B&C 4MCX36 – Improve Your Mid-Range Build with a 4″ Neodymium Coaxial Optimised for Vocal Clarity

At 550 grams and just 83 mm deep, the B&C 4MCX36 is one of the smallest and lightest professional coaxial drivers in existence. This 4-inch neodymium coaxial is purpose-built for mid-bass and high-frequency reproduction — deliberately tuned with a higher Fs than B&C’s standard 4CXN36 to prioritise midrange punch and vocal presence over low-frequency extension.

With a frequency range of 150 Hz to 18 kHz and 70-degree coverage, the B&C 4MCX36 is designed for applications where you don’t need bass from the coaxial — because a dedicated subwoofer is handling the low end. Instead, this driver focuses its energy where speech intelligibility, vocal clarity, and midrange detail matter most.

For builders designing compact mid-high elements in multi-way systems, tiny column arrays, paging speakers, conference sound, or any project where the coaxial handles everything above 150 Hz while a sub covers the rest, the B&C 4MCX36 gives you professional two-way coaxial performance from a 4-inch frame that weighs barely more than a large apple.

Design and Construction of the B&C 4MCX36

The B&C 4MCX36 uses a 34 mm (1.3-inch) copper voice coil on a glass fibre former — a high coil-to-cone ratio that gives this tiny driver generous thermal handling relative to its size. Glass fibre provides the rigidity and thermal stability needed for reliable long-term operation, even in demanding permanent installations.

The moving mass is just 6.2 g — among the lightest in B&C’s entire catalogue. That featherweight cone responds to signal changes with extraordinary speed. In a driver designed specifically for midrange and vocal reproduction, that transient precision is exactly where it matters most. Speech consonants are razor-sharp, vocal harmonics are detailed, and midrange instruments have the kind of presence that larger drivers with heavier cones can’t match.

The 150 Hz Fs is the defining characteristic of the B&C 4MCX36. Unlike the standard 4CXN36, which aims for low-frequency extension, this model deliberately sacrifices bass to concentrate its output in the mid-bass and midrange bands. The result is a driver that’s more focused, more efficient, and more articulate through the frequencies that matter for speech and vocal music.

An aluminium demodulating ring in the motor structure suppresses modulation distortion through the midrange — a feature that’s remarkable at this driver size. The waterproof-treated paper cone handles moisture for outdoor and humid-environment durability.

The high-frequency section features a 36 mm (1.42-inch) aluminium voice coil driving an HT Polymer dome diaphragm at 102 dB sensitivity with 1.65 T flux density. HT Polymer delivers smooth, well-damped highs with no harshness — a forgiving, natural top end that’s ideal for speech reproduction and extended listening.

The HF section runs at 16 Ω while the LF section runs at 8 Ω. This impedance mismatch needs to be accounted for in your crossover design. The recommended crossover point is 2 kHz, allowing the woofer to cover the full mid-bass and midrange bands before handing off to the compression driver.

Performance and Applications for the B&C 4MCX36

The B&C 4MCX36 handles 200 W continuous on the LF section and 50 W on the HF. For a 4-inch driver that starts at 150 Hz, that’s substantial power handling. Because the driver isn’t wasting excursion on deep bass, all of that power goes directly into the mid and high frequencies where your listeners actually need it.

The Thiele–Small parameters confirm this is a sealed-enclosure driver. A Qts of 0.91 and the tiny 0.8-litre Vas mean your enclosure can be almost impossibly small. A sealed box of 0.5–1 litre is entirely practical — smaller than a coffee cup. The high Qts gives you a smooth, predictable rolloff below the operating range.

The 3 mm Xvar is modest, but it doesn’t need to be more — this driver isn’t trying to produce bass. It’s designed to stay clean and controlled through the midrange and upper frequencies where 3 mm of linear travel is more than adequate for high-SPL vocal reproduction.

Builders commonly choose the B&C 4MCX36 for:

• Mid-high elements in multi-way sub-sat systems
• Ultra-compact column array and line source builds
• Paging, announcement, and speech reinforcement systems
• Conference room and boardroom ceiling speakers
• Tiny flush-mount architectural speakers where depth is severely limited
• Multi-channel surround and immersive audio installations

Both drivers share the same acoustic centre for true point-source output with coherent phase alignment. The 70-degree dispersion provides focused, controlled coverage — keeping the sound concentrated on the listener rather than scattering energy across the room. At 127 mm overall diameter and 83 mm deep, the B&C 4MCX36 fits into spaces that even 5-inch drivers can’t reach.

Specifications – LF Section

• Nominal Diameter: 100 mm (4 in)
• Voice Coil Diameter: 34 mm (1.3 in)
• Continuous Power Handling: 200 W
• Nominal Power Handling: 100 W
• Nominal Impedance: 8 Ω
• Minimum Impedance: 6.8 Ω
• Frequency Range: 150 Hz – 18,000 Hz
• Sensitivity: 87 dB
• Winding Material: Copper
• Former Material: Glass Fibre
• Winding Depth: 11 mm (0.43 in)
• Magnetic Gap Depth: 6 mm (0.24 in)
• Flux Density: 0.74 T
• Cone Treatment: WP Waterproof Front Side

Specifications – HF Section

• Voice Coil Diameter: 36 mm (1.42 in)
• Continuous Power Handling: 50 W
• Nominal Power Handling: 25 W
• Nominal Impedance: 16 Ω
• Minimum Impedance: 10.2 Ω
• Recommended Crossover: 2 kHz
• Sensitivity: 102 dB
• Winding Material: Aluminium
• Inductance: 0.14 mH
• Flux Density: 1.65 T
• Diaphragm Material: HT Polymer
• Magnet Material: Neodymium Ring

Conclusion

The B&C 4MCX36 is the specialist mid-high coaxial for builders who want focused vocal clarity and midrange presence from the smallest possible driver. At 550 grams, 83 mm deep, and with a 0.8-litre Vas that fits in enclosures smaller than a coffee cup, it opens up builds that no other professional coaxial can physically fit.

With a 6.2 g moving mass for extraordinary transient speed, an aluminium demodulating ring for clean midrange, a glass fibre former for long-term reliability, and smooth HT Polymer highs at 102 dB, the B&C 4MCX36 delivers exactly what it promises — precise, articulate mid-high reproduction from a 4-inch point-source coaxial. Pair it with a subwoofer and you have a complete system that sounds far bigger than the cabinet suggests.