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frontpage Posted by doubleedgedpen • Jan 12, 2025
frontpage Posted by doubleedgedpen • Jan 12, 2025

Dayton Audio PA460-8 18" Woofer / Subwoofer Driver

+ Free Shipping

$106

$150

29% off
Parts Express
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Deal Details
Parts Express has Dayton Audio PA460-8 18" Woofer / Subwoofer Driver for $119.98 - $14.40 when you apply promo code JANCARTC25 in cart = $105.58. Shipping is free.

Thanks to community member doubleedgedpen for finding this deal.

About this item:
  • Strong, low-mass carbon fiber impregnated paper cone
  • I-beam rolled edge 1.5 mm steel frame
  • Low distortion motor system w/copper cap
  • Powerful 80 oz. ceramic ferrite magnet
  • Vented pole piece/vented voice coil gap improve thermal management
  • Black motor parts and black polyimide voice coil former dissipate heat
  • Bumped back plate for unrestricted excursion

Editor's Notes

Written by johnny_miller | Staff
  • Our research indicates this offer is $44.40 lower (30% savings) than the next best price from a reputable merchant at the time of this post.
  • Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars based on 46 Parts Express customer reviews.
  • Please see the original post for additional details & give the forum comments a read for helpful discussion.

Original Post

Written by doubleedgedpen
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Parts Express has Dayton Audio PA460-8 18" Woofer / Subwoofer Driver for $119.98 - $14.40 when you apply promo code JANCARTC25 in cart = $105.58. Shipping is free.

Thanks to community member doubleedgedpen for finding this deal.

About this item:
  • Strong, low-mass carbon fiber impregnated paper cone
  • I-beam rolled edge 1.5 mm steel frame
  • Low distortion motor system w/copper cap
  • Powerful 80 oz. ceramic ferrite magnet
  • Vented pole piece/vented voice coil gap improve thermal management
  • Black motor parts and black polyimide voice coil former dissipate heat
  • Bumped back plate for unrestricted excursion

Editor's Notes

Written by johnny_miller | Staff
  • Our research indicates this offer is $44.40 lower (30% savings) than the next best price from a reputable merchant at the time of this post.
  • Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars based on 46 Parts Express customer reviews.
  • Please see the original post for additional details & give the forum comments a read for helpful discussion.

Original Post

Written by doubleedgedpen

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Top Comments

Selman
4215 Posts
1723 Reputation
I think reading the product page is insightful in seeong what the goal for these is. The designer talks about those limitations and why he still went ahead this way. The idea is an efficient, budget home theater setup for multiple woofers powered off a single cheap power amp like a Behringer iNuke 3000. It is by no means ever intended to be a top performer, but for perhaps $700-800 a person could build two and get an amp that would obliterate 99% of people's home theaters.
J1Simon
361 Posts
191 Reputation
It's a quality subwoofer. I'm running one in the Marty cube enclosure: https://shop.gsgad.com/collection...ingle-unit with a NX3000 Amp, MiniDSP, and CleanboxPro. I'm pretty sure I could break my windows if I tried.
doubleedgedpen
92 Posts
46 Reputation
I have built two VBSS subwoofers, and I am preparing to build two more. With these drivers now at $106 and MDF at $50, I can build each subwoofer for under $200 including glue, hardware, and terminals. You can power four of these from one Behringer NX3000D for at total cost with amplification of under $1,099!

That is $1,099 for FOUR 18" subwoofers with good performance down to 25hz, and UNPARALLELED performance above 40hz!

In home theater, multiple subwoofers have significant advantages over single subs. If you have the space, many people consider four subwoofers to be ideal.

These PA460-8 drivers were originally chosen for the VBSS build because of their low cost and great performance when used in a specially designed enclosure. Back when this was originally designed, these drivers were available for around $70 each. Around 2020 the price soared up to around $180 each, causing a lot of people to abandon this driver for cheaper alternatives. However this driver was always seen as the perfect fit for the VBSS subwoofer.

