B&C DE82 1.4″ Professional High Output Titanium Compression Driver
The B&C DE82 is a flagship-class professional 1.4-inch high frequency compression driver engineered for applications that demand exceptional output capability, outstanding efficiency, extended frequency response, and uncompromising reliability. Designed for large-scale touring systems, premium installation loudspeakers, high-output point source enclosures, stage monitoring systems, arena sound reinforcement, and professional line arrays, the B&C DE82 combines a powerful magnetic structure with a large-format titanium diaphragm assembly to deliver authoritative high-frequency performance across demanding professional environments.
As one of B&C Speakers’ most capable large-format compression drivers, the B&C DE82 has been developed for loudspeaker designers who require a driver capable of delivering substantial acoustic output while maintaining clarity, accuracy, and long-term consistency. Featuring a substantial 75 mm (3 inch) aluminium voice coil, the driver is designed to handle demanding power levels while maintaining excellent transient response and thermal stability.
The B&C DE82 stands apart through its ability to provide remarkably wide bandwidth performance. With a frequency range extending from 0.5 kHz to 18 kHz, the driver offers exceptional integration flexibility for modern loudspeaker designs. This extended lower frequency capability allows designers to implement lower crossover points, improving overall system coherence and directivity control.
At the heart of the driver is a precision-engineered titanium diaphragm, selected for its strength, rigidity, and long-term reliability. This diaphragm is coupled to a powerful magnetic assembly generating 1.8 Tesla flux density, providing excellent diaphragm control and outstanding acoustic efficiency.
With 80 W nominal power handling, 160 W continuous power handling, 107 dB sensitivity, and a recommended crossover frequency of 1 kHz, the B&C DE82 provides professional system designers with a compression driver solution capable of meeting the demands of the most challenging sound reinforcement applications.
Key Features
- 1.4-inch throat diameter compression driver
- 80 W nominal power handling
- 160 W continuous power handling
- 107 dB sensitivity
- 0.5 kHz – 18 kHz frequency response
- 75 mm (3 inch) aluminium voice coil
- Titanium diaphragm assembly
- 1.8 T magnetic flux density
- Recommended crossover frequency of 1 kHz
- Excellent low-frequency extension for a compression driver
- Professional touring and installation performance
- Optimized for high-output sound reinforcement systems
- High-efficiency motor structure
- Exceptional system integration flexibility
- Designed for demanding professional environments
Designed for Large-Scale Professional Sound Reinforcement
The B&C DE82 has been engineered for professional applications where reliability, output capability, and consistent performance are essential. Modern sound reinforcement systems are expected to deliver high sound pressure levels while maintaining clarity, intelligibility, and tonal accuracy across large audience areas.
Meeting these requirements requires a compression driver capable of handling significant power while reproducing critical vocal and musical content with precision. The B&C DE82 is specifically designed to satisfy these demands through its combination of advanced diaphragm technology, large-format voice coil architecture, and high-energy magnetic circuit.
The driver’s 36 mm (1.4 inch) throat diameter allows efficient acoustic coupling with professional horns and waveguides, making it suitable for a wide range of loudspeaker configurations. Whether incorporated into touring systems, permanent installations, theatres, houses of worship, concert venues, or large-format PA systems, the B&C DE82 delivers the performance required for professional audio applications.
Its robust construction and substantial motor assembly ensure dependable operation under demanding conditions, making it a trusted choice for system designers seeking both performance and reliability.
Large 75 mm Voice Coil Architecture
A defining feature of the B&C DE82 is its substantial 75 mm (3 inch) aluminium voice coil.
The large-diameter voice coil plays a critical role in the driver’s ability to deliver professional-level output and reliability. Larger voice coils provide increased thermal capacity and improved heat dissipation, allowing the driver to manage higher power levels while maintaining stable operating temperatures.
This design enables the B&C DE82 to achieve 80 W nominal power handling and 160 W continuous power handling, making it suitable for demanding sound reinforcement environments where sustained high output levels are common.
The aluminium winding material contributes to lower moving mass while maintaining excellent electrical conductivity. Reduced moving mass improves transient response, allowing the diaphragm assembly to react quickly and accurately to changing audio signals.
The result is improved detail retrieval, enhanced dynamic response, and more accurate reproduction of complex musical material.
This combination of thermal capability and responsiveness makes the B&C DE82 an excellent choice for professional applications requiring both output and precision.
Titanium Diaphragm Technology
The B&C DE82 incorporates a professional-grade titanium diaphragm, a material widely respected throughout the professional audio industry for its combination of rigidity, durability, and acoustic performance.
Titanium provides excellent structural strength while maintaining relatively low mass. This allows the diaphragm to remain stable during high-output operation while accurately reproducing high-frequency information.
The rigidity of the diaphragm helps minimize unwanted deformation and resonance, supporting cleaner sound reproduction and improved transient accuracy.
The titanium diaphragm contributes significantly to the driver’s ability to reproduce frequencies up to 18 kHz, ensuring accurate reproduction of upper harmonics, vocal detail, and critical high-frequency content.
For professional sound reinforcement systems, this translates into improved speech intelligibility, enhanced musical definition, and greater overall clarity.
The durability of titanium also makes it particularly suitable for touring and portable sound systems where equipment is regularly subjected to transportation and demanding operating conditions.
High-Energy 1.8 Tesla Magnetic Circuit
The magnetic system employed in the B&C DE82 is engineered to provide exceptional control and efficiency.
