Mackie Thump 18S User manual

OWNER’S MANUAL
1200W 18" Powered Subwoofer
Thump18S

Thump18S Powered Subwoofer
2
Thump18S Powered Subwoofer
Important Safety Instructions
1. Read these instructions.
2. Keep these instructions.
3. Heed all warnings.
4. Follow all instructions.
5. Do not use this apparatus near water.
6. Clean only with a dry cloth.
7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance
with the manufacturer’s instructions.
8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves,
or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug.
A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding-type
plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong
are provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet,
consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
10.Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs,
convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.
11.Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
12.Use only with a cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specified
by the manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus. When a
cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus
combination to avoid injury from tip-over.
13.Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when
unused for long periods of time.
14.Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is
required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply
cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the
apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate
normally, or has been dropped.
15.This apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing, and no object filled
with liquids, such as vases or beer glasses, shall be placed on the apparatus.
16.Do not overload wall outlets and extension cords as this can result in a risk of fire
or electric shock.
17.This apparatus has been designed with Class-I construction and must be
connected to a mains socket outlet with a protective earthing connection
(the third grounding prong).
18.This apparatus has been equipped with a rocker-style AC mains power switch. This
switch is located on the rear panel and should remain readily accessible to the user.
19. The MAINS plug or an appliance coupler is used as the disconnect device,
so the disconnect device shall remain readily operable.
PORTABLE CART
WARNING
CAUTION
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol within
an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user
to the prescence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage”
within the product’s enclosure, that may be of significant
magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK! DO NOT OPEN!
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT
REMOVE COVER (OR BACK). NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is
intended to alert the user of the prescence of important
operating and maintaining (servicing) instructions in the
literature accompanying the appliance.
WARNING — To reduce the risk of fire or electric
shock, do not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture.
20. NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits
for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits
are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference
in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate
radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the
instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However,
there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.
If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception,
which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following
measures:
• Reorientorrelocatethereceivingantenna.
• Increasetheseparationbetweentheequipmentandthereceiver.
• Connecttheequipmentintoanoutletonacircuitdifferentfromthatto
which the receiver is connected.
• Consultthedealeroranexperiencedradio/TVtechnicianforhelp.
CAUTION: Changes or modifications to this device not expressly approved by
LOUD Technologies Inc. could void the user's authority to operate the equipment
under FCC rules.
21.This apparatus does not exceed the Class A/Class B (whichever is applicable)
limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus as set out in the radio
interference regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications.
ATTENTION — Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques
dépassant las limites applicables aux appareils numériques de class A/de class B
(selon le cas) prescrites dans le réglement sur le brouillage radioélectrique édicté
par les ministere des communications du Canada.
22.Exposure to extremely high noise levels may cause permanent hearing loss.
Individuals vary considerably in susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss, but
nearly everyone will lose some hearing if exposed to sufficiently intense noise
for a period of time. The U.S. Government’s Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) has specified the permissible noise level exposures shown
in the following chart.
According to OSHA, any exposure in excess of these permissible limits could result
in some hearing loss. To ensure against potentially dangerous exposure to high
sound pressure levels, it is recommended that all persons exposed to equipment
capable of producing high sound pressure levels use hearing protectors while the
equipment is in operation. Ear plugs or protectors in the ear canals or over the
ears must be worn when operating the equipment in order to prevent permanent
hearing loss if exposure is in excess of the limits set forth here:
Duration,
per day in
hours
Sound Level dBA,
Slow Response Typical Example
8 90 Duo in small club
6 92
4 95 Subway Train
3 97
2 100 Veryloudclassicalmusic
1.5 102
1 105 Greg screaming at Troy about deadlines
0.5 110
0.25 or less 115 Loudest parts at a rock concert
Laite on liitettävä suojakoskettimilla varustettuun pistorasiaan.
Apparatet må tilkoples jordet stikkontakt.
Apparaten skall anslutas till jordat uttag.
Correct disposal of this product: This symbol indicates that this product should not be disposed of with your household
waste, according to the WEEE directive (2012/19/EU) and your national law. This product should be handed over to
an authorized collection site for recycling waste electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). Improper handling of this type
of waste could have a possible negative impact on the environment and human health due to potentially hazardous substances
that are generally associated with EEE. At the same time, your cooperation in the correct disposal of this product will
contribute to the effective usage of natural resources. For more information about where you can drop off your waste
equipment for recycling, please contact your local city office, waste authority, or your household waste disposal service.

