Sx500+
400-Watt Two-Way Speaker System
•Ring-Mode Decoupling (RMDTM) Technology for increased intelligibility
•Durable structural-foam enclosure with integral handles and stand mount
•DL15Sx 15-inch woofer and DH2T compression driver for great sound and reliable performance
•Asymmetric constant-directivity
75° x 60° high-frequency horn
•Asymmetric horn-loaded woofer section
•400-watt long-term rms power capacity
•Molded-in attachment points for secure suspension with optional brackets
•Dual Neutrik Speakon® high-current connectors
•Biampable, passive network with PRO™ circuit for high-frequency driver protection
Description
The Electro-Voice Sx500+ is a 400-watt, 15-inch two-way, biampable, high-effi- ciency, constant-directivity speaker system featuring a vented-horn woofer section. Through extensive use of computer-aided design and modeling, Electro-Voice engineers have developed a state-of-the-art professional loudspeaker system.
The high-frequency section of the Sx500+ utilizes a molded-in 75° x 60° constant-di- rectivity horn which is aimed downward by 10°. This unique pattern contributes to high intelligibility and aims the speaker's output where it is most useful. Vocals sound natural yet “cut through” in reverberant, noisy rooms. In addition, the coverage pattern is unusually uniform over its range of operation. The horn’s unique, VariPath TM throat geometry helps direct driver output to the corners of the room, to points of coverage not described in the usual specifications of horizontal and vertical coverage angles, and to parts of the audience that typically do not receive the strongest coverage.
One of the many other unique features of the Sx500+ is the cabinet. Constructed of highimpact polypropylene structural foam, it provides a stiff and extremely durable enclosure.
The cabinet includes integral carrying handles and a stand socket for mounting on 1 3/8-inch stands such as the Electro-Voice 100BK. Rubber feet that are attached to the bottom of the cabinet and mating sockets that are molded into the top provide a means of stacking systems. The shaped plastic cabinet, in combination with the uniform, 75° x 60° directivity characteristics, make the Sx500+ ideal for use alone or in arrays.
The Sx500+’s high-frequency horn is driven by the DH2T one-inch throat, wide-band- width, titanium-diaphragm driver. This driver uses a unique, convex-drive Time Path™ phasing plug structure (U.S. Patent #4,525,604) for smooth and extended highfrequency performance. The voice coil is coupled to the diaphragm with EV’s exclusive Resonant Drive™ Technology. This increases and smooths the high-frequency response and reduces the amount of internal equalization required for flat frequency response, which extends to 16,000 Hz.
A self-resetting high-frequency protection circuit, EV’s PRO™ circuit, is included with the Sx500+ to prevent against accidental overdrive and improve system reliability. If the input power to the high-frequency driver exceeds the nominal rating, the protection circuit is activated and reduces the power
delivered to the driver by 6 dB. The system will remain in this mode of operation until the input power is reduced to a safe level.
The bass section of the Sx500+ is a ventedhorn design using Thiele-Small parameters for solid performance to 43 Hz. This horn provides directivity control for the woofer section and matches the asymmetry of the high-frequency section. The 381-mm (15-in.) DL15Sx woofer used is a specially designed unit featuring an extended-length voice coil and high-temperature construction materials. The system combines profes- sional-quality components, arranged in an unusually durable Thiele-Small-aligned vented enclosure. The result is clear and articulate, high-quality sound.
Ring-Mode Decoupling (RMDTM)
Technology
The Sx500+ controls both acoustical and mechanical ring modes to provide dramatically increased intelligibility, using techniques learned from the development of the ElectroVoice X-Array™ concert speakers. There is much less coloration of the sound from resonating sources, leaving only the intended sound to be heard by the audience. The most obvious implementation of RMD™ on the Sx500+ is the foam attached to the back of
Sx500+ 400-Watt Two-Way Speaker System
Sx500+ 400-Watt Two-Way Speaker System
the woofer grille.
Speaker Protection
The Sx500+ like all other vented systems experiences rapidly increasing cone excursion below the box-tuning frequency, while the acoustic output decreases rapidly. To ensure a long woofer life even when used at high power levels, it is recommended that some form of electronics be used to control unnecessary woofer cone excursion.
Graphic equalizers and active crossovers are two methods that can be used to prevent lowfrequency signal below band-pass from going to the loudspeaker. When using an active crossover, a high-pass filter with a cutoff frequency of 32to 45-Hz will provide the necessary protection. The filter should have a slope of at least 12 dB per octave. Such subpass band filters are found in many crossovers and equalizers manufactured by Electro-Voice, as well as other commercially available equipment.
Enclosure Construction
The Sx500+ enclosure is contructed of very durable structural foam that is hard to dent, scratch or break. The structural foam enclosure allows for the highand low-frequency horns, the stand mount and the suspension points to be molded into the enclosure. It also allows for three handles to be integrated into the enclosure.
