Test Bench: Radian Audio Engineering’s LT6 Horn-Loaded Ribbon Planar Device

In this article, Vance Dickason measures the Radian Audio Engineering's LT6 Horn-Loaded Ribbon Device, part of an expanding series designed by 35-year loudspeaker engineering veteran Igor Levitsky for the Californian manufacturer. The LT6 is a pro sound driver but was designed to be a more hi-fidelity substitute for 1" compression drivers, and that is a direct result of Levitsky extensive experience in designing high-end residential, and cinema sound systems. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, June 2020.

This is certainly a very heterogeneous edition of Voice Coil. It features a special report about manufacturing in Vietnam, complete with a directory and a list of trade shows. Igor Levitsky returns to offer valuable details about the latest Radian Audio Engineering LT2/LT6 Ribbon Planar transducers. James Croft reviews a "Venting System for Vehicle Speaker Assembly patent," recently granted to Harman. And, Vance Dickason characterizes the ND45 1" compression driver from Oberton, and the TW29TXN-B-4 TeXtreme diaphragm tweeter from SB Acoustics' Satori line. Voice Coil September 2020 is now available online and in print.

This Test bench measures the massive Eminence NSW6021-6 21" neodymium low-frequency woofer, part of the company's recently announced Tour Grade series. This family of pro audio woofers consists of two 18" options, including the Ferrite Magnet FSW4018-8, and the Neodymium Magnet NSW4018-8 that appeared in the March 2020 Test Bench. The NSW6021-6 is a very high power handling 21" woofer, designed over two years to support the requirements of touring sound professionals who want to move more air, more efficiently, and without failures in a wide range of applications and venues. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, June 2020.

This Test Bench focuses on a very special new Eminence product, the new N314X 1.4" compression driver. The N314X is the first compression driver that uses TeXtreme composite for a diaphragm. TeXtreme thin-ply carbon is a novel type of material that is used in applications that require a high degree of stiffness performance in combination with ultralight weight. Designed for use with 1.4” throat horns, the N314X compression driver has a 35.6 mm (1.4”) throat diameter driven by a 3" diameter voice coil wound with round copper-clad aluminum wire (CCAW) on a non-conducting polyimide former driving the TeXtreme diaphragm and PEN surround. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, May 2020.

Vance Dickason characterizes a very high power handling 18" woofer from Eminence’s recently announced Tour Grade pro sound product line, the NSW4018-8. The Tour Grade family consists of two 18" options, including the ferrite magnet FSW4018-8, the neodymium magnet NSW4018-8, and the massive neodymium magnet 21” NSW6021-6, and was developed over two years to support the undisputed growth of professional audio. Applications for the new Eminence NSW4018-8 include use as a bass driver in multiway systems, or as a dedicated subwoofer in bass reflex designs. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, May 2020.

The transducer Celestion sent for this Test Bench joins the extensive CDX line of neodymium motor compression drivers. Designed for use with 1.4” throat horns, the CDX14-3040 is driven by a 75 mm (3") diameter voice coil wound with edge-wound copper clad aluminum wire (CCAW) on a non-conducting former driving a single-piece titanium diaphragm and surround. Celestion also supplied its new 1.4” H14-7050 70°x50° constant directivity horn. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, April 2020.

In this Test Bench, Vance Dickason receives the latest 18NDXL Imperium, a very high power handling 18" low-frequency woofer from British brand Fane. Designed by this revitalized company with a rich history, the 18NDXL Imperium includes uses as a bass driver in multiway systems or as a dedicated woofer in bass reflex or horn loaded designs. The feature set for the 18NDXL is like most high-performance pro sound drivers, rather substantial. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, April 2020.

The July 2020 edition of Voice Coil magazine is a strong issue, offering the most comprehensive sourcing directory on Adhesives, Coatings, Sealant, and Dispenser Providers in 2020, a Spotlight article by David Lindberg on Waterproofing of Audio Devices, plus the always brilliant patent reviews by James Croft. For July, Vance Dickason characterizes the recent SEAS L19RNX1 woofer from the company's new Prestige Titan Series, and the LD25X, an interesting high-end tweeter from Creative Sound Solutions (CSS). Now available to download!

In this Test Bench, Vance Dickason characterizes a home audio transducer from Eastech’s Punktkilde line, more precisely the AUGWL0016-JN02 6.5" midbass driver. This is a new model from the Punktkilde brand that features a unique Magnesium-Lithium (Mg-Li) alloy flat profile cone with a 2" diameter convex dust cap out of the same material. As Dickason notes, this is a very nice looking woofer worth taking a closer look. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, March 2020.

Vance Dickason writes about the Audio Precision APx500 Flex Audio Analyzer and shares his hands-on experience with this latest affordable analyzer solution, designed to work with third-party USB audio recording interfaces. Dan Knighten, AP's VP of Product Development, and Michael Martin, AP's Product Marketing Manager, brought a complete system to Dickason's place and assisted him in performing a series of R&D type measurements on the same driver featured in a Test Bench column. Which means, readers can compare the readings and results directly! This article was originally published in Voice Coil, March 2020.