SEAS Improves Foundational Driver Family with Launch of New Prestige Titan Series

SEAS announced the launch of its new Titan product line in the Prestige Series, implementing FEA-optimized magnet systems with copper caps and rings, and titanium voice coil formers, in combination with matte black aluminum cones and domes, among many other improved features. SEAS' Prestige series offers a large array of sizes and diaphragm materials to perfectly fit the exacting requirements of both the OEM and distribution markets. The new Prestige Titan series is a long-awaited refreshment of this product line.

In this Test Bench I characterized the 12BG76-8, a high power handling 12” NBR pro sound woofer from B&C Speakers. This month’s sample submission is in the upper range of power handling in this extensive group with a continuous power handling rating of 1000 W (500 W nominal). Applications range from two and three-way PA speakers and compact two-way designs for high SPL in limited spaces. Features for the 12BG76-8 are similar to most high-performance pro sound drivers, fairly substantial. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, October 2018.

This month, I characterized a a 10” PA woofer from Wavecor, model WF259PA01. This is an interesting driver since, until now, Wavecor has been known mainly for its high-end home hi-fi drivers. However, the company has decided to expand its coverage in the loudspeaker market and has introduced a well-designed 10” OEM pro sound PA woofer. The WF259PA01 is for now available only as an 8 Ω model, and uses a very stiff flat black coated curvilinear paper cone. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, February 2018.

The driver for this month’s Test Bench explication comes from the UK. Volt sent the 12” RV3143 Studio Monitor woofer, which is probably the most uniquely designed woofer to come across my desk in a while — there is no frame on the back side of the driver! The Volt Radial Technology consists of a front-mounted eight-spoke proprietary cast aluminum frame that is mechanically coupled to both the back plate and to the top of the pole structure/phase plug, in contrast to a normal rear frame that is only coupled to the motor front plate. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, December 2017.

FaitalPRO, the renowned Italian manufacturer of professional loudspeakers, officially celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2018. Continuing the brand’s tradition of quality and innovation, FaitalPRO introduced three new products at Prolight+Sound 2018, starting with two 6" drivers for midrange and low-mid frequencies, the 6RS140 and 6PR160 respectively, together with the 18XL2000 18" Super Woofer, designed for the lowest frequencies.

This month’s Test Bench samples came from US OEM, Dayton Audio. I received a home audio 6.5” woofer, the DSA175, from the brand’s popular Designer Series of aluminum cone woofers. Each product in this line incorporates proprietary stamped steel frame with a thin mounting lip that enables front mounting without insetting the driver (surface mounted), high relative XMAX, with paper cones for the DS series and aluminum cones for the DSA series. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, December 2016.

The transducer I examined in this edition of Test Bench came from Italian Pro Sound OEM manufacturer B&C Speakers, who sent the neodymium motor 21DS115, a 21” high power handling woofer. The B&C 21DS115-8 is rated at 1,700 WRMS with a continuous power handling rated at 3,400 WRMS. The 21DS115-8 weighs in at a modest (for an 21” woofer!) 32.8 lb. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, August 2016.

In this edition of Test Bench, we characterize the SB42FHCL75-6, a 15” home audio subwoofer from OEM driver manufacturer SB Acoustics. The SB42FHCL75-6 has an impressive feature set, with a stiff 15” cone, NBR high-excursion surround, and 6.5” diameter flat cloth spider, driven by a 3” four layer voice coil. The motor system utilizes two stacked 20-mm thick ferrite magnets sandwiched between a polished 8-mm thick front plate. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, April 2016.

This Test Bench characterizes the 10N501, a distributed neodymium magnet motor 10” woofer from Ukrainian pro sound OEM manufacturer MAG Audio. The MAG 10N501’s removable self-centering motor system is comprised of 12 28 mm × 8 mm polished neodymium slugs sandwiched between an 8 mm front plate and a two-part, cleverly designed T-yoke. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, January 2016.

This Test Bench characterizes Scan-Speak's 10" aluminum cone subwoofer, the 26W/4558T00, a high-end home audio driver from the Danish brand's Discovery lineup. Scan-Speak obviously spent a lot of time designing the cone for this woofer, made with a thick black flat profile anodized aluminum, with an articulation that should add considerable stiffness. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, February 2011.