18SOUND ND3N
18SOUND (Eighteen Sound) ND3N — 1.4" / 1.4 inch Compression Driver · Tweeter / HF Driver · Neodymium · NSD-Dome
3" voice coil · 16 Ω
Part no.: 42A-CHS-KD-18S-0021
Documents
18SOUND ND3N — 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: Nitride coated Titanium
- Exit: 36 mm (1.4 in)
- Rec. crossover: 1.2 kHz
Datasheet (PDF) · Manufacturer page
Series: ND · Part no.: 42A-CHS-KD-18S-0021
18Sound ND3N: 1.4" neodymium driver with nitride-coated titanium diaphragm and 16 Ω
The ND3N is the 1.4" compression driver of the ND series by 18Sound (Eighteen Sound) with an NSD diaphragm – titanium whose surface is hardened by a nitride layer. The idea: the coating raises the stiffness of the thin dome without noticeably increasing the moving mass. That moves the diaphragm's break-up resonances further towards the top of the working range, and the region between presence and brilliance stays cleaner than with an uncoated dome of the same thickness.
The data: 112 dB sensitivity, 110 W AES, working range 800 Hz to 20,000 Hz, 3" voice coil, 36 mm exit with 1.4" flange, 53 mm depth and 1.65 kg. This version is specified at 16 Ω – the series exists in both impedances, 8 and 16 Ω, and the ND3N is the high-impedance variant.
Use and enclosure
A 16 Ω driver is an invitation to parallel operation: two ND3N on one channel make 8 Ω, which is handy for line-array elements, twin-horn tops or centre clusters. The high impedance also helps in passive crossovers where the driver has to be attenuated by several dB anyway to match the woofer. With active drive the impedance is irrelevant – at 112 dB any power amp delivers enough.
Crossover: 1.2 kHz is recommended, 800 Hz is technically possible with a steep high-pass and a horn that still loads at that frequency. Candidate 1.4" horns from 18Sound are the XT1464, XR1464C, XR1496C, PR614, H860 3D Print and the XG14 Alu. For speech and music indoors, horns with even coverage make sense; for long throw, narrower models – the coverage angles are listed with each horn.
What to look out for
- 16 Ω – two drivers in parallel make 8 Ω, ideal for clusters and twin tops.
- Nitride-coated titanium diaphragm (NSD): stiffer than plain titanium, equally rugged in PA use.
- 36 mm exit, 1.4" flange – choose a horn or waveguide with a 1.4" throat.
- 1.65 kg / 53 mm deep – the light version; the ND3SN has the larger motor.
- High-pass from 1.2 kHz recommended, never below 800 Hz.
Frequently asked questions
ND3N or ND3SN?
Both have the NSD diaphragm, the 3" coil and the 1.4" exit. The ND3SN carries the larger magnet assembly and weighs more; the ND3N is the lighter version at 16 Ω. For flown cabinets and parallel operation the ND3N is more attractive, for maximum control at low crossover points the ND3SN.
What does the nitride coating do audibly?
It shifts the diaphragm resonances upwards and makes the transition into the top octave more even. The difference from a plain titanium diaphragm is not a different tonal character but a cleaner roll-off of the working range towards 20,000 Hz.
Which amplifier suits 16 Ω?
Any amplifier that is stable into 16 Ω – which is practically every power amp. Output power halves compared with 8 Ω, which is meaningless at 112 dB sensitivity. Limiter and high-pass ahead of the amplifier matter more.
At 42.audio you get the 18SOUND ND3N 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 |