Owner’s Manual
3
Owner’s Manual
Contents Features
Part No. SW1050 Rev. A 03/14
©2014 LOUD Technologies Inc. All Rights Reserved.
• 1200WofRoom-ShakingLowEnd
  •Professionalband-passdesignformaximum
   outputanddeep,room-llinglows
  •18"customhigh-outputwoofer
  •Cool-runningClass-Damplication
•TotalSystemOptimization
  •Precisioncrossover(140Hz)
  •Tuningltersdeliverhighlyaccurate
   bassresponse
  •Robustsystemprotection
•ApplicationFlexible
  •DualXLRinputsformonoorstereo 
   applications
  •Stereohigh-passoutputsoptimizesound
   whenconnectingtopboxes
  •Stereofull-rangeoutputsperfectforadding
   moresubwoofers
  •User-adjustablelevelandpolaritycontrols
  •Easilymountyourfull-rangeloudspeaker
   viapolecup
• SolidAll-WoodDesign
  •Robustall-woodenclosurewith
   high-durabilitynish
  •“Built-Like-A-Tank”construction
   •82lb/37.2kg
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reference (i.e., insurance claims, tech support,
return authorization, make dad proud, etc.)
Purchased at:
Date of purchase:
Important Safety Instructions .................................. 2
Contents................................................................. 3
Features................................................................. 3
Introduction............................................................ 4
How To Use This Manual ......................................... 4
Getting Started....................................................... 4
Things To Remember................................................ 4
Hookup Diagrams.................................................... 5
Thump18S Subwoofer: Rear Panel Features.............. 9
1. Power Connection ......................................... 9
2. Power Switch ............................................... 9
2. Power LED.................................................... 9
4. XLR Inputs ................................................... 9
5. High Pass Outputs ...................................... 10
6. Full Range Outputs...................................... 10
7. Level Knob / OL LED................................... 11
8. Normal / Invert Switch [Polarity]................ 11
Questionairre........................................................ 11
Final Thoughts ...................................................... 11
Placement............................................................. 12
Care and Maintenance ........................................... 12
The Ins and Outs of Polarity .................................. 12
Protection Circuitry ............................................... 13
Limiting.......................................................... 13
Overexcursion Protection ................................ 13
Thermal Protection.......................................... 13
AC Power............................................................. 13
Appendix A: Service Information ............................ 14
Appendix B: Connections ....................................... 15
Appendix C: Technical Information .......................... 16
Thump18S Subwoofer Dimensions.................... 17
Thump18S Subwoofer Frequency Response....... 17
Thump18S Subwoofer Block Diagram ............... 18
Limited Warranty.................................................. 19

Thump18S Powered Subwoofer
4
Thump18S Powered Subwoofer
Getting Started
Introduction
TheThump18S1200W18"PoweredSubwoofer
featuresaprofessionalband-passdesignthat
deliversclass-leadingoutputanddeep,room-lling
lows.Designedbytheworld’sleaderinportable
livesound,theThump18Sprovidesamplepower
forhigh-outputapplications,bringingyourThump
orSRMsystemtoanentirelynewlevel.
Afullsetofprofessionalinputandoutput
connectionsprovidesimpleintegrationandsonic
optimizationofanysystem.Plus,there’samplesystem
protectioninplacetoprotectyourinvestment.
Withtonsofpowerandahigh-output/deep
punchband-passdesign,theThump18Sisthe
perfectsubwoofertocompleteyourprofessionalPA.
How to Use This Manual:
Afterthisintroduction,agettingstartedguidewill
helpyougetthingssetupfast.Thehookupdiagrams
showsometypicalsetups,whiletheremainingsections
providedetailsoftheThump18Ssubwoofer.
Thisiconmarksinformationthatiscritically
importantoruniquetothesubwoofer.For
yourowngood,readandrememberthem.
Thefollowingstepswillhelpyousetupthe
subwoofersquickly.
1.Makeallinitialconnectionswiththepower
switchesOFFonallequipment.Makesurethemaster
volume,level,orgaincontrolsareallthewaydown.
2.Connecttheline-leveloutputsfromthemixing
console(orothersignalsource)totheXLRinputson
therearpaneloftheThump18Ssubwoofers.
3.ConnectthehighpassoutputsfromtheThump18S
subwooferstotheinputsofpoweredloudspeakers
(ortoanamplierpoweringpassiveloudspeakers).
4.ConnectthesuppliedACpowercordstothe 
IECsocketsontherearpanelofeachsubwoofer. 
PlugtheotherendintoanACoutletproperlycongured
withthecorrectvoltageasindicatedbelowtheIEC
socket.
5.Turnthemixer(orothersignalsource)on.
6.Turnthesubwooferson.
7.Turntheloudspeakerson.
8.Startthesignalsourceandraisethemixer’s
mainL/Rfaderupuntilaudiomaybeheard.
9.Adjustthemastervolumeofthemixertoa
comfortablyloudlisteninglevel.
Things to Remember:
• Neverlistentoloudmusicforprolongedperiods.
  PleaseseetheSafetyInstructionsonpage2for
  informationonhearingprotection.
• Asageneralguide,themixer(orothersignal
  source)shouldbeturnedonrst,Thump18S
  subwoofersnext,andloudspeakerslast.Assuch,
  theloudspeakersshouldalsobeturnedoffrst,
  followedbythesubwoofers,thenthemixer. 
  Thiswillreducethepossibilityofanyturn-on
  orturn-offthumpsandothernoisesgenerated
  byanyupstreamequipmentfromcomingoutof
  thespeakers.
• Savetheshippingboxesandpackingmaterials!
  Youmayneedthemsomeday.Besides,the 
  catswillloveplayinginthemandjumpingoutat
  youunexpectedly.Remembertopretendlikeyou
  aresurprised!
• Saveyoursalesreceiptinasafeplace.