33 Comments

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Jan 12, 2025
6,759 Posts
Joined Oct 2009
Jan 12, 2025
SammieSocal25
Jan 12, 2025
6,759 Posts
Product Specifications
Nominal Diameter 18"
Power Handling (RMS) 500 Watts
Power Handling (MAX) 1000 Watts
Impedance 8Ω
Frequency Response 26 to 2,000Hz
1
Jan 13, 2025
361 Posts
Joined Dec 2005
Jan 13, 2025
J1Simon
Jan 13, 2025
361 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank J1Simon

It's a quality subwoofer. I'm running one in the Marty cube enclosure: https://shop.gsgad.com/collection...ingle-unit with a NX3000 Amp, MiniDSP, and CleanboxPro. I'm pretty sure I could break my windows if I tried.
1
2
2
Jan 14, 2025
1,563 Posts
Joined Dec 2008
Jan 14, 2025
bcm00re
Jan 14, 2025
1,563 Posts
A Fs of 28Hz isn't very low for a subwoofer, and the Xmax of only 6mm is disappointing as well (again for a subwoofer).
2
Jan 14, 2025
38 Posts
Joined Aug 2022
Jan 14, 2025
DelightfulCrib237
Jan 14, 2025
38 Posts
These are the ideal drivers for the VBSS build. More information here: https://www.mtg-designs.com/diy-s...plans/vbss
Jan 14, 2025
4,215 Posts
Joined Jul 2010
Jan 14, 2025
Selman
Jan 14, 2025
4,215 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank Selman

Quote from bcm00re :
A Fs of 28Hz isn't very low for a subwoofer, and the Xmax of only 6mm is disappointing as well (again for a subwoofer).
I think reading the product page is insightful in seeong what the goal for these is. The designer talks about those limitations and why he still went ahead this way. The idea is an efficient, budget home theater setup for multiple woofers powered off a single cheap power amp like a Behringer iNuke 3000. It is by no means ever intended to be a top performer, but for perhaps $700-800 a person could build two and get an amp that would obliterate 99% of people's home theaters.
Last edited by Selman January 14, 2025 at 07:40 AM.
4
Jan 14, 2025
432 Posts
Joined May 2008
Jan 14, 2025
btothem
Jan 14, 2025
432 Posts
Not that size always matters but that looks like a tiny magnet
2
Jan 14, 2025
4,215 Posts
Joined Jul 2010
Jan 14, 2025
Selman
Jan 14, 2025
4,215 Posts
Quote from btothem :
Not that size always matters but that looks like a tiny magnet
Tiny magnet and light voice coil for efficiency. Read the designer's page, and it makes more sense. It's all about budget performance.
Last edited by Selman January 14, 2025 at 10:02 AM.

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Jan 14, 2025
123 Posts
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Jan 14, 2025
KanwalpreetK
Jan 14, 2025
123 Posts

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Quote from bcm00re :
A Fs of 28Hz isn't very low for a subwoofer, and the Xmax of only 6mm is disappointing as well (again for a subwoofer).
This is not a high excursion subwoofer. You're trading high efficiency and strong mid-bass at the expense of low frequency extension.

A lot of folks, including myself was originally chasing 20hz and infrasonics. Over time, I realized mid-bass is important too. At larger sizes like 18-24 inch subs, low excursion subs are fine. They can produce meaningful extension and great mid-bass performance.
2
2
Jan 14, 2025
1,292 Posts
Joined Jan 2005

This comment has been rated as unhelpful by Slickdeals users.

Original Poster
Jan 14, 2025
92 Posts
Joined Nov 2016
Jan 14, 2025
doubleedgedpen
Original Poster
Jan 14, 2025
92 Posts
Quote from Captainpsp :
I am with some of you saying, this is for cheap build, or VBSS. But give or take it would be about 12-1400 for 2 of these with cabinet and an amp. I can get 2x of these Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-1600SW for a bit more. And those are a beast. Very very clean.There is no way that size magnet and light coil can produce clean base. That coil will never settle down. May be, may be for movies. But certainly not for music.Sorry not buying the logic.
I have had two of these PA460-8 drivers in VBSS enclosures in my room for the last several years. These produce very clean bass. They perform even better bass for music above 40hz than they do LFE sound effects for movies below 30hz. These are definitely a budget build, but the real compromise is their performance below 30hz (unless using 4 or more together). Above 40hz even 2 of these are amazing, as you would expect from a Pro PA woofer. I just bought two more drivers to bring my VBSS total up to 4, which is where these guys really break all other bang-for-for-your-buck records with good performance in-room down to 25hz.
Original Poster
Jan 14, 2025
92 Posts
Joined Nov 2016
Jan 14, 2025
doubleedgedpen
Original Poster
Jan 14, 2025
92 Posts
I have built two VBSS subwoofers, and I am preparing to build two more. With these drivers now at $106 and MDF at $50, I can build each subwoofer for under $200 including glue, hardware, and terminals. You can power four of these from one Behringer NX3000D for at total cost with amplification of under $1,099!

