B&C DE14TN – Ultimate 1-Inch Titanium Compression Driver with Dual Bolt Pattern and 16 Ohm Option
The B&C DE14TN is the most complete 1-inch compression driver in B&C’s compact HF range — combining a titanium diaphragm for detailed, forward treble reproduction with the dual bolt pattern and 8/16 Ω impedance availability that make the DE14 platform the most versatile mounting option among B&C’s 1-inch drivers. With 105 dB sensitivity, a 1.5 kHz – 18 kHz bandwidth, a 36 mm aluminium voice coil handling 30 W AES, and compatibility with two different horn flange standards, the B&C DE14TN gives system designers the widest set of options in a single 1-inch titanium compression driver.
The B&C DE14TN effectively merges the best of two drivers: the DE12TC’s titanium diaphragm and the DE14’s dual bolt pattern with 16 Ω variant. Builders who chose the DE12TC for its titanium detail but wished it had more mounting flexibility and a 16 Ω option — the B&C DE14TN is that driver. Builders who chose the DE14 for its dual bolt pattern and impedance options but wished it had titanium — the B&C DE14TN is that driver too. It sits at the top of B&C’s compact 1-inch range because it combines every feature the other three 1-inch drivers offer individually.
The 1.5 kHz – 18 kHz bandwidth is 500 Hz wider at the low end than the DE12TC’s 2 kHz lower limit, giving the B&C DE14TN more operating range in the upper mid-frequencies. Combined with the same 2.2 kHz recommended crossover, this wider bandwidth provides additional overlap with the woofer section for smoother crossover transitions — particularly valuable in passive crossover designs where steep filter slopes aren’t practical.
At 1 kg and 49 mm deep with the same 90 mm body shared across B&C’s compact 1-inch range, the B&C DE14TN is physically interchangeable with the DE10, DE12TC, and DE14 in any existing cabinet. The user-replaceable titanium diaphragm (part number MMD014TN8) keeps the driver field-serviceable for touring and rental applications.
Design and Construction of the B&C DE14TN
The B&C DE14TN uses a 36 mm (1.4-inch) aluminium voice coil driving a titanium diaphragm through a 1-inch exit throat. The motor, coil, and body are shared with the DE14 and DE12TC — the same 1.45 T flux density, the same 0.14 mH inductance, the same 90 mm chassis. What changes is the diaphragm material and the mounting interface, and those two changes define the B&C DE14TN’s place at the top of the compact 1-inch range.
The titanium diaphragm delivers the stiff, lightweight dome behaviour that defines professional-grade compression driver performance. Titanium’s superior stiffness-to-weight ratio compared to polyester means the diaphragm maintains pistonic motion at higher frequencies, producing more detailed treble output with greater definition in the 5–15 kHz presence and air bands. The characteristic titanium resonance peak in the upper treble provides the forward, cutting high-frequency energy that makes vocals and transient-rich content project through live sound environments. In systems with DSP, this peak can be shaped to taste. In systems without processing, it provides natural presence boost that helps the HF section cut through ambient noise and room reflections.
The 36 mm voice coil diameter provides the same thermal capacity across the entire DE14 platform — whether Mylar or titanium, the coil handles 30 W AES with the same sustained reliability. The 1.45 T flux density ensures the coil operates in a concentrated magnetic field for maximum efficiency, and the 0.14 mH inductance keeps the impedance curve flat through the operating range. These motor specifications are identical across the DE12TC, DE14, and B&C DE14TN because all three share the same magnetic circuit and coil assembly — the only variable is the diaphragm screwed to the front of the driver.
The dual bolt pattern is the mounting feature that separates the DE14 platform from the DE12TC. The B&C DE14TN provides both a 76 mm (3-inch) diameter pattern with two M5 holes at 180° and a 57 mm (2.2-inch) diameter pattern with three M6 holes at 120°. The 76 mm pattern matches the DE10 and DE12TC for backward compatibility with existing installations. The 57 mm three-hole pattern expands compatibility to a second family of horn flanges — particularly useful for builders working with horns from different manufacturers or designing cabinets that need to accommodate multiple horn options.
The availability of both 8 Ω and 16 Ω impedance variants adds another dimension of system design flexibility. The 16 Ω variant is essential for line arrays and column speakers using multiple compression drivers per element — two 16 Ω drivers in parallel present an 8 Ω load to the amplifier, four in series-parallel present 16 Ω, and impedance stays manageable regardless of driver count. The DE12TC’s limitation to 8 Ω only makes multi-driver HF configurations more difficult to implement without impedance-matching networks.
At 1 kg — 50 g lighter than the DE12TC — the B&C DE14TN is the lightest titanium-diaphragm 1-inch driver in B&C’s range. The 49 mm depth matches the DE12TC and DE14 exactly, and the 90 mm overall diameter is shared across all four compact 1-inch drivers. Every driver in this family fits the same cabinet cutout and horn mounting.
Performance and Applications for the B&C DE14TN
The B&C DE14TN delivers 105 dB sensitivity across a 1.5 kHz – 18 kHz bandwidth with a recommended crossover frequency of 2.2 kHz. The 1.5 kHz lower limit is 500 Hz wider than the DE12TC’s 2 kHz specification, giving the B&C DE14TN more usable output in the upper mid-range. This additional low-end extension means the driver can be crossed over slightly lower in applications where the woofer section benefits from handing off earlier — or it provides more overlap in the crossover region for smoother transitions in passive and active designs alike.
