18 Sound 12MB700 – Current Global-Distribution High-Sensitivity Ferrite 12-Inch Mid-Bass Driver
The 18 Sound 12MB700 is a very high sensitivity (101.5 dB 1W/1m) mid-bass driver with high power handling capabilities — 18 Sound’s current, globally-distributed flagship ferrite mid-bass platform, and the model the company now recommends in place of both the neodymium 12NMB420 and the flagship 12NMB1000. The 18 Sound 12MB700 can be used as either a bass/mid driver in compact two-way reflex enclosures or as a direct-radiating or horn-loaded, dedicated midrange driver, in multi-way touring and fixed installation concert and arena systems.
The 75 mm diameter state-of-the-art voice coil is similar to those fitted to 18 Sound’s top-of-the-range 18-inch and 15-inch models but is wound with aluminium wire — the same flagship coil heritage claim found on the 12MB777 and 12ND610, confirming this is the platform 18 Sound treats as its genuine current-generation dual-purpose mid-bass/midrange offering.
The excellent performance capabilities of this loudspeaker are further enhanced by Double Demodulating Rings (DDR), designed to dramatically reduce the intermodulation and harmonic distortion and improve transient response. Improved heat dissipation via a unique basket design is a specific feature 18 Sound highlights, alongside weather-protected cone and plates for outdoor usage.
The 18 Sound 12MB700 is the answer to the question raised across the 12NMB420, 12NMB1000, 12ND930, and 12ND730 pages, all of which point back to either this driver or the neodymium 12ND930/12ND940 flagships as their current recommendation — 18 Sound’s product strategy has consolidated around the 18 Sound 12MB700 as the standard ferrite alternative across multiple legacy platforms simultaneously. Available in both 8 and 16 Ω.
Design and Construction of the 18 Sound 12MB700
Its curvilinear paper cone, made from a special high-strength wood pulp, has been designed to achieve the best possible linearity within its intended frequency range and to control bell-mode resonances around the cone circumference. The cone is carried by a multiroll suspension formed of a linen-like material, which is more resistant to ageing and fatigue than traditional materials.
The 75 mm diameter state-of-the-art voice coil is similar to those fitted to 18 Sound’s top-of-the-range 18-inch and 15-inch models but is wound with aluminium wire. It employs 18 Sound’s Interleaved Sandwich Voice Coil (ISV) technology in which a high-strength fibreglass former carries windings on both the outer and inner surfaces to achieve a mass-balanced coil. This results in an extremely linear motor assembly with a reduced tendency for eccentric behaviour when driven hard.
The excellent performance capabilities of this loudspeaker are further enhanced by Double Demodulating Rings (DDR), designed to dramatically reduce the intermodulation and harmonic distortion and improve transient response. The magnetic structure has been optimised using FEA CAD resource, maximising the flux density in the voice coil gap.
Voice coil cooling has been achieved by incorporating airways between the chassis back plate and the top plate of the magnet, allowing heated air from the voice coil and gap to be channelled away and dissipated by the chassis basket — and 18 Sound specifically credits an improved heat dissipation via a unique basket design as a defining feature of this particular model, distinguishing its thermal engineering from the near-identical 12MB777.
Due to the increasing use of high-power audio systems at outdoor events or in marine environments, the ability to perform properly under inclement weather conditions is a key feature in 18 Sound’s philosophy. Hence, an exclusive treatment has been applied to the cone giving it water-repellent properties. In addition, another special treatment has been applied to the top and back plates making the transducer far more resistant to the corrosive effects of salts and oxidisation.
The 17.8 Tm force factor driving 41 g of moving mass produces 101.5 dB sensitivity and the 0.19 Qts / 245 Hz EBP alignment — extreme motor dominance identical to the 12MB777’s figures.
At 8.3 kg, 315 mm overall diameter, 282 mm baffle cutout, 147 mm depth, and 16 mm flange, the 18 Sound 12MB700 is 300 g heavier than the 12MB777 despite otherwise matching specifications precisely — the unique basket design contributing the additional mass in exchange for its improved heat dissipation claim.
Performance and Applications for the 18 Sound 12MB700
The 18 Sound 12MB700 delivers 101.5 dB sensitivity across a 60 Hz – 5000 Hz bandwidth. It can be used as either a bass/mid driver in compact two-way reflex enclosures or as a direct-radiating or horn-loaded, dedicated midrange driver, in multi-way touring and fixed installation concert and arena systems — ideal for compact two-way and multiway systems, per 18 Sound’s own feature summary.
18 Sound recommends a 50-litre (1.77 ft³) vented enclosure tuned to 55 Hz. The 450 W AES / 600 W continuous program power handling, combined with the 101.5 dB sensitivity, produces substantial maximum sustained output for a driver in this dual-purpose category.
The 0.19 Qts and 245 Hz EBP confirm extreme motor dominance suited to horn-loaded midrange applications, while the wide 60–5000 Hz bandwidth supports flexible integration into compact two-way reflex systems as well.
As the driver 18 Sound now lists as the current alternative for the neodymium 12NMB420 (100.5 dB, 65 mm coil, 3.0 kg) and the flagship 12NMB1000 (102 dB, 100 mm coil, 5.6 kg), the 18 Sound 12MB700 represents a genuine strategic consolidation — a single ferrite platform now positioned as the recommended successor to two previously distinct neodymium designs with different coil sizes and sensitivity profiles. Builders replacing either legacy driver should expect a heavier (8.3 kg) but broadly comparable-performing alternative, trading neodymium’s weight advantage for ferrite’s cost profile.
The comparison to the near-identical 12MB777 (U.S.-limited via Thunderball Marketing) shows the 18 Sound 12MB700 as the standard global-market equivalent — same 101.5 dB sensitivity, same 0.19 Qts, same bandwidth, with only the heat dissipation basket design and 300 g weight difference separating the two.
Conclusion – 18 Sound 12MB700 Mid-Bass Driver
The 18 Sound 12MB700 is 18 Sound’s current, globally-distributed high-sensitivity ferrite 12-inch mid-bass driver — the platform the company now recommends in place of the neodymium 12NMB420 and the flagship 12NMB1000. The 75 mm ISV coil shares its lineage with 18 Sound’s 15 and 18-inch flagships, and the DDR dual-ring distortion reduction plus improved basket-design heat dissipation deliver 101.5 dB sensitivity with genuinely extreme motor control.
For builders seeking 18 Sound’s current standard recommendation for a dual-purpose bass/mid or horn-loaded midrange 12-inch driver, available worldwide in both 8 and 16 Ω, the 18 Sound 12MB700 is the platform 18 Sound’s own catalogue consistently points toward.
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About 18 Sound
18 Sound products are proudly made in Reggio Emilia, Italy, combining advanced technology with Italian craftsmanship. Known for their high-performance professional audio components, 18 Sound is a trusted name in the global audio industry. Their state-of-the-art manufacturing and strict quality control ensure exceptional reliability and sound clarity. 18 Sound products are designed to meet the demands of speaker builders and audio professionals, 18 Sound offers premium products with outstanding value and performance worldwide.