Owner’s Manual
5
Owner’s Manual
Hookup Diagrams
Small Club System
13DELAY1 (300ms)
14DELAY2 (380ms)
15DELAY3 (480ms)
16REVERB+ DLY (250ms)
8K4K2K1K500250125
15
15
10
10
5
5
0
15
15
10
10
5
5
0
TAPE
IN
STRETURN MAINOUT PHONES
FOOTSWITCH
PHONES
TAPE
OUT
L
R
L
(UNBALANCED)
R
0dB=0dBu
MAIN
METERS
RL
OL
4
6
3
10
15
7
10
20
30
0
2
BREAK
(MUTESALLCHANNELS)
PHANTOM
POWER
POWER
STEREO GRAPHIC EQ
FXSEND
MID
2.5kHz
MID
2.5kHz
MID
2.5kHz
MID
2.5kHz
MID
2.5kHz
80Hz
LOW
U
+15-15
U
+15-15
U
+15-15
INSERT
RL
LOWCUT
100Hz
U
GAIN
M
I
C
G
A
I
N
U+50
-20dB +30dB
OL
1
EQ
12kHz
HI
PAN
AUX
U
+15
OO
MON
FX
U
+15
OO
80Hz
LOW
U
+15-15
U
+15-15
U
+15-15
RL
LOWCUT
100Hz
U
GAIN
M
I
C
G
A
I
N
U+50
-20dB +30dB
2
EQ
12kHz
HI
PAN
AUX
U
+15
OO
MON
FX
U
+15
OO
80Hz
LOW
U
+15-15
U
+15-15
U
+15-15
LINEIN 2LINE/HI-ZIN 1
INSERT
BAL/
UNBAL
(MONO) (MONO) (MONO) (MONO)
LINEIN 3
LINEIN 4
BAL/
UNBAL LINEIN 5
RL
LOWCUT
100Hz
GAIN
3/4
EQ
12kHz
HI
PAN
AUX
U
+15
OO
MON
FX
U
+15
OO
80Hz
LOW
U
+15-15
U
+15-15
U
+15-15
RL
LOWCUT
100Hz
GAIN
M
I
C
G
A
I
N
U+50
M
I
C
G
A
I
N
U+50
5/6
EQ
12kHz
HI
LEVEL
SET
LEVEL
SET
LEVEL
SET
LEVEL
SET
PAN
AUX
U
+15
OO
MON
FX
U
+15
OO
GAIN
MICMICMICMIC
80Hz
LOW
U
+15-15
U
+15-15
U
+15-15
U
+20-20
RL
7/8 ST RTN FX RTN
EQ
12kHz
HI
PAN
AUX
U
+15
OO
MON
FX
U
+15
OO
U
+15
FXTO MON
FXMASTER
U
+15
OO
OO
dB
30
20
10
10
OO
40
50
5
5
U
60
dB
30
20
10
10
OO
40
50
5
5
U
60
dB
30
20
10
10
OO
40
50
5
5
U
60
dB
30
20
10
10
OO
40
50
5
5
U
60
dB
30
20
10
10
OO
40
50
5
5
U
60
dB
30
20
10
10
OO
40
50
5
5
U
60
dB
30
20
10
10
OO
40
50
5
5
U
60
dB
30
20
10
10
OO
40
50
5
5
U
60
dB
30
20
10
10
OO
40
50
5
5
U
60
L
R
LINEIN 6
BAL/
UNBAL
L
R
LINEIN 7
LINEIN 8
BAL/
UNBAL
L
R
BAL/
UNBAL
L
R
BAL/
UNBAL
L
R
MONSEND
BAL/
UNBAL
BAL/
UNBAL
MUTE
PRESETS
FXPRESETS
OL OL OL OL OL
INPUTLEVEL
USB
OO
+20
U
TAPELEVEL
OO
+20
U
MON MAIN
1 2 3/4 5/6 7/8
OL
USB THRU
LINE
HI-Z
MAINMIX
MON
EQIN
BYPASS
01BRIGHTROOM
02WARMLOUNGE
03SMALLSTAGE
04WARMTHEATER
05WARMHALL
06CONCERTHALL
07PLATEREVERB
08CATHEDRAL
09CHORUS
10CHORUS+ REV
11DOUBLER
12TAPESLAP
OO
MAX
LINE
HI-Z
MUTE MUTE MUTE MUTE MUTE MUTE
48V
PROFESSIONALMIC/LINE MIXER WITH FX
In this example, a Thump18S subwoofer is connected to two Thump12 loudspeakers. It is a perfect setup
for a small club.
Here, the L/R outputs of a ProFX8 mixer are connected directly to the channel A and B inputs of a single
Thump18S subwoofer.
The channel A and B high pass outputs of the Thump18S subwoofer are connected directly to the inputs
of each Thump12 loudspeaker.

Thump18S Powered Subwoofer
6
Thump18S Powered Subwoofer
DJ System
O
N
Y
X
M
I
C
P
R
E
LR
2 1
MONITOROUT
BAL/UNBAL
USB
BAL/UNBAL
O
N
Y
X
M
I
C
P
R
E
Hookup Diagrams continued...
Perhaps you’re a DJ playing bumpin’ tunes in the middle of the night to a crowd that’s groovin’
and dancin’ to your fine selection.
In this example, a laptop is connected to the channel 1 and 2 inputs of an Onyx Blackjack and a set of
headphones are connected to the phones jack.
The L/R monitor outputs of the Onyx Blackjack are connected directly to the channel A inputs of each
Thump18S subwoofer.
The channel A high pass output of each Thump18S subwoofer is connected directly to the input of each
Thump15 loudspeaker.

