18SOUND 12ND830
18SOUND (Eighteen Sound) 12ND830 — 12" / 12 inch · Midrange with Lower Midrange (ML) · Midrange · Neodymium
3" voice coil · 8 Ω
Part no.: 42A-CHS-MT-18S-0012
Documents
18SOUND 12ND830 — 12" · Midrange Driver
450 W AES · 99 dB Sensitivity · Frequency range 53 Hz – 5000 Hz
Technical data
- Diameter: 12 "
- Voice coil: 3 "
- Power handling: 450 W AES
- Sensitivity: 99 dB
- Impedance: 8 Ω
- Magnet: Neo
- Weight: 4.3 kg
- Mounting depth: 140 mm
- Frequency range: 53 – 5000 Hz
Datasheet (PDF) · Manufacturer page
Series: ND · Part no.: 42A-CHS-MT-18S-0012
18Sound 12ND830: 12" neodymium mid-woofer with 6.5 mm Xmax and 3" voice coil
The 12ND830 is a 12" driver from the ND series by 18Sound (Eighteen Sound) that covers the lower midrange as well: a 53 Hz to 5,000 Hz operating range, 99 dB sensitivity, 450 W AES power handling and a neodymium motor that keeps the weight at 4.3 kg. The 3" voice coil is generous for a 12" mid-woofer and provides the thermal headroom a driver needs when it handles everything below the horn in a two-way cabinet.
Within its category, the 12ND830 stands out for excursion. An Xmax of 6.5 mm is a lot for a midrange driver with lower-mid duties and allows real level in the upper bass without the coil leaving the linear part of the gap early. The Thiele-Small parameters (Fs 55 Hz, Qts 0.28, Vas 72 l, BL 17.6 Tm) describe a strong motor driving a moving mass of 46 g – a balance that combines low-frequency capability and midrange resolution in one driver rather than sacrificing either.
Use and enclosure
Used as the midrange in a three-way cabinet, the 12ND830 belongs in a sealed midrange chamber; as a guideline for a Butterworth alignment, around 13 l gives a system resonance of 139 Hz. If you want to run the driver down into the lower midrange in a two-way box, the bass reflex guideline is a good starting point: roughly 28 l tuned to 73 Hz, with a lower cutoff f3 near 85 Hz. The EBP of 183 confirms that a vented enclosure is the better choice over a sealed box once low-frequency extension matters. For a precise alignment, the enclosure calculator and driver database on 42.audio are available.
At the top end the operating range extends to 5,000 Hz; a crossover well below that keeps cone and coil out of the region where breakup starts. At 99 dB, the driver matches compression drivers on horns from the 18Sound range in level without heavy padding on the tweeter.
What to look out for
- 8 Ω nominal, Re 5.7 Ω: easy for any power amp; a 4 Ω version is listed as well.
- Mounting depth 140 mm plus clearance behind the magnet – neodymium is compact, not flat.
- 4.3 kg: light enough for portable tops, the neodymium ring keeps motor and basket slim.
- Xmax 6.5 mm and 450 W AES: real excursion headroom, still use a high-pass below the tuning frequency.
- Le 1.5 mH: the inductance rolls off the top end early, so equalize the crossover accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 12ND830 suitable as a mid-woofer in a two-way PA cabinet?
Yes, that is exactly what it is designed for. 6.5 mm Xmax, 450 W AES and a bass reflex guideline of about 28 l with f3 at 85 Hz make a compact top that reproduces the lower midrange cleanly. For deep bass, put a subwoofer underneath.
Which amplifier suits the 12ND830?
At 8 Ω, an amplifier in the region of the 450 W AES rating makes sense. More important than raw wattage is a high-pass filter that unloads the cone below the tuning frequency; with 99 dB sensitivity the driver reaches high levels with moderate power.
How does the 12ND830 differ from the 18Sound 12W750?
The 12W750 has almost identical small-signal parameters with Fs 49 Hz, Qts 0.28 and Vas 73 l, but belongs to a different series. The difference lies in the motor and the weight – the 12ND830 is the light neodymium variant at 4.3 kg. The driver database on 42.audio lets you compare both side by side.
At 42.audio you get the 18SOUND 12ND830 with datasheet PDF, all key data in the driver database and the enclosure calculator. More drivers from this manufacturer: Atlas 18Sound.
Thiele-Small parameters
| Nominal impedance | 8 Ω |
|---|---|
| Resonance frequency fs | 55 Hz |
| Total Q Qts | 0.28 |
| Electrical Q Qes | 0.3 |
| Mechanical Q Qms | 5.15 |
| Equivalent volume Vas | 72.0 l |
| Moving mass Mms | 46.0 g |
| Cone area Sd | 531 cm² |
| Linear excursion Xmax | 6.5 mm |
| Force factor BL | 17.6 Tm |
| DC resistance Re | 5.7 Ω |
| Voice coil inductance Le | 1.5 mH |
Enclosure suggestion
The EBP of 183 suggests a bass-reflex enclosure. EBP = fs / Qes = 55 / 0.3
Sealed (Qtc 0.707)
- Enclosure volume Vb
- 13.4 l
- System resonance Fc
- 139 Hz
- Cut-off frequency F3
- 139 Hz
Bass reflex (QB3 after Small)recommended
- Enclosure volume Vb
- 21.6 l
- Tuning frequency Fb
- 80 Hz
- Cut-off frequency F3
- 93 Hz
Vb is the required net internal volume, Fb the tuning frequency of the reflex port and F3 the frequency at which the level has dropped by 3 dB. Calculated approximation after Small. A starting point for simulation, not a finished build plan.
Comparable drivers
Same size, same type, Qts within ±30 %.
- 18 Sound 12W750fs 49 Hz · Qts 0.28 · Vas 73 l · in the database
- B&C Speakers 12FW64fs 55 Hz · Qts 0.29 · Vas 64 l · in the database
- FaitalPRO 12HP1020fs 55 Hz · Qts 0.27 · Vas 38.6 l · in the database
- 18 Sound 12LW800fs 52 Hz · Qts 0.29 · Vas 48 l · in the database
- FaitalPRO 12HP1060fs 45 Hz · Qts 0.28 · Vas 36.9 l · in the database
- B&C Speakers 12NDL88fs 51 Hz · Qts 0.27 · Vas 52 l · in the database
Specifications
| Allgemein | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | 18SOUND |
| Category | Mid Frequency |
| Series | ND |
| Magnet | Neo |
| Impedance (Ω) | 8 |
| Power handling (W) | 450 |
| Sensitivity (dB) | 99 |
| Frequency from (Hz) | 53 |
| Frequency to (Hz) | 5000 |
| Abmessungen & Korb | |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 12 |
| Voice coil (inch) | 3 |
| Mounting depth (mm) | 140 |
| Weight (kg) | 4.3 |
| Thiele-Small-Parameter | |
|---|---|
| Re (Ω) | 5.7 |
| Le (mH) | 1.5 |
| Fs (Hz) | 55 |
| Qms | 5.15 |
| Qes | 0.3 |
| Qts | 0.28 |
| Vas (l) | 72 |
| Xmax (mm) | 6.5 |
| BL (Tm) | 17.6 |
| Mms (kg) | 0.046 |
| Sd (m²) | 0.0531 |