d&b E8 User Manual

E8
Manual (1.3 EN)

Symbols on the equipment

Please refer to the information in the operating manual.

WARNING!
Dangerous voltage!

Contents

Safety precautions...............................................................3

Information regarding use of loudspeakers...............................................3

E8 ..........................................................................................4

Connections.........................................................................................................5

Operation with D6 or D12.............................................................................5

Operation with E-PAC......................................................................................6

Dispersion characteristics.................................................................................7

Altering the HF horn dispersion.....................................................................7

Technical specifications.....................................................................................8

Manufacturer's declarations................................................9

EU conformity of loudspeakers (CE symbol)..............................................9

WEEE Declaration (Disposal)..........................................................................9

General Information

E8 Manual

Version 1.3 EN, 7/2009, D2030.EN .01

Copyright © 2009 by d&b audiotechnik GmbH; all rights reserved.

Keep this manual with the product or in a safe place so that it is
available for future reference.

When reselling this product, hand over this manual to the new
customer.

If you supply d&b products, please draw the attention of your customers
to this manual. Enclose the relevant manuals with the systems. If you
require additional manuals for this purpose, you can order them from
d&b.

d&b audiotechnik GmbH
Eugen-Adolff-Strasse 134, D-71522 Backnang, Germany
Telephone [phone], Fax [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail], Internet: www.dbaudio.com

Safety precautions

Information regarding use of loudspeakers

WARNING!

Never stand in the immediate vicinity of loudspeakers driven at a high
level. Professional loudspeaker systems are capable of causing a
sound pressure level detrimental to human health. Seemingly non­critical sound levels (from approx. 95 dB SPL) can cause hearing
damage if people are exposed to it over a long period.

In order to prevent accidents when deploying loudspeakers on the
ground or when flown, please take note of the following:

When setting up the loudspeakers or loudspeaker stands, make sure
they are standing on a firm surface. If you place several systems on
top of one another, use straps to secure them against movement.

Only use accessories which have been tested and approved by d&b
for assembly and mobile deployment. Pay attention to the correct
application and maximum load capacity of the accessories as detailed
in our specific “Mounting instructions” or in our "Flying system and
Rigging manuals".

Ensure that all additional hardware, fixings and fasteners used for
installation or mobile deployment are of an appropriate size and load
safety factor. Pay attention to the manufacturers' instructions and to
the relevant safety guidelines.

Regularly check the loudspeaker housings and accessories for visible
signs of wear and tear, and replace them when necessary.

Regularly check all load bearing bolts in the mounting devices.

CAUTION!

Loudspeakers produce a static magnetic field even if they are not
connected or are not in use. Therefore make sure when erecting and
transporting loudspeakers that they are nowhere near equipment and
objects which may be impaired or damaged by an external magnetic
field. Generally speaking, a distance of 0.5 m (1.5 ft) from magnetic
data carriers (floppy disks, audio and video tapes, bank cards, etc.) is
sufficient; a distance of more than 1 m (3 ft) may be necessary with
computer and video monitors.

E8 Manual, (1.3 EN) Safety precautions - 1

E8

The E8 is a high performance multipurpose loudspeaker employing an
integrated 8”/1” exit coaxial driver design with neodymium magnet and
constant directivity horn loading. The horn with its 90° x 50° (hor. x
vert.) dispersion pattern can easily be rotated through 90° providing a
50° x 90° pattern without the use of tools.

The E8 is a two way design with a built-in passive crossover network. Its
frequency response extends from 62 Hz to above 18 kHz.

The E8 enclosure is constructed from polyurethane integral hard foam
with an impact and weather resistant black paint finish. The cabinet
shape allows use either in a vertical or horizontal orientation as well as
deployment as a stage monitor.

Fig. 1: E8 loudspeaker

Fig. 2: E8 stage monitor setup

Fig. 3: E8 SC/WR versions
top and bottom view

NOTICE:

The front of the loudspeaker cabinet is protected by a rigid metal grill in
front of an acoustically transparent foam. The grill can easily be
removed without tools to modify the horn orientation.