Owner’s Manual
7
Owner’s Manual
Daisy-Chaining Multiple Thump18S Subwoofers
Hookup Diagrams continued...
DL1608 Mixer
To next
Thump18S
subwoofer
input
To next
Thump18S
subwoofer
input
Main
Outs
Thump18S subwoofers may be daisy-chained via the male XLR connector labeled “FULL RANGE”.
Simply plug the signal source (i.e., mixer output) into the input jack(s), and patch that subwoofer’s
full range jack to the next subwoofers’s input jack, and so on, daisy-chaining multiple Thump18S
subwoofers. See above for a visual representation of daisy-chaining.

Thump18S Powered Subwoofer
8
Thump18S Powered Subwoofer
Large Club System
Hookup Diagrams continued...
Here’s how to set up a large club system. In this example, the L/R outputs of a DL1608 mixer are
connected directly to the channel A inputs of two Thump18S subwoofers. The channel A full range
outputs of these two Thump18S subwoofers are connected directly to the channel A inputs of another
set of Thump18S subwoofers. Talk about beefy low end...and we’ve only connected the subs!
The channel A high pass outputs of the last two Thump18S subwoofers are connected directly to the
inputs of the main pair of Thump12 loudspeakers.
The aux 1 and aux 2 sends from the mixer are connected directly to the inputs of a pair of Thump15
loudspeakers to be used as monitors for the band.

Owner’s Manual
9
Owner’s Manual
Thump18S Subwoofer: Rear Panel Features
1.Power Connection
Thisisastandard3-prongIECpowerconnector.
Connectthedetachablepowercord(includedin 
thepackagingwiththesubwoofer)tothepower
receptacle,andplugtheotherendofthepower 
cordintoanACoutlet.
MakesurethattheACpowerismatchedto
theACpowerindicatedontherearpanel
(belowtheIECreceptacle).
Disconnectingtheplug’sgroundpinis
dangerous.Don’tdoit!
2.Power Switch
Pressthetopofthisrockerswitchinwardstoturnon
thesubwoofer.Pressthebottomofthisrockerswitch
inwardstoturnoffthesubwoofer.
Asageneralguide,themixer(orothersignal
source)shouldbeturnedonrst,Thump18S
subwoofersnext,andloudspeakerslast. 
Assuch,theloudspeakersshouldalsobeturnedoffrst,
followedbythesubwoofers,thenthemixer.Thiswill
reducethepossibilityofanyturn-onorturn-offthumps
andothernoisesgeneratedbyanyupstreamequipment
fromcomingoutofthespeakers.
3.Power LED
Whenthepowerswitchisturnedon–andthepower
cordisconnectedtoanactiveACmainssupply–this
LEDilluminatesgreentoindicatethatthesubwooferis
indeedreallyon.ThecoolgreenLEDonthefrontofthe
subwooferworksthesameway.
4.XLR Inputs
BalancedXLRfemaleconnectorsareprovidedforthe
leftandrightinputs.Connectthefull-rangeline-level
signalfromthemixer(orothersignalsource)tothese
inputjacks.
Ifyouareconnectingasinglesubwooferoutput,or
LFE(low-frequencyeffects)outputtothesubwoofer,
youmayuseeithertheAorBinputconnector.
NEVERconnecttheoutputofanamplier
directlytotheinputofthesubwoofer. 
Thiscoulddamagetheinputcircuitryofthe
activesubwoofer.
Theyarewiredasfollows,accordingtostandards
speciedbytheAES(AudioEngineeringSociety):
Balanced XLR Input Connector
Pin1–Shield(ground)
Pin2–Positive(+orhot)
Pin3–Negative(–orcold)
Formoreinformationontheseconnectors,see
AppendixBonpage15.
2
31
SHIELD
COLD
HOT
SHIELD
COLD
HOT
3
2
1
Balanced XLR Input Connector
2
4
3
5
8
6
7
1

Thump18S Powered Subwoofer
10
Thump18S Powered Subwoofer
Thump18S Subwoofer: Rear Panel Features continued...
5. High Pass Outputs
Typically,full-rangeloudspeakersareconnected
tothehighpassoutputsto“split”theworkwiththe
Thump18Ssubwoofer.Thesubwooferhandlesallofthe
lowfrequenciesandtheloudspeakershandletherest.
Asaresult,itismoreefcientandabitlouder.
BalancedXLRmaleconnectorsareprovidedforthe
line-levelAandBhighpassoutputs.Thesubwoofer’s
crossoversplitstheinputsignalsintotwofrequency
bands.Thelowfrequencyrangebelow140Hzgoesto
theinternalamplierthatpowersthesubwoofer.The
frequencyrangeabove140Hzissenttotheseline-level
outputjacks.
Thelevelcontrolandpolarityswitchhavenoeffect
onthehighpassoutputs.Theoutputsareseparateand
maintainthestereoseparationoftheinputsignals.
Theyarewiredasfollows,accordingtostandards
speciedbytheAES(AudioEngineeringSociety):
Balanced XLR Output Connector
Pin1–Shield(ground)
Pin2–Positive(+orhot)
Pin3–Negative(–orcold)
2
1
SHIELD
COLD
HOT
3
SHIELD
COLD
HOT
3
2
1
Balanced XLR Output Connector
6. Full Range Outputs
Connectthefullrangeoutputstotheinputsof 
anotherpoweredsubwoofer,poweredloudspeakers,
ortoanamplierpoweringpassiveloudspeakers.
BalancedXLRmaleconnectorsareprovidedforthe
line-levelAandBfullrangeoutputs.
Thesignalattheseoutputsisadirectcopyofthe
inputsignals.Theseoutputsallowyoutodaisy-chain
multiplesubwoofersand/orsendthefullrangesignals
toloudspeakers.It’sagreatwaytoaddsidells,too!
Thelevelcontrolandpolarityswitchhavenoeffect
onthefullrangeoutputs.Theoutputsareseparateand
maintainthestereoseparationoftheinputsignals.
Theyarewiredasfollows,accordingtostandards
speciedbytheAES(AudioEngineeringSociety):
Balanced XLR Output Connector
Pin1–Shield(ground)
Pin2–Positive(+orhot)
Pin3–Negative(–orcold)
Seepage7tolearnmoreaboutdaisy-chaining
Thump18Ssubwoofers.
Formoreinformationontheseconnectors,see
AppendixBonpage15.
2
1
SHIELD
COLD
HOT
3
SHIELD
COLD
HOT
3
2
1
Balanced XLR Output Connector
5
8
6
7

