NB Audio - FY-TW9000 - 18" Subwoofer

There’s a well known 18" subwoofer on the Australian market that has built a strong following since it's release about 12 months ago. It’s often praised for offering excellent bang for buck, making it a go-to choice for many people looking for serious bass performance without breaking the bank. A big part of how it achieves that competitive price point is simple... it’s manufactured in China.

In fairness, I’ve only ever heard good things about this subwoofer. It consistently delivers solid performance for the price, and I would vouch for it as a budget-friendly option that punches above its price point.

But what if you could get a subwoofer with the same size enclosure, the same size driver, better performance and it was made right here in Australia... and we matched the retail price of the Chinese alternative?

That is exactly what we're offering with our FY-TW9000 for the first customer ready to take the plunge.... and wait a little for it.

Features:

• Australian Made 25mm vented MDF enclosure
• Australian Made NB Audio NPA1200-8 DSP Plate Amplifier
• Australian Made NB Audio Custom 3D Printed Ports
• 18" Flagship SB Audience Subwoofer Driver
• Fully designed, assembled and tested in Australia
• 5 year warranty on the amplifier module and driver
• 10 year warranty on the enclosure

Specifications:

• Power: 1200W RMS at 0.1% THD
• Frequency Response: 27hz-200hz -3db* (sub 20hz in room).
• Max SPL: 125db+*
• Finish: Black Rolled Duratex
• Dimensions: 630mm (W) x 872mm^ (H) x 695mm (D)
• Weight: Approx. 90kg

*At 1m free air, continuous. ^Includes removable 20mm tall feet

Comparison:

So how does it compare to the Chinese alternative? I'm glad you asked! See our comparison table below:

	NB Audio	Chinese Alternative
Driver Size	18"	18"
Amplifier Power (RMS)	1200w	1500w
Amplifier Distortion	0.1%	2%
Frequency Response	27hz-200hz -3db	13hz-200hz -???db
SPL	125db+ (continuous)	120db (peak)
DSP/PEQ	Yes	Yes
Bluetooth App	No	Yes
Warranty - Amp/Driver	5 Years	3 years
Warranty - Enclosure	10 years	5 years

Shipping:

The subwoofer, once palleted for delivery weighs nearly 100kg! Despite this, our relationship with 'Big Post' means shipping is included to most areas in Australia. However, delivery methods for free shipping varies delivery by region and address type.

In most instances, where a forklift isn't available to unload, a depot delivery is required. Big Post has over 185 depots around Australia meaning your nearest depot is generally just a short drive away. A list of Big Post depot locations can be found here. 

All depots have forklifts to load your subwoofer on a ute or trailer. Once it's home, it can typically be unloaded with multiple people and a bit of muscle. 

We are happy to organise delivery directly to your home and add 'Tailgate Service' at the buyers cost.

Business Addresses (even without forklifts), typically attract cheaper shipping.

Not sure? Don't hesitate to email us and we can confirm any additional shipping costs which may apply.

FAQ:

Surely you're not making much money 'price matching' a Chinese built subwoofer. How is this possible?

Lead Time: You're going to have to give me 6 weeks from your order date to build it. Between a few custom projects, ongoing cable orders and the production and R&D on other products, I'm well and truly under the pump so will need a little time to get it built.

Limited Release: We're only offering 1x at this price to the first customer willing to take the plunge. We are however offering big discounts on the next 2x orders as well. 

You're buying direct from the manufacturer: This is a big one. Between the margin distributors make then dealers have to make on top of that, it's not uncommon for manufacturer to consumer pricing doubling to cover every middle man along the way.

We're getting pretty good at this: Over the years, we've refined our processes to make assembly reasonably efficient. We've also done all the R&D on the plate amp and countless hours of research using this and similar drivers meaning we don't need to cover as much 'time/R&D cost'.

The Chinese Alternative has peak power of 8000w peak. Surely that makes a difference?

There's few things I hate more than peak power ratings. The “peak” rating is meant to show the maximum instantaneous burst of power the subwoofer might survive for a fraction of a second. There’s no standard method for measuring them, and manufacturers can claim almost any number as long as the sub doesn't immediately fail in a controlled burst test. It tells us nothing about real world performance and the sooner we do away with it, the better.

