B&C Speakers - 12NDL76 16 Ohm

In the category of 12-inch high-performance loudspeakers, the 12NDL76 16 Ohm is a simple yet formidably effective tool.

This B&C Speakers model is distinguished by its compact neodymium motor, which makes the whole unit considerably lighter while retaining remarkable power and magnetic density. The result is a loudspeaker that's light to carry around, but capable of punching out air with conviction.

With its 76 mm voice coil on a fibreglass support, it can handle 800 watts in programme without flinching. The frequency range covers a wide useful band, from 50 Hz to 2 kHz, with particularly interesting behaviour in the low-midrange, where vocal definition and percussion come into their own.

This is no simple woofer. It's a loudspeaker at home in muscular two-way configurations, or as support in a more ambitious modular system.

The exponential diaphragm profile, double roll suspension and optimised decompression port all contribute to a very clean, drag-free response, even at high levels. There is also a demodulation ring, discreet but very present, which limits distortion at the top of the band.

The design is meticulous: rigid aluminium basket, ventilated coil, compact assembly. It fits easily into a 42-litre enclosure, tuned to around 65 Hz, and bridges the gap between the depth of a 15" and the responsiveness of a 10".