Passive Subwoofers Subwoofers

Amp-driven bass cabinets from NEXO and Martin Audio, running from the SX110 10-inch up to double-18 designs like the Blackline Q218 and SX218, with NEXO’s L15, L18 and eLS18 covering touring and install duties in between. Several Martin Audio models come in white for rooms where a black box is the wrong answer.

Passive subs put the cost and weight in the amp rack, which suits hire companies and installers who already own amplifier channels and want lighter, cheaper, more serviceable cabinets. Get the matching right: check power handling and impedance against your amps, and run the manufacturer’s published crossover and limiter settings, because an unprotected 18 is an expensive recone waiting to happen. Driver format follows the job, single 10s and 12s underpin speech and background systems, 15s and 18s carry live music, and double 18s move real air for dance floors and outdoor stages.

Amplifier processing lives in the System Processors category, and powered alternatives are under Active Subwoofers if mains-fed cabinets suit the job better.
Passive Subwoofer FAQs
Why choose passive subs? Cost and weight move into the amp rack, right for hire fleets and installs that already own amplifier channels and want lighter boxes at the sharp end. The wider choice is in choosing and placing subwoofers.
What drives them properly? Amplification with the manufacturer’s presets, NEXO subs want NXAMP or DTD processing, Martin Audio pairs with its own DSP amps. See matching amplifiers and speakers.
Why white subs? Because some rooms refuse black boxes, several Martin Audio models ship in white for exactly those installs.