18SOUND XT1086 Alu
18SOUND (Eighteen Sound) XT1086 Alu — Horn 1" / 1 inch · Aluminium · Coverage 80°x60°
Part no.: 42A-CHS-HW-18S-0007
Documents
18SOUND XT1086 Alu — Horn / Waveguide
Technical data
- Diameter: 1 "
- Weight: 1 kg
- Exit: 25 mm (1.0 in)
Datasheet (PDF) · Manufacturer page
Series: XT · Part no.: 42A-CHS-HW-18S-0007
18Sound XT1086 Alu: 1" aluminium horn with 80°x60° for compact tops
The XT1086 Alu is an aluminium horn from 18Sound's XT series for compression drivers with a 1" exit (25 mm). It covers 80° horizontal by 60° vertical and weighs 1 kg. That places it between the narrow horns for long throw and the very wide models for near-field use.
80°x60° is a pattern that works well in many rooms: wide enough to cover an audience in front of the cabinet without obvious gaps, yet somewhat more focused than the very wide patterns, which improves intelligibility in reverberant spaces. The cast aluminium makes the horn stiff and low in resonance and carries heat away from the driver, which benefits the voice coil at high continuous levels. Compared with plastic horns the weight is higher, but the structure is insensitive to deformation from heat and transport.
Use and enclosure
The XT1086 Alu is intended for compact two-way cabinets: portable PA tops, installation speakers, stage monitors and home cinema or studio projects with horn-loaded treble. Next to a medium-sized mid-woofer, the horn with a 1" driver takes over from the upper midrange upwards. In monitor wedges the 60° vertical opening helps reach the musician even at varying distances.
Suitable drivers are the 1" compression drivers from 18Sound carried by 42.audio, whether with neodymium or ferrite magnets and titanium, polyethylene or NSD diaphragms. Because a 1" horn of this size does not control the pattern down into the lower mids, the crossover should be fairly high and use a steep filter; the lower limit is given in the datasheet PDF. The driver database at 42.audio lets you match the driver to the mid-woofer.
What to look out for
- Throat 1" (25 mm): for 18Sound 1" compression drivers, check the driver's mounting type.
- Coverage 80°x60°: universal for medium-sized rooms and monitors.
- Cast aluminium, 1 kg: stiff, heat-conducting, rugged in transport.
- Choose the crossover high enough; the horn does not control the lower mids.
Frequently asked questions
When is 80°x60° the right choice over a wider horn?
If the room is rather reverberant or the cabinet stands a little further from the audience, the slightly narrower horizontal pattern gives more direct sound and fewer wall reflections. In very wide, short rooms the wider pattern may fit better.
What does aluminium offer over a plastic horn?
Higher stiffness, less tendency to self-resonance in the midrange and better heat dissipation from the driver. The downside is the higher weight of 1 kg.
Is the XT1086 Alu also suitable for hi-fi or studio projects?
Yes, a horn tweeter with controlled directivity makes sense in the near field too, because it reduces reflections from side walls and ceiling. What matters is careful crossover design with measurements.
18Sound XT1086 Alu: 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 XT1086 Alu is a 1-inch horn / waveguide from the XT 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 XT1086 Alu with datasheet PDF, all key data in the driver database. More drivers from this manufacturer: Atlas 18Sound.
Specifications
| Allgemein | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | 18SOUND |
| Category | Horn / Waveguide |
| Series | XT |
| Abmessungen & Korb | |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 1 |
| Weight (kg) | 1 |