Peavey SP 218 User Manual

Frequency Response, 1 meter on-axis,
swept-sine in anechoic environment:

51 Hz to 300 Hz (±3 dB)

Usable Low Frequency Limit (-10dB
point):

40 Hz

Power Handling:

1,200 Watts continuous
2,400 Watts program
4,800 Watts peak

Sound Pressure Level, 1 Watt, 1 meter
in anechoic environment:

99.0 dB SPL
(2.00 V parallel input)

Maximum Sound Pressure Level
(1 meter):

130 dB SPL continuous
136 dB SPL peak

Radiation Angle measured at -6 dB
point of polar response:

Essentially omnidirectional

Transducer Complement:

2 x 18" woofer, vented
1808-8 ALCP Pro Rider

®

Box Tuning Frequency:

43 Hz

Minimum Recommended Active
Crossover Frequency and Slope for Bi­amping:

90 Hz at 18 dB/octave
High pass filter 35 to 40 Hz at
12 to 24 dB/octave is recommended

Impedance ( Z ):

Parallel input:
nominal 4.0 Ω
minimum: 3.3 Ω

Dual-woofer input:
nominal 2 x 8.0 Ω
minimum: 2 x 6.6 Ω

Input Connections:

One four-pin Neutrik

®

Speakon

®

non-switching jack
One four-pin Neutrik Speakon
switching jack
Two 1/4" jacks

Enclosure Materials & Finish:

Birch plywood with internal bracing

Dimensions (H x W x D):

Width: 21.625" / 549 mm
Depth: 29.625" / 752 mm
Height: 42.5 " / 1080 mm

Net Weight:

121.7 lbs. (55.3 kg)

Features

This loudspeaker system delivers high
output, low distortion bass from two
18" Pro Rider woofers mounted in a
vented enclosure. It is designed for
portability and includes handles, metal
grille, reinforced corners, a durable
carpet exterior, casters and rubber feet.
A pole mount is included for support of
a high-pass enclosure. A remarkable
reduction in weight has been made
possible by using top-quality birch
plywood construction instead of the
usual composite wood materials, even
though power handling has been
increased.

SPECIFICATIONS SP™218

Description

The SP 218 is a subwoofer designed
to make it easy to add more low-end
to the SP Series or other full-range
speaker systems. Other uses include
bass guitar, keyboard and drum
monitoring.

The enclosure is constructed of top­quality birch plywood with internal
braces, covered with heavy duty
black carpet and reinforced with
powder-coated steel corners.

A powder-coated, perforated steel
grille covers the front of the
enclosure. Recessed steel handles
on either side provide portability. A
pole guide for support of a pole­mounted, high-pass enclosure is
provided on one side of the SP 218.
Rubber feet are provided on the
opposite side for horizontal use.
Rubber feet and corner casters on
the bottom and a corner handle on
top make moving the enclosure an
easy, one-person operation.

Inputs are at the rear of the
enclosure and consist of two 1/4"
jacks, one four-pin Neutrik

®

Speakon®non-switching jack and
one Neutrik Speakon switching jack.
The enclosure input is configurable,
with the default being 4 Ohms with
both drivers in parallel when using
the parallel inputs. A dual-woofer 2 x
8 Ohm configuration is available
through the switching Neutrik jack,
which disconnects the 4 Ohm inputs
and provides separate inputs to the
woofers when used. This ingenious
input design provides maximum
flexibility for single- or dual-amplifier
operation, without having to
manually rewire the enclosure.

This low frequency enclosure is
comprised of two 18" Pro Rider

®

subwoofer drivers in a vented
alignment. The Pro Rider driver
delivers superior performance due to
its advanced cooling system, large 4"
voice coil with edge-wound
aluminum wire and carbon
fiber/Kevlar

®

composite cone. This
design provides strong bass
extension and high power handling
to complement a full-range sound
system. Four high-flow molded vents
and two large tube vents provide

venting for the system, and the
molded vents also support the grille.

As the SP 218 does not include a
passive subwoofer crossover, input
should be electronically filtered for
subwoofer applications. In addition,
for high power operation, a high-pass
filter set at 35 to 40 Hz and 12 to 24
dB Butterworth should be used to
improve performance and reliability.

Frequency Response

This measurement is useful in
determining how accurately a given
unit reproduces an input signal. The
frequency response of the SP 218 is
measured at a distance of 1 meter
using a 1 Watt (into the nominal
impedance) swept-sine input signal
in an anechoic environment. As
shown in figure 1, the SP 218
produces a smooth frequency
response from 51 Hz to 300 Hz.

Power Handling

There are many different approaches
to power handling ratings. Peavey
rates this loudspeaker system’s
power handling using a modified
form of the AES Standard 2-1984.
Using 40 Hz to 400 Hz pink noise
with peaks of four times the RMS
level, this strenuous test signal
assures the user that every portion of
this system can withstand today’s
high technology music. This rating is
contingent upon having a minimum
of 3 dB available amplifier headroom.

Harmonic Distortion

Second and third harmonic
distortions vs. frequency are plotted
in figures 3 and 4 for two power
levels, ten percent (10%) of rated
input power and either one percent
(1%) of rated input power or 1 Watt,
whichever is greater. Distortion is
read from the graph as the difference
between the fundamental signal
(frequency response) and the desired
harmonic. For example, a distortion
curve that is down 40 dB from the
fundamental is equivalent to 1%
distortion.

Architectural & Engineering
Specifications

The loudspeaker system shall have
an operating bandwidth of 51 Hz to
300 Hz. The nominal output level
shall be 99 dB when measured at a
distance of one meter with an input
of one Watt. The nominal impedance
shall be 4.0 Ohms or 2 x 8 Ohms,
depending on configuration.

The maximum continuous power
handling shall be 1,200 Watts,
maximum program power of 2,400
Watts, a peak power input of at least
4,800 Watts and a minimum amplifier
headroom of 3 dB.

The outside dimensions shall be 42.5
inches high by 21.625 inches wide by

29.625 inches deep. The weight shall
be 121.7 lbs.

The loudspeaker system shall be a
Peavey model SP 218.

3 + 2 Year Limited Warranty

NOTE: For details, refer to the

warranty statement. Copies of this
statement may be obtained by
contacting Peavey Electronics
Corporation, P.O. Box 2898, Meridian,
Mississippi 39301-2898.

SPECIFICATIONS SP™218