ALPINE SPX-Z18M User Manual

Points to Observe for Safe Usage

•Read this manual carefully before starting operation and use this system safely. We cannot be responsible for problems resulting from failure to observe the instructions in this manual.

•This manual uses various pictorial displays to show how to use this product safely and to avoid harm to yourself and others and damage to your property. Here is what these pictorial displays mean. Understanding them is important for reading this manual.

•Meaning of displays

This label is intended to alert the user to the

presence of important operating instructions. Warning Failure to heed the instructions will result in

severe injury or death.

This label is intended to alert the user to the Caution presence of important operating instructions.

Failure to heed the instructions can result in injury or material damage.

Warning

DO NOT DISASSEMBLE OR ALTER. Doing so may result in an accident, fire or electric shock.

KEEP SMALL OBJECTS SUCH AS BATTERY OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN. Swallowing them may result in serious injury. If swallowed, consult a physician immediately.

DO NOT INSTALL IN LOCATIONS WHICH MIGHT HINDER VEHICLE OPERATION, SUCH AS THE STEERING WHEEL OR GEARSHIFT. Doing so may obstruct forward vision or hamper movement etc. and results in serious accident.

DO NOT DAMAGE PIPE OR WIRING WHEN DRILLING HOLES. When drilling holes in the chassis for installation, take precautions so as not to contact, damage or obstruct pipes, fuel lines, tanks or electrical wiring. Failure to take such precautions may result in fire.

DO NOT USE BOLTS OR NUTS IN THE BRAKE OR STEERING SYSTEMS TO MAKE GROUND CONNECTIONS. Bolts or nuts used for the brake or steering systems (or any other safety-related system), or tanks should NEVER be used for installations or ground connections. Using such parts could disable control of the vehicle and cause fire etc.

DO NOT INSTALL THE MONITOR NEAR THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR

BAG. If the unit is not installed correctly the air bag may not function correctly and when triggered the air bag may cause the monitor to spring upwards causing an accident and injuries.

MAKE THE CORRECT CONNECTIONS. Failure to make the proper connections may result in fire or product damage.

Points à respecter pour une utilisation sûre

•Lire attentivement ce manuel avant de commencer l’opération et l’utilisation du système en toute sécurité. Nous dégageons toute responsabilité des problèmes résultant du non-respect des instructions décrites dans ce manuel.

•Ce manuel utilise divers affichages illustrés pour montrer comment utiliser cet appareil en toute sécurité, pour éviter de s’exposer soi-même et les autres personnes aux dangers et pour éviter d’endommager l’appareil. Voici la signification de ces affichages illustrés. Il est important de bien les comprendre pour la lecture de ce manuel.

•Signification des affichages

Cette étiquette a pour but de prévenir

l’utilisateur de la présence d’instructions Avertissement importantes. Si ces instructions ne sont pas

suivies, des blessures graves ou mortelles risquent d’être occasionnées.

Cetteétiquetteapourbutdeprévenirl’utilisateur

Attention de la présence d’instructions importantes. Si ces instructions ne sont pas suivies, des

blessures ou des dommages matériels risquent d’être occasionnés.

Avertissement

NE PAS DESASSEMBLER NI MODIFIER L’APPAREIL. Il y a risque d’accident, d’incendie ou de choc électrique.

GARDER LES PETITS OBJETS COMME LES PILES HORS DE PORTEE DES ENFANTS. L’ingestion de tels objets peut entraîner de graves blessures. En cas d’ingestion, consulter immédiatement un médecin.

NE PAS INSTALLER A DES ENDROITS SUSCEPTIBLES D’ENTRAVER LA CONDUITE DU VEHICULE, COMME LE VOLANT OU LE LEVIER DE VITESSES. La vue vers l’avant pourrait être obstruée ou les mouvements gênés, etc., et provoquer un accident grave.

NE PAS ENDOMMAGER DE CONDUITES NI DE CABLES LORS DU FORAGE DES TROUS. Lors du forage de trous dans le châssis en vue de l’installation, veiller à ne pas entrer en contact, endommager ni obstruer de conduites, de tuyaux à carburant ou de fils électriques. Le non-respect de cette précaution peut entraîner un incendie.

