&C 12CXN88 – Improve Your Compact Build with 1000W 12″ Coaxial Performance

Think a 12-inch coaxial can’t keep up with the big drivers? The B&C 12CXN88 will change your mind. This compact neodymium coaxial packs a full 1000 W continuous power handling, 100 dB sensitivity, and 10.5 mm of linear excursion into a 12-inch frame — numbers that rival many 15-inch drivers on the market.

For builders who need maximum output from the smallest possible cabinet, the B&C 12CXN88 is in a class of its own. The oversized 88 mm voice coil, double silicone spider suspension, and titanium compression driver give you the same high-output CXN88 architecture found in the 14 and 15-inch models, compressed into a frame that fits enclosures where those larger drivers simply won’t.

With 80-degree coverage and a frequency range from 50 Hz to 18 kHz, the B&C 12CXN88 delivers genuine full-range performance from a single point source. It’s the driver to choose when your build demands serious output but your cabinet dimensions don’t have room to compromise.

Design and Construction of the B&C 12CXN88

The B&C 12CXN88 shares the same motor platform as its larger 14 and 15-inch siblings, centred around an 88 mm (3.5-inch) aluminium voice coil on a glass fibre former. That’s an unusually large coil for a 12-inch driver, and it’s what makes the 1000 W power handling possible. The increased coil surface area dissipates heat far more effectively than standard 76 mm designs.

For your build, that means the driver maintains consistent output during long, loud sessions without the power compression that smaller-coil 12-inch drivers suffer from. When you’re pushing hard at the end of a set, you’ll still be getting the same SPL you had at the start.

The double silicone spider suspension gives the cone tight mechanical control throughout its stroke. Combined with an impressive 10.5 mm Xvar — the highest linear excursion in the entire CXN88 family — the 12CXN88 moves serious air for its size. That’s how a 12-inch driver achieves low-end output that genuinely surprises people used to hearing larger cabinets.

The waterproof-treated paper cone handles moisture without degrading, and an aluminium demodulating ring in the motor structure suppresses modulation distortion through the midrange. In a compact 12-inch coaxial where the woofer covers a wide bandwidth up to the 1.2 kHz crossover point, that low-distortion midrange is something you’ll genuinely hear and appreciate.

The high-frequency section uses a 75 mm (3-inch) aluminium voice coil driving a titanium diaphragm at 106 dB sensitivity. The neodymium motor delivers 1.75 T flux density at the HF gap, giving the compression driver crisp, projecting highs that cut through clearly even when you’re running the woofer hard.

Everything runs on a single neodymium ring magnet powering both drivers. Despite the oversized motor and 88 mm coil, the B&C 12CXN88 weighs 6.85 kg — keeping your finished cabinet light and portable.

Performance and Applications for the B&C 12CXN88

The B&C 12CXN88 handles 1000 W continuous on the LF section and 160 W on the HF, giving you headroom that most 12-inch drivers can only dream of. The 3.6% reference efficiency converts your amplifier power into SPL effectively, so you don’t need an oversized amp to get this driver performing at its peak.

The Thiele–Small parameters make enclosure design straightforward. With a Qts of 0.22 and an EBP of 217 Hz, this driver is firmly optimised for compact vented cabinets. The 59-litre Vas is remarkably small — by far the lowest in the CXN88 family — which means you can build a genuinely compact bass-reflex enclosure without compromising the alignment.

The 20.9 Tm Bl factor is the highest in the entire CXN88 range, confirming that the motor has exceptional control over the cone. You’ll get tight, punchy, well-defined bass that stays clean even at high output. The 60 g moving mass keeps transient response fast and snappy — kicks hit hard, snares crack, and vocals stay articulate.

Builders commonly choose the B&C 12CXN88 for:

• High-power compact PA tops where cabinet size is critical
• Coaxial stage monitors that need to stay small but play loud
• Ultra-portable two-way full-range cabinets for gigging musicians
• Delay fills and under-balcony speakers in installed sound systems
• Column array elements and compact point-source cluster builds

B&C offers the FBCXN88 passive crossover network, designed to work across the entire CXN88 family. For builders who want a straightforward passive system without DSP or custom filter design, the FBCXN88 provides a matched crossover straight out of the box.

Both the woofer and compression driver share the same acoustic centre, so your build delivers true point-source output with coherent phase alignment everywhere in the room. No comb-filtering, no lobing — just consistent, predictable sound from a cabinet that’s easy to carry with one hand.

Specifications – LF Section

• Nominal Diameter: 320 mm (12 in)
• Voice Coil Diameter: 88 mm (3.5 in)
• Continuous Power Handling: 1000 W
• Nominal Power Handling: 500 W
• Nominal Impedance: 8 Ω
• Minimum Impedance: 6.6 Ω
• Frequency Range: 50 Hz – 18,000 Hz
• Sensitivity: 100 dB
• Winding Material: Aluminium
• Former Material: Glass Fibre
• Winding Depth: 21.5 mm (0.85 in)
• Magnetic Gap Depth: 11 mm (0.43 in)
• Flux Density: 1.05 T
• Cone Treatment: WP Waterproof Front Side

Specifications – HF Section

• Voice Coil Diameter: 75 mm (3 in)
• Continuous Power Handling: 160 W
• Nominal Power Handling: 80 W
• Nominal Impedance: 8 Ω
• Minimum Impedance: 8.5 Ω
• Recommended Crossover: 1.2 kHz
• Sensitivity: 106 dB
• Winding Material: Aluminium
• Inductance: 0.14 mH
• Flux Density: 1.75 T
• Diaphragm Material: Titanium
• Magnet Material: Neodymium Ring

Conclusion

The B&C 12CXN88 proves that a 12-inch coaxial can deliver output that genuinely competes with larger drivers. Its 88 mm voice coil and 10.5 mm linear excursion give you 1000 W handling and deep bass displacement from a frame that fits truly compact enclosures with a 59-litre Vas.

The highest Bl factor in the CXN88 family at 20.9 Tm ensures tight, controlled bass, and the titanium compression driver projects crisp highs at 106 dB sensitivity. Whether you’re building a pocket-sized PA top, a compact coaxial monitor, or a cluster element for a larger system, the B&C 12CXN88 delivers the kind of output-per-litre performance that makes small cabinets sound anything but small.

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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.