18SOUND ND1460A
18SOUND (Eighteen Sound) ND1460A — 1.4" / 1.4 inch Compression Driver · Tweeter / HF Driver · Neodymium · Aluminium Dome
3" voice coil · 8 Ω
Part no.: 42A-CHS-KD-18S-0053
Documents
18SOUND ND1460A — Compression Driver
80 W AES · 110 dB Sensitivity · Frequency range 500 Hz – 20000 Hz
Technical data
- Diameter: 1.4 "
- Voice coil: 3 "
- Power handling: 80 W AES
- Sensitivity: 110 dB
- Impedance: 8 Ω
- Magnet: Neodymium
- Weight: 3.2 kg
- Mounting depth: 62 mm
- Frequency range: 500 – 20000 Hz
- Cone material: Aluminum - Pen
- Exit: 35 mm (1.4 in)
- Rec. crossover: 0.8 kHz
Datasheet (PDF) · Manufacturer page
Series: ND · Part no.: 42A-CHS-KD-18S-0053
18Sound ND1460A: 1.4" driver with aluminium dome, 3" coil and 110 dB
Aluminium instead of titanium: the 18Sound ND1460A is the variant of the ND1460 with an aluminium diaphragm. The 1.4" compression driver from the ND range keeps the neodymium motor, 3" voice coil and 8 Ω (16 Ω as an alternative), but comes in at 110 dB sensitivity with 80 W AES power handling. The operating range starts at 500 Hz and extends to 20,000 Hz; the recommended crossover is from 800 Hz.
Aluminium has lower stiffness than titanium but higher internal damping. In practice that means diaphragm resonances in the uppermost range are milder, the treble sounds less sharp, and tuning with simple filters is easier. The flip side is somewhat lower thermal and mechanical reserve compared with the titanium version. Eighteen Sound therefore positions the ND1460A for applications in which tonal character comes before maximum continuous level: tops for speech and music, monitors, installations. Weight 3.2 kg, mounting depth 62 mm.
Use and enclosure
The 35 mm throat exit takes 1.4" horns. At 42.audio you will find the horns and waveguides from 18Sound in the category of the same name; for a crossover near 800 Hz choose a horn that still loads in this region and controls coverage.
With 110 dB sensitivity, 80 W AES is plenty – a compression driver of this class is rarely overloaded thermally but often mechanically, namely by low-frequency content below the crossover. So do not set the high-pass below 800 Hz, use a steep slope and a limiter in active operation. 500 Hz marks the start of the operating range, not the crossover. Passively, at 8 Ω and this crossover frequency, you need large capacitors and an attenuation network that compensates for the level difference to the woofer.
What to look out for
- Aluminium dome: more strongly damped than titanium, gentler treble, 80 W AES.
- 110 dB at 8 Ω: high sensitivity, a small amplifier is enough, attenuate the level.
- 3" voice coil, crossover from 800 Hz: a horn of sufficient length is required.
- 3.2 kg and 62 mm mounting depth: consider support and cabinet depth.
Frequently asked questions
ND1460A or ND1460 – which should I choose?
For continuous level and maximum reserve, the ND1460 with titanium. For a less edgy top end that is easy to tune, the ND1460A with aluminium. Both share motor, 3" coil and interface.
Is the ND1460A suitable for hi-fi horn speakers?
Yes, precisely because of the aluminium dome. On a large horn with a crossover around 800 Hz it covers the range from the upper midrange to 20,000 Hz, and the high sensitivity suits valve or small class-A amplifiers.
How much amplifier power does the driver need?
Little. 110 dB means a few watts are already very loud. A limiter or protection capacitor is more important than power. The datasheet PDF and driver database at 42.audio show impedance and frequency response.
At 42.audio you get the 18SOUND ND1460A 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 |
| Magnet | Neodymium |
| Impedance (Ω) | 8 |
| Power handling (W) | 80 |
| Sensitivity (dB) | 110 |
| Frequency from (Hz) | 500 |
| Frequency to (Hz) | 20000 |
| Abmessungen & Korb | |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 1.4 |
| Voice coil (inch) | 3 |
| Mounting depth (mm) | 62 |
| Weight (kg) | 3.2 |