NE PAS UTILISER DES ECROUS NI DES BOULONS DU CIRCUIT DE FREINAGE OU DE DIRECTION POUR LES CONNEXIONS DE MASSE. Les boulons et les écrous utilisés pour les circuits de freinage et de direction (ou de tout autre système de sécurité) ou les réservoirs ne peuvent JAMAIS être utilisés pour l’installation ou la liaison à la masse. L’utilisation de ces organes peut désactiver le système de contrôle du véhicule et causer un incendie, etc.

NE PAS INSTALLER LE MONITEUR PRES DU COUSSIN D’AIR DU

PASSAGER. Si l’appareil n’est pas installé correctement, il risque d’empêcher le fonctionnement du coussin d’air, et si le coussin se déploie, l’appareil risque d’être projeté dans l’habitacle, causant un accident et des blessures.

EFFECTUER CORRECTEMENT LES CONNEXIONS. Il y a risque de blessures ou de dommages à l’appareil.

Caution

USE SPECIFIED ACCESSORY PARTS AND INSTALL THEM SECURELY.

Be sure to use only the specified accessory parts. Use of other than designated parts may damage this unit internally or may not securely install the unit in place. This may cause parts to become loose resulting in hazards or product failure.

DO NOT INSTALL IN LOCATIONS WITH HIGH MOISTURE OR DUST.

Avoid installing the unit in locations with high incidence of moisture or dust. Moisture or dust that penetrates into this unit may result in product failure.

HAVE THE WIRING AND INSTALLATION DONE BY EXPERTS. The wiring and installation of this unit requires special technical skill and experience. To ensure safety, always contact the dealer where you purchased this product to have the work done.

ARRANGE THE WIRING SO IT IS NOT CRIMPED OR PINCHED BY A SHARP METAL EDGE. Route the cables and wiring away from moving parts (like the seat rails) or sharp or pointed edges. This will prevent crimping and damage to the wiring. If wiring passes through a hole in metal, use a rubber grommet to prevent the wire’s insulation from being cut by the metal edge of the hole.

HALT USE IMMEDIATELY IF A PROBLEM APPEARS. Failure to do so may cause personal injury or damage to the product. Return it to your authorized Alpine dealer or the nearest Alpine Service Center for repairing.

Attention

UTILISER LES ACCESSOIRES SPECIFIES ET LES INSTALLER CORRECTEMENT.

Utiliser uniquement les accessoires spécifiés. L’utilisation d’autres composants que les composants spécifiés peut causer des dommages internes à cet appareil ou son installation risque de ne pas être effectuée correctement. Les pièces utilisées risquent de se desserrer et de provoquer des dommages ou une défaillance de l’appareil.

NE PAS INSTALLER A DES ENDROITS TRES HUMIDES OU POUSSIEREUX. Eviter d’installer l’appareil à des endroits soumis à une forte humidité ou à de la poussière en excès. La pénétration d’humidité ou de poussière à l’intérieur de cet appareil risque de provoquer une défaillance.

FAIRE INSTALLER LE CABLAGE ET L’APPAREIL PAR DES EXPERTS. Le câblage et l’installation de cet appareil requiert des compétences techniques et de l’expérience. Pour garantir la sécurité, faire procéder à l’installation de cet appareil par le distributeur qui vous l’a vendu.

FAIRE CHEMINER LE CABLAGE DE MANIERE A NE PAS LE COINCER CONTRE UNE ARETE METALLIQUE. Faire cheminer les câbles à l’écart des pièces mobiles (comme les rails d’un siège) et des arêtes acérées ou pointues. Cela évitera ainsi de coincer et d’endommager les câbles. Si un câble passe dans un orifice métallique, utiliser un passe-cloison en caoutchouc pour éviter que la gaine isolante du câble ne soit endommagée par le rebord métallique de l’orifice.

