B&C Speakers 8CXN51

A B&C Coaxial Designed for Compact Professional Speakers

The B&C 8CXN51 follows the tradition of coaxial drivers aimed at sound reinforcement : achieving homogeneous reproduction while remaining compact. The coaxial principle (HF driver at the center of the LF cone) promotes temporal coherence and clearer directivity than separate transducer setups, a key advantage when targeting a discreet, versatile, and easy-to-place speaker. Thanks to its architecture and neodymium magnet, this model meets the demands of modern systems: performance, low weight, and simplified integration.

Intended Uses and Target Profiles

This 21 cm coaxial speaker is particularly suited for designing compact point source speakers: stage monitors, small front fills, nearfield reinforcement, fixed installation speakers (bars, multipurpose rooms, places of worship), or high-efficiency portable systems. Its frequency response from 70 Hz to 18 kHz and 100 deg coverage make it a solid foundation for projects seeking wide dispersion and good intelligibility.

It is suitable for demanding DIY speaker designers, integrators, and manufacturers looking for a transducer comfortable with both vocals and dynamic music programs, while maintaining stable directivity and compact footprint.

Design, Motorization, and Performance: What Makes the Difference

Coaxial Architecture and Directivity

The 8CXN51 combines an 8" (21 cm) LF driver and a 0.79" (approx. 20 mm) HF section in a single assembly, delivering a single source behavior. This approach facilitates acoustic alignment and contributes to a more stable image, especially in close listening or when the speaker is off-axis. The 100 deg coverage targets comfortable dispersion for varied spaces while maintaining good presence.

Power Handling and Sensitivity

With 500 W AES on the low-frequency section and 100 W AES on the high-frequency section (impedances 8 + 8 Ohms ), this coaxial is designed to withstand sustained levels. The specified sensitivities, 97 dB (LF) and 104 dB (HF) at 1 W / 1 m, allow for an excellent output-to-size ratio, particularly interesting for compact sound reinforcement speakers.

Materials and Professional Reliability

The low-frequency section features a 51 mm voice coil with aluminum wire and a dual roll surround, a combination focused on robustness and excursion control. The 6.0 mm Xmax contributes to low-end performance for a 21 cm driver, and the Qts of 0.27 favors efficient alignments in vented enclosures.

On the high-frequency side, the HF section relies on a 44 mm voice coil and a polyimide diaphragm, a relevant choice to combine precision and durability. The cone is of exponential type with a water-resistant treatment on the front, useful when the speaker is used in demanding conditions (transport, occasional humidity, intensive use).

Speaker Optimization: Recommended Enclosure

To facilitate development, a recommended enclosure is provided: 15 liters with a tuning at 75 Hz. This clearly positions the 8CXN51 towards compact speakers capable of delivering clean and fast bass, while leaving the option to add a subwoofer if the application requires more extension below 70 Hz.

Technical specifications