18 Sound XR1064 – Constant-Directivity 1-Inch Aluminium Horn with 60° × 40° Coverage and 800 Hz Cutoff
The 18 Sound XR1064 is the 1-inch throat entry constant-directivity horn in 18 Sound’s XR series. With a 0.8 kHz cutoff frequency that matches the larger 1.4-inch XR1464C and XR1496C — a remarkable achievement from a smaller 1-inch format — 60° × 40° constant coverage from 1.6 kHz to 16 kHz, diecast aluminium construction with up to 30°C thermal reduction at the compression driver, and a rotatable structure for flexible installation, the 18 Sound XR1064 brings XR-series constant-directivity performance to systems using 1-inch exit compression drivers.
The 0.8 kHz cutoff from a 1-inch horn is the specification that sets the 18 Sound XR1064 apart. Most 1-inch horns achieve cutoff frequencies in the 1.2–2 kHz range — the smaller mouth simply doesn’t provide enough radiating area for low-frequency loading. The 18 Sound XR1064’s 210 × 210 mm mouth is optimised to achieve 800 Hz loading from a compact 1-inch format, giving builders the low-frequency coverage foundation that most 1-inch horns can’t provide.
The diecast aluminium construction is a significant differentiator from the composite materials used on the larger XR1464C and XR1496C. Where composite provides lighter weight and high damping, aluminium provides thermal management that composite can’t match. 18 Sound states that aluminium horns reduce the compression driver’s steady-state working temperature by up to 30°C at full power compared to equivalent-size plastic horns. That temperature reduction translates to lower power compression (down to 1 dB) and higher effective driver power handling (up to 30% higher).
At 0.85 kg, 210 × 210 × 110 mm, with a rotatable structure and 180 × 180 mm baffle cutout, the 18 Sound XR1064 is compact enough for the smallest professional speaker cabinets while delivering the constant-directivity pattern control and thermal management that define the XR series.
Design and Construction of the 18 Sound XR1064
The 18 Sound XR1064 uses a constant-directivity flare profile with a 25 mm (1-inch) throat entry expanding to a 210 × 210 mm square mouth. The constant-directivity flare counteracts the natural tendency of horns to narrow their coverage as frequency increases, maintaining 60° × 40° coverage from 1.6 kHz through 16 kHz — nearly three and a half octaves of consistent pattern control.
The 210 × 210 mm mouth is the key to the 18 Sound XR1064’s 0.8 kHz cutoff. Horn cutoff frequency is governed by mouth area relative to wavelength. The 210 mm dimensions provide enough radiating area for the horn to establish useful acoustic loading at 800 Hz — matching the larger 1.4-inch XR horns’ cutoff despite the smaller throat. The larger 1.4-inch horns achieve the same cutoff from their 270 × 270 mm mouths — the 18 Sound XR1064 achieves it from a 31% smaller mouth area, which suggests 18 Sound optimised the flare profile aggressively to maximise low-frequency loading from the compact format.
The constant directivity engages at 1.6 kHz — 400 Hz higher than the 1.4-inch XR horns’ 1.2 kHz. The smaller mouth means the horn needs a higher frequency before both horizontal and vertical planes are controlled simultaneously. Between 800 Hz and 1.6 kHz, the horn provides useful loading but the directivity is not fully constant — coverage is wider than the nominal 60° × 40° in this transition zone.
18 Sound designed all XR series horns to eliminate midrange narrowing and high-frequency beaming. The 18 Sound XR1064’s flare profile prevents coverage from collapsing in the 2–4 kHz mid-range and prevents the treble from concentrating into a narrow on-axis beam above 10 kHz. The result is uniform on-axis and off-axis frequency response from 1.6 kHz to 16 kHz in both horizontal and vertical planes.
The diecast aluminium construction provides three advantages that define the 18 Sound XR1064’s character within the XR family.
First, thermal management. Aluminium is an excellent heat conductor. The horn body draws thermal energy from the compression driver’s throat and dissipates it through the horn’s external surface area. 18 Sound quantifies this advantage: up to 30°C reduction in the compression driver’s steady-state temperature at full power compared to a plastic horn of equivalent size. A compression driver running 30°C cooler compresses less, handles more power before thermal limits, and maintains its rated sensitivity longer during sustained operation.
Second, mechanical rigidity. Diecast aluminium is stiffer than composite or plastic — it doesn’t flex under the acoustic pressures that the compression driver generates. Flexing produces resonant artefacts that colour the output and degrade pattern control accuracy. The aluminium structure eliminates horn resonance, producing optimum waterfall and impulse behaviour — the horn contributes nothing to the output except the controlled wavefront the geometry creates.
Third, structural support. The rigid aluminium body supports the compression driver directly — no brackets or additional mounting hardware are needed. The driver threads into the horn throat, and the aluminium body holds the driver’s weight and distributes the mechanical forces during transport and operation.