INTERROMPRE TOUTE UTILISATION EN CAS DE PROBLEME. Le non-respect de cette précaution peut entraîner des blessures ou endommager l’appareil. Retourner l’appareil auprès du distributeur Alpine agréé ou un centre de service après-vente Alpine en vue de la réparation.

English/Français

1

Contents / Contenu

Installation / Installation
Parts List / Liste des pièces ...................................................................................	3
Woofer Installation / Installation du Woofer ............................................................	4
Midrange Installation / Installation du haut-parleur médial ....................................	5
Tweeter Installation / Installation du Tweeter .........................................................	6
Network Installation / Installation du circuit ............................................................	7
Network connections / Connexions du circuit ........................................................	8
Crossover Network / Circuit répartiteur
Crossover Network Introduction / Introduction au circuit répartiteur ................	9/25
Jumper Group Function / Fonction de groupe cavalier ...................................	10/26
System Type 1 / Type de système 1 ................................................................	13/29
System Description / Description du système .............................................	13/29
Network Jumper Setting / Réglage du cavalier du circuit ...........................	14/30
System Type 2 / Type de système 2 ................................................................	16/32
System Description / Description du système .............................................	16/32
Network Jumper Setting / Réglage du cavalier du circuit ...........................	17/33
System Type 3 / Type de système 3 ................................................................	19/35
System Description / Description du système .............................................	19/35
Network Jumper Setting / Réglage du cavalier du circuit ...........................	20/36
System Type 4 / Type de système 4 ................................................................	22/38
System Description / Description du système .............................................	22/38
Network Jumper Setting / Réglage du cavalier du circuit ...........................	23/39
Others / Autres
External dimensions / Dimensions externes ........................................................	40
Specifications / Spécifications ..............................................................................	42

2

Parts List / Liste des pièces

Woofer / Woofer

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

X2

X2

X2

X2

X10

X10

English

Français

1 Main Unit

5 Screw M4 x 12

1 Unité principale

5 Vis M4 x 12

2 Grille Ring

6 Screw ø4 x 19

2 Bague de la grille

6 Vis ø4 x 19

3 Grille

7 Hexagonal

3 Grille

7 Clé hexagonale

4 Adapter Ring

Wrench

4 Bague d’accouplement

Midrange / Haut-parleur médial

8

9

p

q

X2

X2

X2

X6

English

Français

8 Main Unit

p Grille

8 Unité principale

p Grille

9 Grille Ring

q Screw ø4 x 19

9 Bague de la grille

q Vis ø4 x 19

Tweeter / Tweeter

w

e

r

t

y

u

i

o

;

a

s

X2

X2

X4

X2

X8

X10

X2

X2

X2

X2

X2

English

Français

w Main Unit

u Screw ø4 x 19

w Unité principale

u Vis ø4 x 19

e Mounting Cup

i Screw M4 x 25

e Coupelle de

i Vis M4 x 25

o M4 Nut

montage

o Écrou M4

r Terminal Cover

; Mounting Ring

r Couvre-bornes

; Bague de montage

t Spring

a Screw ø4 x 12

t Ressort

a Vis ø4 x 12

y Mounting Clip

s Gasket

y Collier de fixation

s Garniture

3-way network / Circuit répartiteur à 3 voies

d

f

g

X2

X2

X6

English

Français

d Crossover network

d Circuit répartiteur

f Jumper Puller

f Mécanisme de tirage du cavalier

g Screw ø4 x 19

g Vis ø4 x 19

aisçEnglish/Fran

3

Woofer Installation / Installation du Woofer

Installation without a grille / Installation sans grille

6

X5

Installation with a grille / Installation avec grille

6

X5

Installation with adapter rings / Installation avec bagues d’accouplement

5 6

X5 X4

Speaker Wire

Connections / Raccordement des fils d’enceinte

1.Insert the speaker wires through the connection holes. / Insérer les fils d’enceinte dans les trous de raccordement.

2.Fasten with a hexagonal wrench. / Serrer avec une clé hexagonale.