I couldn't even tell you what our amps are capable of delivering. Our amps are capable of power higher than it's stated rating but it leads to higher distortion and risks excessive heat generation and clipping.

What's the go with frequency response?

You might have noticed a few question marks in the comparison chart next to the Chinese Import’s “Frequency Response”. Which brings me to one of my pet audio peeves... the way manufacturers report frequency response.

Most websites selling the Chinese Import claim “11Hz - 200Hz,” sometimes calling it the adjustable crossover range (which just means you can cut the signal anywhere between 11Hz and 200Hz, a nearly useless spec). Others list it as actual frequency response. The manual says 13Hz - 200Hz.

None of these figures matter without knowing how far down in decibels the sub is at the low end, or better yet, the actual SPL. Pretty much any sub can “reach” 20Hz, what matters is how loud it is at that frequency. I could tune a 10" sealed sub to hit 20Hz flat, but it wouldn’t be loud.

Independent tests show the Chinese import is down by as much as 22dB at 11Hz to 13Hz, hardly a meaningful spec to quote.

Our FY-TW9000 still delivers over 120dB at its stated 27Hz (-3dB) in free air, these numbers only improve in room.

What sort of DSP capabilities does it have?

We'll pre-load 3x DSP Programs into the amp module itself which control the basic response of the subwoofer to play as flat as reasonably possible in 'Free Air'.

Over and above that, you will be able to plug your subwoofer into your laptop/computer and add 9 additional bands of EQ to further tune your subwoofer to your room. 

Got a calibration mic? You'll be able to go even further than that. Using REW and a calibrated mic (such as a U-MIK), you'll be able to place your subwoofer in your preferred position, take a measurement sweep of the room, upload that measurement into REW and it will spit out up to 9 bands of PEQ settings to punch into the HFD software to suit the desired response. We'll be releasing a guide on this later.

Those are some serious ports. Is that necessary?

There’s a well known 18" subwoofer on the Australian market that has built a strong following since it's release about 12 months ago. It’s often praised for offering excellent bang for buck, making it a go-to choice for many people looking for serious bass performance without breaking the bank. A big part of how it achieves that competitive price point is simple... it’s manufactured in China, where production costs are lower.

In fairness, I’ve only ever heard good things about this subwoofer. It consistently delivers solid performance for the price, and I would vouch for it as a budget-friendly option that punches above its price point.

But what if you could get a subwoofer with the same size enclosure, the same size driver, better performance and it was made right here in Australia... and we matched the retail price of the Chinese alternative?

That is exactly what I am offering with our FY-TW9000 for the first customer ready to take the plunge.

Features:

• Australian Made 25mm vented MDF enclosure
• Australian Made NB Audio NPA1200-8 DSP Plate Amplifier
• Australian Made NB Audio Custom 3D Printed Ports
• 18" Flagship SB Audience Subwoofer Driver
• Fully designed, assembled and tested in Australia
• 5 year warranty on the amplifier module and driver
• 10 year warranty on the enclosure

Specifications:

• Power: 1200W RMS at 0.1% THD
• Frequency Response: 27hz-200hz -3db* (sub 20hz in room).
• Max SPL: 125db+*
• Finish: Black Rolled Duratex
• Dimensions: 630mm (W) x 872mm^ (H) x 695mm (D)
• Weight: Approx. 90kg

*At 1m free air, continuous. ^Includes removable 20mm tall feet

Comparison:

So how does it compare to the Chinese alternative? I'm glad you asked! See our comparison table below:

	NB Audio	Chinese Alternative
Driver Size	18"	18"
Amplifier Power (RMS)	1200w	1500w
Amplifier Distortion	0.1%	2%
Frequency Response	27hz-200hz -3db	13hz-200hz -???db
SPL	125db+ (continuous)	120db (peak)
DSP/PEQ	Yes	Yes
Bluetooth App	No	Yes
Warranty - Amp/Driver	5 Years	3 years
Warranty - Enclosure	10 years	5 years

Shipping:

The subwoofer, once palleted for delivery weighs nearly 100kg! Despite this, our relationship with 'Big Post' means shipping is included to most areas in Australia. However, delivery methods for free shipping varies delivery by region and address type.

In most instances, where a forklift isn't available to unload, a depot delivery is required. Big Post has over 185 depots around Australia meaning your nearest depot is generally just a short drive away. A list of Big Post depot locations can be found here. 