Frequency Response
The combination of a 15-inch woofer, widebandwidth high-frequency driver and an equalized crossover results in the wide and smooth overall response shown in Figure 1. This response was measured at 3.05 meters (10 feet), using a 4-volt swept sine-wave input in an anechoic chamber using the internal passive crossover. No external equalization was used. Figure 1 has been averaged and corrected for 1 watt at 1 meter.
Connections and Biamping
The Sx500+ is equipped with two parallel Neutrik Speakon® NL4MP connectors. In the full-range mode, as supplied by the factory, pins 1+ and 1– are the inputs to the system.
Another system can be connected in parallel
by using the other connector. Care must be taken not to abuse the amplifier by connecting impedances which are too low.
The user may put the system in biamp mode by removing the input panel and moving a connector from the full-range mode to biamp mode, as noted on the crossover. In biamp mode, 1+, 1– are the LF inputs and 2+, 2– are the HF inputs.
Constant-Directivity Speaker System
The crossover frequency and speakercom- ponent geometries have been selected so that the directional characteristics of the woofer and constant-directivity high-frequency horn match at the crossover frequency to create a special system type — the constant-direc- tivity system. At higher frequencies, the horizontal coverage pattern remains constant and the vertical pattern smoothly transitions to a 60° angle above 5,000 Hz. Response within the 75° x 60° rated coverage angle is uniform, which means dependable audience coverage without “hot spots” or dead zones at certain frequencies. The 75° x 60° dispersion characteristic also helps avoid early reflections from nearby floor or side-wall surfaces which could degrade performance. The controlled directivity of the highand lowfrequency transducers also eliminates response irregularities caused by diffraction off nearby enclosure edges and, in combination with an essentially flat on-axis frequency response, produces a total acoustic power output that is uniform with frequency.
Directivity
A unique feature of the Sx500+ is the con- stant-directivity dispersion provided by the 75° x 60° horn. The polar response of the system at selected one-third-octave bandwidths is shown in Figure 2. These polar responses were measured in an anechoic environment at 6.1 meters (20 feet) using one- third-octave pink-noise inputs. The frequencies selected are fully representative of the polar response of the system. Beamwidth of the system utilizing the complete one-third- octave polar data is shown in Figure 3. Directivity factor, R , and directivity index, Di, are plotted in Figure 4.
Power-Handling Capacity
The Sx500+ is shipped in full-range mode using an internal crossover. In biamp mode, the long-term average power-handling capacity is as follows:
Low Frequency: 400 watts
High Frequency: 60 watts
Electro-Voice components and systems are manufactured to exacting standards, ensuring they will hold up, not only through the most rigorous of power tests, but also through continued use in arduous, real-life conditions. The EIA Loudspeaker Power Rating Full Range (ANSI/EIA RS-426-A 1980) uses a noise spectrum which mimics typical music and tests the thermal and mechanical capabilities of the components. Electro-Voice will support relevant additional standards as and when they become available. Extreme, in-house power tests, which push the performance boundaries of the woofers, are also performed and passed to ensure years of trouble-free service.
Specifically, the Sx500+ passes ANSI/EIA RS-426-A 1980 with the following values:
R = 5.76 ohms (1.15 x (RE + 1.86)) RE = woofer DCR
1.86 =horn-load impedance correction
PE(MAX) = 400 watts
Test voltage = 48.00 volts rms,
96.00 volts peak (+6 dB)
The “peak” power-handling capacity of a woofer is determined by the peak test-volt- age amount. For the Sx500+, a 96.00-volt peak test-voltage translates into 1,600-watts short-term peak power-handling capacity. This is the equivalent of four times the “average” power-handling capacity, and is a peak that can be sustained for only a few milliseconds. However, this sort of short duration peak is very typical in speech and music. Provided the amplifier can reproduce the signal accurately without clipping, the woofer will also perform accurately and reliably, even at these levels.
Amplifier Power Recommendations
As noted in the Power-Handling Capacity section above, the Sx500+ has a random-noise power
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Sx500+ 400-Watt Two-Way Speaker System
capacity of 400-watts long term (1,600watts peak) per ANSI/EIA RS-426-A 1980. The following guidelines will help relate this to an appropriate power amplifier output rating.
1.To use the Sx500+ to full capacity, skilled experts in sound-system installation and operation will obtain the best results if the power amplifier is 2.0 to 4.0 times the long-term average noisepower rating of the speaker system. For the Sx500+, this is 800 to 1,600 watts.
The caution cannot be made strongly enough, however, that this arrangement is only for experts or those who can discipline themselves against “pushing” the system for ever-higher sound levels and who can avoid “accidents” such as catastrophic feedback or dropped microphones.
2.A more conservative, “normal” amplifier size, which will produce audible results nearly equal to those of the “expert” recommendation, is 1.0 to 1.4 times the longterm average noise-power rating of the speaker. For the Sx500+, this is 400 to 640 watts.