4

Midrange Installation / Installation du haut-parleur médial

Installation without a grille / Installation sans grille

q

X3

Installation with a grille / Installation avec grille

q

Speaker Wire

Connections / Raccordement des fils d’enceinte

1.Insert the speaker wires through the connection holes. / Insérer les fils d’enceinte dans les trous de raccordement.

2.Fasten with a hexagonal wrench. / Serrer avec une clé hexagonale.

X3

aisçEnglish/Fran

5

Tweeter Installation / Installation du Tweeter

Installation with springs / Installation avec ressorts

i

X1

Installation with a mounting cup (Installation from the front)/

Installation avec coupelle de montage (Installation par l’avant)

a

X1

Installation with fastening rings / Installation avec bagues de serrage

u

X5

Apply the supplied terminal cover to prevent short circuits from occurring when metallic or other conductors are in the vicinity of the installation area. / Appliquer le couvrebornes fourni afin d’éviter que des court-circuits ne se produisent lorsque des conducteurs métalliques ou autres se trouvent à proximité de la zone d’installation.

6

Network Installation / Installation du circuit

g

X3

aisçEnglish/Fran

Note /Remarque:

Do not install the Crossover network where it will be exposed to moisture such as under the floor mat or near the air conditioner. This may cause a malfunction./

Ne pas installer le circuit répartiteur dans un endroit où il sera exposé à l’humidité, comme sous la moquette ou près du climatiseur. Cela risque de provoquer un mauvais fonctionnement.

7

Network connections / Connexions du circuit

Insert the signal link jumpers highlighted in gray firmly following each connection example. If the jumper is not connected properly as described, it might result in malfunction of amplifier.

Insérez fermement les cavaliers de liaison de signal soulignés en gris en suivant chaque exemple de raccordement. Si le cavalier n’est pas relié correctement comme décrit, il pourrait avoir comme conséquence le défaut de fonctionnement de l’amplificateur.

Connection Example 1 / Exemple de connexion 1

When connecting to single amp/single wiring / Lors du raccordement avec un seul amplificateur/ câblage simple.

WF/MID	MID/TW
SIGNAL	SIGNAL
LINK	LINK

+

–

+

–

Amplifier/

Amplificateur

Connection Example 2 / Exemple de connexion 2

When connecting to bi-amp/bi-wiring / Lors du raccordement avec deux amplificateurs/câblage double.

WF/MID	MID/TW
SIGNAL	SIGNAL
LINK	LINK

+

–

+

–

Amplifier/

Amplificateur

Amplifier/

Amplificateur

Connection Example 3 / Exemple de connexion 3

When connecting to tri-amp/tri-wiring / Lors du raccordement avec trois amplificateurs/câblage triple.

Amplifier/	WF/MID	MID/TW
	SIGNAL	SIGNAL
Amplificateur	LINK	LINK
	+	+
	–	–
Amplifier/
Amplificateur
Amplifier/
Amplificateur

Caution

Précaution

8

Connect properly by following the manual. Otherwise it might result in fire or accident.

Reliez correctement en suivant le manuel. Autrement il pourrait avoir comme conséquence le feu ou des accidents.

Crossover Network Introduction

It is common knowledge that the automotive interior is one of the most inhospitable environments for high-fidelity sound, and that every vehicle poses its own unique set of installation and acoustic challenges. While many of these problems can often be overcome with proper speaker placement, equalization, or other techniques, the attempt is a time consuming task without guaranteed results.Yet with all these tools and methods available, it is surprising to realize that one of the most powerful tuning tools has been misunderstood or neglected by so many for so long. It is for this reason that Alpine has developed the most advanced crossover network design in the history of car audio.

Much of the difference between demo-board and in-car performance can be attributed to the fact that crossover networks have been traditionally tuned for only one specific application – usually the demo-board. Without taking into account typical real world installations, the transition between drivers and resultant frequency response will be degraded for the majority of vehicles that installers are confronted with today. Through Alpine’s unique phase coherent flat summation design methodology, however, it is now possible to optimize performance for a variety of installations by intentionally altering various filter characteristics. By achieving an “in-phase” condition between drivers in the overlapping frequency range at the listening position, image smear, response aberrations and other typical problems can be dramatically reduced or eliminated altogether. This “phase linkage” technique can be thought of as a kind of passive time correction in the crossover region.

