EAW SB730 User Manual

KF730 & SB730 LOUDSPEAKER

OWNER’S MANUAL

PRELIMINARY

READ THIS FIRST

1.1 EC STATEMENT OF CONFORMITY

This document confirms that the range of products of Eastern Acoustic Works bearing the CE label meet all
the requirements in the EMC directive 89/336/EEC laid down by the Member States Council for adjustment
of legal requirements, furthermore the products comply to the rules and regulations referring to the
electromagnetic compatibility of devices from 30 August 1995.

The authorized declaration and compatibility certification resides with the manufacturer and can be viewed
upon request. The responsible manufacturer is the company:

Eastern Acoustic Works
One Main St.
Whitinsville, MA 01588 USA
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Whitinsville, MA USA 2003 April

1.2 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

The terms “Caution,” “Warning,” and “Danger” are used throughout this manual to alert the reader to
important safety considerations. If you have any questions about any aspects of these precautions, contact
your local dealer, distributor, or EAW. The following are the descriptions of the safety precautions.

CAUTION: describes an operating condition or user action that may expose the equipment or user to
potential damage or danger.

WARNING: describes an operating condition or user action that will cause damage to the equipment or
injure the user.

DANGER: describes an operating condition or user action that will immediately damage the equipment or
be extremely dangerous or possibly life-threatening to the user.

1.3 GENERAL PRECAUTIONS

WARNING: Some aspects of rigging and other related fields for which EAW manufactures, sells, or
distributes equipment are potentially hazardous. Any person using this equipment is personally responsible
for their own safety. EAW transactions are made with the assumption that the purchaser is a qualified
individual or will have only qualified individuals perform work with the equipment. EAW will not be liable for
any damages arising from the use of equipment sold to purchaser.

DANGER: Only persons with the knowledge of proper hardware and safe rigging techniques should
attempt to suspend KF730 and SB730 loudspeaker systems overhead. Failure to follow this precaution
may result in damage to the equipment, injury, or death.

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2. INTRODUCTION

The KF730 Line Array represents EAW’s latest technology for arrayable loudspeakers. The KF730 is a
small format line array system for venues with listener distances up to about 200 ft / 65 m. The KF730
Series is designed to provide the highest output possible from a compact line array format. The Series
includes the 3-way, bi-amplified KF730 full-range and the complementary dual 12 in SB730 subwoofer.

This manual provides information about the design, configuration, and operation of KF730 Line Arrays. It is
intended to be used in conjunction with the KF730 Wizard Windows®-based software. Please thoroughly
familiarize yourself with this manual. The more you learn and understand the KF730 Line Array the easier
you will find it to use. This is not so much because of any inherent complexities, but because it is actually
easier to use than most, if not all, array systems.

3. UNPACKING

3.1 CONTENTS

KF730
(1) KF730 loudspeaker
(6) Connecting Pins
(1) Owner’s Manual

SB730
(1) SB730 loudspeaker
(4) Connecting Pins
(1) Owner’s Manual

3.2 SHIPPING DAMAGE

After unpacking, if the loudspeaker is found to have shipping damage, save the packing materials for the
carrier’s inspection, notify the carrier immediately, and file a shipping damage claim.

Although EAW will help in any way possible, it is always the responsibility of the receiving party to file any
shipping damage claim. The carrier will help prepare and file this claim.

3.3 RETURNING PRODUCTS TO EAW

If the loudspeaker must be returned to EAW, contact the EAW Service Department for a Return
Authorization (See Chapter 7). Use the original shipping carton and packing materials. If the shipping
carton is damaged, contact EAW for a new carton, for which there will be a small charge. EAW will not be
responsible for damage caused by inadequate packing.

EAW KF730 & SB730 PRELIMINARY OWNER’S MANUAL Page 3 of 16

4. KF730 ARRAY DESIGN

4.1 KF730 WIZARD

Use the KF730 Wizard for designing KF730 arrays. It can be found in the Downloads section of the EAW
website (www.eaw.com). The Wizard’s primary function is to determine the configuration that will provide
the best vertical coverage for a given application. Various venue dimensions are entered that allow the
Wizard to calculate the resultant array performance. Given this information, the Wizard works in either of
two basic ways. For complete instructions about operating the KF730 Wizard, click on the About/Help
menu when running the Wizard.

Automatic Mode: The Wizard will select the optimum number of enclosures, enclosure splays, array aiming
angle, and fly-bar pick point. This can also be done for a given inventory of SB730s and SB730s. There are
variable adjustments for application-specific output levels and for level consistency for near-to-far listeners.

Manual Mode: This provides complete control over the array’s configuration.

