B&C 10CLA64 – Essential Ultralight 10-Inch Neodymium Woofer for Compact High-Efficiency Systems
The B&C 10CLA64 weighs 1.85 kg. For a 10-inch professional neodymium woofer delivering 96 dB sensitivity, a 75 Hz – 4000 Hz bandwidth, and 250 W AES power handling, that weight figure is remarkable. The CLA series — B&C’s optimised ultralight neodymium platform — brings the same design philosophy here that made the 15CLA76 one of the best value propositions in the 15-inch range: a high-temperature copper-clad aluminium voice coil, neodymium motor, and careful optimisation for higher sensitivity and smoother high-frequency response, all at a price point B&C says is competitive with ferrite designs offering similar performance.
The 4000 Hz upper bandwidth is the widest of any 10-inch woofer in B&C’s range, which means the B&C 10CLA64 can cross over to a compression driver or tweeter at 2.5–3.5 kHz with comfortable overlap. For compact two-way tops, column speakers, portable PA, and any application where a 10-inch driver needs to cover everything from the upper bass through the mid-range in a single transducer, that bandwidth makes system design straightforward.
Available in 8 and 16 Ω, the B&C 10CLA64 adapts to both single-driver and multi-driver configurations. The 16 Ω variant is particularly useful for series-parallel wiring in line arrays and column speakers where impedance management across multiple drivers is critical. B&C recommends a 29-litre vented enclosure tuned to 65 Hz — compact enough for the tightest cabinet designs.
Design and Construction of the B&C 10CLA64
The B&C 10CLA64 uses a 64 mm (2.5-inch) aluminium voice coil wound on a glass fibre former. The copper-clad aluminium winding is the CLA series hallmark — it reduces moving mass while maintaining good electrical conductivity and thermal performance. The 14 mm winding depth operating in an 8 mm magnetic gap yields 5 mm of linear one-way excursion (Xmax) with an additional 5 mm of travel (Xvar) before mechanical limits. The 36 g moving mass is extraordinarily light, and it’s the primary reason the B&C 10CLA64 achieves 96 dB sensitivity and 1.65% efficiency from such a compact platform.
The motor uses a neodymium inside-slug magnet in a straight pole configuration, producing 1.15 T of flux density and a force factor (Bl) of 14.5 Tm. The neodymium motor is the engineering behind the 1.85 kg weight — a ferrite motor producing comparable flux density would add several kilograms to the driver. The 14.5 Tm Bl driving the 36 g moving mass creates a strong acceleration factor that keeps the cone responsive and coherent across the full 4000 Hz bandwidth.
The exponential cone profile supports pistonic behaviour well into the upper mid-range, enabling the 4000 Hz upper bandwidth that sets the B&C 10CLA64 apart from more conventional 10-inch woofers. WP waterproof treatment on the front side provides moisture resistance for outdoor and high-humidity applications.
A single spider handles suspension, paired with a double-roll surround. At 1.85 kg, 257 mm overall diameter, and just 111 mm deep, the B&C 10CLA64 is one of the most compact and lightest professional woofers B&C manufactures. The 9 mm flange thickness is the thinnest in B&C’s LF range, reflecting the minimal motor assembly depth that the neodymium design makes possible.
Performance and Applications for the B&C 10CLA64
The B&C 10CLA64 delivers 96 dB sensitivity and 1.65% reference efficiency across a 75 Hz – 4000 Hz bandwidth. The 96 dB sensitivity from a 1.85 kg driver is a testament to the CLA series optimisation — the light CCAW coil, neodymium motor, and 36 g moving mass combine to extract maximum output per watt from a 10-inch platform. A 250 W amplifier channel driving the B&C 10CLA64 produces meaningful output for small to mid-sized venues without requiring heavy amplification.
The Thiele–Small parameters show the most flexible alignment profile of any 10-inch driver in B&C’s range. A Qts of 0.42 and an EBP of 164 Hz place the B&C 10CLA64 right on the sealed/vented boundary — giving builders genuine freedom to choose enclosure topology based on their application. B&C recommends a 29-litre (1.02 ft³) vented enclosure tuned to 65 Hz, but sealed designs in the 10–15 litre range will produce tighter, more controlled mid-bass response for compact two-way tops and column speakers.