With Alpine’s introduction of such revolutionary processing technologies as digital time correction and adaptive equalization, all of this may seem superlative. Unfortunately however, such processing can significantly increase system complexity and therefore may not be practical for every situation. Additionally, without careful use of time correction for each individual speaker in the system, integration problems between them can remain. Subsequently, it may be advantageous to use such processing to compensate for seating position bias in conjunction with the phase correction of the passive network for the transition between individual drivers. Simply stated, the flexibility of the AlpineF#1Status™ crossover network allows it to be a complimentary solution for achieving the best of both worlds, either as a stand alone solution or an integral component of a partially active system.

As with all AlpineF#1Status™ products, it is the attention to the smallest details that truly brings out ultimate performance... or in a word, MicroDynamics™. From the hand coated crosscut wood fiber cones to the symmetric drive motor structures, nothing is left to chance. This philosophy is carried throughout every aspect of the SPX-Z18T speaker system, including the components, layout and design of the crossover network. All series capacitors are the highest grade metalized polypropylene, and all series inductors are heavy gauge air core. Even parallel inductors are of powder core construction, to maximize consistancy and sound quality. All elements are intentionally placed in such a way to as to minimize any chance for magnetic or thermal influence, and all signal path lengths are minimized with extra heavy circuit board traces. In the end, this level of quality and attention to detail has but one purpose, to bring true sonic realism to the automotive environment once and for all.

English

9

Jumper Group Function

Although recommendations are made for the most common system types in the following pages, there are actually over 1000 unique and useful jumper combinations available for a wide variety of vehicles, installations and personal tastes. While this flexibility has obvious advantages, too many choices can also be confusing. Therefore, it will be helpful to understand the function of each jumper group in order to tune the network more effectively:

TW-HP:

In addition to functioning as a high-pass filter, this section also provides the necessary adjustments for proper integration with the midrange. The transition between these two drivers in the frequency and time domains is essential to the total performance of a multi-element system, as it has a direct effect upon imaging, staging, focus

and tonal balance. In real world installations, distance and angle of both drivers relative to the listener, their proximity to each other, and certainly the vehicle's interior also exert additional influence. In anticipation of this, variations of filter slope, Q, cut-off frequency and resultant phase shift are provided so that "phase linkage" and flat summation can be maintained. As a general reference, the layout and available filter types of the tweeter high-pass section are provided below:

+

+4dB/30°

R1

+1.5dB/15°

R2

0dB/0°

R3

–1.5dB

R4

–3dB

–

	BYPASS
	C2
C1	R5
	HP-3
	–

1-HP

2-HP

L1 L2

+

R1 = 1.5Ω

R2 = 3.3Ω

R3 = 4.7Ω

R4 = 5.6Ω

R5 = 0.5Ω

C1 = 3.3µF

C2 = 8.2µF

L1 = 0.65mH

L2 = 0.1mH

1st Order:		2nd Order:		3rd Order:
•	No HP jumpers	• HP1 + HP2 + HP3		• HP1
•	HP3	•	HP1 + HP3	•	HP2
		•	HP2 + HP3	•	HP1 + HP2

TW LEVEL:

In general, this section provides precise level adjustment for optimum performance or personal taste. However, it also allows for “tilting” of the filter frequency response in order to compensate for the natural high frequency roll-off associated with off-axis listening angles. In other words, this jumper choice will have a direct effect on both Q and cut-off frequency of the various filter combinations listed above. This effect can be seen in the filter transfer function graphs for the various system types. If the TW-HP section is set to bypass in favor of an electronic crossover, the off-axis feature will no longer function, but basic level adjustment will still be possible.

10

MID HP/LP:

As a selectable bandpass filter for the midrange, the net effect of this section is naturally linked to the selections made in the tweeter high-pass and woofer low-pass sections. Achieving the most phase coherent and flat summation possible requires controlling the amount of inherent phase shift of each filter, and is directly related to the selection of filter order, Q and cut-off frequency. Again, this relationship is also affected by the distance and angle of each driver relative to the listener and their proximity to each other.

