18SOUND ND32A
18SOUND (Eighteen Sound) ND32A — 2" / 2 inch Compression Driver · Tweeter / HF Driver · Neodymium · Aluminium Dome
3" voice coil · 8/16 Ω
Part no.: 42A-CHS-KD-18S-0050
18Sound ND32A: 2" compression driver with aluminium dome and 3" voice coil
The 18Sound ND32A is a 2" compression driver from the ND series with neodymium magnet, aluminium diaphragm and 3" voice coil, available in 8 and 16 Ω. The combination of a large horn throat and a 3" coil places it in the class of mid-high drivers that cover everything above the woofer in two-way tops or handle the treble with plenty of reserve in three-way systems.
The aluminium dome is the defining feature. Compared with titanium, aluminium is less stiff but better damped: break-up modes spread wider and with lower Q, and the presence region sounds less sharp. For users who employ a 2" driver primarily as a midrange with treble duties, this is often the more pleasant tuning. The 3" coil brings the thermal mass needed for high continuous levels in sound reinforcement, and the neodymium motor keeps the weight within a range that flown boxes can tolerate.
Use and enclosure
The 2" throat calls for a 2" horn. From the 18Sound range the 2" models found in the manufacturer's horns and waveguides category fit. As with all 3" coil drivers, a horn with a sufficiently large mouth is worthwhile so that the midrange coverage stays controlled and the driver is loaded cleanly down to the crossover frequency.
For the crossover the rule of this class applies: steep high-pass, active 24 dB/octave or passive at least 12 dB/octave, with a limiter on the HF branch. The exact lower limit depends on the horn; when in doubt, cross higher and keep reserve. The ND32A suits two-way tops with a large woofer as well as the treble section of three-way systems where a midrange unit covers the band below. The 16 Ω version is practical when two drivers are to run in parallel on one amplifier channel.
What to look out for
- 8 or 16 Ω selectable: 16 Ω for parallel wiring of two drivers on one channel.
- 3" voice coil: high thermal reserve, designed for continuous sound reinforcement duty.
- Aluminium diaphragm: damped midrange, less sharp in the presence region than titanium.
- Neodymium magnet: low weight for a 2" driver, good for flown systems.
- 2" throat: only with a 2" horn, use a steep high-pass and a limiter.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the ND32A and the ND32SA?
Both are 2" drivers with aluminium diaphragm, 3" coil and neodymium motor in 8 or 16 Ω. The S version is a separate variant within the same family; which one fits better depends on the horn and the target application. The driver database at 42.audio allows a direct comparison.
Which horn fits the ND32A?
Any 2" horn with the matching bolt pattern, from 18Sound the 2" models in the horns category. For a low crossover the horn should be large enough to still guide the midrange; small horns cut into the advantage of the 3" diaphragm.
How do I connect the ND32A?
To an amplifier channel that works cleanly at the chosen impedance, with a steep high-pass and a limiter. Because of the high efficiency of a 2" neodymium driver, attenuation relative to the woofer is almost always required, in the DSP or passively via an L-pad.
18Sound ND32A: manufacturer, spellings and classification
18Sound, 18 Sound and Eighteensound all refer to the same manufacturer: Eighteen Sound S.r.l. of Reggio Emilia, Italy. The ND32A is a compression driver with neodymium magnet from the ND series, available from 42.audio, 18Sound dealer in Germany, with datasheet and full specifications in the driver database.
At 42.audio you get the 18SOUND ND32A with 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) | 8/16 |
| Abmessungen & Korb | |
|---|---|
| Voice coil (inch) | 3 |