Test Bench: B&C Speakers 1” DH450-8 Compression Driver

The DH450-8 ultra-compact compression driver from B&C Speakers incorporates a 1.7" high temperature Polymer diaphragm driven by a 44mm voice coil wound with aluminum wire on a high Qm Kapton former. Its most fascinating feature is the patent-pending phase plug with a deliberately twisted internal channel, which is intended to improve the overall frequency response. For this characterization, the DH450-8 1" neodymium driver is measured along with the B&C Speakers ME10v2 90x60 hyperbolic cosine flare horn, made from injection-molded ABS. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, August 2024

The Scan-Speak D3004/606200 is a 1" compact tweeter from its Illuminator Line, and features the new generation of Metamodal TPCD diaphragms. Scan-Speak has been participating in Composite Sound's metamodal development program, and the new D3404 tweeter is the first to be released. It features a low resonance, injection-molded rear chamber, SD-2 neodymium motor, large-roll coated cloth surround, and black anodized machined aluminum faceplate. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, July 2024.

This Test Bench characterizes the new Scan-Speak 15W/8534T00 woofer, which fills the gap in the Classic family for a compact high-performance 5.5” (15cm) midbass driver. It is based on the design principles of the popular 18W/8545 continuing the tradition with a slim frame aluminum chassis, Symmetrical Drive (SD) motor system, low loss linear rubber suspension, and updated with a brand-new cone material called Phenomax.

The 10PR330 is Faital Pro's new high-power handling 10" woofer intended for line arrays and large PA systems, or as a midbass driver in multiway systems — and apparently it has also been also used successfully in bass guitar applications. The cone assembly for the Faital Pro 10PR330 woofer consists of a curvilinear paper cone along with a very stiff coated dust cap. Compliance is supplied by a coated polycotton cloth M-roll type surround and from a cloth-type flat spider.

The driver characterized in this Test Bench is a new 8.25" paper cone woofer, which is only the second pro audio design from the Wavecor, renowned for its high-end home hi-fi drivers. The company decided to expand its catalog with new OEM pro audio woofers, and the WF211PA01 is basically a smaller version of the WF259PA01 10" woofer explicated in the February 2024 issue of Voice Coil. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, June 2024.

The 5HX140 5" coaxial driver from Faital Pro is built on a cast-aluminum frame, with a water-resistant coated paper cone and pleated M-type fabric surround, and an acoustically transparent cloth dust cap over the compression driver conical horn. The high-frequency compression driver has its own neodymium ring magnet motor system that drives the 25mm Kapton dome shaped diaphragm, with a voice coil also wound with aluminum wire on a Kapton former. This diaphragm fires into a short 90° aluminum conical-shaped horn.

This Test Bench characterizes the highly original W4-2315 4.5" paper cone coaxial design from Tang Band (TB) Speaker. This small diameter coaxial transducer is a great new example of this genre for home audio applications, any high-performance small two-way speaker, or even a studio monitor design. The W4-2315 combines a very shallow curved profile bamboo fiber and paper cone with an aluminum inverted dome tweeter suspended by a cloth surround.

This Test Bench explores the exciting SEAS W16NX005 5.25" Metamodal TPCD Midbass Woofer. Part of the SEAS high-end Excel line of transducers, the W16NX005 is the first commercial product available that combines the latest Composite Sound metamodal TPCD diaphragm technology with the typical SEAS high-performance Excel woofer motor design. This midbass woofer includes a metamodal diaphragm and 2" convex dustcap, along with an optimized NBR surround and black cloth flat profile spider for compliance.

Another exciting driver from Neotera, the UF 295 CBS is a new ultra-thin 10" subwoofer primarily intended for high-quality applications in home audio or automotive systems. The UF 295 CBS impresses immediately with its single piece black anodized concave cone assembly suspended by two large rubber surrounds, one on each side, not using a spider for compliance. The cone is driven at its perimeter by a large aluminum voice coil and a unique motor structure of 72 neodymium bar magnets, covered by no less than 10 international patents. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, April 2024.

This Test Bench addresses the Stereo Integrity TM65 mkIV High-Performance 6.5” woofer. Stereo Integrity is an interesting new company that is aiming at both home audio and automotive/mobility applications. Features for the unique TM65 mkIV include a black anodized aluminum cone and black anodized dust cap. Suspension is provided by a tall NBR surround plus a flat 105mm diameter Nomex spider with a linear roll configuration. Total depth of this driver with its proprietary frame and motor structure is a mere 58mm (2.28”).