Since the acoustic center of the midrange will be farther back than the tweeter in nearly all applications, minimal delay is desirable in the midrange low-pass. Subsequently, this filter is of low order, and leaves much of the adjustment capability for the mid/tweeter transition to the tweeter high-pass section. For the midrange high-pass, higher order configurations are used in most applications to achieve phase linkage with the woofer (see WF-LP section). For general reference, the available midrange network configurations are listed below. In certain installations where positioning or placement necessitates level adjustment, a jumper is provided that boosts midrange output by approximately +2dB. As an additional note, either filter (high-pass or low-pass) may be bypassed independently for semi-active applications.

LP BYPASS HP BYPASS

+	L3	R6	C3	C4	R7			R6 = 1.0Ω
								R7 = 1.0Ω
		+2dB			R8		+	R8 = 22Ω
			L4	L5				C3 = 18µF
								C4 = 33µF
					C5		–	C5 = 10µF
								L3 = 0.32mH
			1-HP	2-HP	1-LP	2-LP
								L4 = 2.0mH
–								L5 = 2.9mH

English

1st Order HP:	3rd Order HP:	4th Order HP:
• No HP jumpers	• HP1	• HP1 + HP2
• HP2 (semi-2nd Order)

1st Order LP:

•LP1

•LP2

11

Jumper Group Function

WF-LP:

While functioning as a low-pass filter for the woofer, this section also provides a wide degree of adjustments for optimizing performance and system integration. Since it is often difficult to position the woofer and midrange close together or at equal distances, it is critical to achieve phase linkage between them to avoid localization, image smear, poor staging, etc. Additionally, vehicle interior dimensions are typically close to the wavelength of the woofer/midrange crossover region, so it may be necessary to minimize overlap to reduce the chance of generating a complex canceling sound field or response aberrations. Therefore, a variety of higher order filter types and characteristics are provided in this section, making it possible to link the two drivers in relative phase for a smooth transition in many applications. Again, it is important to note that the selections made in both the WF-LP and MID-HP sections produce a net effect, and must be set in such a way so as to work together. As a general reference, the available woofer low-pass filter configurations are listed below.

		BYPASS
+	L6	L7

R9		R10
C6		C7			C8
	1-LP		3-LP			2-LP

–

R9 = 2.2Ω

+R10 = 1.5Ω

C6 = 100µF

C7 = 47µF

C8 = 220µF

–L6 = 0.65mH

L7 = 0.65mH

1st Order:	2nd Order:		3rd Order:	4th Order:
• No HP jumpers	• LP2		• LP1	• LP1 + LP2
	•	LP3		•	LP1 + LP3
	•	LP2 + LP3		•	LP1 + LP2 + LP3

SIGNAL LINK:

The signal link jumpers provide a parallel connection between the input sides of the terminal blocks, eliminating the need for extra terminals or wiring when using a single or dual input.

Caution:

These jumpers must be removed accordingly when used in a bi-amp or tri-amp configuration to prevent possible damage to amplifiers.

12

System Type 1

System Description

With all three drivers mounted close together and equidistant to the listening position, this is surely the most favorable configuration for a component speaker system. Although such an installation may not often be practical in situations other than the demoboard, it is certainly possible given the custom fabrication techniques available today. In anticipation this, a degree of tolerance is built into the settings described below for the most likely cases, though some experimentation may be necessary if all conditions cannot be met. If choosing to go beyond the recommended settings or utilizing the network in a partially active mode, keep in mind that phase coherence and flat summation remains critical even in the idyllic flat baffle situation, as each driver type exhibits unique phase and group delay characteristics.

•Type-1A is the default setting of the network, and assumes essentially on-axis positioning and equal

pathlength of all drivers relative to the listening position.

English

•Type-1B is for such cases where pathlength is nearly the same to all drivers, but where the mounting surface orientation creates a uniform but fairly extreme off-axis listening angle.

13