PEAVEY ELECTRONICS
Black Widow® BWX
1208-8sps BWX - 00560760
1208-4sps BWX - 00560780
1508-8sps BWX - 00560180
1508-4sps BWX - 00560140
1508-8cu BWX - 00560160
1508-8he BWX - 00560000
The 1508 and 1208 driver series
represent a new level of power
and performance for Black Widow
loudspeakers. Power handling is
increased by 40% over other comparable models, along with reduced
distortion and higher overall sound
quality.
The series includes 12” and 15” models in both 4 and 8 ohm impedances.
DESIGN
The BWX series uses a new cone
that is a variation on the existing
Kevlar® impregnated cones used on
all Black Widows. The new cone is
stronger and tougher, highly water resistant, and has a specially designed
surround – a deep roll accordion
design on the 15”, and an innovative
asymmetrical-M style on the 12” that
improves mid range clarity. The dust
cap is also made of the same extremely strong material.
Voice coil assemblies on the new
drivers use the thermoset insulated
aluminum or copper ribbon wire,
bonded onto an incredibly durable,
heat resistant polyimide composite
former. The coil wires are solderless
diffusion welded to high conductivity
OFHC copper foil leads, which are
embedded inside the former assembly and soldered to the tinsel leads
with high temperature silver solder.
The solder joint is then coated with a
special thermally conductive silicone
adhesive for encapsulation and heat
dissipation.
The voice coil assembly is bonded
to the Kevlar cone and new super
tough nylon composite spider using
a thermoset epoxy originally develop
for attaching nose cones to ICBM
missiles – truly an aerospace grade
adhesive. The spider and surround
are bonded to the frame with a high
strength toughened adhesive.
The magnet structure includes subtle
changes to its geometry that improve
power handling. While it appears the
same as the standard structure, and
replacement basket from the BWX
series will t on standard BW mag-
net structures, the improved power
handling will be compromised if the
standard structure is used.
These new drivers also adhere to
the familiar features of Black Widow
products: cast aluminum frames, replaceable basket assemblies, Rubatex gaskets and high reliability, spring
loaded terminals are all used.
APPLICATIONS
The 1508 and 1208 drivers are
excellent choices for a wide range
of sound reinforcement, high level
playback, subwoofer, and monitor applications.
The 1508sps driver is an excellent
choice for general purpose sound reinforcement, and is available in both
4 and 8 ohm versions. Enclosure size
is reasonable and bass / mid-bass
performance is strong. Its versatility
includes sealed and bandpass enclosure designs.
The 1508cu produces amazing bass
performance in small enclosures,
along with at mid-bass response for
an accurate, clean sound quality.
The 1508he is best used as the bottom end of a full range enclosure. It
has very high efciency for superior
output in the mid-bass and midrange. However, for pure subwoofer
applications, the 1508sps or 1508cu
are better choices.
The 1208sps works well in sealed
or vented enclosure designs, and
its smooth, extended frequency
response makes it an excellent midrange performer. It is available in 4
and 8 ohm versions.
Because the 1208sps’s low frequency output is limited, it should be used
along with a subwoofer when response below 60 Hz is needed. The
best application for the 1208sps is in
compact enclosures and very high
quality mid-bass/mid-range reproduction at high sound pressure levels.
The 15” drivers can work with crossover points as high as 2.0 kHz but
work best below 1.5 kHz. The 12” drivers are usable to 3.5 kHz but perform
best below 2.5 kHz.
ENCLOSURES
To assist with the growing interest
in home built enclosure designs,
Peavey provides complete parameter data on these drivers, as well as
several recommended enclosures
for each model. This information and
much more can be found at www.
peavey.com.
The strength of the completed enclosure has a great effect on the bass
performance of the nished system.
Box panels that aren’t stiff enough
will vibrate, canceling bass produced
by the woofer and creating undesired sounds of their own. If your box
vibrates or you don’t think the box
panels are stiff enough, add more
bracing.
Vents used in the examples require
standard Schedule 40 PVC pipe for
vent construction. The pipe should
be dadoed tightly into the back of the
bafe and glued rmly in place with
high quality epoxy or high strength,
industrial grade hot glue. Rough up
the outside of the pipe to improve the
glue bond.
Be sure to account for the displacement of the vent, bracing, horn (if
used) and woofer or your enclosure
before building it or it will be smaller
than its intended volume. This can
reduce bass output and mis-tune the
enclosure.
