Electro-Voice SX80PIPIX EDS User Manual

Sx80PI
Sx80PIX

Weather Resistant
Two-Way Speaker Systems

• 8-inch woofer and DH2005 compres­sion driver for great sound and
reliable performance

• Constant-directivity 90° x 65° high­frequency horn with VariPath
geometry for uniform coverage

• Ring-Mode Decoupling (RMD
increased intelligibility

• 175-watt long term rms power
capacity (Sx80PI)

• 60-watt transformer with selectable
taps (Sx80PIX)

• Molded-in attachment points allow for
use with brackets

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Description

The Sx80PI and Sx80PIX are continuations
of the popular Sx80 speaker offering the
added value of weather-resistant cabinets.
The Electro-Voice Sx80PI is a 175-watt,
compact, two-way, high-ef ficiency, constant­directivity speaker system for permanent in­stallation. The Sx80PIX is the same as the
Sx80PI with the addition of an internal, 60­watt line transformer with selectable taps.
This allows for easy connection to 70-volt or
100-volt speaker lines in distributed systems.

Through extensive use of computer-aided de­sign and modeling, Electro-Voice engineers
have developed a state-of-the-art professional
loudspeaker system for permanent installation
where weather resistance is needed.

The high-frequency section of the Sx80PI
utilizes a molded-in 90° x 65° constant-di­rectivity horn. This unique pattern contrib­utes to high intelligibility and aims the speak­ers 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
throat geometry helps direct driver output to
the corners of the room, to points of cover-

TM

age 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
Sx80PI is the cabinet. Constructed of high­impact polystyrene it provides a stiff and
extremely durable enclosure. The cabinet
includes M6 threaded inserts for the optional
Sx80MB U-bracket.

It also has inserts for installing with an
OmniMount

The Sx80PI’s high-frequency horn is driven
by the DH2005 one-inch throat, wide-band­width, 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 20,000 Hz.

A self-resetting high-frequency protection
circuit, EV’s PRO™ circuit, is included with
the Sx80PI to prevent against accidental

®

Series 75 mounting system.

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 low-frequency section of the Sx80PI is a
203-mm (8-in.) direct radiating woofer in­stalled in an optimally-vented enclosure. This
results in exceptionally extended bass response
and high efficiency in a very small cabinet.

Ring-Mode Decoupling (RMD™)
Technology

The Sx80PI controls both acoustical and me­chanical ring modes to provide dramatically
increased intelligibility, using techniques
learned from the development of the
Electro-Voice 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.

High-Frequency Protection Circuit

The Sx80PI crossover includes the Electro­Voice automatically resetting PRO™
for high-frequency driver protection. This
circuit permits short-term transients to pass,

circuit

Sx80PI Two-Way Speaker System With Transformer

but protects the tweeter from long-term
power extremes that would normally destroy
the tweeter.

Enclosure Construction

The Sx80PI enclosure is contructed of very­durable High-impact polystyrene that is hard
to dent, scratch, or break. This enclosure
allows for molded in attachment points for
the optional Sx80MB mounting bracket
or for use with an OmniMount® Series
75 mounting system.

The enclosure is paintable to match any de­cor. It is recommended, however , that a small
area should be tested with the desired paint
in order to ensure that there are no adverse
effects and that the paint has sufficient ad­hesion. Care should be taken not to get paint
onto the woofer cone or into the horn throat.

Frequency Response

The combination of a 203-mm (8-inch)
woofer, a wide-bandwidth high-frequency

Sx80PI Two-Way Speaker System With Transformer

driver and an equalized crossover results in
the wide and smooth overall response shown
in Figure 1a. This response was measured
at 1 meter (3.281 feet), using a 2.83-volt swept
sine-wave input in a full-space anechoic cham­ber using the internal passive crossover. No
external equalization was used.

Figure 1a also shows the half-space measure­ment of the Sx80PI loudspeaker. This curve
gives an indication of how the system will
respond when mounted on a wall, which is a
likely application. This response was also
measured at 1 meter (3.281 feet), using a

2.83-volt swept sine-wave input using the
internal passive crossover. No external
equalization was used.

Figure 1b shows the full and half space
measurments with optional port covers in­stalled.

Port Covers

The two ports, between the horn and the
woofer, may be "sealed" in order to add fur­ther weather protection to the system. These
optional plastic port covers are included with
the system for use in situations where in­creased weather resistance is needed. This
will help prevent any moisture from wicking
through the foam- and mesh-backed grille

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and accumulating inside the enclosure un­der extreme weather conditions. The op­tional port covers and instructions are sup­plied with each system. It should be noted,
however, that once the port covers are in­stalled, the frequency response will change
to that shown in Figure 1b.

