I was at a club this past Thursday night and the sound was so amazing!!! Dance floor packed all night. The bass could be felt all throughout the entire club. I saw what appeared to be a small sub. I thought it was a 15 inch. I asked the DJ what sub was that. He told me it was the QSC KW 181. I was literally blown away at the sound. Tonight I went to another club where he was DJing. He brought the same setup and speakers. Again, the same thing. Packed dance floor all night and that 181 filled the entire club with tremendous bass. So I made up my mind. I'm about to pull the trigger on a 181 now. I'm a mobile DJ and the size vs the output of the 181 has me sold, BIG TIME.

Wow man, I just bought a pair of 181 with kw122, replacing my 10 yo old Behringer kit... Waiting for them in one month, still in use in a bar :D But your enthusiasm is contagious, can't wait to throw hell at my clients! Good honest video!

Excellent video Bro!! Just took hold of a K181 bottom to go with my QSC tops. The tops are great so I got the 181 for a nice round bass effect. Wow. And I appreciate your video from 2 years ago still being relevant now. This is a NYC co-sign 👁️‍🗨️👍🏿

That review is on point. Your very knowledgeable and intelligent.

The KW181 is a tried and true workhorse. Used over 200 events and hasn’t missed a beat. Let’s not forget the customer service for QSC is A+

Great video, as a DJ I appreciate the honesty and you know I can relate after the show working because you're tired as crap! :-) everything's heavy LOL

I use the KW181's for live sound and I agree, I haven't found a pair of subs that can outperform the KW181's that are the same weight, price and are as reliable. The only subs that outperform the KW181's that also weigh less are much more expensive and passive!

Nice review keep them coming bro!

I love QSC and EV as well I never got a chance to get any of the Qsc Kw181’s but I have heard them in the past and they do sound good I personally own two ETX 18sp’s wich I love even more so once I swapped them cheap woofers out of there and put better ones in it was a night and day difference and they hit too I also have two QSC K12’s and four QSC KW152’s tops that I use alongside my four yorkville LS1208’s scoops when I’m doing big rooms but if I ever got the chance to buy some 181’s for the low I’d get some I love sound and speakers but I really been wanting to pull the trigger on some Yamaha tops because they are so clean and clear I wanted some of the old DSR 12’s but you can hardly find anymore once again great video!🫡

I enjoyed the video and also use the kw181. This video is extremely late for the Kw181 that’s been out for yrs. now that they just released the ks118 this should be a comparison of the 2

Thank you for the video, love it. DJ AJ quick question, where can I purchase a pair of Yamaha dXR12?

I absolutely love these kw181 they kick ass I have no intention on getting rid of them

What crossover do you use with the dxr12s? I just bought a yamaha dxs15xlf to use with my dxr12mkii. The dxs15xlf is smaller than the kw181 and weighs about the same. I hope it will do good for me! Might get a second one later if needed.

And if you really want performance versus weight and size, check out the Yamaha DXS15 - XLF. It’s only about 86 pounds, and it’s much smaller than the QSC KW 181. And for its size, it’s amazing.

Love the video and very good point! You are not CRAZY! They have better subs out there that you can use but them damn thangs be weighin like 100lbs or more!! Been looking at the KW181's for a hot minute for my mobile DJ set-up but I couldn't deal with the price! I'm like "DAMN, Is Anyone Sellin A Good Used One For At Least $900 or Less?" But after doin some research, I will say this, a sleeper you may not know about is the RCF-705-AS Mk2's. $500 cheaper, 1400watts PEAK, 15in woofer that can go head up wit the KW's and only 50lbs! There's a actually a video where they battle the KW's vs. RCF's and I was very impressed with the RCF's! They are just as powerful but the KW's are just a lil deeper with the bass. But wit the overall, price, size, weight of the RCF's I had to cop them!! Very good investment too! But... the only thing can make me swap out my RCF's are the new QSC KS-118's. 3600watts!! WHAT?? They changed the shape so you can pack them away more easier but the weight, 100lbs? Hmmm.....

Peavey RBN215 compact and has 2 speakers inside of 1 compact box. The Bass is Amazing!😮

Great video. Thanks!

Well i have used my kw181's since they were released. They have never clipped, i run them in deep mode and i never turn them past 12 oclock. I run them out of my booth on my denon mc7000 which i never go past 12 on the booth out master. They love that bass hitting them in the chest. Any way i am in Houston as well i stopped by guitar center on 59 southwest Freeway near highway 6 and heard the ks118 and man i think i will be getting a pair of them to go with my kw's. I think together i will be breaking some glass. i also have a pair of cp12's and they are good too. But i use k12's with my kw181's. Not k12.2 but the original K12, they are beast too. keep em dancing.

Hey there I liked the video so thanks for that. But one thought on carrying that sub with one hand. I’ve pulled out handles directly out of a box by doing this and I’ve seen it happen to a couple others. Maybe it’s the weight of the speakers or. Maybe moisture got to them. Any way be careful. And happy spinning

Have the ks212c deep and loud sound almost as the kw 181? thanks

Thank you for this

need bass sound on these will this sound good in small hall with high ceilings. I got two Samson Expedition old speakers need to do a small halloween party 150 ppl any recommendations for setup. Need the bass to hit hard. One subwoofer or two for small budget. I have the Rane one what wires would I need??

i have 4 Yamaha DXS subs. I pretty happy with them.

What's the best subwoofer 18" active and a pair for £1200 max if gotta will save upto £3400

Whats a budget version of this? Something that can be purchased for about $350 or less?

I just sold my kw181 and got the ks118...Fire!!!! BASS..

