SSP218-MK3 Dual 18" Subwoofer

Why the SSP218-MK3?

You're a road warrior. Your gear works hard, and it has to work harder than you! The SSP218-MK3 is the subwoofer-for-all-reasons subwoofer. If you're moving gear in a semi, a box truck or a trailer, the SSP218-MK3 is going to make your life easier. Truck-pack sized in every dimension, the SSP218-MK3 is perfect for rolling in, rocking the roof off, or down, and then rolling out before the smoke clears.

If you're not rolling large, you can still benefit from what the SSP218-MK3 is and does, being a top-tier tour-grade subwoofer providing high-SPL and low frequencies, all the while knowing that it's a building block for much bigger things. No equalization is required to achieve this response. Unlike designs that require equalization, the SSP218-MK3 tone, response and sensitivity are native to the design. Systems that require processing to achieve their stated response are still subject to the physical excursion and thermal limits of their drivers.

Boosting low-frequency EQ to achieve extended low-frequency response results in excessive distortion or woofer damage at full power unless limiting is applied. The limiting necessary to prevent failure also prevents the realization of their claimed frequency response at full power. Ideally suited for use as a professional touring subwoofer, its truck-pack dimensions are compatible with 90-inch and 96-inch truck widths and up to four boxes can be stacked and transported on a single dolly cart.

This allows 16 subwoofers and their 64,000 watts of amplification to be transported in as little as 5 feet of a 96-inch wide truck space or 12 boxes and 48,000 Watts in 4 feet of 90-inch truck space. On their custom-fit wheel carts with locking casters, stacks of 2 or 3 SSP218-MK3 can be rolled into place and used without the need to remove them from their carts. For added flexibility, the SSP218-MK3 can be stacked on their carts facing forwards or in cardioid configuration.

Straight Specs

At BASSBOSS we believe in power, precision, and practicality. While others in the industry may rely on theoretical calculations or skewed metrics, we provide real-world performance measurements. Performance claims that can't be met are worse than irrelevant, they are deceptive.

If you compare our specs to many in the loudspeaker industry, our specifications might seem rather unimpressive. That's certainly not because the products are underperforming, it's because we choose to tell you the truth instead of marketing hype. We bring you the reality of what our products can actually deliver in real-world conditions. We believe that should matter most to anyone who actually lives in the real world.

Many manipulate data in order to paint an exaggeratedly rosy picture of their products. Things like calculating peak output instead of measuring it, or quoting peak output figures based on output at frequencies outside the operational range of the loudspeaker, or quoting output that's achieved without the necessary processing having been applied. These methods churn out inflated specifications that don't match up to any actual, achievable levels. At BASSBOSS, we like to keep it real. We provide our “Maximum Measured Output" ratings, reporting the levels that we have actually measured our products reaching, and that's with all the filters and limiters in place, exactly the way you receive them. In our book, authenticity always wins.

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Champion Components

Every single item in the BASSBOSS lineup echoes our unwavering dedication to superior quality. From the awe-inspiring capacity of our largest festival rigs to the compact portability of our smaller systems, each piece is crafted to meet the same standards, to be exceptional on its own merits. This guarantees that every beat you feel and every song you hear is delivered with the clarity, power and steadfast reliability that are the hallmarks of the BASSBOSS experience.

As part of our commitment to exceptional quality, BASSBOSS goes the extra mile to ensure the components we use are the very best in every application. The best, in this context, doesn't always mean the most exotic, the most expensive, or having the most impressive specifications. It means the best for that particular purpose. Factors like frequency response and efficiency have to be backed up with long-term consistency of performance, long-term reliability, and fitness for purpose. We source top-tier components, from the best-reputed suppliers in the industry, just like every other high-end loudspeaker manufacturer.

If there is a difference between BASSBOSS and the other buyers of these same premium components, it's in the expectations we have for our systems. We didn't grow up on rock-n-roll, we grew up in the age of electronic instruments, digital recordings and deep bass. The demand for more and more SPL at lower and lower frequencies isn't something we're trying to catch up with, it's something we've been leading for years. Those bigger competitors eventually try to build products to do what we do when the demand gets big enough for them to do it. Meanwhile, for years we've been building the products that created that demand. By the time you're able to buy anything similar from them, we're already making the next insanely powerful product they'll eventually try to compete with. They do say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

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Deep Design

BASSBOSS is an investment into your creative identity. When you join the BASSBOSS Family you don't just get world-class audio equipment, you get something even more valuable: The BASSBOSS experience. Our products are designed for you to be able to make the most of them from the moment you take them out of the box.