Owner’s Manual
11
Owner’s Manual
Thump18S Subwoofer: Rear Panel Features continued...
7. Level Knob / OL LED
Thelevelknobadjuststheinputsensitivityofthe
inputs.Thisallowssignalsfromtheoutsideworldto
beadjustedtorunthrougheachchannelatoptimal
internaloperatinglevels.Thereis–6dBofgainwiththe
knobfullydown(off),rampingupto6dBofgainfully
up(max).Thelevelcontrolhasnoeffectonthehigh
passoutputsorfullrangeoutputs.
TheaccompanyingOL(overload)indicator
illuminatesredwhentheamplierintheThump18S
isneartheclippingpoint.ItisOKiftheOLLEDblinks
occasionally,becausethismeansthatthetransient
peaksarejustreachingthemaximumoutputof
theamplierandyouaregettingthemostoutof
thesubwoofer.
However,iftheOLLEDisblinkingfrequently
orcontinuously,turndownthelevelcontrolon
theThump18Sorturndownthesignalatitssource
(e.g.,themixingconsole)untiltheOLLEDblinks
occasionallyornotatall.
8. Normal/Invert Switch [Polarity]
Thisswitchreversesthepolarityofthesignalgoing
intothesubwooferamplierby180˚.Ithasnoeffecton
thesignalattheoutputs.
Thereisnorightorwrongsettingforthisswitch.
Listentotheoverallblendofthesubwooferwith 
therestofthesystemandselecttheswitchposition
thatgivesyouthebestsoundforyouraudience.
Infact,yoursystemmayvarywhenpositioned 
differentlyandinalternatevenues.Don’tbeafraid
toexperimentwiththepositionofthepolarityswitch.
Seepage12formoreinformation.
Questionnaire
Thereisquiteabitofblankspaceleftover,sowhynot
llitwithaquestionnaire?
•BeatlesorStones?
•StarWarsorStarTrek?
•Chocolateorvanilla?
•BatmanorSuperman?
•Dogsorcats?
•Beerorwhiskey?
•Pizzaorcheeseburger?
•Footballorbaseball?
•PlaystationorXbox?
•JimmyPageorJimiHendrix?
•FamilyGuyorSouthPark?
•Coffeeortea?
•Whatisyourfavoritecolor?
•Whatistheair-speedvelocityofanunladen
swallow?
Final Thoughts
ThefollowingpagesdiscussThump18Splacement,an
in-depthlookatpolarity,protectioncircuitry,technical
informationandmuchmore.Checkitout!

Thump18S Powered Subwoofer
12
Thump18S Powered Subwoofer
Placement
TheThump18Ssubwooferisdesignedtositonthe
oororstage.Itisnotdesignedtobepole-mounted
orsuspended.
Whenpole-mountingloudspeakers,besurethatthe
Thump18Ssubwoofersarestabilizedandsecuredfrom
fallingoverorbeingaccidentallypushedover.For
stackedscenarios,itishighlysuggestedthatstrapsare
utilized.Failuretofollowtheseprecautionsmayresult
indamagetotheequipment,personalinjury,ordeath.
Thecabinethasnoriggingpointsandis
notsuitableforrigging.NEVERattempt
tosuspendanThump18Ssubwooferbyits
handles.
Aswithanypoweredcomponents,protectthemfrom
moistureandextremecoldandfollowtheotherCare
andMaintenancesuggestionsbelow.
Care and Maintenance
YourThump18Ssubwooferswillprovidemanyyearsof
reliableserviceifyoufollowtheseguidelines:
• Avoidexposingthesubwooferstomoisture.
Iftheyaresetupoutdoors,besuretheyare
undercoverifrainisexpected.
• Avoidexposuretoextremecold(below
freezingtemperatures).Ifyoumustoperate
thesubwoofersinacoldenvironment,warm
upthevoicecoilsslowlybysendingalow-level
signalthroughthemforabout15minutesprior
tohigh-poweroperation.
• Useadryclothtocleanthecabinets.Onlydo
thiswhenthepoweristurnedoff.Avoidgetting
moistureintoanyoftheopeningsofthe
cabinet,particularlywherethedriversare
located.
The Ins and Outs of Polarity
Thump18Ssubwoofersincludeaswitchthatallows
youtoquicklyinvertthepolarityofthesubwoofer’s
outputrelativetotheinputsignalitisreceivingfrom
themixerorothersoundsource.Butwhatexactlydoes
thatmean?Asubwooferworksbyliterallypumpingair
asthewooferconemovesinandoutwithrespecttothe
cabinetinwhichitishoused.Itdoessoaccordingtothe
low-frequencyportionofthesignalitreceivesfromthe
soundsource.
Thewooferconeissimplyfollowingthewaveformas
seeninthesinewaveinFigure1.Asthesinewaverises,
thewooferconepushesout.Likewise,asthesinewave
falls,thewooferconepullsintothecabinet.Amusical
signalismuchmorecomplex,ofcourse,butthesame
principleapplies.Movementofthewooferconecauses
airpressurechangesthatweperceiveassound.
Whenthenormal/invert[polarity]switchis
engaged,theoriginalwaveformissimplyreversed
180˚[seeFigure2].Again,thesubwoofercone
followsthewaveform.However,thistimethewoofer
conestartsbypullingintothecabinetfollowedbythe
wooferconepushingout.Ifyouhaveeverexperimented
withasubwooferpolarityswitch,youmaynothave
noticedanychangestothesoundregardlessofits
position,especiallyifyouarelisteningtojustthe
subwoofer.Thisisnormal,asourearsperceivethem
bothatthesametime.
Thenormal/invert[polarity]switchcomesinto 
playwhentheThump18Ssubwooferispairedwitha
loudspeaker.Ideally,thewooferconesofthesubwoofer
andfullrangeloudspeakerwouldworktogetherby
pushingandpullinginunison.Thump18Ssubwoofers
aredesignedtobeusedinabroadrangeofapplications.
Theexibilityprovidedbythepolarityswitchis 
necessarytoensurethatyouarereceivingthebest
possiblesoundfromyoursystem,regardlessofyour
setup.
<–– Time ––>
Figure 1: Normal [0˚]
Amplitude Amplitude
Figure 2: Invert [180˚]
<–– Time ––>
Polarity Waveforms