That is $1,099 for FOUR 18" subwoofers with good performance down to 25hz, and UNPARALLELED performance above 40hz!

In home theater, multiple subwoofers have significant advantages over single subs. If you have the space, many people consider four subwoofers to be ideal.

These PA460-8 drivers were originally chosen for the VBSS build because of their low cost and great performance when used in a specially designed enclosure. Back when this was originally designed, these drivers were available for around $70 each. Around 2020 the price soared up to around $180 each, causing a lot of people to abandon this driver for cheaper alternatives. However this driver was always seen as the perfect fit for the VBSS subwoofer.
Jan 15, 2025
52 Posts
Joined Jun 2022
Jan 15, 2025
kindrudekid
Jan 15, 2025
52 Posts
Quote from doubleedgedpen :
I have built two VBSS subwoofers, and I am preparing to build two more. With these drivers now at $106 and MDF at $50, I can build each subwoofer for under $200 including glue, hardware, and terminals. You can power four of these from one Behringer NX3000D for at total cost with amplification of under $1,099!That is $1,099 for FOUR 18" subwoofers with good performance down to 25hz, and UNPARALLELED performance above 40hz!In home theater, multiple subwoofers have significant advantages over single subs. If you have the space, many people consider four subwoofers to be ideal.These PA460-8 drivers were originally chosen for the VBSS build because of their low cost and great performance when used in a specially designed enclosure. Back when this was originally designed, these drivers were available for around $70 each. Around 2020 the price soared up to around $180 each, causing a lot of people to abandon this driver for cheaper alternatives. However this driver was always seen as the perfect fit for the VBSS subwoofer.
Pardon my ignorance but this year I was planning to upgrade my SUB in the home theater with VTF-TN1 Subwoofer. But this looks too fun and cheap enough (minus the NX3000D) to try it out.

My question, how would you power 4 of these from NX3000D which only has 2 output ?
Jan 15, 2025
569 Posts
Joined Dec 2012
Jan 15, 2025
fsu67
Jan 15, 2025
569 Posts
I usually go with 8" or 10" for a good hard mid bass, 12" and up for a low frequency bass.
4
Jan 15, 2025
632 Posts
Joined Aug 2010
Jan 15, 2025
Thrak410
Jan 15, 2025
632 Posts
Quote from kindrudekid :
Pardon my ignorance but this year I was planning to upgrade my SUB in the home theater with VTF-TN1 Subwoofer. But this looks too fun and cheap enough (minus the NX3000D) to try it out.

My question, how would you power 4 of these from NX3000D which only has 2 output ?
Depending on how you wire the subs together...

You can run (2) 8 ohm subs in parallel and show the amp a 4 ohm load, per channel, which would give you 900w/ch stereo output according to the amp specs.
2

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Jan 15, 2025
1,573 Posts
Joined Jun 2006
Jan 15, 2025
FranksAndBeans
Jan 15, 2025
1,573 Posts
Quote from kindrudekid :
Pardon my ignorance but this year I was planning to upgrade my SUB in the home theater with VTF-TN1 Subwoofer. But this looks too fun and cheap enough (minus the NX3000D) to try it out.

My question, how would you power 4 of these from NX3000D which only has 2 output ?
They are 8 ohm drivers, 2 in parallel per side resulting in a 4 ohm load to your amp. The inuke/NX amps are stable at 4 ohms, sort of stable into 2 ohms.

Far as this deal goes this is a great deal on a known driver with well validated and simple to build box designs. It's not for guys that need a good looking living room sub, but there are a lot of DIY folks out there that can build the boxes without much cost at all, and tons of used PA amps out there that make fine sub amps (most AVRs can handle the processing). Lots of people could kit something up using this driver for ~$300 and end up with SPL capability well beyond anything commercial in that price range. This approach makes a lot of sense when small size / nice looks don't matter much, like when you can hide them behind a projector screen or otherwise in a big room.

So, it's not for everybody but the driver is usually the big cost for these DIY solutions, and this is a nice deal.

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