, and delay, as well as individual crossover settings. When pairing two models of subwoofers, they can be configured to operate in 2.2 mode. Available for Android and iOS smartphones and tablets.

CONCERT-READY SOLUTION

RCF enclosures are made from high-quality multilayer plywood coated with a durable polyurethane finish. The subwoofers are lightweight and easy to stack, featuring ergonomic handles with rubber grips, and their design facilitates quick setup and takedown. The threaded M20 pole mount on top of the enclosure allows for the mounting of various sizes of RCF full-range speakers. The front grill is powder-coated and includes special foam on the inside, which additionally protects the drivers from dust. The SUB AX series subwoofers are designed for durability, with Powercon True1 Top power connectors, ensuring they withstand the rigors of use and transport. Thanks to the front ventilation openings, the subwoofer can also be used in recessed spaces.

LEGENDARY SUBWOOFERS

RCF subwoofers are the first choice for many sound engineers due to their very high SPL levels at very low frequencies, small dimensions compared to the competition, self-sufficient design, internal delay control, long-term reliability, and impressive size-to-weight ratio for SPL. Your audience will experience an engaging experience in both live sound reinforcement and DJ applications.

INDUSTRY-LEADING DRIVERS

Lightweight and powerful, RCF drivers set the standard for high performance. RCF Precision Transducers engineers have developed new magnet sizes and molds to optimize the magnetic flux while maintaining low weight. The 18" magnetic circuit topology with a 4.0" voice coil is capable of delivering the highest balanced performance in three specific areas: maintaining a focused magnetic flux in the gap, exceptionally low distortion, and effectively integrating a lightweight magnetic circuit. T-pole design optimization generates minimal flux modulation in the magnetic assembly during typical voice coil movement in the gap.

POWER THAT MOVES

With a peak power of 2200W, the Class D amplifier manages extreme sound pressure levels with ultra-fast attack, realistic transient response, and very low heat loss. The amplifier design is energy-efficient, eliminating the need for a cooling fan. The amplifier is attached to a solid aluminum heatsink at the back of the enclosure, with no moving parts. The stereo input circuit with crossover features a new low-distortion design with an advanced safety limiter that preserves the true character of the input signal at all levels. RCF amplifiers are designed according to EN62368-1 for maximum safety and feature a switch-mode power supply section, combining high efficiency with minimal weight.

BASS MOTION CONTROL

In search of extended bass with improved performance, RCF engineers found a way to eliminate the low-pass filter, replacing it with a new approach. Introducing BMC (Bass Motion Control), a modern low-frequency driver excursion management function. A driver equipped with BMC can handle the lowest audible frequencies without compromising the speaker's stability, with extended linearity and better sound integrity. The BMC method works by creating a complete map of the dynamic behavior of the low-frequency driver to generate a personalized algorithm that limits only excessive excursions. This gives complete freedom of signal reproduction for the driver. While low-pass filters normally protect the speaker’s movement from damage but alter the phase response, the new BMC algorithm breaks conventional rules.

SPECIFICATIONS

ACOUSTIC PARAMETERS

• Frequency range: 35 Hz - 120 Hz
• Maximum SPL @ 1m: 135 dB

DRIVERS

• Low-frequency driver: 18", 4.0" voice coil

INPUT/OUTPUT SECTION

• Input signal: balanced/unbalanced
• Input connectors: 2x Combo XLR/Jack
• Output connectors: 2x XLR (link out), 2x XLR (xover out)
• Input sensitivity: -2 dBu/+4 dBu

PROCESSOR SECTION

• Protection: Thermal
• Limiter: Soft Limiter
• Control: Encoder for volume control and data input. Touchscreen for managing parameters and monitoring.

AMPLIFIER SECTION

• Total power: 2200 W Peak / 1100 W RMS
• Cooling: convection
• Connector: Powercon TRUE1 TOP IN/OUT
• Power supply voltage: 100 - 240 V

PHYSICAL PARAMETERS

• Handles: 1 on the left, 1 on the right
• Pole mount: Yes, M20 on top
• Enclosure material: Plywood
• Color: Black

SIZE

• Height: 693 mm / 27.28 inches
• Width: 505 mm / 19.88 inches
• Depth: 685 mm / 26.97 inches
• Weight: 43.8 kg / 96.56 lbs