I bought this to pair up with and compare it to the Eminence LAB12 for a compact, high quality sub woofer. I used two cabinets for the comparison, 1) a front radiating ported cabinet 75l, and 2) A folded horn built into a small theatre stage. The application is for live theatre where Keyboard, Bass, acoustic guitar (percussion from hitting the box) and bass drum provide most of the low frequencies.
In the front loaded cabinet, the 18 sound produced virtually no low frequencies, unlike the LAB12 which was able to rattle the windows using relatively low power. The 18 sound in this cabinet worked exceptionally well as a low mid speaker, with excellent reproduction in this low-mid frequency band but not at sub levels. At first I was disappointed as I had purchased the 18 sound as a sub woofer.
I then compared the two in a folded horn cabinet, and this is where the 12LW1400 performed exceptionally well (as did the LAB12). The bass was clean, powerful and very well defined. I could feel the low frequencies as they were very well controlled.
I am now inspired to build the bandpass cabinet from the 18 sound website.
In summary if I had to buy again I would opt for the 12LW1400. It could easily be used as a low end woofer in a two way system with a crossover at 1khz, whereas the LAB12 is only suitable for sub 100Hz. The LAB12 gets lower but with not as much definition and control. Finally, I would buy from Thomann again, the service was excellent as usual.
