Test Bench: SEAS Excel Graphene W18EX003 6.5” Midbass Driver

On this edition of Test Bench, Vance Dickason continues to measure one of the most anticipated driver designs launched in the market in 2019, from SEAS's new Excel Graphene line. Following the previous Test Bench on the W16NX003 5.25” midbass woofer, this one focuses on the W18EX003 6.5” midbass driver. This article was published in Voice Coil, August 2019.

In this Test Bench, Vance Dickason characterizes the SEAS W16NX003 5.25” midbass driver, one of the new graphene-coated magnesium cone drivers from the brand's Excel Graphene range. This product line has been an ongoing project for more than two years, combining the already highly prized magnesium cone with the desirable acoustic properties of Graphene, which also works to provide corrosion protection to magnesium. This article was published in Voice Coil, August 2019.

This Test Bench characterizes the W8-2314, a new 8" high-end home audio coaxial driver from Tang Band (TB) Speaker. The TB Speaker W8-2314 is built on an eight-spoke two-part ABS injection-molded frame that incorporates a separate injection-molded trim ring. Incorporated into the frame is the underhung-type woofer motor that consists of a circular array of six neodymium slugs - an arrangement that makes room for the concentrically mounted 25 mm tweeter and tweeter rear cavity. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, July 2019.

This Test Bench examines a new pro sound woofer from Faital Pro. The Faital Pro 6” 6RS140 pro sound woofer has a power handling rating of 200 W (AES) and targets applications as a midbass or midrange in three-way stage or studio monitors, as well as midrange arrays in large PA systems. The frame is a proprietary four-spoke cast-aluminum frame, and like many small diameter drivers, it does not have a venting below the spider mounting area. Cooling for this driver is provided by a 20 mm diameter pole vent with a 22 mm flared exit. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, July 2019.

This edition of Test Bench characterizes a new shallow mount 10” home audio subwoofer. The SW280WA01 is a new low-profile subwoofer from Wavecor, the China-based high-end OEM partnership with former Vifa engineers Allan Isaksen and Per Madsen. This new driver, the SW280WA01 represents some interesting driver technology that has application in small narrow spaces. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, June 2019.

This Test Bench characterizes Faital Pro’s new 6” 6PR160 pro sound midwoofer/midrange. This is a driver from the Italian pro sound OEM’s extensive line of high power handling mid-bass woofers. Applications for the 6” 6PR160 include use as midbass or midrange in three-way stage or studio monitors, as well as midrange arrays in large PA systems. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, June 2019.

This Test Bench characterizes the Bianco 44CD-K from SB Audience, a new brand from SB Acoustics. The FEA-optimized ferrite compression driver arrived with its H-250 90° × 90° exponential horn. The SB Audience 44CD-K features a 44 mm (1.75”) diameter voice coil wound with round copper wire on a high-temperature Kapton non-conducting former, driving a single piece Kapton diaphragm and surround. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, May 2019.

The Celestion CDX1-1732 is driven by a 44 mm (1.75") diameter voice coil wound with edge-wound copper-clad aluminum wire on a high-temperature fiberglass non-conducting former driving a single piece polyimide diaphragm and surround. For this Test Bench, Celestion supplied its 1” H1-7050 “No Bell” elastomer (plastic rubber) damped cast aluminum 70° × 50° exponential flare horn. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, May 2019.

This Test Bench focuses on the 14NA100-8, a new high power handling 14” pro sound woofer from B&C Speakers. This is the highest power handling in the brand's 14” group with a continuous power handling rating of 1.6 kW (800 W nominal). Applications range from two- and three-way PA speakers and compact two-way monitor designs for high SPL in limited spaces. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, April 2019.

This month I characterized the 10” L26ROY subwoofer from SEAS’ new Extreme line. The SEAS L26 series from SEAS was popularized by several of Siegfried Linkwitz designs (sold by Madisound as kits), including his "pièce de résistance," the LX521.4, which utilized four L26RO4Y subwoofers (the four-layer version). These 10” woofers were built in Taiwan for SEAS, but that production has now been brought home to Norway and reintroduced as the Extreme subwoofer line. The new L26ROY has a well-appointed feature set. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, April 2019.