INSTALLATION MANUAL
BL18S Subwoofer
1. Introduction and Overview
1.2 Subwoofer Pack Contents
Each package contains a single subwoofer, four optional casters
and a document pack.
BL18S subwoofer
1.1 Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the Blaze Audio BL18S subwoofer. The BL18S is a high-power passive subwoofer designed
for use in small to medium-sized venues that require versatile and scalable low frequency solutions. It is particularly
suited for use with the Blaze Audio CBL528 constant beamwidth full range loudspeaker. The BL18S subwoofer is
primarily intended to be installed free-standing.
The BL18S is intended to be driven by a PowerZone™ Connect power amplier (3004 or higher) with the appropriate
speaker presets enabled. When installed in multiple arrays, BL18S subwoofers can be congured via amplier speaker
presets to provide either omnidirectional or cardioid directivity characteristics. The BL18S is supplied with casters that
can optionally be tted to its rear panel to ease manual handling and installation.
The BL18S subwoofer incorporate one 18-inch bass driver in a reex loaded enclosure. It provides low-frequency
bandwidth to 31 Hz at -10 dB and maximum sound pressure levels of 136 dB at 1m.
Casters (x4)
Document Pack
2. Applications and Deployment
• Read these instructions.
• Keep these instructions.
• Heed all warnings.
• Follow all instructions.
• Before installing or suspending a BL18S subwoofer, inspect all
hardware, the enclosure, and associated equipment for damage.
Missing, corroded, or deformed components, or components
without correct load ratings, could signicantly reduce the
strength of the installation or placement and should immediately
be repaired or replaced.
• Always make sure that the structure the loudspeaker is to be
suspended from has been approved by the building or structural
engineer and will support the weight of all the components of the
speaker system including speakers, speaker cable, wire rope, etc.
• Consult a licensed professional structural engineer regarding
physical equipment installation.
• Do not suspend loudspeakers directly over people.
• Use only hardware that is rated for the load conditions of the
installation and that allows for a possible short-term, unexpected
overload. Never exceed the rating of the hardware or equipment.
• Blaze Audio strongly recommends that the system be inspected
at least once a year and logged. If any sign of weakness or damage
is detected, remedial action should be taken immediately.
• All installation crew members must be trained for loudspeaker
rigging and mounting.
• Make sure that all relevant health and safety regulations
are known, are followed by the installation crew, and follow
applicable local laws. Local government ofces can help with this
information.
• Suspended installations must be completed or supervised by a
certied rigger.
• The system should be designed so that it is a static suspension.
There should be no dynamic or shock loading.
• Personal protective equipment (hard hats, steel-toed footwear,
safety glasses, etc.) should be always worn by the installation
crew.
• If called for in the design, make sure all installation personnel are
trained to work at height and have certications for scissor lifts,
theatrical hoists, etc.
• Make sure all lifting equipment (slings, span-sets, deck chain,
scaffolding, etc.) is in good working order. Thoroughly inspect all
components prior to use.
• Inspect all the components associated with the project
for damage before assembly. Any parts with damage or
suspected damage should not be used. Contact the component
manufacturer for replacement parts if necessary.
• Keep a tidy workplace. Do not leave tools, rigging items, etc., on
top of loudspeakers during installation. Loose items can fall and
cause injury.
• Never leave the system unattended during the installation
process. Make sure that the workspace is isolated from
public access. No one should be allowed to pass beneath the
loudspeakers during installation.
• Do not suspend any other components or loudspeakers other
than the supported congurations described in this manual.
• If secondary steel safeties are required, they should be installed
once the entire system is at operating height and before public
access is allowed.
2.1 Important Safety Instructions
WARNING: Failure to observe the following safety precautions may result in severe injury or death.
Installations such as described in this guide should only be attempted by a trained professional.
2. Applications and Deployment
2.2 Installation Options
The BL18S subwoofer is intended to be installed free-standing either singularly or in pairs arranged to provide cardioid
directivity.
2.2.1 Free-standing Installation
The BL18S subwoofer can be installed free-standing on oors or
other structures able to support their weight.
Note: It is important to ensure that any structure on which a BL18S
subwoofer is supported is able to bear its weight with an appropriate
factor of safety. If there is any doubt in this respect, a specialist
structural engineer must be consulted.
2.2.2 Caster Installation
The BL18S subwoofer is supplied with optional casters that can be
tted to its rear panel to aid manual handling and installation. To
t the casters remove the screws at the caster attachment points
and replace them with the casters in place. The diagram below
illustrates caster attachment.
2.2.3 Loudspeaker Support Pole
The upper panel of the BL18S incorporates a tapped hole tting in
which a standard M20 threaded loudspeaker support pole can be
inserted to provide a raised mounting location for a Blaze Audio
CBL528 constant beamwidth loudspeaker. The diagram below
illustrates loudspeaker support pole attachment.
BL18S subwoofer caster
attachment.
BL18S loudspeaker pole
attachment.
2. Applications and Deployment
2.2.4 Subwoofer Directivity Options
In combination with use of the appropriate Blaze Audio
PowerZone™ Connect amplier Speaker Presets, pairs of BL18S
subwoofers can be congured to offer omnidirectional or
cardioid directivity.
