All items in category Voice Coil Test Bench
Test Bench: The W4-2356 4" Full Range from Tang Band (TB) Speaker
by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: The W4-2356 4" Full Range from Tang Band (TB) Speaker

The intriguing W4-2356 driver from Tang Band Speaker (TB Speaker) is built on a proprietary and patented injection-molded polymer four-spoke frame that allows the voice coil not to be centered in the 4" injection-molded polypropylene cone, but offset by about half inch. The aim for this original off-axis design, is to defeat concentric cone modes, a well-known source of coloration in round voice coil transducers. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, September 2022.
Read more...
Test Bench: Faital Pro’s New HF1460 Pro Sound Compression Driver
by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: Faital Pro’s New HF1460 Pro Sound Compression Driver

This article is a detailed characterization of the HF1460 1.4" exit neodymium motor compression driver from Faital Pro, oriented toward pro audio applications. The Faital Pro HF1460 features a carbon fiber diaphragm, which Faital Pro has been researching for some time, even before the first TeXtreme products were available in the market. The horn supplied for use with the HF1460 was the LTH142, an injection-molded, elliptical tractrix flare horn, with a 60° x 50° coverage pattern. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, September 2022.
Read more...
Test Bench: The MD60N-6 2.5" Dome Midrange from the SB Acoustics Satori Line
by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: The MD60N-6 2.5" Dome Midrange from the SB Acoustics Satori Line

This is a Test Bench of one of the most intriguing high-frequency drivers from SB Acoustics' high-end Satori line, the MD60N-6 2.5" dome midrange. This design by Danesian Audio of Denmark, is a soft dome midrange that features a non-resonant coated cloth, and a large neodymium ring magnet with a dynamic dome stabilizer and flow resistor. There is also an injection-molded back-closed transmission line enclosure, filled with Thinsulate damping, mounted directly on the back side, covering its entire surface. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, August 2022.
Read more...
Test Bench: B&C Speakers DE111‑8 1” Pro Sound Compression Driver
by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: B&C Speakers DE111‑8 1” Pro Sound Compression Driver

This is a characterization of the DE111-8 pro audio high-frequency solution and corresponding ME10v2 horn from B&C Speakers. The ultra-compact neodymium 1" compression driver features an HT Polymer diaphragm driven by a 1.4" diameter voice coil, an updated Ketone polymer suspension and dome, rated for 50W continuous power handling and 2.83V/1m 107dB sensitivity. A tiny driver universally applicable for a variety of small monitor and compact line arrays. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, August 2022.
Read more...
Test Bench: SEAS’ W15CH001 5.25” Excel Hexadym Motor Midwoofer
by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: SEAS’ W15CH001 5.25” Excel Hexadym Motor Midwoofer

This SEAS Excel Midwoofer is one the most highly inventive and innovative out-of-box Hexadym Motor designs from the Norwegian company. In this article, Vance Dickason details all that is unique in this midwoofer design and its historical motivations, helping to solve the problem of reflections off the motor system and frame of a woofer back into the cone. A fascinating exploration with complete measurements. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, July 2022.
Read more...
Test Bench: Scan-Speak’s 38WE/8582T00 15” Ellipticor Oval Voice Coil Woofer
by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: Scan-Speak’s 38WE/8582T00 15” Ellipticor Oval Voice Coil Woofer

This Test Bench characterizes a 15" Ellipticor woofer from Scan-Speak using the company's proven oval/elliptical design topology. The 38WE is a seriously feature rich transducer, starting with a nicely configured 10-spoke cast-aluminum frame and a completely open area below the suspended spider mounting shelf for effective cooling of the Symmetrical Drive (SD) AirCirc multi-magnet design with neodymium slugs and elliptical two-layer voice coil. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, July 2022.
Read more...
Test Bench: TB Speaker 75-1558SH High-End Home Audio 3" Dome Midrange
by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: TB Speaker 75-1558SH High-End Home Audio 3" Dome Midrange

This is an interesting Test Bench of a 3" dome midrange from Tang Band Speaker (aka TB Speaker), model 75-1558SH, intended for high-end and home audio applications. One of the most innovative and prolific OEM speaker manufacturers from Asia, Tang Band submitted a new 75mm diameter soft dome midrange, using a coated cloth diaphragm and surround, with a large neodymium magnet and distortion reducing shorting ring. The steel cup has a foam damped vent that loads into a shaped and 100% polyester-filled injection-molded back enclosure. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, June 2022.
Read more...
Test Bench: Celestion CDX1-1412 Compact 1" Pro Sound Compression Driver
by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: Celestion CDX1-1412 Compact 1" Pro Sound Compression Driver

The Celestion CDX1-1412 Compression Driver is a compact 1" unit intended for professional audio applications, a traditional segment for the UK-based OEM manufacturer. This compression driver features a FEA-optimized neodymium ring magnet motor structure, a nominal power handling of 35W, a 2kHz recommended crossover frequency (with a minimum 12dB/octave high-pass network), and 106dB sensitivity (1W/1m) measured with its own 1" H1-9050 90°x50° constant directivity horn. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, June 2022.
Read more...
FaitalPRO 2FE24 Pro Sound 2.5" Full-Range
by Vance Dickason

FaitalPRO 2FE24 Pro Sound 2.5" Full-Range

The focus for this Test Bench is the 2FE24 2.5” full-range driver from FaitalPRO, an interesting small diameter full-range design suitable for pro audio applications such as PA line source speakers. The 2FE24 is built on a proprietary injection-molded polycarbonate four-spoke frame, and the cone assembly consists of an uncoated paper cone and dust cap, low loss half-roll NBR surround, and elevated cloth spider. Powering the cone assembly is a neodymium ring magnet and a milled return cup fitted to a 19mm diameter voice coil wound with aluminum wire on a Kapton former. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, May 2022.
Read more...
Test Bench: The E180HE-44 Full-Range Subwoofer from the Dayton Audio Epique Line
by Vance Dickason

Test Bench: The E180HE-44 Full-Range Subwoofer from the Dayton Audio Epique Line

In this article, Vance Dickason characterizes the E180HE-44 woofer, from the Dayton Audio Epique lineup. As with the E150HE from the same range, the E180HE-44 uses the patented Multiple Magnet Air Gap (MMAG) technology, invented by Enrique Stiles and patented by Step Technologies. The E180HE is a scaled up (7") version of the E150HE, and has a similar feature set but with a secondary magnet system comprised of six ferrite disks, which act as magnetic “diodes” pulling the flux from the main magnet into the top 7mm gap. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, May 2022.
Read more...