All depots have forklifts to load your subwoofer on a ute or trailer. Once it's home, it can typically be unloaded with multiple people and a bit of muscle. 

We are happy to organise delivery directly to your home and add 'Tailgate Service' at the buyers cost.

Business Addresses (even without forklifts), typically attract cheaper shipping.

Not sure? Don't hesitate to email us and we can confirm any additional shipping costs which may apply.

FAQ:

Surely you're not making much money 'price matching' a Chinese built subwoofer. How is this possible?

Lead Time: You're going to have to give me 6 weeks from your order date to build it. Between a few custom projects, ongoing cable orders and the production and R&D on other products, I'm well and truly under the pump so will need a little time to get it built.

Limited Release: We're only offering 1x at this price to the first customer willing to take the plunge. We are however offering big discounts on the next 2x orders as well. 

You're buying direct from the manufacturer: This is a big one. Between the margin distributors make then dealers have to make on top of that, it's not uncommon for manufacturer to consumer pricing doubling to cover every middle man along the way.

We're getting pretty good at this: Over the years, we've refined our processes to make assembly reasonably efficient. We've also done all the R&D on the plate amp and countless hours of research using this and similar drivers meaning we don't need to cover as much 'time/R&D cost'.

The Chinese Alternative has peak power of 8000w peak. Surely that makes a difference?

There's few things I hate more than peak power ratings. The “peak” rating is meant to show the maximum instantaneous burst of power the subwoofer might survive for a fraction of a second. There’s no standard method for measuring them, and manufacturers can claim almost any number as long as the sub doesn't immediately fail in a controlled burst test. It tells us nothing about real world performance and the sooner we do away with it, the better.

I couldn't even tell you what our amps are capable of delivering. Our amps are capable of power higher than it's stated rating but it leads to higher distortion and risks excessive heat generation and clipping.

What's the go with frequency response?

You might have noticed a few question marks in the comparison chart next to the Chinese Import’s “Frequency Response”. Which brings me to one of my pet audio peeves... the way manufacturers report frequency response.

Most websites selling the Chinese Import claim “11Hz - 200Hz,” sometimes calling it the adjustable crossover range (which just means you can cut the signal anywhere between 11Hz and 200Hz, a nearly useless spec). Others list it as actual frequency response. The manual says 13Hz - 200Hz.

None of these figures matter without knowing how far down in decibels the sub is at the low end, or better yet, the actual SPL. Pretty much any sub can “reach” 20Hz, what matters is how loud it is at that frequency. I could tune a 10" sealed sub to hit 20Hz flat, but it wouldn’t be loud.

Independent tests show the Chinese import is down by as much as 22dB at 11Hz to 13Hz, hardly a meaningful spec to quote.

Our FY-TW9000 still delivers over 120dB at its stated 27Hz (-3dB) in free air, these numbers only improve in room.

What sort of DSP capabilities does it have?

We'll pre-load 3x DSP Programs into the amp module itself which control the basic response of the subwoofer to play as flat as reasonably possible in 'Free Air'.

Over and above that, you will be able to plug your subwoofer into your laptop/computer and add 9 additional bands of EQ to further tune your subwoofer to your room. 

Got a calibration mic? You'll be able to go even further than that. Using REW and a calibrated mic (such as a U-MIK), you'll be able to place your subwoofer in your preferred position, take a measurement sweep of the room, upload that measurement into REW and it will spit out up to 9 bands of PEQ settings to punch into the HFD software to suit the desired response. We'll be releasing a guide on this later.

Those are some serious ports! Is that really necessary?

The short version is yes, they're very necessary. Moving a lot of air (like big subwoofers do) and at high SPL requires large enclosures and big, long ports. Many manufacturers use smaller ports as they're difficult to incorporate into even large enclosures. The trade off is audible chuffing which is usually drowned out by the SPL the subwoofer is producing at the time. But worse than that, it result in port compression, "choking" the subwoofer and leading to less output and increased distortion.

To combat this, FY-TW9000 features nearly 4.5m of high diameter port tubing which takes over 6 straight days of 3D printing to produce, ensuring port velocity stays low, even at max SPL.

Disclaimer: Final design may vary slightly from images shown including but not limited to additional bracing and support for ports.