For omnidirectional directivity, the two subwoofers should be
positioned either adjacent to each other or one above the other
with both facing in the same direction as illustrated in the following
diagram. The amplier outputs driving each subwoofer should have
the same standard speaker preset enabled
(BL18S.zcp).
BL18S subwoofer pair
in omnidirectional
arrangement.
BL18S subwoofer pair in
cardioid arrangement.
Cardioid
radiation axis
For cardioid directivity, the two subwoofers should be positioned
either adjacent to each other, or one above the other, with one
facing forwards and one facing backwards as illustrated in the
following diagram. The cardioid forward radiation lobe will coincide
with the forward facing subwoofer. The amplier output driving
the forward facing subwoofer should have the standard speaker
preset enabled (BL18S.zcp) and the amplier output driving the
backwards facing subwoofer should have the cardioid speaker
preset enabled (BL18S-cardioid.zcp).
3. Connection and Amplication
3.1 BL18S Connections
The BL18S subwoofer is tted with two Neutrik NL4 speakON sockets on its rear panel. One socket is intended for
connection to one or two bridged channels of a Blaze PowerZone™ Connect ampliers (3004 or higher) and one socket
provides an optional parallel output connection for a second subwoofer. The driving amplier must be congured in
Bridged Output (BTL) mode, as described in Section 3.2.2 of this manual, before it is connected to the BL18S .
Subwoofer input and output connections are described and illustrated below. Amplier connections to the BL18S
subwoofers are described and illustrated on the following pages.
BL18S Socket Connections
Signal Routing Connection Pin
Amp Ch 1 (+) 1 (+)
Amp Ch 2 (–) 1 (–)
3.1.1 BL18S Connection Sockets
BL18S connection sockets are congured as indicated in the
following table and diagrams. The two sockets are wired in
parallel to enable the connection of a second subwoofer when
increased output is required.
Note: A pair of parallel connected subwoofers must be the same
model.
Connect to Blaze
PowerZone™ Connect
ampliers (3004 or
higher) outputs
Optionally connect to
second subwoofer
1-
2+
1+
2-
Neutrik NL4 speak-ON Pins
Amplier channel 1
positive (+)
Amplier channel 2
negative (–)
When used to drive BL18S subwoofers, Blaze Audio PowerZone™ Connect ampliers (3004 or higher)
must be congured in Bridged Output mode. Do not connect an amplier to a BL18S subwoofer before it
is congured appropriately.
3. Connection and Amplication
3.1.2 BL18S Amplier Connections
The BL18S subwoofer is designed to work with the Blaze Audio
PowerZone™ Connect (3004 or higher) power ampliers. This
amplier incorporate the DSP equalisation facilities required to
optimise the subwoofer acoustic performance, while also providing
appropriate output power capabilities.
One Blaze Audio PowerZone™ Connect amplier (3004 or
higher) is able to drive up to two BL18S subwoofers per bridged
output channel. The subwoofers can be congured in standard,
omnidirectional directivity mode or as cardioid pairs.
BL18S subwoofer and PowerZone™ Connect amplier connections
are illustrated in the diagram alongside.
Note: Blaze PowerZone™ Connect ampliers (3004 or higher) must
be congured in Bridged (BTL) mode for optimal operation.
Note: No more than two BL18S subwoofers per bridged output
channel connected to a single amplier.
Note: The PowerZone™ Connect Installation Manual, available for
download from the Blaze Audio website (blaze-audio.com), contains
comprehensive amplier installation and operational information.
1-
2+
1+
2-
1-
2+
1+
2-
1-
2+
1+
2-
1-
2+
1+
2-
Optionally connect
BL18S-3 & BL18S-4
BL18S-1
BL18S-2
Two or four BL18S subwoofers connected to each PowerZone™
Connect 3004 bridged (BTL) output channel, four units
maximum on total amplier power platform.
• For omnidirectional directivity, both amplier outputs
require speaker preset BL18S.zcp enabled.
• For cardioid directivity, amplier Output 1 (CH1 & CH2)
requires speaker preset BL18S.zcp enabled, and amplier
output 2 (CH3 & CH4) requires speaker preset BL18S-
cardioid.zcp enabled. The BL18S physical arrangement then
requires cardioid pairs comprising BL18S-1 (forward facing)
with BL18S-2 (backwards facing) and optionally BL18S-3
(forward facing) with BL18S-4 (backwards facing)
When used to drive BL18S subwoofers, Blaze Audio PowerZone™ Connect ampliers (3004 or higher)
must be congured in Bridged (BTL) mode for optimal operation. Do not connect an amplier to a BL18S
subwoofer before it is congured appropriately.
3. Connection and Amplication
3.2 PowerZone™ Connect Amplier Output Conguration and Speaker Presets
The Blaze Audio PowerZone™ Connect amplier incorporates mode conguration and loudspeaker management
functions, accessed via a web page interface. Amplier functional options can to be congured, and precongured lter
and equalization speaker presets can be enabled.