The cabinet incorporates a handle, a pole mount socket and six M10
threaded inserts to connect to different rigging accessories like Z5350
E8 Flying bracket, Z5354 E8/E12 Flying adapter, Z5020 Flying adapter
02, Z5025 Flying adapter 03 or Z5351 E8 Horizontal bracket. An
additional M10 thread in the rear panel can be used to connect a
safety wire.

The connector panel of the E8 cabinet is recessed and tilted to allow
deployment as a stage monitor. With the panel on the right hand side,
the cabinet is oriented correctly.

Only operate E8 loudspeakers with a correctly configured d&b
amplifier, otherwise there is a risk of damaging the loudspeaker
components.

E8 cabinet options

The special color (SC) version of the cabinet is available in all colors of
the RAL color table. It comes without hi stand flange and handles. The
respective openings of the cabinet are covered by plates in cabinet
color. The connector type is NL4.

The weather resistant (WR) version is available in black only. It also
comes without hi stand flange and handles. It is equipped with a fixed
input cable (5 m / 16.4 ft, type H-07-RN-F 2 x 2.5 mm2/AWG 13).

E8 Manual, (1.3 EN) Page 4 of 10

Connections

-5

0

5

10

-10

-15

-20

-25

-30
20

100 1k 10k

20k

The E8 cabinet is fitted with a pair of EP5 connectors. All five pins of
both connectors are wired in parallel. The E8 uses the pin assignments
1/2. Pins 3/4 and 5 are designated to active subwoofers, where pin 5 is
used for SenseDrive (only available when using a D12 amplifier and 5­wire cabling). Using the male connector as the input, the female
connector allows for direct connection to additional loudspeakers.

The E8 can be supplied with NL4 connectors as an option.

Fig. 4: Connector wiring

Pin equivalents of EP5 and NL4 connectors and the fixed cable option
are listed in the table below.

EP5

NL4

Fixed cable (PG)

1 2 3 4 5

1+ 1– 2+ 2– n.a.

Brown (+) Blue (–)

Operation with D6 or D12

Select the controller setup E8.

On the D12 amplifier it is available in “Dual Channel” and “Mix
TOP/SUB” mode. For combinations with active subwoofers fed by a
single 4/5-wire cable "Mix TOP/SUB" mode must be selected.

Up to a total of four E8 loudspeakers can be driven by each channel of
the D6 or D12 amplifiers.

D6 and D12 provide the additional E8-X setup to be selected when E8
cabinets are used in combination with passive E12X-SUB subwoofers on
the same channel. The E8-X setup provides a dedicated correction for
the combined frequency response of these systems.

Selecting the E8-X setup enables a combination of up to three E8 or
E12X-SUB loudspeakers to be driven by the respective D12 or D6
channel.

In applications with low continuous levels and low ambient
temperatures up to four cabinets can be connected to a D12 channel.

Controller settings

For acoustic adjustment the functions CUT, HFA and CPL can be
selected.

CUT circuit

Set to CUT, the E8 low frequency level is reduced. The E8 is now
configured for use with E12X-SUB or E15X-SUB in active mode or other
d&b active subwoofers.

HFA circuit

In HFA mode (High Frequency Attenuation), the HF response of the E8
system is rolled off. The HFA circuit provides a natural, balanced
frequency response when a unit is placed close to listeners in near field
or delay use.

High frequency attenuation begins gradually at 1 kHz, dropping by
approximately 3 dB at 10 kHz. This roll-off mimics the decline in
frequency response experienced when listening to a system from a
distance in a typically reverberant room or auditorium.

Fig. 5: Frequency response correction of
HFA circuit

E8 Manual, (1.3 EN) Page 5 of 10

Fig. 6: Frequency response correction of
CPL circuit

CPL circuit

The CPL (Coupling) circuit compensates for coupling effects when
building closely coupled arrays or when the cabinet is used as a stage
monitor. CPL begins gradually at 1 kHz, with maximum attenuation
below 250 Hz, providing a balanced frequency response when E8
cabinets are used in arrays of two or more. The function of the CPL
circuit is shown in the diagram opposite and can be set in dB
attenuation values between –9 and 0, or a positive CPL value which
creates an adjustable low frequency boost around 65 Hz (0 to +5 dB).

Operation with E-PAC

Selecting E8 mode enables the E-PAC to drive up to two E8
loudspeakers. LO IMP mode configures the E-PAC to drive a maximum
of four E8 loudspeakers with a 6 dB reduction in input level to the
loudspeakers.

