Loudspeaker Manufacturing, Patents, and Driver Characterizations in Voice Coil August 2022

August is traditionally the voice-coil-focused issue of Voice Coil, offering an always-valuable perspective on the state of the loudspeaker industry. In this issue, Mike Klasco discusses Audio Manufacturing in The Philippines, James Croft explores another key Mayht patent, and Vance Dickason measures and characterizes the B&C Speakers DE111-8 1" compression driver, and the MD60N-6 2.5” Dome Midrange from SB Acoustics' Satori line.

The NSD1095N is a 1" throat compression driver with a compact footprint for “high quality” sound applications in professional audio, from studio monitors or stage monitors to high-power sound reinforcement cabinets. It uses a field replaceable True Piston Motion (TPM) TiN coated titanium diaphragm, extending the frequency response by 25% and incorporates a proprietary phase plug architecture that has been designed to give a smooth coherent wave front at the horn entrance across the whole working frequency range.

The driver on this Test Bench is from B&C Speakers and clearly designed for professional audio. The 10NW76 was designed for uses in line arrays, small two-way monitors, and as a subwoofer, or as a midbass driver in multiway systems. It uses a proprietary 12-spoke (six double spokes) cast-aluminum frame with a series of cooling vents that allow air to move past the voice coil and across the front side of the neodymium motor assembly. The cone assembly consists of a curvilinear waterproof coated paper cone and dust cap. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, December 2021.

This Test Bench article characterizes Eighteen Sound’s AMT200P Air Motion Transformer and accompanying XMT200 6.5” waveguide. This driver is the brand's latest entry into the high-frequency transducer category, specifically designed for the pro sound community. The Eighteen Sound AMT200P includes a rectangular throat with a Kapton diaphragm with a neodymium magnet structure, and is rated for a power handling of 90W AES above 1.2kHz, with a sensitivity of 105dB, and a recommended crossover frequency of 1.2kHz at 48dB/octave. While the AMT200P can be used as a standard planar device it can be also coupled with a dedicated constant directivity horn, the 90°x 20° XMT200, featured in the characterization.

This Test Bench explication characterizes the 15DS100 15” professional subwoofer from B&C Speakers. This new transducer from the Italian company is a very high power handling design, able to deliver 3kW continuous (1.6W nominal), thanks to B&C's latest generation of very long voice coils - a great asset in applications from discreet PA subwoofers to three-way PA speakers. The B&C 15DS100-4 uses a proprietary 12-spoke cast aluminum frame with cooling vents for the neodymium FEA motor, which uses a 4” four-layer voice coil wound with round aluminum wire on a non-conducting glass fiber former. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, October 2021.

In the December 2021 edition of Voice Coil, Vance Dickason details the possibilities of the CrossLite+ DSP filter software, while James Croft reviews an interesting invention to improve the bass response in automotive audio applications. And this edition includes an updated measurement microphone directory, and two interesting low-frequency drivers on Test Bench, with the Dayton Audio Epique MMAG E150HE-44 subwoofer, and the powerful 10NW76 high-SPL woofer from B&C Speakers.

This article characterizes a coaxial driver from B&C Speakers, a 5.25” woofer and 1.4" compression driver combo specifically built primarily for sound reinforcement applications. This driver's cooling is exclusively provided by the motor mass, a substantial neodymium ring magnet that powers both HF and LF units. No other vents are required for the 300W power rating given by B&C Speakers to the 5CXN44, which is impressive. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, August 2021.

The October 2021 edition of Voice Coil discusses "The State of Loudspeaker Magnetics," with an annual overview of these critical industry components and materials for loudspeakers, complemented with an updated industry directory focused on Integrated Electronics. James Croft covers a patent awarded to Coastal Source for the variable waveguide speaker control, while Vance Dickason characterizes the powerful 15DS100 professional subwoofer from B&C Speakers, and Eighteen Sound's latest ND2T 1.4” neodymium compression driver. Now available in print, immediate online access or download.

It's time for Loudspeaker News and Developments, unique technology Spotlights, valuable industry Directories, great speaker patent reviews, and Vance Dickason's speaker driver characterizations in Test Bench. This month, Bruno Putzeys and Lars Risbo write about their speaker research for Purifi Audio, James Croft reviews an acoustic low-pass filter patent awarded to Bujeon, and Vance Dickason tests the 5CXN44 coaxial driver from B&C Speakers. This edition features updated directories of Voice Coil and Magnet Vendors and Distributors.

In October 2015, audioXpress visited pro audio loudspeaker manufacturer Eighteen Sound in Italy, and we shared the details of its modern factory in Reggio Emilia. The article was intended to illustrate the ongoing company's expansion, combined with a bit of its history. A lot has changed in the company's structure since then, Eighteen Sound (and Ciare) was acquired by B&C Speakers, and the faces at Reggio Emilia also changed. This article was originally published in audioXpress, February 2016.