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Rating And Reviews: QSC KW181 Subwoofer

1000 watt Class D power modules in all models (2 x 500 W). Extensive DSP featuring DEEP (tm) and Intrinsic Correction (tm).

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QSC KW181 Subwoofer Customer Review submitted February 2, 2011

By a customer from hotmail.com
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Musical Background: Mobile Dj
Music Style: all Kinds
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Sound: sound just like a sbu should it punches as a dj it is one of the best Subs and whenever it riches it limit it automatically reset itself which is cool. I really encourage real dj's to get it. Feature: the included a metal screw on stand Ease of Use: it is by far one of the easiest set up I have ever done Quality: very well made and has wheels. Value: yes but they should beat it down Manufacturer Support: No I have not but I heard they are local so can just go to any of their reps
15 of 15 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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"Good Quality, louder than anticipated." submitted November 29, 2011

By a customer from hotmail.com
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Musical Background: Professional DJ
Music Style: All / Dance
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Sound: Best sub that I have heard yet, I set it up to do a sound test and before the sub even clipped, I was rattling the neighbor's windows over 40 feet away. Good sound, I bought 2 total, waiting for the second one to come in. Feature: nice plastic type coating over the wood to protect cabinet. Ease of Use: plug and play, powered sub Quality: bought it under scratch and dent, however could not find a scratch on the whole thing, lucky me. Maybe it was because the box was damaged a little bit more than usual Value: Good value, in my case it was a great value for scratch and dent which was $300 off what the retail price was. retail value is a little high Manufacturer Support: N/A have yet to contact QSC Overall: great product, I would buy another, and I already have. I am excited to hear the two subs together. I used to use a B-52 ACT18 powered sub 1200 watt, and this 1000 watt is 30 pounds lighter as well as louder.
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"Sound filled up Raley Field in Sacramento" submitted October 20, 2012

By Dan A in LOOMIS, CA
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Musical Background: I do not play music I am the sound guy
Music Style: Rock and a Pink Floyd tribute band
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Overall: I am the sound engineer for two local bands. We played at Raley Field in Sacramento and the two KW181's and two KW153's filled up the entire outfield from the stage set up at second base. Many people came up to me and complemented the quality of the sound from so far away. My other band, a Pink Floyd tribute band played at the new outdoor amphitheater in Folsom, CA. The KW181's set off car alarms in a parking lot about 100 feet away and 90 degrees from the stage. I am running the speakers through a DBX DriveRack PX on custom setting because the KW series is no on DBX's preset list. I am constantly complemented on the quality of the sound from these speakers. The covers are a little pricey but are high quality and well worth the price. I have had no warranty issues after 9 months of use. The wheels on the base units are great!
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"Another Happy Customer" submitted June 13, 2012

By Jason N in Las Vegas, NV
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Musical Background: I take a beating for a living, I am a sound engineer, and tech. I have been playing piano/synths, bass, and faking the drums.
Music Style: rock, tronic, synth rock, experimental, shoegaze, dub step
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Overall: I am a sound engineer and tech. at a casino in Vegas, but a hardcore musician at heart. I made the decision on the QSC Active 18's because of product and price.. The main reason why I chose QSC, is I have torn down the K12's for maintenance, and like the way the product is put together, the abuse dj's have done to these things in 108 to 110 degree temperatures, inside another enclosure throughout the whole summer months is jaw dropping. Seemingly the toyota corolla of small pa speakers... Of COURSE sound! LOL The clarity of the amp and speaker combo is amazing for what they are priced at and again the abuse they take. So I figured what the heck, I need subs that can push air. When I unboxed the units, I was happy to see a tight box with a rhino lined protective coating, real casters that roll on carpet, and concrete, light enough to be able to handle by myself, yet heavy enough they punch, and stay quiet! Now for ZZounds... I was shocked zzounds approved my order, I have rough (real) rough credit, and zzounds took a chance on me, and once they approved my order, BAM! these things were at my house two days later, unbelievable... So I am happy all the way around, they function like a company should, I am a happy musician, and I am happy with the product as an end user... so cool... ( yes, after re-reading my review, it does look fake, or that I am an outside sales guy, but I'm not, just a fairly normal HAPPY customer!!!)
17 of 19 people (89.47%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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"BOOOOM!!!" submitted August 15, 2011

By a customer from verizon.net
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Musical Background: Dj
Music Style: Electro, House, Reggae, Hiphop
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Sound: Awesome I mean I wouldn't suggest to go blast an old dj Magic Mike cd or anything but it hits all of the frequencies I've needed. Feature: A handle on each side and and wheels...good enough for me Quality: Seem like it can last for a long time with proper care and if you get the cover also. Value: seemed kind of high but well worth it once I heard it for myself Manufacturer Support: Havn't need to contact them except to register for the warranty. Overall: I'll be satified for a long time, and I replace it with the same before anything. I wass looking at the ksub but I'm glad I went this route I like the wheels and the weight the most, and of course the sound.
8 of 9 people (88.89%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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"No other way to explain it turns me on!!!" submitted November 3, 2012

