18SOUND ND32N
18SOUND (Eighteen Sound) ND32N — 2" / 2 inch Compression Driver · Tweeter / HF Driver · Neodymium · NSD-Dome
3" voice coil · 8/16 Ω
Part no.: 42A-CHS-KD-18S-0018
18Sound ND32N: 2" compression driver with NSD diaphragm and 3" voice coil
With the ND32N, 18Sound offers a 2" compression driver from the ND series with a diaphragm made from its in-house NSD material. The rest of the construction follows the family: 3" voice coil, neodymium magnet, 8 or 16 Ω to choose from. The driver addresses developers looking for a 2" mid-high unit for two-way tops or three-way systems who deliberately do not want a metal diaphragm.
NSD is 18Sound's designation for a proprietary diaphragm technology used in several drivers of the ND and NSD ranges. The approach is the same as with other non-metal domes: high internal damping, hence broad and shallow resonances instead of sharp peaks in the presence region. For speech, vocals and acoustic material this is an advantage because the driver integrates cleanly without elaborate equalisation. The 3" coil provides the thermal reserve for high continuous levels, and the neodymium motor keeps the weight at a level that is practical for flown systems too.
Use and enclosure
The 2" throat belongs on a 2" horn from the 18Sound range. Further coverage patterns are found in the manufacturer's horns and waveguides category. A horn with a large mouth holds the midrange coverage together and lets the driver cross lower, which relieves the woofer in two-way boxes.
Cross with a steep high-pass, active 24 dB/octave, passive at least 12 dB/octave with a somewhat higher corner, always with a limiter on the HF branch. The lower limit depends on the horn; if unsure, cross higher and keep reserve. Large woofers in two-way tops or a midrange unit in three-way systems are the natural counterparts. Like every 2" neodymium driver the ND32N plays considerably louder than a woofer, so attenuation in the DSP or an L-pad in the passive crossover should be planned from the start. For two drivers on one amplifier channel the 16 Ω version is the right choice.
What to look out for
- 8 or 16 Ω: pick the impedance to suit the amplifier configuration, 16 Ω for parallel wiring.
- NSD diaphragm: damped non-metal dome, few resonance peaks in the presence region.
- 3" voice coil: high continuous power handling for sound reinforcement use.
- Neodymium magnet: low weight for the 2" class.
- Use a steep high-pass and limiter, plan for level matching to the woofer.
Frequently asked questions
What is an NSD diaphragm?
NSD is 18Sound's designation for a proprietary diaphragm design used in several drivers of the ND and NSD series. It is not a metal dome and relies on high internal damping, which makes the presence region calmer than with titanium.
ND32N or ND32A, aluminium or NSD?
Both share the 2" throat, 3" coil and neodymium motor. Aluminium is a metal dome with good damping, NSD does without metal entirely. If you want the most unobtrusive midrange, go for the ND32N; the comparison in the driver database at 42.audio shows the differences.
Which horn is recommended?
Any 2" horn with the matching bolt pattern, at 18Sound the models in the horns category. For a low crossover choose a horn with a large mouth; with a steep filter and limiter the ND32N then covers the entire range above a large woofer.
18Sound ND32N: 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 ND32N 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 ND32N 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 |