When used to drive the BL18S subwoofer, PowerZone™ Connect ampliers (3004 or higher) must have the appropriate
speaker presets enabled. Speaker presets for the BL18S subwoofer are available for download from the Blaze Audio
website and must be used for correct subwoofer performance. Standard and Cardioid speaker presets are available.
The procedure for downloading and enabling PowerZone™ Connect ampliers (3004 or higher) speaker presets is
described in the following sections.
NOTE: The exact appearance and layout of the amplier web
interface may vary slightly depending on the device and browser in
use.
3.2.1 PowerZone™ Control Network Connection
In order to install the BL18S speaker preset les, the PowerZone™
Connect amplier requires either a wired or wireless connection
via a TCP/IP network, or to connect via its own wireless access
point, to a computer or mobile device from which speaker preset
les can be uploaded. Internet access for speaker preset le
download is also required.
Note: The PowerZone™ Connect amplier Quick Start Guide and
Installation Manual documents cover network connection and can
be downloaded from: https://blaze-audio.com/support/
3.2.2 Speaker Preset Download and Application
Follow the steps below to download and enable the BL18S speaker
preset to the amplier outputs.
Step 1. Using a computer or mobile device, go to:
https://blaze-audio.com/support/ and select
the speaker preset les for download.
It is important that the correct speaker preset les are
downloaded:
BL18S Standard - File name: BL18S.zcp
BL18S Cardioid - File name: BL18S-cardioid.zcp
NOTE: The speaker preset les will download in a compressed .zip
archive format. Expand the .zip archive and store the les in an
appropriate location on the download device.
When used to drive BL18S subwoofers, Blaze Audio PowerZone™ Connect ampliers (3004 or higher)
must be congured in Bridged (BTL) mode for optimal operation. Do not connect an amplier to a
BL18S subwoofer before it is congured appropriately.
Step 2. On the computer or mobile device, navigate to the
PowerZone™ Connect amplier web interface and select
the Output tab.
3. Connection and Amplication
Step 6. The speaker preset le will now be applied to amplier
Output 1.
Step 7. With the appropriate speaker preset le applied to
amplier Output 1, repeat Step 2 to Step 6 for Output 3 if
required.
NOTE: BL18S speaker presets congure PowerZone™ Connect
ampliers (3004 or higher) in bridged output mode, so enabling the
presets will reduce the number of available output channels.
IMPORTANT: It is vital for the correct
operation of BL18S subwoofers that the
correct speaker preset le is enabled.
Step 3. From the Output page select the required Output tab at the
top of the display and then select the Speaker Preset menu
option.
Step 4. Selecting IMPORT PRESET FROM FILE will open the
Speaker Preset Import pop-up box that provides the option
to choose a preset le.
Step 5. Browse the download device for the les downloaded in
Step 1 and select the appropriate le. It will be named :
BL18S.zcp or BL18S-cardioid.zcp, Select IMPORT.
4. Technical Information
4. BL18S Specications
*Frequency response and range measured on-axis with anechoic environment.
**Power handling tested using pink noise ltered to meet IEC 268-5, 6 dB crest factor, 100 hours, with recommended EQ.
***Peak level measured at 1m under free eld conditions using 10 dB crest factor pink noise with specied ([Blaze Audio] preset) and corresponding EQ settings.
Frequency Response
(-3 dB)*
36 Hz – 150 Hz
Frequency Range
(-10 dB)*
31 Hz – 150 Hz
Recommended Low-PassFilter 90 Hz
Nominal Directivity (-6dB) Omnidirectional or cardioid
Long Term Power Handling
Capacity**
1200 W AES,
2400 W (4800 W peak)
Impedance 8 Ω
Maximum SPL @ 1m*** 136 dB
Transducer Components 1 x 18 inch, 4” voice-coil
Enclosure
Baltic birch plywood,
engineered plastics.
Finish
Two-part spray catalyzed
Polyurea coating on plywood.
Grille
14-gauge (2 mm) perforated steel,
powder-coated nish, black.
Environmental Indoor use only.
Connectors / Bi-Amp
Two (2) parallel-wired Neutrik® NL4 speakON®
connectors.
Suspension / Mounting Freestanding, M20 threaded pole mount.
Dimensions (HxWxD)
22.5” x 24.5” x 30”
571.5 mm x 622.3 mm x 762 mm
Net Weight 131.5 lbs / 59,65 kg
Shipping Weight 147 lbs / 66,69 kg
Color Variants Black
Product Version BL18S
4.1.1 Technical Specications
4.1.2 Physical Characteristics
©2025 Sonance. All rights reserved. Sonance is a registered trademarks of Dana Innovations.
Due to continuous product improvement, all features and specifications are subject to change without notice.
For the latest Sonance product specification information visit our website at www.sonance.com.
SONANCE • 991 Calle Amanecer • San Clemente, CA 92673 USA • Phone: (949) 492-7777 • Technical Support: (949) 492-7777 • www.sonance.com • 07.01.25
4.2 BL18S Dimensions
4. Technical Information
24.5”
622.3mm
22.5”
571.5mm
30.0”
762mm
Rev G 23/06/2025