Owner’s Manual
13
Owner’s Manual
Protection Circuitry
TheThump18Ssubwooferemploysabuilt-inlimiter
forlessdistortionatpeaklevels.Additionalprotection
includesautomaticthermalshutdownshouldtheamp
overheat.However,withClass-Damptechnology,which
ishighly-efcient,thisshouldneverbeaproblem.
Theprotectioncircuitsaredesignedto
protectthesubwoofersunderreasonable
andsensibleconditions.Shouldyouchoose
toignorethewarningsigns[e.g.excessivedistortion],
youcanstilldamagethespeakerintheThump18Sby
overdrivingitpastthepointofamplierclipping. 
Suchdamageisbeyondthescopeofthewarranty.
Limiting
Thedriverhasitsowncompressioncircuitwhich
helpsprotectitfromdamagingtransientpeaks. 
Thecompressorisdesignedtobetransparentand
isnotnoticeableundernormaloperatingconditions.
Overexcursion Protection
Asubsonicltercircuitjustpriortothepower
amplierpreventsultra-lowfrequenciesfrombeing
amplied.Excessivelow-frequencyenergycandamage
thewooferbycausingitto“bottomout,”alsoknow
asoverexcursion,whichisequivalenttoamechanical
formofclipping.
Thermal Protection
Allampliersproduceheat.TheThump18Sis
designedtobeefcientbothelectricallyandthermally.
Intheunlikelyeventoftheamplieroverheating,
abuilt-inthermalswitchwillactivate,mutingthe
signal.
Whentheamplierhascooleddowntoasafe
operatingtemperature,thethermalswitchresets
itself,andtheThump18Ssubwooferresumesnormal
operation.
Ifthethermalswitchactivates,tryturningdown
thelevelcontrolanotchortwoonthemixingconsole
(orthebackofthesubwoofer)toavoidoverheatingthe
amplier.Beawarethatdirectsunlightand/orhotstage
lightsmaybetheculpritofanamplieroverheating.
AC Power
BesuretheThump18Ssubwooferispluggedinto
anoutletthatisabletosupplythecorrectvoltage
speciedforyourmodel.Itwillcontinuetooperate
atlowervoltages,butwillnotreachfullpower.
Besuretheelectricalservicecansupplyenough
amperageforallthecomponentsconnectedtoit.
Werecommendthatastiff(robust)supplyofAC
powerbeusedbecausetheampliersplacehigh 
currentdemandsontheACline.Themorepowerthatis
availableontheline,thelouderthespeakerswillplay
andthemorepeakoutputpowerwillbeavailablefora
cleaner,punchierbass.Asuspectedproblemof“poor
bassperformance”isoftencausedbyaweakACsupply
totheampliers.
Neverremovethegroundpinonthe
powercordoranyothercomponentofthe
Thump18Ssubwoofer.Thisisverydangerous.

