18SOUND ND1424BT
18SOUND (Eighteen Sound) ND1424BT — 1.4" / 1.4 inch Compression Driver · Tweeter / HF Driver · Neodymium · Titanium Dome
2.4" voice coil · 16 Ω
Part no.: 42A-CHS-KD-18S-0040
Documents
18SOUND ND1424BT — Compression Driver
70 W AES · 109 dB Sensitivity · Frequency range 800 Hz – 20000 Hz
Technical data
- Diameter: 1.4 "
- Voice coil: 2.4 "
- Power handling: 70 W AES
- Sensitivity: 109 dB
- Impedance: 16 Ω
- Weight: 1.6 kg
- Mounting depth: 54 mm
- Frequency range: 800 – 20000 Hz
- Cone material: Titanium
- Exit: 35 mm (1.4 in)
- Rec. crossover: 1.2 kHz
Datasheet (PDF) · Manufacturer page
Series: ND · Part no.: 42A-CHS-KD-18S-0040
18Sound ND1424BT: compact 1.4" driver with 2.4" coil, 109 dB and 70 W AES
There is a gap between 1" drivers and the heavy 1.4" models with 3" coils, and the 18Sound ND1424BT fills it. This compression driver from the ND range has a 1.4" horn interface with a 35 mm throat exit, but a 2.4" voice coil and a titanium dome. Neodymium motor, 16 Ω impedance (an 8 Ω variant exists), 109 dB sensitivity and 70 W AES power handling are the key figures; weight is 1.6 kg, mounting depth 54 mm.
The idea: a 1.4" throat allows lower crossovers and larger horns than a 1" interface, without the driver carrying the mass and complexity of a 3" design. The operating range starts at 800 Hz, the recommended crossover is 1.2 kHz. That makes the ND1424BT a driver for compact two-way tops and lightweight array elements where the woofer does not have to play cleanly far beyond the crossover frequency.
Use and enclosure
The 35 mm exit fits the 1.4" horns from 18Sound that 42.audio lists in the Horns & Waveguides category – from constant-directivity horns for tops to waveguides for array modules. Make sure the horn controls coverage down to the crossover region; a horn that is too small wastes the driver's low-end capability.
Cross over at 1.2 kHz or above. The lower limit of 800 Hz is the range in which the driver still operates, not the range in which it should be loaded continuously. With 70 W AES and the 2.4" coil the ND1424BT has solid reserves, but diaphragm excursion and distortion rise sharply towards the lower limit. A steep high-pass and, in active operation, a limiter are standard practice. The 16 Ω impedance halves the power draw compared with 8 Ω; if you run two drivers in parallel you end up at 8 Ω again.
What to look out for
- 1.4" interface with 35 mm exit: use 1.4" horns, no adapters to 1".
- 16 Ω: half the power draw; two drivers in parallel give 8 Ω.
- 2.4" voice coil and 70 W AES: crossover from 1.2 kHz, steep high-pass.
- 1.6 kg, 54 mm mounting depth: lighter than 3" coil drivers, but support at the horn is still advisable.
Frequently asked questions
When is the ND1424BT the better choice over a 1" driver?
When the crossover should sit below the typical 1" limit and a larger horn is planned. From 1.2 kHz upwards it plays with 109 dB and 70 W AES without the mass of a 3" coil driver.
Does the driver fit a compact top with a 12" woofer?
Yes, that is a typical application. The woofer has to work cleanly up to the crossover at 1.2 kHz; the horn should match the cabinet width and already control coverage there.
Which amplifier do I need for 16 Ω?
Practically any. The sensitivity of 109 dB makes large power unnecessary; what matters is a channel with a clean high-pass ahead of it. The datasheet PDF and driver database at 42.audio provide frequency and impedance curves.
At 42.audio you get the 18SOUND ND1424BT with datasheet PDF, all key data in the driver database. More drivers from this manufacturer: Atlas 18Sound.
Specifications
| Allgemein | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | 18SOUND |
| Category | Compression Driver |
| Series | ND |
| Impedance (Ω) | 16 |
| Power handling (W) | 70 |
| Sensitivity (dB) | 109 |
| Frequency from (Hz) | 800 |
| Frequency to (Hz) | 20000 |
| Abmessungen & Korb | |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 1.4 |
| Voice coil (inch) | 2.4 |
| Mounting depth (mm) | 54 |
| Weight (kg) | 1.6 |