Each element is purposefully crafted. Everything has a reason and a purpose, and that purpose is to make getting consistently great results easy and trouble-free. Whether you're a sound enthusiast or an audio professional, BASSBOSS lets you take control, effortlessly. To begin with, it's as simple as plug-and-play. No complicated setups, no fiddling around with complex controls. Connect directly to your mixer with just a signal cable, switch on, and the BASSBOSS experience means you're ready to deliver powerful soundscapes that move your audience.

Your sound, your way. Our Digital Signal Processing is comprehensive yet accessible. With a variety of inter-compatible presets and the ability to seamlessly switch between them, you can adjust and fine-tune your sound with just the touch of a button, or, if you prefer, the click of a mouse. Everything you need, nothing you don't. The integrated processing allows you to make changes so you can achieve the sound balance you want. And if you're wondering, no, it doesn't allow you to make changes that shouldn't be made, of the type that could cause damage or a deterioration of quality. One more benefit of the experience.

Prodigious Power

The SSP218-MK3 features 5000W of amplification, with an auto-sensing, globally compatible power supply that can run on input voltages anywhere between 90 and 250 Volts. Full output power is available on anything over 110V. The amplifier's peak-output voltage provides intense, high SPL hits while its continuous output is unparalleled in its ability to deliver sustained lows. The amplifier is passively cooled via its external heat sink and by woofer-generated air flow through the port. When necessary, four blower fans will engage to provide additional forced-air cooling capacity in more extreme conditions.

Every BASSBOSS product comes equipped with amplification, and in every case, a generous supply of power is provided. Headroom is the term used to describe the power that's still available when the sound is at the level required, and the BASSBOSS amps provide ample headroom. While it's necessary to have limiters in the DSP to prevent driver overload, those limiters aren't there to prevent amplifier clipping. There is enough power in every product to reach its maximum SPL without the risk of clipping the amplifier.

In other words, the amplifier is never the bottleneck in delivering powerful low frequencies, dynamic impact and clear sound. This abundant power capacity not only keeps overheating at bay but also eliminates the potential for damage caused by clipping an underpowered amp. With BASSBOSS, you've got the power to keep your sound pumping.

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Thumping Transducers

Amplifier power is converted into the much more desirable acoustical power by two high-efficiency, neodymium motor, 18-inch woofers with 4-inch (100mm) voice coils. Neodymium magnets are lighter, and their higher intensity provides higher efficiency, so the result is a lighter and louder cabinet than those with ferrite drivers. Our split-wound woofer coils create a more consistent force throughout the cone's range of movement, minimizing distortion and enhancing linearity at peak output.

The protection systems involve several techniques running simultaneously to effectively prevent thermal overload of the voice coils and limit excessive excursion. Reducing thermal saturation not only prevents burned voice coils, it also minimizes long-term thermal compression. Due to the sophistication of these multiple, independent yet simultaneous processes, the drivers can be protected while the actions of the limiters have virtually no noticeable effect on the transient response of the loudspeaker. Peak output can be achieved consistently, repeatedly and safely.

We understand that real-life situations can sometimes be messy. That's why we've waterproofed our cones to withstand accidental exposure to moisture – whether it's an unexpected rain shower or a spilled drink.

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Choice Cabinets

The SSP218-MK3 is a vented, direct radiating subwoofer, optimally tuned to provide flat frequency response to 30Hz with high sensitivity. The cabinet is extensively braced and rigid. The extremely versatile and capable SSP218-MK3 is particularly well-suited to rapid deployment and touring duty thanks to its convenient dimensions and transport options.

The SSP218-MK3 remains reliable and sustains its output long-term thanks to the combination of extremely rugged, very high power handling, long excursion drivers, carefully optimized cabinet and port design, and several effective but transparent protection systems. The protection systems effectively prevent thermal overload of the voice coils and minimize long-term thermal compression while having virtually no effect on the transient response and peak output of the loudspeaker. Very high output, low-frequency sound with extremely low distortion. The SSP218-MK3 sub is optimized for full-power operation and is designed to operate at full-rated RMS power throughout its operating range while the woofers remain within their X-max specification.

BASSBOSS cabinets are designed to endure for a very long time. Built from robust Birch plywood, our construction process involves precise dado joints, cleverly integrated bracing, and cutting-edge adhesives to create sturdy, rigid cabinets that stand the test of time. With a little care in handling, and especially with the use of the BASSBOSS carts and covers, BASSBOSS cabs can look new years down the line, even after many demanding environments and less-than-ideal locations.

The cabinets are protected by a rugged black polyurea coating that's specially formulated to bond to wood. Amplifiers are recessed into the back of the cabinets, safeguarding them from impact damage, with the cabinet recesses also functioning as structural braces. Powder-coated, perforated steel grilles protect the woofers. Every effort is made to create a physical enclosure that will stand up to whatever you throw at it, giving you years and years of solid service.