Line the inside of the enclosure with
polyester ber batting such as quilt
stufng. The batting material should
conform to California bedding re
codes. Attach the batting with spray
adhesive or staples and keep material away from the end of the vent tube
where it can be pulled in by air ow.
Handles, protective corners, cabinet
covering, grille materials and cross-
overs are available through Peavey
Accessories.
When building a bandpass enclosure, design a panel or door to be
removable for access to the woofer.
Use foam weather-strips to seal the
panel along with enough screws and
bracing to prevent leaks and buzzes.
Fill the sealed volume loosely with
polyester ber, but leave the vented
volume empty. Place the magnet of
the woofer in the vented side for improved cooling.
Peavey does not supply hardware
required for the manufacturing of ying systems, and recommends that
builders should not suspend or y
any enclosure not certied for such
applications.
These instructions are a general
guideline for design. Proper construction techniques, good planning and
common sense will result in a reliable, high quality, high performance
system.
Peavey in no way accepts liability for
any damage, accidents or injury that
may result from construction or use
of enclosure using this information.
Due to Peavey’s continuing efforts
to improve its products, features and
specications are subject to change
without notice.
PARAMETERS
Thiele-Small parameters for Black
Widow® 1208 and 1508 drivers follow.
This data is for use in designing enclosures. Numerous software packages are available that use this data
to simulate the response of the driver
and enclosure together for optimum
performance in any application.
PARAMETER DEFINITIONS
Znom: The nominal impedance of the driver in
Ohms.
Revc: DC resistance of the driver in ohms, also
known as Re.
Sd: The functional radiating surface area of the
cone assembly in meters 2.
BL: Efciency of the voice coil and magnet
system in Tesla meters.
Fo: Free air resonance. Also known as Fs.
Vas: Volume of air having the same compliance
(springiness) as the driver’s suspension.
Cms: Restorative force of the driver’s
suspension in micrometers/Newton.
Mms: The total mass of the moving parts of the
loudspeaker, including the air load, in grams.
Qms: Resonance characteristics of the
mechanical factors of the loudspeaker.
Qes: Resonance characteristics of electrical
factors of the loudspeaker.
Qts: Resonance characteristics of the electrical
and mechanical factors combined together.
Xmax: Distance the cone can move in one
direction before the coil begins to leave the
magnetic gap.
Le: Inductance of the voice coil in millihenries.
SPL: Typical sound pressure level at 1 watt, 1
meter.
no: Electrical to acoustical conversion efciency
in percent.
Vd: Air displacement of the driver from negative
Xmax to positive Xmax.
Pmax: Maximum continuous program power in
watts.
Disp: Volume displaced by the driver inside the
cabinet when mounted on its rear ange
SPECIFICATIONS
Modle Name: 1508-8 sps 1508 sps-4 1508-8cu 1508-8he 1208-8 sps 1208-4 sps
Part Number 00560180 00560140 00560160 00360000 00560760 00560780
Size: 15” / 380 mm 15” / 380 mm 15” / 380 mm 15” / 380 mm 12” / 305 mm 12” / 305 mm
inches/mm nominal nominal nominal nominal nominal nominal