Thump18S Powered Subwoofer
14
Thump18S Powered Subwoofer
Appendix A: Service Information
Poor bass performance
• Checkthepolarityoftheconnectionsbetweenthe
  mixerandthesubwoofers.Youmayhaveyour
  positiveandnegativeconnectionsreversedatone
  endofonecable,causingonesubwoofertobe
  out-of-phasewiththeother.
• Poorbassperformancemaybetheresultofbad
  ACpower.Seethesectiontitled‘ACPower’on
  thepreviouspageforfurtherdetails.
Poor sound
• Isitloudanddistorted?Makesurethatyou’renot
  overdrivingastageinthesignalchain.Verifythat
  alllevelcontrolsaresetproperly.
• Istheinputconnectorpluggedcompletelyinto
  thejack?Besureallconnectionsaresecure.
Noise
• Makesureallconnectionstotheactive 
  subwoofersaregoodandsound.
• Makesurenoneofthesignalcablesarerouted
  nearACcables,powertransformers,orother
  EMI-inducingdevices.
• IstherealightdimmerorotherSCR-baseddevice
  onthesameACcircuitastheThump18S?Usean
  AClinelterorplugthesubwooferintoa 
  differentACcircuit.
Hum
• Trydisconnectingthecableconnectedtothe
  inputjack.Ifthenoisedisappears,itcouldbe
  a“groundloop,”ratherthanaproblemwiththe
  Thump18Ssubwoofer.Trysomeofthefollowing
  troubleshootingideas:
• Usebalancedconnectionsthroughoutyoursystem
  forthebestnoiserejection.
• Wheneverpossible,plugalltheaudioequipment’s
  linecordsintooutletswhichshareacommon
  ground.Thedistancebetweentheoutletsandthe
  commongroundshouldbeasshortaspossible.
IfyouthinkyourThump18Shasaproblem,please
checkoutthefollowingtroubleshootingtipsanddo
yourbesttoconrmtheproblem.VisittheSupport
sectionofourwebsite(www.720trees.com)whereyou
willndlotsofusefulinformationsuchasFAQsand
otherdocumentation.Youmayndtheanswertothe
problemwithouthavingtopartwithyoursubwoofer.
Troubleshooting
No power
• Ourfavoritequestion:Isitpluggedin?Makesure
  theACoutletislive[checkwithatesterorlamp].
• Ournextfavoritequestion:Isthepowerswitch
  on?Ifnot,tryturningiton.
• Makesurethelinecordissecurelyseatedinthe
  linecordsocketandpluggedallthewayintothe
  ACoutlet.
• IsthepowerLEDonthefrontandrearpanel
  illuminated?Ifnot,makesuretheACoutlet
  islive.Ifso,referto“Nosound”below.
• TheinternalAClinefusemaybeblown.Thisis
  notauserserviceablepart.Ifyoususpectthe
  AClinefuseisblown,pleaseseethe"Repair"
  sectionnext.
No sound
• Isthelevelknobfortheinputsourceturnedall
  thewaydown?Verifythatallthevolumecontrols
  inthesystemareproperlyadjusted.Lookatthe
  levelmetertoensurethatthemixerisreceiving
  asignal.
• Isthesignalsourceworking?Makesurethe 
  connectingcablesareingoodrepairandsecurely
  connectedatbothends.Makesuretheoutput
  levelcontrolonthemixingconsoleisturnedup
  sufcientlytodrivetheinputsofthespeaker.
• Makesurethemixerdoesnothaveamuteonora
  processorloopengaged.Ifyoundsomethinglike
  this,makesurethelevelisturneddownbefore
  disengagingtheoffendingswitch.
• Hasitshutdown?Makesurethereisatleast
  sixinchesoffreespacebehindeachThump18S
  subwoofer.

Owner’s Manual
15
Owner’s Manual
Repair
Forwarrantyservice,refertothewarranty
informationonpage19.
Non-warrantyserviceisavailableatafactory-
authorizedservicecenter.Tolocatethenearest
servicecenter,visitwww.720trees.com,click“Contact
TechSupport”andselect“LocateaServiceCenter
orDistributor”[3].ServiceforThump18Ssubwoofers
outsidetheUnitedStatescanbeobtainedthroughlocal
dealersordistributors.
Ifyoudonothaveaccesstoourwebsite,youmaycall
theTechSupportdepartmentat1-800-898-3211,
Monday-Friday,duringnormalbusinesshours,Pacic
Time,toexplaintheproblem.TechSupportwilltellyou
wherethenearestfactory-authorizedservicecenteris
locatedinyourarea.
Appendix B: Connections
Balanced XLR Input Connector
EachThump18Ssubwooferhastwofemale
XLRinputs.Besurethecablesarewiredper
AES(AudioEngineeringSociety)standards:
Balanced XLR Input Connector
 Pin1–Shield(Ground)
 Pin2–Positive(+orhot)
 Pin3–Negative(–orcold)
Balanced XLR Input Connector
2
31
SHIELD
COLD
HOT
SHIELD
COLD
HOT
3
2
1
Balanced XLR Output Connector
TherearealsofourmalebalancedXLRoutput
connectorsoneachThump18Ssubwoofer[twohigh
passandtwofullrange].Besurethecablesarewired
perAES(AudioEngineeringSociety)standards:
Balanced XLR Output Connector
 Pin1–Shield(Ground)
 Pin2–Positive(+orhot)
 Pin3–Negative(–orcold)
Thump18Ssubwoofersmaybedaisy-chainedviathe
maleXLRconnectorlabeled“FULLRANGE”.Simply
plugthesignalsource(i.e.,mixeroutput)intothe
inputjack(s),andpatchthatsubwoofer’sfullrange
jacktothenextsubwoofer’sinputjack,andsoon,
daisy-chainingmultipleThump18Ssubwoofers.See
page7foravisualrepresentationofdaisy-chaining.
Balanced XLR Output Connector
2
1
SHIELD
COLD
HOT
3
SHIELD
COLD
HOT
3
2
1

