B&C 15CL76 – Essential Ultralight 15-Inch Neodymium Woofer with Versatile Alignment

The B&C 15CL76 in its 8 Ω configuration maintains everything that makes the CL76 platform exceptional — 3.8 kg net weight, a 40 Hz – 3000 Hz bandwidth, and a ventilated neodymium motor — while adding a more versatile alignment profile that opens up enclosure options the 4 Ω variant can’t support as effectively. With 98.5 dB sensitivity, a 21 Tm force factor, and a Qts of 0.33, this version of the B&C 15CL76 balances efficiency with genuine design flexibility.

The 8 Ω impedance also makes the B&C 15CL76 the logical pick for multi-driver configurations — two in parallel present a 4 Ω load to a single amplifier channel, doubling your cone area while keeping impedance within the amp’s optimal range. For line array modules and multi-way tops running multiple woofers per cabinet, this is the impedance variant that simplifies system design.

At 3.8 kg, the B&C 15CL76 remains the lightest 15-inch professional driver in B&C’s range regardless of impedance. When your build needs to be carried by one person, flown without exceeding rigging limits, or shipped without breaking freight budgets, this driver redefines what’s possible from the 15-inch format.

Design and Construction of the B&C 15CL76

The B&C 15CL76 uses a 76 mm (3-inch) copper voice coil wound on a glass fibre former. The 19 mm winding depth operating in an 11 mm magnetic gap yields 7 mm of linear one-way excursion (Xmax) with an additional 8.5 mm of travel (Xvar) before mechanical limits — a slight Xvar improvement over the 4 Ω variant’s 8 mm, giving the 8 Ω version marginally more headroom for transient peaks.

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 21 Tm. That Bl is notably stronger than the 4 Ω version’s 19.1 Tm, and driving the 108 g moving mass gives the 8 Ω version tighter motor control and higher sensitivity — 98.5 dB compared to 98 dB on the 4 Ω model. The neodymium motor is the engineering behind the B&C 15CL76’s extraordinary 3.8 kg weight, saving nearly 5 kg over ferrite alternatives with similar output characteristics.

A ventilated voice coil gap allows air circulation around the coil, reducing power compression during sustained use — a premium feature that ensures the B&C 15CL76 maintains its rated output when working hard over extended periods. The exponential cone profile supports pistonic behaviour well into the upper frequencies, enabling the remarkable 3000 Hz upper bandwidth. A single spider handles suspension, reflecting the light moving assembly and shorter excursion requirements.

WP waterproof treatment is applied to the front side of the cone for moisture resistance. The physical frame is identical to the 4 Ω version — same 389 mm overall diameter, same 171 mm depth, same 3.8 kg net weight. Either impedance variant drops into the same cabinet without modification.

Performance and Applications for the B&C 15CL76

The B&C 15CL76 (8 Ω) delivers 98.5 dB sensitivity and 2.9% reference efficiency across a 40 Hz – 3000 Hz bandwidth. While the efficiency figure is lower than the 4 Ω version’s 3.7%, the sensitivity is actually half a dB higher — a result of the stronger 21 Tm force factor and the impedance-related measurement reference. In real-world terms, both variants produce comparable acoustic output from similar amplifier power levels.

The key difference between the impedance variants is in the Thiele–Small parameters. The 8 Ω version’s Qts of 0.33 and EBP of 124 Hz represent a more moderate alignment profile than the 4 Ω’s very low Qts of 0.25 and EBP of 156 Hz. This matters in practice — the 0.33 Qts gives builders more flexibility in enclosure design, working well in both vented and moderately horn-loaded configurations without requiring the aggressive tuning that the 4 Ω version’s ultra-low Qts demands. B&C recommends the same 100-litre (3.53 ft³) vented enclosure tuned to 47 Hz for both variants.

The 3000 Hz upper bandwidth remains the standout specification. It allows crossover to a compression driver at 1.5–2.5 kHz with comfortable overlap, making the B&C 15CL76 one of the most capable wideband 15-inch woofers available — and at 3.8 kg, easily the lightest option for any application requiring that kind of bandwidth.

Ideal applications for the B&C 15CL76 (8 Ω) include:

• Multi-driver line array modules using parallel-wired pairs
• Lightweight two-way and three-way active speaker systems
• Column array speakers and slim-profile portable PA designs
• Flown speaker systems where rigging weight limits dictate driver choice
• Vented enclosure designs where the moderate Qts provides alignment flexibility

Specifications – B&C 15CL76

• Nominal Diameter: 380 mm (15 in)
• Nominal Impedance: 8 Ω
• Minimum Impedance: 6.3 Ω
• Nominal Power Handling: 400 W
• Continuous Power Handling: 800 W
• Sensitivity: 98.5 dB
• Frequency Range: 40 Hz – 3000 Hz
• Voice Coil Diameter: 76 mm (3 in)
• Winding Material: Copper
• Former Material: Glass Fibre
• Winding Depth: 19 mm (0.75 in)
• Magnetic Gap Depth: 11 mm (0.43 in)
• Flux Density: 1.15 T
• Magnet Material: Neodymium (inside slug)
• Cone Shape: Exponential
• Cone Treatment: WP Waterproof (front side)
• Surround Shape: Triple Roll
• Spider: Single
• Pole Design: Straight Pole
• Net Weight: 3.8 kg (8.38 lb)

Thiele–Small Parameters – B&C 15CL76

• Fs: 42 Hz
• Re: 5.1 Ω
• Qes: 0.34
• Qms: 7.9
• Qts: 0.33
• Vas: 135 dm³ (4.8 ft³)
• Sd: 855 cm² (132.5 in²)
• η0: 2.9%
• Xmax: 7 mm
• Xvar: 8.5 mm
• Mms: 108 g
• Bl: 21 Tm
• Le: 1.3 mH
• EBP: 124 Hz

Mounting Information – B&C 15CL76

• Overall Diameter: 389 mm (15.31 in)
• Bolt Circle Diameter: 374 mm (14.72 in)
• Baffle Cutout Diameter: 353 mm (13.9 in)
• Depth: 171 mm (6.73 in)
• Flange and Gasket Thickness: 11 mm (0.43 in)
• Air Volume Occupied by Driver: 4.4 dm³ (0.15 ft³)
• Recommended Enclosure Volume: 100 dm³ (3.53 ft³)
• Recommended Tuning Frequency: 47 Hz

Conclusion – B&C 15CL76 Woofer

The B&C 15CL76 in 8 Ω is the more versatile of the two impedance variants. The Qts of 0.33 gives builders meaningful alignment flexibility that the 4 Ω version’s ultra-low 0.25 doesn’t offer — you can design vented enclosures with a wider range of tuning strategies without worrying about an under-damped, thin-sounding response. The stronger 21 Tm Bl and 98.5 dB sensitivity confirm that the 8 Ω winding delivers tighter motor control and marginally higher output per watt.

The parallel wiring advantage makes this the natural choice for multi-driver systems. Two B&C 15CL76 drivers in parallel present a 4 Ω load at a combined weight of 7.6 kg — less than a single ferrite PLB76 — while doubling the cone area and displacement capability. That math makes the 8 Ω CL76 extraordinarily compelling for line array modules and multi-woofer tops.

At 3.8 kg with 98.5 dB sensitivity and 3000 Hz of usable bandwidth, the B&C 15CL76 continues to redefine what a 15-inch woofer can weigh while still delivering serious professional output. For any application where weight is the constraint and bandwidth is the requirement, this driver remains in a class of its own.

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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.