Frame OD 15- Frame OD 15- Frame OD 15- Frame OD 15- Frame OD 12- Frame OD 12 1/4” / 387 mm 1/4” / 387 mm 1/4” / 387 mm 1/4” / 387 mm 1/4” / 311 mm 1/4” / 311 mm
Bolt circle Bolt circle Bolt Circle Bolt Circle Bolt circle Bolt circle
14 9/16” 14 9/16” 14 9/16” 14 9/16” 11 5/8” 11 5/8”
370 mm, 8 holes 370 mm, 8 holes 370 mm, 8 holes 370 mm, 8 holes 298 mm, 8 holes 298 mm, 8 holes
Cutout diameter Cutout diameter Cutout diameter Cutout diameter Cutout diameter Cutout diameter
14” / 356 mm 14” / 356 mm 14” / 356 mm 14” / 356 mm 10 15/16” / 278 mm 10 15/16” / 278 mm
Depth 4 31/32” Depth 4 31/32” Depth 4 31/32” Depth 4 31/32” Depth 3 17/32” Depth 3 17/32”
Impedance: 8 Ohms 8 Ohms 8 Ohms 8 Ohms 8 Ohms 4 Ohms
Power 2000 W peak 2000 W peak 2000 W peak 2000 W peak 2000 W peak 2000 W peak
Capacity: 1000 W program 1000 W program 1000 W program 1000 W program 1000 W program 1000 W program
500 W continous 500 W continous 500 W continous 500 W continous 500 W continous 500 W continous
per AES 2-1984 per AES 2-1984, per AES 2-1984, per AES 2-1984, per AES 2-1984, per AES 2-1984,
50 Hz - 500 Hz 50 Hz - 500 Hz 50 Hz - 500 Hz 50 Hz - 500 Hz 65 Hz - 650 Hz 65 Hz - 650 Hz
Sensitivity: 96.7 dB 1 Watt/ 97.5 dB 1 Watt/ 97.2 dB 1 Watt/ 100.3 dB 1 Watt/ 96.9 dB 1 Watt/ 96.9 dB 1 Watt/
1 meter 1 meter 1 meter 1 meter 1 meter 1 meter
Usable
Frequency 40 Hz - 2 kHz 40 Hz - 2 kHz 40 Hz - 2 kHz 40 Hz - 2 kHz 50 Hz - 3.5 kHz 50 Hz - 3.5 kHz
Range:
Cone: Kevlar
impregnated impregnated impregnated impregnated impregnated impregnated
®
cellulouse cellulouse cellulouse cellulouse cellulouse cellulouse
Voice Coil
Diameter: 4.0” 100 mm 4.0” 100 mm 4.0” 100 mm 4.0” 100 mm 4.0” 100 mm 4.0” 100 mm
Voice Coil
Material: Aluminum ribbon Aluminum ribbon Aluminum ribbon Aluminum ribbon Aluminum ribbon Aluminum ribbon
wire wire wire wire wire wire
Polymide- Polymide- Polymide- Polymide- Polymide- Polymide impregnated impregnated impregnated impregnated impregnated impregnated
berglass berglass berglass berglass berglass berglass
former former former former former former
Nomex® stiffner Nomex® stiffner Nomex® stiffner Nomex® stiffner Nomex® stiffner Nomex® stiffner
Solderless Solderless Solderless Solderless Solderless Solderless
diffusion welded diffusion welded diffusion welded diffusion welded diffusion welded diffusion welded
OFHC copper OFHC copper OFHC copper OFHC copper OFHC copper OFHC copper
leads leads leads leads leads leads
Net Weight: 17 lbs. / 7.7 kg 17 lbs. / 7.7 kg 17 lbs. / 7.7 kg 17 lbs. / 7.7 kg 16 lbs. / 7.3 kg 17 lbs. / 7.3 kg
Kevlar
®
Kevlar
®
Kevlar
®
Kevlar
®
Kevlar
®
DRIVER PRAMETERS
Xnom (Ohms) 8 4 8 8 8 4
Revc (Ohms) 5.27 3.30 5.91 5.32 5.43 3.47
Sd (M2) 0.084 0.084 0.084 0.084 0.052 0.052
BL (TM) 15.27 12.72 20.84 16.04 15.13 14.09
Vas (liters) 185.9 163.6 199.6 182.4 54.6 66.2
Fo Hz. 41.9 45.9 36.7 51.2 56.1 55.4
Cms (uM/N) 158.5 163.3 199.2 182.0 142.2 172.5
Mms (gm) 77.60 73.50 93.90 52.90 50.70 47.90
Qms 10.36 11.20 9.31 10.60 9.51 7.09
Qes 0.475 0.433 0.295 0.352 0.448 0.311
Qts 0.437 0.417 0.286 0.341 0.428 0.298
Xmax (mm) 4.7 2.3 4.7 1.9 4.7 2.3
Le (mH) 0.42 2.11 0.58 0.34 0.36 0.19
SPL (1W 1m) 96.7 97.5 97.2 100.3 96.9 96.6
no (%) 2.90 3.60 3.30 6.70 3.10 2.90
Vd (milliliters) 48.1/789 23.6/386 48.1/789 19.5/319 29.8/488 18.4/302
Pmax (w. pgm.) 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000
Disp in 3 / ml 197 / 3229 197 / 3229 197 / 3229 197 / 3229 109 / 1797 109 / 1797