3.To be very conservative, one can use an amplifier rated at 0.5 to 0.7 times the long-term average noise-power rating of the speaker. For the Sx500+, this is 200 to 280 watts.
Request P.A. Bible Addition No. Two (“Power Handling Capacity”) for more background on these recommendations.
Service
In the unlikely event the Sx500+ requires service, the woofer can be removed from the front. The high-frequency driver can be removed from the rear by first removing the input panel. A service data sheet is available from Electro-Voice.
Stand Mounting
When used on a stand, the stand must be placed on a stable surface. The stand must be rated to support systems of 38.6 kg (85 lb) or greater. It must have a base diameter of 1.22 m (4 ft) or greater. The bottom of the speaker should be no higher than 1.52 m (5 ft) from the bottom of the stand. The user
must be sure that safe use on a stand is not affected by wind or any other conditions.
The Sx500+ can be mounted on the 100BK speaker stand or any other stand with a
1 3/8-inch diameter shaft.
Suspending Sx500+ Enclosures
WARNING: Suspending any object is potentially dangerous and should be attempted only by individuals who have a thorough knowledge of the techniques and regulations of rigging objects overhead. Electro-Voice strongly recommends that the Sx500+ be suspended taking into account all current national, federal, state and local regulations. It is the responsibility of the installer to ensure the Sx500+ is safely installed in accordance with all such regulations. If the Sx500+ is suspended, Electro-Voice strongly recommends that the system be inspected at least once a year. If any sign of weakness or damage is detected, remedial action should be taken immediately.
The Sx500+ enclosure contains eight M8 x 1.25 inserts (see Figure 7) which are built into the enclosure for the purpose of suspension. Before the enclosure is suspended, these inserts are used to attach plates that hold the two halves of the enclosure together in addition to providing a way to suspend the enclosure.
The suspension kits that are available for the Sx500+ are listed below. Please refer to individual suspension-kit engineering data sheets for full details and safety information.
The first approach is to suspend individual Sx500+ enclosures. The Mb700 forged eyebolt attachment kit (see Figure 9) is an eyebolt suspension kit. It includes a top and bottom mounting plate to secure the two halves of the enclosure, in addition to the necessary hardware. Typically it will be necessary to attach two cables to the top eyebolts and to “pull-up” on the bottom plate. The Mb500 wall/ceiling mounting bracket (see Figure 8) encompasses the top and bottom of the enclosure with a bracket attached to the two plates to secure the halves of the enclosure. Additionally, it has features to make suspending the Sx500+ easier and more flexible. Electro-Voice recommends the use of the
Mb500 in all but the simplest situations. The Mb500 has supplementary holes to allow the Sx500+ to be attached to a wall or ceiling and aimed at an audience.
The second approach is to suspend multiple Sx500+ enclosures. The Sx500+ enclosure is not designed to suspend multiple enclosures from itself. If an “array” is required, then multiple Mb500’s must be used. Arrays may be constructed vertically by “daisy chaining” two Mb500’s from each other. The Mb600 horizontal array kit allows the easy and secure construction of horizontal arrays, using Mb500’s to support the enclosure.
Architects’ and Engineers’
Specifications
The loudspeaker shall be a compact ventedbox type. The low frequencies shall be reproduced with one horn-loaded DL15SX 381-mm (15-in.) woofer. The high frequencies shall be reproduced by a DH2T, highfrequency compression driver with a puretitanium diaphragm, coupled to a
75° x 60° constant-directivity horn molded into the front baffle of the enclosure. The system will use a passive crossover-equal- izer network with protection for the highfrequency driver. The loudspeaker shall meet the following performance criteria: frequency response of 60-16,000 Hz, –3 dB; power handling of 400-watts long term and 1,600-watts short term, with a shaped ran- dom-noise input per ANSI/EIA RS-426-A 1980; sensitivity of 100-dB SPL at 1 meter with a 1-watt, 300-2,000-Hz pink-noise input; 6-dB-down horizontal coverage angle of 75° + 14°/– 20° in the 2,000to 20,000Hz range; 6-dB-down vertical coverage angle of 60° + 11°/– 8° in the 2,000to 20,000-Hz range; crossover frequency of 1,600 Hz; nominal impedance of 8 ohms and minimum impedance of 5.2 ohms in fullrange mode. Paralleled input and output connectors shall be present, consisting of Neutrik Speakon® NL4MP connectors. The enclosure shall be constructed of polypropylene structural foam and fitted with a powdercoated steel grille, three integral handles, a stand socket for mounting on 1 3/8 -inch stands, rubber feet and mating sockets to facilitate stacking. Dimensions shall be 838 mm (33 in.) high x 673 mm
System Speaker Way-Two Watt-400 Sx500+
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