The 105 dB sensitivity provides comfortable headroom above woofer sections in the 96–100 dB sensitivity range. The titanium diaphragm’s detailed treble character ensures the high frequencies cut through clearly in live sound environments — the B&C DE14TN’s forward presence makes it particularly effective for vocal reinforcement, live music, and any application where the audience needs to hear the high-frequency content above ambient noise, stage volume, and room reflections.
The 30 W AES power handling matches the DE12TC and DE14, providing reliable sustained operation for compact and mid-sized two-way systems. The titanium diaphragm handles thermal stress well — titanium’s high melting point and thermal stability mean the diaphragm maintains its mechanical properties even when the driver is operating at full rated power for extended periods. Combined with the 36 mm coil’s thermal mass, the B&C DE14TN delivers consistent HF output across long events without the gradual compression that smaller-coil drivers can exhibit.
The dual bolt pattern and 16 Ω availability make the B&C DE14TN the most system-designer-friendly titanium 1-inch in B&C’s range. The 57 mm three-hole pattern is the standard bolt circle for many popular horn designs from third-party manufacturers, which means the B&C DE14TN fits horns that the DE12TC physically cannot mount to. For builders designing a speaker cabinet that will be offered with different horn options — or for rental companies stocking drivers that need to work across multiple cabinet designs — the dual bolt pattern eliminates compatibility concerns entirely.
The 16 Ω variant deserves specific attention for line array applications. In a typical line array element using two compression drivers, the 16 Ω variant wired in parallel presents a clean 8 Ω load. In a four-driver configuration, series-parallel wiring presents 16 Ω. These are standard impedance values that amplifiers handle efficiently without impedance-related power derating or thermal issues. The DE12TC’s 8 Ω-only limitation means two drivers in parallel present 4 Ω — workable but less efficient on many amplifier platforms — and four drivers present 2 Ω, which many professional amplifiers can’t drive safely. The 16 Ω option solves this at the driver level.
Ideal applications for the B&C DE14TN include:
- Professional two-way PA tops where titanium detail and mounting flexibility are both required
- Line arrays and multi-driver HF configurations using the 16 Ω variant
- Live sound reinforcement where forward treble presence cuts through ambient noise
- Cabinet designs requiring the 57 mm three-hole bolt pattern for horn compatibility
- Active two-way systems with DSP crossover and titanium EQ capability
- Upgrades from DE12TC installations needing dual bolt pattern or 16 Ω availability
- Touring and rental fleets standardising on a single versatile titanium 1-inch driver
Specifications – B&C DE14TN
- Throat Diameter: 25 mm (1 in)
- Nominal Impedance: 8 Ω
- Minimum Impedance: 7.4 Ω
- Nominal Power Handling: 30 W
- Continuous Power Handling: 60 W
- Sensitivity: 105 dB
- Frequency Range: 1.5 kHz – 18 kHz
- Recommended Crossover: 2.2 kHz
- Voice Coil Diameter: 36 mm (1.4 in)
- Winding Material: Aluminium
- Inductance: 0.14 mH
- Flux Density: 1.45 T
- Diaphragm Material: Titanium
- Replacement Diaphragm: MMD014TN8
- Available Impedances: 8 Ω, 16 Ω
- Net Weight: 1 kg (2.2 lb)
Mounting Information – B&C DE14TN
- Overall Diameter: 90 mm (3.5 in)
- Depth: 49 mm (2 in)
- Bolt Pattern 1: Two M5 holes on 76 mm (3 in) bolt circle, 180° apart
- Bolt Pattern 2: Three M6 holes on 57 mm (2.2 in) bolt circle, 120° apart
Conclusion – B&C DE14TN Compression Driver
The B&C DE14TN is the flagship of B&C’s compact 1-inch compression driver range. It combines titanium’s detailed, forward treble character with the DE14 platform’s dual bolt pattern and 16 Ω impedance option — delivering every feature the other three compact 1-inch drivers offer individually in a single, unified package. The 1.5 kHz – 18 kHz bandwidth is the widest of the four, the dual bolt pattern fits the most horns, the 16 Ω variant supports the most multi-driver configurations, and the titanium diaphragm delivers the most detailed treble.
The positioning against the rest of B&C’s compact 1-inch range is clear. The DE10 is the lightweight entry-level Mylar option. The DE12TC adds titanium and more power but only offers one bolt pattern and one impedance. The DE14 adds the dual bolt pattern and 16 Ω to the Mylar diaphragm. The B&C DE14TN takes the full feature set — titanium, dual bolt, 16 Ω, widest bandwidth — and puts it in the same 90 mm, 49 mm, 1 kg package.
For professional two-way PA systems, line arrays, multi-driver HF configurations, touring rigs, and any application where a 1-inch compression driver needs titanium detail with maximum system design flexibility, the B&C DE14TN is the 1-inch driver that leaves nothing on the table. It’s the compact 1-inch that does everything — and the driver you standardise on when you want one model number to cover every application in your range.
VIEW MORE B&C PRODUCTS HERE.
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.