Did you ever do a review for the 118

im in the market... looking to upgrade from the equipment i have now... harbinger passive subs... ($250 each when new) was looking at the bose f1 stuff... but when i went to GC i saw the kW was a bit bigger... but that wattage was mind bending...

something everyone needs to take into consideration is the way i play music vs the way other people play music. I do not know about you guys but i play loud!!!! as loud as the gear will go before clipping. EV ETX-sounds great but limit early. By limit early i literally mean the word limit flashes on the dsp screen. No i have been told that the simple flash of limit on this speaker "tis but a warning" and it is okay to keep playing but this scares me personally. qsc 212c- i literally did a prom this year where i ran 2 181s and 2 212cs side by side by side and the 212 cs were limiting before the fans even spooled up on the 181s. so for you guys that said you demoed the 212c and the 181 and the 212c was louder, you clearly did not listen to those speakers at volume. You are simply wrong. The the 212c is for smaller crowds and musicians in small bars that need a little more bottom end for background music when they go on break or when the crowd at the restaurant gets a lil rowdy after 1 too many Pinot Noirs. IT IS NOT a competitor for the 181 when it comes to power at high volumes. rcf 705 asII- while i do believe this speaker is a good speaker i do not believe it is a direct competitor of the 181. in my experience with the J8 RCF's lower end gear clips easily and that 705 asII is lowered end for RCF. I have read reviews where the Sub 8003 (the bigger louder, slightly up market 18" version of the 705 asII) limits to early so i know the 705 asII clips before the 181 does. that being said, i think the 705 asII could be a great sub so a small wedding system if it is being run with a powerful 8", 10", or powered column array top like the Turbo sound ip300! jbl- i have 0 experience with jbl so i cannot speak to them. Look, some people think it is okay to DJ an 800+ person school event with 2 EV EKX 15 SUBS and 2 ev ekx 12 tops. For some people that is JUST FINE and nobody complained. That person clearly does not play music like i do as loud as i do. I play music with heavy vibrating bass at the point just before clip for 2-3 hours straight, and for that, i need a robust speaker that is not gonna run out of steam. Next video is on up lighting... Chinese made off brands vs Chinese made name brands!

One thing u forgot to mention is it only takes 2.5 amps of power to run.You can run ur whole setup on a 15amp circuit.

My man said DJs that don't mix are trash😆 It's 1 of the fundamentals and just sounds SO much better!!!

Facts 🔊

The EV EKX are lighter though?

I use four KW181's with four K12's for school dances, it gets pretty loud. No need for the newer models yet.

agree 1000% percent.

Ok so whats cheap and sounds better??

I like the KS 118 much better than the KW 181. To my ears it’s both punchier and more substantial. End it sounds a little more even across the whole bass range. I like the Yamaha DXS18-XLF better than KW181, also. Both are lighter than the KW 181, too.

just get two more qsc kw181 subs , just keep on rocking good vibes .

Qsc just released the New kw181 The Ks118 it has clearer sound lighter and a bit more power now that is now the best subwoofer out there check it out on Qsc site

Yea that’s fine but we’re talking about different types of bass. QSC is low clean deep tight bass. Yamaha, Yorkville, turbo sound hits and you feel it more. Turbo sound IQ18B is a monster sub. QSC is quality and no one should disagree.

And the New QSC SUB is even better!

how much is this please

Great info what is the price and RMS

#TeamQsc

Thoughts on the JBL prx 18 sub?

I had 1cerwin vega cva121 and 2 qsc 181 do not sound better then the 1 cerwin vega. It took 3 qsc to match the 1 cerwin vega. Im very unhappy with the qsc181

is real! qsc kw and k series are the best !

There is one sub out there what is a 15 inch, but it acts like a 18 inch, but it’s made by JBL and it’s just smaller than that and more powerful than that and you say that speaker only weighs 80 well, the JBL sub. I’ll be listing here, very shortly, only weighs 50 and it’s just more powerful than this 18 here I have two of them and they don’t even need to be fully up put them up halfway done. You can hear it from the end of the hall plus the speakers what you have in this video might be older than the speakers what I’m talking about right now but who cares at least I have a speaker less and it’s more portable it’s not cheap but it’s hundred percent worth it

KW 181 is only the best . The KS118 is what i want i have been reading and researching it always. looking for the best price... QSC is only the best

The kw181 and ks118 who is better

Thoughts on rcf 18 powered 8003 sub?

What other sub plays louder for their size? Jbl srx818sp Down to 29hz vs 35 on the qsc Audio architect capable ( search it up ) Lighter (only a bit) LOUDER SAME PRICE Powered by crown

Truest statement ever made...... djs that don’t mix are trash!!!!!!!! Screaming from the mountain top

B6 from d&b

i agree,i had the etx 18 and it clipped to easy,took it back and got 2 181's,way better

but what about the new ks118??

120V x 2.3A = .... 276W!...?

JBL VRX918SP that might kill the sub

Presonus ult 18 look it up 🔊🤙🏾

JBL SRX828SP is a better sub shakes the earth

I DONT CARE WHAT ANYBODY SAY, I REFUSED TO PAY THAT KIND OF MONEY FOR A SUBWOOFER.

Id like it but its at 420....

Yorkville Parasource 15p is CLEANER, SMALLER and LOUDER than KW181.

IT'S NOT EVEN IN THE SAME LEAGUE AS A SINGLE BASSBOSS 18"!

Meh....20 pounds and the ETX sounds way better...I’ll stick with the ETX

passive sub is the best, those subs that you re raving about are for kids.

Qsc kw is a complete piece of shit. Waist of money. These speakers should have retailed for $999.99 and even then it would have been a bit pricey.