The dual impedance availability adds system design flexibility. The 16 Ω variant enables series-parallel wiring of four drivers to present a 16 Ω load, or two in parallel for 8 Ω — configurations commonly used in column speakers and line arrays where multiple 10-inch drivers share a single amplifier channel. At 1.85 kg per driver, even a four-driver column adds only 7.4 kg of driver weight to the cabinet.
Ideal applications for the B&C 10CLA64 include:
- Compact two-way active and passive speaker systems
- Column speakers and vertical line arrays using multiple 10-inch drivers
- Lightweight portable PA tops and stage monitors
- Flown speaker systems where per-driver weight directly affects rigging loads
- Multi-driver configurations using the 16 Ω variant for impedance management
Specifications – B&C 10CLA64
- Nominal Diameter: 250 mm (10 in)
- Nominal Impedance: 8 Ω
- Minimum Impedance: 6.3 Ω
- Nominal Power Handling: 250 W
- Continuous Power Handling: 500 W
- Sensitivity: 96 dB
- Frequency Range: 75 Hz – 4000 Hz
- Voice Coil Diameter: 64 mm (2.5 in)
- Winding Material: Aluminium
- Former Material: Glass Fibre
- Winding Depth: 14 mm (0.55 in)
- Magnetic Gap Depth: 8 mm (0.31 in)
- Flux Density: 1.15 T
- Magnet Material: Neodymium (inside slug)
- Cone Shape: Exponential
- Cone Treatment: WP Waterproof (front side)
- Surround Shape: Double Roll
- Spider: Single
- Pole Design: Straight Pole
- Net Weight: 1.85 kg (4.08 lb)
Thiele–Small Parameters – B&C 10CLA64
- Fs: 74 Hz
- Re: 5.5 Ω
- Qes: 0.45
- Qms: 6.8
- Qts: 0.42
- Vas: 18.5 dm³ (0.65 ft³)
- Sd: 320 cm² (49.6 in²)
- η0: 1.65%
- Xmax: 5 mm
- Xvar: 5 mm
- Mms: 36 g
- Bl: 14.5 Tm
- Le: 0.9 mH
- EBP: 164 Hz
Mounting Information – B&C 10CLA64
- Overall Diameter: 257 mm (10.12 in)
- Bolt Circle Diameter: 245 mm (9.65 in)
- Baffle Cutout Diameter: 232 mm (9.13 in)
- Depth: 111 mm (4.39 in)
- Flange and Gasket Thickness: 9 mm (0.35 in)
- Air Volume Occupied by Driver: 1 dm³ (0.04 ft³)
- Recommended Enclosure Volume: 29 dm³ (1.02 ft³)
- Recommended Tuning Frequency: 65 Hz
Conclusion – B&C 10CLA64 Woofer
The B&C 10CLA64 brings the CLA series promise to the 10-inch format — neodymium performance at ferrite pricing, in a package that weighs less than two kilograms. The 96 dB sensitivity, 4000 Hz bandwidth, and 0.42 Qts make it one of the most versatile 10-inch professional woofers available, equally at home in sealed or vented enclosures and comfortable crossing over to virtually any HF driver on the market.
The 1.85 kg weight is the headline, and it has real-world consequences. A four-driver column speaker built with B&C 10CLA64 drivers adds just 7.4 kg of driver weight — less than a single ferrite 12-inch woofer in some competing designs. For portable systems, flown arrays, and any application where total system weight drives design decisions, the B&C 10CLA64 changes the math in favour of neodymium without demanding a neodymium budget.
For compact two-way tops, column speakers, portable PA, line arrays, and any build where a 10-inch woofer needs to deliver 96 dB sensitivity and 4000 Hz bandwidth from the lightest, most compact package possible, the B&C 10CLA64 is the 10-inch neo woofer that sets the standard for output per gram. It’s the CLA series at its most practical — minimum weight, maximum versatility, and a price point that makes sense.
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About B&C Speakers S.r.L.
B&C Speakers products are built in Bagno a Ripoli (Florence), Italy., ensuring high quality products to suite your speaker building requirements. Their 10,500 square meter facility incorporates highly sophisticated automation and quality control. Over the years they become one of the world leaders in the Professional Audio market, a brand recognized everywhere as a premium product that offers excellent value to the consumer.
