Altec Lansing AB8500 User Manual

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L-ANSINC3

AB8500

AcoustaBASS™

Low-Frequency System

KEY SPECIFICATIONS

KEY FEATURES

★ High-Power Handling
★ High Efficiency

System Type:

Pressure Sensitivity:

(1 w, 100 Hz to 800 Hz,
re: 20 pPa, see note 1).

Frequency Response:

(see Figure 1, Note 2)

Power Handling:

(50 Hz to 500 Hz,
see note 3)

Maximum Long-Term
Output:

(800 watts input, 1 m,
re: 20 pPa, see note 4).

Impedance:

Components:

Direct-radiating, vented, low-fre
quency loudspeaker system.

lOldBSPL.

46 Hz to 3,500 Hz.

800 watts, AES method.
800 watts, EIARS426A.

127.5 dB.

3.8 ohms minimum @ 40 Hz.

4.0 ohms nominal.

Two 15 inch (38.1 cm)

low-frequency loudspeaker.

★ Extended Response
★ Compact Size
★ Enclosure Allows Refinishing

DESCRIPTION

The Altec Lansing AB8500 is a member of

the AcoustaBASS''' family of low-frequency enclo
sures. The AB8500 is a direct-radiating vented de
sign and provides high-efficiency, low distortion and
excellent low-frequency performance in a relatively
small enclosure. The AB8500 employs dual long­throw 15 inch (38.1 cm) loudspeakers in a 7.4 fL
(209.5 L) enclosure. The Enviro-board'' enclosure
is finished in beige with matching fabric grille. Con
nections are made via barrier strip (^‘lO) recessed
into the back of the enclosure on a durable molded
connector panel.

The enclosure is constructed from Enviro­Board''', a composite structural material which is
easily refinished (see Finishing Enviro-Board').
Enviro-board' ' is made of layered and selectively ori

ented hardwood strands strongly bonded together
within a phenolic-resin matrix. The surface is a

proprietary vinyl laminate especially formulated for
Altec Eansing which can be painted or stained to
match any decorative environment.

The AcoustaBASS series of low-frequency en
closures are ideally suited for any installation where
high-quality sound is required and in permanent in
stallations for houses of worship, auditoriums and
arenas. The AB8500 combines well with both the

Mantaray® and Vari-Intensc“’ series of horns.

The enclosures may be stacked for greater output
capability or for a narrower vertical beamwidth.
Every time the number is doubled, approximately
6 dB in output is gained (3 dB for double power
handling and 3 dB for the resultant higher Q).

SPECIFICATIONS (continued) FINISHING ENVIRO-BOARD

Input Connection:

Recone Kit:
Replacement Woofer:
Replacement Grille:
Enclosure:

Screw terminals (#10-32) on barrier
strip will accept 0.4 inch (1.0 cm)
wide spade-lug.

Model R4500.

Model AB4500-RLF.
Model RG8500.
Vented design tor optimum re

sponse. Constructed of 0.7-inch
(1.8 cm) Enviro-Board™, a compos
ite refinishable structural material.

Finish:

Enclosure:
Grille Cloth:

Wood grain, beige.
Beige.

Dimensions:

Height:

Width:

Depth:

Net Weight:
Shipping Weight:
Accessories:

Al tec L a n s i n g c o ntin u a l ly s t ri v e s t o imp ro v e pr o d 
uc t s a n d p e r fo r man c e . T h e r e fo r e , sp ecif ic a t io ns a re
su b j e c t t o c h ang e w i th o u t n o ti c e .

34.0 inches (86.4 cm).

24.0 inches (61.0 cm).

20.4 inches (51.8 cm).

108.0 lbs (49.0 kg).

122.0 lbs (55.5 kg).

ASK 100 mounting kit.
ASK 300 mounting kit.

NOTES ON

MEASUREMENT CONDITIONS

Finishing Enviro-Board " is simple and straight

forward as long as a few things are understood:

1. Enviro-Board'" has been tested with a large num
ber of commercially available paints with 100%
success. However, it is impossible to test every
paint available. Altec Lansing therefore recom
mends that you test a small area on the rear of
the cabinet or under the grille to check there are
no adverse effects.

2. Ensure the surface is clean and free of grease (use
soapy water if necessary).

3. Any latex-enamel or acrylic-based paint can be
used but the high-tech top layer of Enviro-Board"
was developed in conjunction with Pittsburgh
Paints. They developed their Manor Hall® Exte
rior House series of paints to compliment the
Enviro-Board'". Altec Lansing recommends the
use of these paints in adverse or tough situations.

4. Water-based Latex paints in particular can take a
considerable time to dry fully. They can be
handled in a few hours but full strength may not
be achieved for a week, particularly in damp or
cool conditions.

5. The paint can be applied with a brush, roller or
spray. Care should be taken not to get paint on
the woofer cone.

6. Stain can be used to highlight the grain in the
Enviro-Board " or match real wood. Care should
be taken when using stain because it is impossible
to refinish the material after staining. A good
approach is to use a stained varnish but be care
ful as it is very difficult to lighten a stain.

1. Pink noise signal, one Watt calculated using EVZmin,

3.16 meter-measurement distance referred to one meter.

2. On-axis, one Watt calculated using E^/Zmin, 3.16 meter­measurement distance referred to one meter, low frequen
cies corrected for anechoic chamber error.

3. This system rating patterned after the AES method for indi
vidual driver, where the test signal is pink noise with a 6 dB
crest factor over the bandwidth of the system, with power
calculated using the EVZmin, for two hours.

4. This measurement made under the same conditions as Pres
sure Sensitivity, but at rated power, and takes into account
any power compression effects due to non-linearities in the
system.

5. The loudspeaker should be connected to the 8-ohm (4-ohm)
tap on amplifiers using transformer coupled output sections.

6. Distortion components invalid above 10 kHz. The distortion
at any given frequency may be found by graphically taking
the difference between the fundamental and harmonic, and
adding the number of Decibels which the harmonic has been
raised on the graph and apply the formula:

% distortion = 100 X 10<

HANGING AcoustaBASS

The AcoustaBASS family of products has been
developed and is fully integrated with the ASK family
of hanging hardware. Each ASK kit consists of a steel
tube, two brackets, two eye-bolts and fasteners. The
Altec Lansing contractor installs the ASK by drilling
two holes into the enclosure in predetermined posi
tions and assembling the ASK kit. Full instructions arc
included with each ASK kit and a template is packed
with the AB8500 to show the location of the holes.
A single AB8500 requires a single ASK-300 to sus
pend it horizontally, or a single ASK-100 to suspend
it vertically. While each AB8500 requires two ASK-

100 (horizontal), or two ASK-300 (vertical), if mul

tiple cabinets are suspended (up to a maximum of 3).
Full attention should be given to the instructions and
limitations in the ASK instruction sheet.