Thump18S Powered Subwoofer
16
Thump18S Powered Subwoofer
Thump18S Subwoofer Specifications
Appendix C: Technical Information
Acoustic Performance:
Frequency Response (–3 dB) 40 Hz – 120 Hz
Frequency Response (–10 dB) 30 Hz – 132 Hz
Max peak SPL 130 dB
Crossover Point 140 Hz
Slope 2nd order HP, 6th order LP
Transducer
Woofer Diameter 18 in / 457 mm
Voice Coil Diameter 3.0 in / 76 mm
Cone Material Paper
Magnet Material Ferrite
Power Amplifier
Rated Power 600 watts rms
1200 watts peak
Rated THD < 1%
Cooling Convection
Design Class D
Input/Output
Input Type Female XLR balanced
Input Impedance 20 k balanced,
20 k unbalanced
Full Range Outputs Male XLR balanced
High Pass Outputs Male XLR impedance balanced
Line Input Power
US detachable line cord 100 – 120 VAC, 50 – 60 Hz, 150W
EU detachable line cord 220 – 240 VAC, 50 – 60 Hz, 150W
AC Connector 3-pin IEC 250 VAC, 10 A male
Power Supply Type Switchmode
Safety Features
Input Protection Peak and RMS limiting,
power supply and amplifier
thermal protection
Display LEDs Front and rear power ON,
Rear OL limiter
Construction Features
Cabinet Exterior grade 15 mm plywood
Finish Textured black catalyzed
polyurethane paint
Handles One on each side
Physical Properties
Height 26.5 in / 672 mm
Width 22.6 in / 573 mm
Depth 22.8 in / 580 mm
Weight 82 lb / 37.2 kg
Mounting Methods
The Thump18S subwoofer is designed to sit on the floor or
stage. It is NOT designed to be pole-mounted or suspended.
The cabinet has no rigging points and is not suitable for rigging.
Never attempt to suspend the Thump18S by its handles.
Options
Thump18S Cover P/N 2036809-25
SPM200 Loudspeaker Pole Mount P/N 2035170-01
Disclaimer
Since we are always striving to make our products better by
incorporating new and improved materials, components, and
manufacturing methods, we reserve the right to change these
specifications at any time without notice.
The “Running Man” figure is a registered trademark of LOUD
Technologies Inc.
All other brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective holders, and are hereby
acknowledged.
©2014 LOUD Technologies Inc.
All Rights Reserved.

Owner’s Manual
17
Owner’s Manual
Thump18S Subwoofer Dimensions
Thump18S Subwoofer Frequency Response
22.6 in
573 mm
22.8 in
580 mm
22.6 in
573 mm
26.5 in
672 mm
26.5 in
672 mm
22.8 in
580 mm
WEIGHT
82 lb
37. 2 k g
Frequency (Hz)
10
–20 dB
–10 dB
+10 dB
0 dB
100 1000 20000 10000

Thump18S Powered Subwoofer
18
Thump18S Powered Subwoofer
Thump18S Subwoofer Block Diagram
LEVEL
+6dB 6dB
-
Input XLRs
High Pass Output XLRs
Full Range Output XLRs
Crossover
OL LED
LPF
Overexcursion Protection
HPF
Thermal Monitoring
Amp
Limiter
Polarity
Invert
Thermal Mute
Normal Inverted
Gain
Crossover
HPF
Crossover
HPF

Owner’s Manual
19
Owner’s Manual
Limited Warranty
Please keep your sales receipt in a safe place.
This Limited Product Warranty (“Product Warranty”) is provided by LOUD Technologies Inc. (“LOUD”)
and is applicable to products purchased in the United States or Canada through a LOUD-authorized
reseller or dealer. The Product Warranty will not extend to anyone other than the original purchaser
of the product (hereinafter, “Customer,” “you” or “your”).
For products purchased outside the U.S. or Canada, please visit www.720trees.com to find contact
information for your local distributor, and information on any warranty coverage provided by the
distributor in your local market.
LOUD warrants to Customer that the product will be free from defects in materials and workmanship
under normal use during the Warranty Period. If the product fails to conform to the warranty then LOUD
or its authorized service representative will at its option, either repair or replace any such nonconforming
product, provided that Customer gives notice of the noncompliance within the Warranty Period to the
Company at: www.720trees.com or by calling LOUD technical support at 1.800.898.3211 (toll-free in
the U.S. and Canada) during normal business hours Pacific Time, excluding weekends or LOUD holidays.
Please retain the original dated sales receipt as evidence of the date of purchase. You will need it to obtain
any warranty service.
For full terms and conditions, as well as the specific duration of the Warranty for this product, please
visit www.720trees.com.
The Product Warranty, together with your invoice or receipt, and the terms and conditions located at
www.720trees.com constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes any and all prior agreements
between LOUD and Customer related to the subject matter hereof. No amendment, modification or
waiver of any of the provisions of this Product Warranty will be valid unless set forth in a written
instrument signed by the party to be bound thereby.
Need help with the subwoofer?
• Visit www.720trees.com and click Support to find: FAQs, manuals, addendums, and other documents.
• Email us at: [email protected].
• Telephone [phone] to speak with one of our splendid technical support chaps
(Monday through Friday, normal business hours, Pacific Time).

16220 Wood-Red Road NE
Woodinville, WA 98072 • USA
Phone: [phone]
Toll-free: 800.898.3211
Fax: [phone]
www.720trees.com