18 Sound ND1480 – Ring Magnet 1.4-Inch Driver with 22 kGauss Flux Density and Proprietary Suspension Geometry
The 18 Sound ND1480 1.4-inch exit neodymium high-frequency compression driver has been designed for high-level sound systems applications — the ring-magnet tier within 18 Sound’s 1.4-inch neodymium range, sharing the same 75 mm coil and titanium diaphragm philosophy as the ND1460, but built around the same 22 kGauss ring magnet architecture documented on the ND2080 at the 2-inch throat.
The titanium diaphragm is produced in-house and has been developed to assure unmatched transient response, featuring a proprietary suspension geometry — the diaphragm assembly is made by joining the former directly to the titanium dome on its upper bend edge, the identical bent-edge construction documented throughout 18 Sound’s HF range.
The ND1480 powerful neodymium magnet assembly has been designed to obtain 22 kGauss in the gap for major benefits in transient response — 3 kGauss above the ND1460’s 19 kGauss, confirming this driver occupies the higher-flux-density tier within 18 Sound’s 1.4-inch neodymium family, mirroring the ND2060-to-ND2080 relationship documented at the 2-inch throat.
Design and Construction of the 18 Sound ND1480
The motor structure, through the precisely coherent phase plug with 3 circumferential slots and copper ring (copper sleeve per the feature bullet) on the pole piece, reduces inductance effect and distortion. Four top plate air ducts have been designed to act as a loading chamber for the diaphragm, implementing mid band distortion and response figures. The custom designed O-ring creates a tight seal between the plate and the cover, assuring air chamber loading.
Excellent heat dissipation and thermal exchange are guaranteed by the direct contact between the magnetic structure and the aluminium cover, which leads to a lower power compression value. The special treatment applied to the magnet and the top and back plates — more effective than any other treatment in use today — provides the consistent enhanced corrosion resistance documented across 18 Sound’s premium HF range.
At 3.08 kg, 131 mm overall diameter, and 62 mm depth, the 18 Sound ND1480 is marginally heavier than the ND1460 (2.9 kg) despite the more compact overall diameter (131 vs 132 mm) — the stronger ring magnet structure accounts for this modest weight increase.
Performance and Applications for the 18 Sound ND1480
The 18 Sound ND1480 delivers 110 dB sensitivity across a 0.5 – 20 kHz frequency range, with a recommended crossover of 0.8 kHz using a 12 dB/octave or steeper high-pass filter — 1 dB above the ND1460’s 109 dB, matching that driver’s power handling precisely at 100 W AES / 200 W continuous program.
The comparison to the ND1460 gives builders a straightforward choice: the 18 Sound ND1480 delivers more sensitivity from its stronger ring magnet at a marginal weight cost, while the ND1460 remains the baseline titanium option at slightly lower cost. This mirrors the exact ND2060-to-ND2080 relationship documented at the 2-inch throat, confirming 18 Sound applies this same two-tier ring-magnet strategy consistently across its 1.4 and 2-inch neodymium compression driver families.
Available in both 8 and 16 Ω, the 18 Sound ND1480 provides system design flexibility matching every other neodymium driver documented in this session’s 1.4-inch coverage.
Conclusion – 18 Sound ND1480 Compression Driver
The 18 Sound ND1480 is 18 Sound’s higher-flux-density 1.4-inch neodymium compression driver, delivering 110 dB sensitivity from a 22 kGauss ring magnet while matching the ND1460’s 200 W power handling exactly. This completes 18 Sound’s full 1.4-inch neodymium family documented across this session: the ND1424BT (lightest, small coil), ND1460/ND1460A (large coil, titanium/aluminium-PEN), and the 18 Sound ND1480 (ring magnet, highest titanium sensitivity).
For applications requiring the best available sensitivity from 18 Sound’s titanium 1.4-inch neodymium range without sacrificing power handling, the 18 Sound ND1480 delivers the premium option among its closely related siblings.
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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.