The rotatable structure allows the 18 Sound XR1064 to be oriented in two positions. Standard orientation places 60° horizontal and 40° vertical. Rotating 90° places 40° horizontal and 60° vertical. This flexibility lets builders adapt the horn to different venue geometries without needing a second horn model — a practical advantage for rental companies and installers who encounter varied speaker placement requirements.
At 0.85 kg, 210 × 210 mm face, and 110 mm depth, the 18 Sound XR1064 is the most compact horn in 18 Sound’s XR series. The 180 × 180 mm square baffle cutout provides a clean mounting interface for cabinet integration.
Performance and Applications for the 18 Sound XR1064
The 18 Sound XR1064 provides 60° × 40° constant-directivity coverage from 1.6 kHz through 16 kHz when loaded with a suitable 18 Sound 1-inch exit compression driver. The horn defines the system’s coverage pattern, and the constant-directivity design ensures that coverage stays consistent across frequency.
The 60° horizontal concentrates energy toward the listening area without spreading it across side walls. The 40° vertical focuses energy on the audience plane with minimum waste on ceiling and floor. Listeners at the edge of the coverage pattern hear tonal balance close to what on-axis listeners hear — the defining characteristic of constant-directivity horn design.
The 0.8 kHz cutoff ensures the horn provides useful loading at and below the crossover frequencies of most 1-inch compression drivers. 18 Sound’s own 1-inch drivers typically recommend crossover frequencies of 1.5–2.5 kHz. B&C’s 1-inch range recommends 1.2–2.5 kHz. The 18 Sound XR1064 is fully loaded well below these crossover points, producing clean, efficient energy transfer from driver to horn across the entire compression driver operating range.
The thermal management advantage is the 18 Sound XR1064’s strongest practical differentiator from composite and plastic 1-inch horns. During sustained high-power operation — multi-hour events, extended DJ sets, all-day conference sound — the aluminium body continuously draws heat from the compression driver. The driver runs cooler, compresses less, and maintains its rated sensitivity longer.
18 Sound quantifies the benefit: up to 30°C temperature reduction produces down to 1 dB power compression (versus higher compression on plastic horns) and up to 30% higher effective power handling. For a 1-inch compression driver rated at 30 W AES on a plastic horn, the 18 Sound XR1064 effectively extends the driver’s sustainable power capability toward 40 W — a meaningful gain from the horn alone, without changing the driver.
The rotatable structure adds installation flexibility that fixed-orientation horns don’t offer. In a standard PA cabinet, 60° × 40° (H × V) is the correct orientation. In a stage monitor laying on its side, rotating to 40° × 60° (H × V) can provide better coverage of the performer’s position. In a column-style installation, the rotated orientation may better match the coverage requirements. One horn, two orientations, no adapters needed.
The comparison to B&C’s ME7 horn illustrates the 18 Sound XR1064’s positioning. The ME7 is a 0.75-inch throat ABS exponential horn — 122 × 122 mm, 0.11 kg, 2 kHz cutoff. The 18 Sound XR1064 is a 1-inch throat aluminium constant-directivity horn — 210 × 210 mm, 0.85 kg, 0.8 kHz cutoff. The XR1064 provides constant directivity (vs exponential), 1.2 kHz lower cutoff, thermal management (vs no thermal management), and a larger mouth for better low-frequency control. The ME7 is the ultra-compact option for the smallest cabinets. The 18 Sound XR1064 is the professional constant-directivity option for systems where coverage consistency and thermal performance matter.
The 18 Sound XR1064 pairs with any 1-inch exit compression driver — 18 Sound, B&C (DE10, DE12TC, DE14, DE14TN, DE36, DE160, DE502, DE550, DE550TN), or other manufacturers with standard 1-inch exits.
Conclusion – 18 Sound XR1064 Horn
The 18 Sound XR1064 is the 1-inch entry point to 18 Sound’s XR constant-directivity series — and it punches above its format. The 0.8 kHz cutoff matches the larger 1.4-inch XR horns from a mouth that’s 31% smaller. The diecast aluminium provides thermal management that reduces the compression driver’s temperature by up to 30°C — a benefit the composite 1.4-inch XR horns don’t offer. And the rotatable structure adds installation flexibility that no other horn in the XR series provides.
The constant directivity from 1.6 kHz to 16 kHz delivers consistent 60° × 40° coverage across nearly three and a half octaves. The aluminium body eliminates horn resonance while conducting heat. And the 0.85 kg weight, 210 × 210 mm face, and 110 mm depth keep the horn compact enough for the smallest professional cabinets.
For professional two-way systems with 1-inch compression drivers, compact stage monitors, installed sound, and any application where a 1-inch horn needs to deliver constant-directivity coverage with thermal management and the lowest cutoff frequency available in the format, the 18 Sound XR1064 is the aluminium 1-inch horn that matches the XR series’ 1.4-inch performance standards from a smaller, lighter, thermally managed package.
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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.