Connections

The Sx80PI is equipped with barrier strip
connectors with a cover. Care should be
taken to ensure that the correct polarity is
observed when connecting the Sx80PI. The
barrier strip is marked with + for positive
and - for negative.

Constant-Directivity Speaker System

The crossover frequency and speaker com­ponent 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-directivity
system. At higher frequencies the horizon­tal coverage pattern remains constant and the
vertical pattern smoothly transitions to a 90°
angle above 5,000 Hz. Response within the
90° x 65° rated coverage angle is uniform,
which means dependable audience coverage
without “hot spots” or dead zones at certain
frequencies. The 90° x 65° dispersion char­acteristic also helps avoid early reflections
from nearby floor or side-wall surfaces which
could degrade performance. The controlled
directivity of the high- and low-frequency
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 Sx80PI is the con­stant-directivity dispersion provided by the
90° x 65° horn. The polar response of the
system at selected one-third-octave band­widths is shown in Figure 2. These polar
responses were measured in a full-space
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
rectivity index, D

, are plotted in Figure 4.

i

and di-

Θ,

Power-Handling Capacity

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 Sx80PI passes ANSI/EIA
RS-426-A 1980 with the following values:

R

= 6.21 ohms (1.15 x RE)

SR

= woofer DCR = 5.4

R

E

= 175 watts

P

E(MAX)

Test voltage = 32.97 volts rms,

65.93 volts peak (+6dB)
The “peak” power-handling capacity of a
woofer is determined by the peak test volt­age amount. For the Sx80PI, a 65.93-volt
peak test voltage translates into 700-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.

Service

In the unlikely event the Sx80PI requires ser­vice, the woofer can be removed from the
front. The high-frequency driver can be re­moved by separating the front and the rear
halves of the enclosure and removing the bolt
that attaches the driver to the rear. A service
data sheet is available from Electro-Voice.

Sx80PI Two-Way Speaker System With Transformer

Suspending Sx80PI Enclosures

WARNING: Suspending any object is po-
tentially 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 r ecommends that the Sx80PI be sus­pended taking into account all current na­tional, federal, state, and local regulations.
It is the responsibility of the installer to en­sure the Sx80PI is safely installed in accor­dance with all such regulations. If the
Sx80PI 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 Sx80PI enclosure contains seven M6 in­serts and (see Figure 7) which are built into
the enclosure for the purpose of suspension.
These inserts can be used with either the
Sx80MB mounting bracket from Electro­Voice, or with an OmniMount
mounting system.

Sx80MB

The Sx80MB is a universal U-bracket de­signed to allow the suspension of the Sx80PI
at any angle and orientation from the wall or
ceiling (See Figures 7 and 8). It uses M6
inserts on the top and the bottom of the en­closure. There is an extra M6 insert on the
top of the enclosure for a safety chain. Full
instructions are included in the Sx80MB
engineering data sheet.

OmniMount® Series 75

Four M6 threaded inserts and screws are lo­cated on the rear of the Sx80PI for use with
the OmniMount

®

Series 75 support system.
A safety chain should be used to ensure safe
operation. Full instructions for the

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®

Series 75

OmniMount

®

Series 75 can be obtained

from:

OmniMount Systems Inc.
8201 South 48th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85022
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Transformer Settings (Sx80PIX)

A transformer and power selector switch are
installed in the rear of the enclousre. The level
of the Sx80PIX may be adjested by changing
the switch setting using a screwdriver. T urn­ing the switch clockwise increases the power.
Since the same switch and transformer are used
for either the 100-volt or 70-volt line, the
power setting depends upon the amplifier out­put that is used, 100-volt or 70-volt.

CAUTION: When connected to a 100-volt
line, do not use the switch setting marked
“DO NOT USE,” as this may result in ex­cessive power driving the Sx80PI or exces­sive distortion.

Weather Resistant Mounting

When mounting the Sx80PI in a location
where a weather-resistant system is required,
a minimum of a five-degree down angle is
recommended. (See Figure 9). This will
help prevent any moisture from wicking
through the foam and mesh-baked grille and
accumulating inside the enclosure under ex­treme weather conditions.

