Test Bench: Celestion CDX1-1412 Compact 1" Pro Sound Compression Driver

The Celestion CDX1-1412 Compression Driver is a compact 1" unit intended for professional audio applications, a traditional segment for the UK-based OEM manufacturer. This compression driver features a FEA-optimized neodymium ring magnet motor structure, a nominal power handling of 35W, a 2kHz recommended crossover frequency (with a minimum 12dB/octave high-pass network), and 106dB sensitivity (1W/1m) measured with its own 1" H1-9050 90°x50° constant directivity horn. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, June 2022.

The Purifi Audio PTT6.5X04-NFA-01 midbass transducer is an over-achiever, and to help understand why, Dickason talks with Lars Risbo about the research and thought process that lead to many of the features found in this woofer. Including the unique cone assembly that consists of a mildly curvilinear paper cone made with a proprietary fiber mix, a 3.13” concave dust cap, and a V-shaped edge reinforcing ring, the NBR surround, and what Dickason calls "probably the most unique surround in the history of Voice Coil’s Test Bench. This article was published in Voice Coil July 2021.

High end headphones can be a very rewarding category for a few very focused manufacturers, and it's always refreshing to see a completely new closed back design that actually involves a serious R&D effort and advances headphone technology further. The new Stealth planar magnetic headphones by Dan Clark Audio (US $3999) are based on a custom-designed planar driver, matched with superior materials and ergonomics.

For this Test Bench, Vance Dickason characterized the LT2 Ribbon Transducer and corresponding waveguide from Radian Audio Engineering. This is effectively a smaller version of the LT6 ribbon transducer reviewed in the July 2020 issue of Voice Coil, but offering much more diverse possibilities, as Vance Dickason discovers. And as the compact LT2 shows, this was designed to be more of a hi-fi or home theater substitute for any high frequency driver. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, August 2020.

In this edition of Test Bench, Vance Dickason characterizes the recently announced SEAS L19RNX1 woofer from the company's new Prestige Titan Series. The L19RNX1 is the second woofer in this new 19 cm series of SEAS woofers, the first being the W19NX001 Excel Graphene-coated magnesium cone woofer. The L19RNX1 7” woofer uses a frame that is completely open beneath the spider mounting shelf, and with a small 12 mm diameter pole vent, so substantial air can be pumped past the voice coil and over the front plate. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, July 2020.

The new Excel Graphene line was initiated with the launch of the W16NX003 midbass driver in February 2019, and the new 8-inch woofer, the W22NX001, is now the fourth product in this new line from SEAS. The new W22NX001 (E0077-08) also represents a successor to the famous W22EX001 (E0022-08) from SEAS, and it's been upgraded like other products with the new graphene cone technology, as well as a new longer voice coil with a titanium former, magnet system with copper rings and caps, and a thicker ferrite magnet, designed and optimized for lower distortion and high power handling.

SEAS announced its fourth speaker model in the company's new Excel Graphene line, designed for modern high-res audio reproduction. The new C16NX001/F is also the first coaxial driver using the magnesium cone treated with the new graphene nano-coating formula, and the successor to the famous C16N001/F (E0051-04/06) driver from SEAS, implementing all the improvements the company introduced into the W16NX003 woofer.