18SOUND ND3A
18SOUND (Eighteen Sound) ND3A — 1.4" / 1.4 inch Compression Driver · Tweeter / HF Driver · Neodymium · Aluminium Dome
3" voice coil · 16 Ω
Part no.: 42A-CHS-KD-18S-0054
Documents
18SOUND ND3A — Compression Driver
110 W AES · 112 dB Sensitivity · Frequency range 800 Hz – 20000 Hz
Technical data
- Diameter: 1.4 "
- Voice coil: 3 "
- Power handling: 110 W AES
- Sensitivity: 112 dB
- Impedance: 16 Ω
- Magnet: Neodymium
- Weight: 1.65 kg
- Mounting depth: 53 mm
- Frequency range: 800 – 20000 Hz
- Cone material: Aluminum - Pen
- Exit: 36 mm (1.4 in)
- Rec. crossover: 1.2 kHz
Datasheet (PDF) · Manufacturer page
Series: ND · Part no.: 42A-CHS-KD-18S-0054
18Sound ND3A: 1.4" compression driver with aluminium diaphragm, 16 Ω and 112 dB
Aluminium instead of titanium: among the 1.4" drivers of the ND series by 18Sound (Eighteen Sound), the ND3A is the version with an aluminium dome. Aluminium has higher internal damping than titanium, so diaphragm resonances are less sharp and the treble sounds less metallic – one reason designers pick this material for monitoring, theatre and speech applications when the last dB of peak level is not the priority.
The platform is shared with its siblings: 3" voice coil, neodymium motor, 36 mm exit with 1.4" flange, 53 mm depth and 1.65 kg. Sensitivity is 112 dB, power handling 110 W AES, and the working range runs from 800 Hz to 20,000 Hz. What sets this version apart: it comes with 16 Ω.
Use and enclosure
In a two-way system the ND3A covers everything above a large woofer; in a three-way system it sits above a midrange cone or mid horn. 18Sound recommends crossing at 1.2 kHz; the 800 Hz figure is the lower limit for steep filters and large horns, not the everyday case. Matching 1.4" horns from the same manufacturer are the XT1464, XR1464C, XR1496C, PR614, the H860 3D Print and the XG14 Alu waveguide; they differ in coverage angle and mouth size, and that is exactly how you choose between them.
The 16 Ω rating is an advantage when you run two drivers in parallel on one channel, or when a passive crossover needs an attenuator anyway to bring the 112 dB down to the woofer's level. With active drive a 16 Ω driver draws less power from the same amplifier than an 8 Ω model – at this sensitivity that makes no practical difference.
What to look out for
- 16 Ω nominal – half the power from the same amplifier compared with 8 Ω, irrelevant at 112 dB.
- 1.4" throat, 36 mm exit – use horns and waveguides with a 1.4" flange.
- 1.65 kg and 53 mm depth – light and short enough for top cabinets with little internal space.
- Aluminium diaphragm – gentler in character than titanium, thermally adequate at 110 W AES.
- Never high-pass below 800 Hz; the recommendation is 1.2 kHz.
Frequently asked questions
Aluminium or titanium – ND3A or ND3T?
Same motor, same coil, same exit. Titanium is mechanically harder and tolerates sustained operation at the power limit a little more calmly; aluminium has more self-damping and sounds less sharp in the treble. For nearfield music playback and monitoring the ND3A is the more coherent choice, for loud PA the ND3T.
Can I run the ND3A passively?
Yes, with a second-order or steeper high-pass at 1.2 kHz and an attenuator. The 16 Ω rating simplifies the resistor network because component values are larger and losses lower. A series capacitor as protection belongs in every passive solution.
What does 110 W AES mean for a high-frequency driver?
The figure applies to a band-limited noise signal above the crossover frequency. It describes the thermal reserve of the 3" coil, not a power you should apply with an amplifier of that size. A clean amplifier with a limiter is enough.
At 42.audio you get the 18SOUND ND3A 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) | 16 |
| Power handling (W) | 110 |
| Sensitivity (dB) | 112 |
| Frequency from (Hz) | 800 |
| Frequency to (Hz) | 20000 |
| Abmessungen & Korb | |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 1.4 |
| Voice coil (inch) | 3 |
| Mounting depth (mm) | 53 |
| Weight (kg) | 1.65 |