Architects’ and Engineers’
Specifications

The loudspeaker shall consist of a 200-mm
(8.0-in.) low frequency transducer in a
vented, trapezoidal-shaped enclosure: a
DH2005 high-frequency compression driver
with a pure titanium diaphragm coupled to a
90° X 65° constant-directivity horn molded
into the front baffle of the enclosure. The
system will use a passive crossover-equal­ize network with protection for the high-fre­quency driver. The loudspeaker shall meet
the following performance criteria: fre­quency response of 65 to 20,000 Hz, -3 dB;
maximum power handling. Non-transformer
version: 175 watts long term and 700 watts
short term; transformer version: 60 watts
long term and 240 watts short term with

switch selectable taps for 60 W , 30 W , 15 W,

7.5 W, 3.7 W and 1.8 W, with a shaped ran­dom-noise input per ANSI/EIA RS-426-A
1980; sensitivity of 92 dB SPL at 1 meter
with a 1-watt, 300-2,000-Hz pink-noise in­put; 6-dB-down horizontal coverage angle
of 90° + 34°/-27° in the 2,000- to 20,000-Hz
range; 6-dB-down vertical coverage angle of
65° + 31°/- 4° in the 2,000- to 20,000-Hz
range; crossover frequency of 2,200 Hz;
nominal impedance of 8 ohms and minimum
impedance of 7.2 ohms. Input connectors
shall be push pins. The enclosure shall be
constructed of high-impact polystyrene and
fitted with a powder-coated steel grille, and
M6 and M5 threaded inserts for optional ac­cessories. Dimensions shall be 400 mm (15.75
in.) high x 292 mm (11.5 in.) wide x 240 mm
(9.45 in.) deep. Net weight shall be 9.3 kg
(20.5 lb).

The system shall be capable of producing
average sound levels in excess of in the long
term, and short-term peaks.

The loudspeaker system shall be the
Electro-Voice Sx80PI (non transformer) or
Sx80PIX (transformer).

Uniform Limited Warranty

Electro-Voice products are guaranteed
against malfunction due to defects in mate­rials or workmanship for a specified period,
as noted in the individual product-line
statement(s) below, or in the individual prod­uct data sheet or owner’s manual, beginning
with the date of original purchase. If such
malfunction occurs during the specified pe­riod, the product will be repaired or replaced
(at our option) without charge. The product
will be returned to the customer prepaid.
Exclusions and Limitations: The Limited
W arranty does not apply to: (a) exterior fin­ish or appearance; (b) certain specific items
described in the individual product-line
statement(s) below, or in the individual prod­uct data sheet or owner’s manual; (c) mal­function resulting from use or operation of
the product other than as specified in the
product data sheet or owner’s manual; (d)
malfunction resulting from misuse or abuse
of the product; or (e) malfunction occurring
at any time after repairs have been made to
the product by anyone other than Electro­Voice Service or any of its authorized ser-

Sx80PI Two-Way Speaker System With Transformer

Sx80PI Two-Way Speaker System With Transformer

vice representatives. Obtaining Warranty
Service: To obtain warranty service, a cus-

tomer must deliver the product, prepaid, to
Electro-Voice Service or any of its autho­rized service representatives together with
proof of purchase of the product in the form
of a bill of sale or receipted invoice.

Incidental and Consequential Damages
Excluded: Product repair or replacement and

return to the customer are the only remedies
provided to the customer. Electro-Voice shall
not be liable for any incidental or consequ-
uential damages including, without limitation,
injury to persons or property or loss of use.
Some states do not allow the exclusion or

Figure 1a— Sx80PI Axial Frequency
Response, (full space and half space
anechoic environment, 1 watt (2.83
volts) /1 meter (3.281 feet) (open ports)

Sx80PI Two-Way Speaker System With Transformer

limitation of incidental or consequential
damages so the above limitation or exclusion
may not apply to you.
Other Rights: This warranty gives you
specific legal rights, and you may also have
other rights which vary from state to state.

Electro-V oice Speakers and Speaker Sys­tems are guaranteed against malfunction due

to defects in materials or workmanship for a
period of five (5) years from the date of origi­nal purchase. The Limited W arranty does not
apply to burned voice coils or malfunctions
such as cone and/or coil damage resulting
from improperly designed enclosures. Elec­tro-Voice active electronics associated with
the speaker systems are guaranteed for three
(3) years from the date of original purchase.

Additional details are included in the Uni­form Limited Warranty statement.

Electro-Voice Electronics are guaranteed
against malfunction due to defects in mate­rials or workmanship for a period of three
(3) years from the date of original purchase.
Additional details are included in the Uni­form Limited Warranty statement.

For warranty repair, service information, or
a listing of the repair facilities nearest you,
contact the service repair department at:
800/685-2606 or 501/354-0111.

For technical assistance, contact Technical
Support at 866/78AUDIO.
M-F, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Stan­dard time.

Full space
Half space

Figure 1b— Sx80PI Axial Frequency
Response, (full space and half space
anechoic environment, 1 watt (2.83
volts) /1 meter (3.281 feet) (closed ports)

Full space
Half space

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