4.1.1 Computer Requirements

The Wizard requires an IBM compatible PC with the Windows® 98, Windows® 98SE, Windows® 2000,
Windows® ME, Windows® XP, and Windows NT® operating systems. It is not designed to work with
Windows® 3.x, Windows® 95, or Macintosh® operating systems.

4.1.2 Wizard Results

• Graphical representations of the array and the venue

• Aiming splay angle between each pair of enclosures

• How to set the enclosure-to-enclosure rigging

• On-axis aiming angle for each enclosure as a difference from 0° horizontal

• Various angles and throw distances calculated from the venue’s dimensions

• Difference between the array beamwidth angle and the needed coverage angles

• Length of the array and trim height to the bottom of the array from the floor

• Pick Point on the Fly-Bar to achieve the calculated array angle when suspended

• Weight of the array

4.2 FILL COVERAGE

4.2.1 Up-Fill

Some applications, such as theaters and small arenas, can require up-fill coverage from the array. In this
case, the array is designed to tilt back for up-firing coverage from the topmost enclosures.

4.2.2 Down-Fill

Many applications require extreme down-fill coverage. In this case, the array is designed to have enough
curvature for the bottom KF730 to provide coverage almost directly beneath the array.

4.2.3 Horizontal Coverage And Side-Fill Arrays

Regardless of the length of the array, a KF730 array has a horizontal beamwidth (-6 dB points) of
approximately 110°, with pattern control maintained to a very low frequency.

The horizontal pattern also features “soft shoulders” that provide consistent frequency response to well
beyond the nominal -6 dB points. These soft shoulders can provide up to 150° of “usable” horizontal
coverage, albeit at somewhat reduced level. This off-axis performance also provides good acoustic
integration with side-fill arrays. In some cases, these shoulders may be sufficient for side-fill purposes.

4.2.4 KF730 Series as Side-fill Arrays

KF730 side fill arrays can be hung adjacent to the mains, extending the coverage to over 180° for wrap­around audience coverage.

Page 4 of 16 EAW KF730 & SB730 PRELIMINARY OWNER’S MANUAL

4.3 GROUND STACKING

Normally, a ground-stacked KF730 main array is used where suspension is not possible, too difficult, or too
time consuming. Additional uses are as stage side fills and audience front fill.

Both KF730s and SB730s may be ground-stacked alone or in combination. In combination, always stack
the KF730s on top of the SB730s. The recommended minimum and maximum array quantities are:

Array Min Max

KF730 alone 2 6
SB730 alone 1 4
KF730 / SB730 2/1 4 / 2

4.4 SUBWOOFERS

4.4.1 General Considerations

Although the impressive low frequency performance of KF730 Series arrays allows them to be used without
subwoofers for some events, subwoofers will normally be used for live musical performances. The
recommended subwoofers are EAW’s SB730, specifically designed to complement KF730 line arrays.

NOTE: Bass performance is often highly program or venue-dependent, as well as subjective as to quantity
and quality. For this reason the type, quantity, and disposition of subwoofers may vary considerably with
the application. The quantity recommendations below are for general purposes, providing a balanced
system for most music applications. Quantities may need to be adjusted up or down for specific situations.

4.4.2 SB730 Subwoofers

SB730 subwoofers are designed to complement the KF730 loudspeakers to both extend the low frequency
response and provide more output for the upper low frequencies. The SB730 subwoofers may either be
ground stacked, flown as part of a KF730 array, or flown separately alongside a KF730 array.

A general recommendation is to use KF730s and SB730s in a ratio of 3 KF730s to 2 SB730s.

4.4.3 Suspending SB730 Subwoofers

The SB730 enclosure rigging is designed to directly couple to a KF730 Fly-Bar and KF730 enclosures. As
such, the SB730 can be rigged seamlessly with KF730s.

When flown as part of a KF730 array, the SB730s should be the uppermost enclosures in the array. In this
application, the SB730s are suspended flat-fronted, with the KF730s suspended below in their curved line.

When flown separately, SB730s should be flown so that the spacing between the line of SB730 enclosures
and KF730 enclosures is about 1 ft / 0.3 m. The SB730 should be suspended in a flat-fronted configuration.

4.4.4 Other Subwoofers

Other subwoofers, such as the EAW’s SBX220, SB1000zRi, or BH760, can also be used with KF730s. For
Recommended quantities of KF730 for each subwoofer are:

Model Subwoofer KF730

SBX220 2 3
BH760 1 4
SB100zRi 1 2

4.4.5 Signal Delay on Subwoofers

If SB730 or other subwoofers are used with KF730s, it will usually be necessary to apply overall signal
delay to the either the processor’s subwoofer outputs or KF730 outputs in order to synchronize the outputs
of the subwoofers with the KF730s.

EAW KF730 & SB730 PRELIMINARY OWNER’S MANUAL Page 5 of 16