For acoustic adjustment the functions CUT and HFA can be selected. The
characteristics of the CUT and HFA settings are explained in the
previous section "Operation with D6 or D12 - Controller settings".

E8 Manual, (1.3 EN) Page 6 of 10

Dispersion characteristics

The graphs below show dispersion angle over frequency of a single E8
cabinet plotted using lines of equal sound pressure (isobars) at –6 dB
and –12 dB.

Fig. 7: Isobar diagram E8 horizontal,
standard setup

Fig. 9: Isobar diagram E8 horizontal,
horizontal setup with the horn rotated

Fig. 8: Isobar diagram E8 vertical,
standard setup

Fig. 10: Isobar diagram E8 vertical,
horizontal setup with the horn rotated

Altering the HF horn dispersion

The HF horn can be rotated through 90° within the coaxial driver
assembly.

CAUTION !

Potential risk of personal injury due to falling objects.

- Set the correct horn orientation before suspending the
cabinet.

- Do not remove the front grill while the cabinet is mounted or
flown above the ground.

Tools required: screw driver or an appropriate coin.

- Undo the quick locks at the top and bottom of the front grill and
remove the grill

- Pick the horn at its outer edges and turn it until it snaps into the
desired orientation.

- Relocate and fix the front grill.
CAUTION: Make sure both quick locks of the front grill are locked

correctly before using the loudspeaker.

E8 Manual, (1.3 EN) Page 7 of 10

Fig. 11: E8 frequency response, standard

390 [15.4"]

232 [9.1"]

223 [8.8"]

and CUT settings

Technical specifications

E8 system data

Frequency response (–5 dB standard).................................................62 Hz ... 18 kHz

Frequency response (–5 dB CUT mode)...........................................120 Hz ... 18 kHz

Max. sound pressure (1 m, free field) E8 with D12 .........................................129 dB

Max. sound pressure (1 m, free field) E8 with D6 or E-PAC .........................126 dB

(SPLmax peak, pink noise test signal with crest factor of 4)

Input level (100 dB-SPL/1 m)...............................................................................–13 dBu

E8 loudspeaker

Nominal impedance...............................................................................................16 ohms

Power handling capacity (RMS / peak 10 ms).........................................150/800 W

Nominal dispersion angle (hor. x vert.)...........................................................90° x 50°

Components..............................................................8“ driver with neodymium magnet

..............coaxial 1” exit compression driver with 1.75“ coil and rotatable CD horn

....................................................................................................Passive crossover network

Connections................................................................................................................2 x EP5

......................................................................................Optional and SC option: 2 x NL4

.............WR option: Fixed cable 5 m (16.4 ft) (H-07-RN-F 2 x 2.5 mm2/AWG 13)

Pin assignments.......................................................................................................EP5: 1/2

.............................................................................................................................NL4: 1+/1–

.............................................................................................Fixed cable: Brown + / Blue –

Weight..........................................................................................................7.3 kg (16.1 lb)

Fig. 12: E8 cabinet dimensions in mm [inch]

E8 Manual, (1.3 EN) Page 8 of 10

Manufacturer's declarations

EU conformity of loudspeakers (CE symbol)

This declaration applies to

E8 loudspeaker, Z0620

manufactured by d&b audiotechnik GmbH.

All production versions of this type are included, provided they
correspond to the original technical version and have not been subject
to any later design or electromechanical modifications.

We herewith declare that said products are in conformity with the
provisions of the respective EC directives including all applicable
amendments.

A detailed declaration is available on request and can be ordered from
d&b or downloaded from the d&b website at

WEEE Declaration (Disposal)

Electrical and electronic equipment must be disposed of separately from
normal waste at the end of its operational lifetime.

Please dispose of this product according to the respective national
regulations or contractual agreements. If there are any further questions
concerning the disposal of this product please contact d&b audiotechnik.

www.dbaudio.com.

E8 Manual, (1.3 EN) Page 9 of 10

D2030.EN .01, 7/2009 © d&b audiotechnik GmbH

d&b audiotechnik GmbH, Eugen-Adolff-Str. 134, D-71522 Backnang, Germany, Phone [phone], Fax [phone]