By a customer from yahoo.com in Las Vegas , NV
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Musical Background: 3 years mobile DJ
Music Style: Hip Hop, Island Reggae, R&B , house, mainstream,dub step, oldies, riddim reggae,disco,
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Sound: Smooth and definitely gonna bring down the house you can feel it in your bones!! Feature: N/a Ease of Use: It's as easy as 123 and hit play..... Quality: The product is built very strong in a wooden cabinet, also it is easy to maneuver around with casters that come with it. Like a hot knife thru butter!! Value: Yes and no .. Manufacturer Support: Not yet!! The Wow Factor: I wouldn't change anything it looks and sounds sexy..... Overall: I had an old 15" Samson that was 500 watts that I had gotten from a cousin that dj's and I use the mackie th15a thumps as my tops. These two and the kw181 Match well for a small to medium venue. But when I started to use the kw181...... It was like night and day not only because of more power but the smoothness of the bass even in outdoors it was still sounded crisp and clean like it was in side a a venue. I was glad I went with my gut feeling to buy this sub the other alternative was the k sub but I did my homework and this was the better one. IT hits so hard it turns me on!!!!! But I do have to say it sure is pricy......that is he only reason I haven't bought the matching tops yet I'm hopping their is a 12 payment play soon for them!!!!!
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"Small Footprint big pwer" submitted September 8, 2012

By Brad C in Bellingham, WA
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Musical Background: Keyboard Player for The Memphis Rain Band
Music Style: Jazz, folk, Classical, Rock, Blues.....whatever Classically trained
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Overall: I bought this pa for our band. We chose the kw153 for tops because of the wider frequency range which can be very important in live sound. Originally I tried getting by with just one sub and it did an ok job, but nothing to write home about, just not quite enough umph. So I bought another one to go with it and WOW. I have been playing in bands since 1979 and have had many pa systems and done many gigs. The use of this system generates praises from the listeners out in the audience which is not something I am used to. Most people have no idea about sound or sound quality, What is impressive about the system is that you can feel the base. I have heard from several listeners at our gigs that they think it's cool that they can feel the bass. This system moves some air and that is what I wanted. It does not have to be loud to feel it. It is 1000 watts rms not peak, it is 2000 watts peak and that is some serious beef. In our market with a pair of kw181 with a pair of kw153's we have the best pa going. We actually have other bands wanting to rent the system from us for their gigs. The sound of the bass is tight focused and very punchy. It's not mushy and boingy like so many subs out there. Connectivity is more than we need and the built in wheels are a definite must. It's a small package with a big bang. It's expensive yes but in my experience you get what you pay for and in pro audio it does not pay to go cheap if you care about good sound. QSC has not made any compromises in this sub. It is worth every penny. I have owned lots of subs and none of them come close to this. Don't take my word for it, go listen to one of these and you will know right away how different they are. They really stand out from the rest. in this price range.
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"Awesome Subwoofer!" submitted July 1, 2012

By DJ Crisis in Houston, TX
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Musical Background: Club and Mobile DJ for 13 years.
Music Style: Hip Hop, Reggae, Electronic Dance Music
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Overall: I DJ at a restaurant that hires for Reverse Happy Hours and I have to bring my own system. It's a pretty big space to cover, (about 1500 sqft) and this sub packs a lot of power. I play Hip Hop and House Music and the dance floor packs up more just because my audience can "Feel" the music now because of this sub. Ive been telling my other friends to buy it, so that we can couple them up.
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"QSC KW 181 Powered Sub" submitted July 19, 2012

By Brad C in Bellingham, WA
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Musical Background: DJ/Keyboard Player for Memphis Rain/Studio Musician
Music Style: Rock/Jazz
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Overall: I bought one of these for our band to go with a pair of KW 153's. I thought one would do but no. I had to buy another one. Now this PA is moving some air. It's small, and it has a huge sound. It's plenty loud for small to medium venues, anything larger and we hire the job out. The real high light of this PA is the sound quality. We play in the Bellingham WA area and I am convinced we have the best sounding PA going right now. We have other bands wanting to rent it from us for their gigs. It's a killer PA
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"Great subwoofer I will definitely get another!" submitted November 11, 2012

By Aaron D
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Music Style: EDM, Hip-Hop
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Overall: I have used this sub for 2 gigs so far and was shocked on ow much better my setup sounds with this sub. I am currently running K10 tops with this sub and the K10's are holding up very well with this sub. I got some really good compliments on how well my setup sounded. I would definitely recommend this sub to anyone that is thinking about it. You will be very impressed with how this sub sounds!
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"Awesome!!!" submitted January 15, 2013

By A. Z. Entertainment Dj Drew in Longview, TX
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Musical Background: 2yrs
Music Style: every style
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Overall: buy the matching kw181 and k12s and your set. best investment i've ever made.Thank You zzounds for making this an easy purchase!!
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"QSC forever!!" submitted November 11, 2012

By James P in North Charleston, SC
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Musical Background: Sound company
Music Style: All kinds
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Overall: If you are thinking about getting this sub don't hesitate any longer, this beast is amazing!!! I've had may sub brands this one is truly the best.
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"Great Sub !!" submitted March 4, 2012

By Steve S in Uniontown, PA
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Musical Background: 20 years
Music Style: New Country .
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Overall: I have two of these Subs ....They do a really great job .....we use them in a Rocking Country Band .... We have played to as many as 300 in a mid sized club TURNED UP TO 60 % and these subs done the trick !! Also we have Played shows outside and they done well ...they are not a long throw sub ......but dont let these subs fool you . they cover very well . Our setup is this ...We use 2 k 12s as side fills ...and the KW 181s and the KW 153s as our mains ...It is a great system ....
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