Generating 1.8 Tesla flux density, the motor structure produces a powerful magnetic field that enables precise control over diaphragm movement. This contributes directly to the driver’s excellent sensitivity rating of 107 dB.
Strong magnetic force allows the diaphragm assembly to accelerate and decelerate rapidly, improving transient performance and helping preserve fine musical details.
Precise control over diaphragm motion also assists in reducing distortion and maintaining consistent performance at elevated output levels.
The efficiency of the magnetic circuit allows the driver to generate substantial acoustic output while minimizing amplifier demands, making it an attractive solution for professional sound reinforcement systems where efficiency and headroom are important considerations.
Exceptional Bandwidth Performance
One of the most impressive characteristics of the B&C DE82 is its exceptionally broad operating range.
The driver offers a frequency response extending from 0.5 kHz to 18 kHz, an unusually wide range for a professional compression driver.
This extended low-frequency capability provides system designers with significant flexibility when developing loudspeaker systems. By allowing the compression driver to operate lower in frequency, designers can simplify crossover design and improve integration between transducers.
At the upper end of the spectrum, extension to 18 kHz ensures excellent reproduction of high-frequency harmonics and fine musical detail.
The broad operating bandwidth contributes to smooth tonal balance, improved vocal reproduction, and enhanced overall system coherence.
This capability makes the B&C DE82 particularly attractive for premium loudspeaker designs where performance and integration flexibility are key priorities.
Optimized for Low Crossover Operation
The B&C DE82 is designed to operate with a recommended crossover frequency of 1 kHz.
Lower crossover frequencies provide important advantages in many professional loudspeaker systems. They allow the compression driver to cover a greater portion of the vocal range while reducing the bandwidth demands placed on the low-frequency section.
This often results in smoother integration, improved directivity consistency, and enhanced overall system performance.
The large diaphragm assembly, powerful motor structure, and substantial voice coil of the B&C DE82 allow it to operate effectively at these lower crossover frequencies while maintaining reliability and output capability.
For loudspeaker designers, this creates greater flexibility when optimizing system performance.
Touring and Installation Applications
The B&C DE82 is suitable for a broad range of professional audio applications where high output, reliability, and consistent performance are required.
Typical applications include:
- Professional touring PA systems
- High-output point source loudspeakers
- Large-scale line arrays
- Premium installation loudspeakers
- Stage monitoring systems
- Theatre sound reinforcement
- Concert venues
- Houses of worship
- Stadium and arena audio systems
- Corporate AV installations
- Outdoor sound reinforcement systems
- Multi-purpose entertainment venues
Its combination of bandwidth, efficiency, and reliability makes it suitable for both permanent installations and mobile production systems.
Built for Professional Reliability
Professional audio systems are frequently required to operate at elevated output levels for extended periods. Under these conditions, thermal stability and mechanical reliability become critical performance factors.
The B&C DE82 has been engineered to address these challenges through the use of a large-diameter voice coil, durable titanium diaphragm, and powerful magnetic assembly.
The substantial thermal capacity of the 75 mm voice coil helps manage heat effectively during sustained operation, reducing the effects of thermal compression and helping maintain consistent performance.
The robust titanium diaphragm is designed to withstand demanding operating conditions while preserving accurate high-frequency reproduction.
These design features contribute to the long-term reliability expected from professional B&C components.
Technical Specifications
Throat Diameter: 36 mm (1.4 in)
Nominal Impedance: 8 Ω
Minimum Impedance: 8 Ω
Nominal Power Handling: 80 W
Continuous Power Handling: 160 W
Sensitivity: 107 dB
Frequency Range: 0.5 kHz – 18 kHz
Recommended Crossover: 1 kHz
Voice Coil Diameter: 75 mm (3 in)
Winding Material: Aluminium
Inductance: 0.14 mH
Flux Density: 1.8 T
Diaphragm Material: Titanium
Design Features
Driver Type: High Frequency Compression Driver
Throat Diameter: 36 mm (1.4 in)
Voice Coil Diameter: 75 mm (3 in)
Voice Coil Winding Material: Aluminium
Diaphragm Material: Titanium
Magnetic Flux Density: 1.8 T
Inductance: 0.14 mH
Recommended Crossover Frequency: 1 kHz
Mounting Information
Mounting Configuration: Four M6 holes 90° on 102 mm (4 in) diameter
Overall Diameter: 170 mm (6.69 in)
Depth: 64 mm (2.52 in)
Net Weight: 4.44 kg (9.79 lb)
Shipping Units: 1 Piece
Shipping Weight: 4.56 kg (10.05 lb)
Shipping Box Dimensions: 190 × 190 × 80 mm (7.48 × 7.48 × 3.15 in)
Applications
The B&C DE82 is engineered for professional sound reinforcement systems requiring exceptional bandwidth, high output capability, and dependable long-term reliability. Its large 75 mm voice coil, titanium diaphragm technology, powerful 1.8 Tesla magnetic structure, and unusually broad operating range make it particularly suitable for touring systems, line arrays, stage monitors, theatres, houses of worship, stadium installations, and premium loudspeaker designs.
With 80 W nominal power handling, 160 W continuous power handling, 107 dB sensitivity, and an impressive 0.5 kHz – 18 kHz frequency range, the B&C DE82 delivers the performance required for modern professional audio systems. For designers seeking a large-format compression driver capable of combining efficiency, output, clarity, and integration flexibility, the B&C DE82 stands as a powerful and proven solution within the B&C professional product range.
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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.
