Electro-Voice X-Array Xw12 User Manual

Xw12

X-ArrayTM Two-Way,
Full-Range Floor Monitor

• New 12-inch woofer design
provides improved internal
damping of cone

• New DH6, 1.4-inch compression
driver

• Rugged 12-ply ultracompact,
uniquely curved enclosure

• Constant-directivity 80° x 55° horn

• Professional Neutrik Speakon
paralleled pass-through connectors
on both ends of enclosure

®

Description

The Electro-Voice Xw12 full-range, two­way, floor monitor loudspeaker system is part
of the Electro-Voice X-Array
intended for high-level sound reinforcement
in fixed-installation and touring-sound
applications. The Xw12 is a full-range
biamped floor monitor speaker system which
may be used with the Electro-Voice Dx38
digital crossover, the Klark Teknik DN8000
or any high-quality, signal-controller system.
The Xw12 employs a custom-designed, 12­inch woofer for low-frequency reproduc­tion. Designed as part of the Xw12 devel­opment, this woofer uses a new cone mate­rial to provide maximum internal damping.
This woofer also employs "DL" technology
which utilizes a Thermal Inductive Ring, (TIR
a nonmagnetic pole piece extension that con­trols inductance and, most importantly, pro­vides a major heat transfer path from the top
of the voice coil to minimize power compres­sion. For high frequencies, the Xw12 uses the
DH6, a 1.4-inch-exit variant of the DH1A com­pression driver designed as part of the Xw12
development. Its unique one-piece geometri­cally optimized titanium dome and suspen­sion combined with its unusually powerful
magnetic motor provide maximum efficiency
and precise control of the diaphragm mo-

™

series and is

™

tion. The compression driver is coupled
to an 80º x 55º horn. This flat-front, constant­directivity horn is based on the Electro-Voice
HP series, and is geometrically optimized for
performance from 1,250-20,000 Hz.
The XW12 is constructed of 18-mm void­free, 3/4-inch 12-ply curved plywood shell
which is extremely rigid. The baffle and end
pieces are made from 18-mm 13-ply birch
plywood. This high-strength enclosure
is sprayed with a resilient, textured black
finish for a truly professional appearance.
The end-mounted, recessed handle makes
transportation relatively easy.

Applications

The XW12 loudspeaker system is ideal for
use as a professional stage touring or in­stallation application floor monitor where ex-

),

tremely high power and low distortion, as
well as accurate vocal coverage and maxi­mized intelligibility are required from a sys­tem housed in a compact, low-profile enclo­sure. Its symmetrical design will allow two
monitors to be placed head to head so that
the high-frequency horns are coupled for
high-level large stage applications. The
Xw12 and associated controller combina­tions are recommended for applications re­quiring full bandwidth down to 60 Hz.

Power-Handling T est

Electro-Voice components and systems are
manufactured to exacting standards to en­sure reliability in continuous use in arduous
real-life conditions. Besides utilizing indus­try-standard power tests, extreme in-house
power tests which push the performance
boundaries of the loudspeakers are also per­formed for an extra measure of reliability.
The XW12 systems are rated per ANSI/
EIA RS-426-A Loudspeaker Power Rating,
Full Range Test, which uses a shaped-ran­dom-noise signal to simulate typical music
to test the mechanical and thermal capa­bilities of the loudspeakers. The Dx38 digi­tal electronic unit was used to provide the
necessary crossover filters and equaliza­tion during power testing. Specifically, the
Xw12 passes the ANSI/EIA RS-426-A
power test with the following test param­eters:

Low-Frequency Section:

P

: 300 watts

E(MAX)

Test Voltages: 47.0-volts rms

94.0-volts peak

R

(1.15 RE): 7.36 ohms

SR

High-Frequency Section:

: 75 watts

P

E(MAX)

Test Voltages: 28.0-volts rms

54.0-volts peak

(1.15 RE): 10.5 ohms

R

SR

Xw12 T wo-W ay, Full-Range Floor Monitor

Crossover , Equalization and Time-Delay
Controller

The Xw12 speaker system was designed
as an integrated package that utilizes
the Electro-Voice Dx38 digital crossover
system.
The Dx38 features a 125-Hz crossover fre­quency utilizing 24-dB-per-octave
Linkwitz-Riley filters, and contains time
delay and equalization for optimum per­formance of the Xw12.

Electrical Connection and System
Wiring

Electrical connections to the Xw12 are
made on the sides of the enclosure via par­allel pass through 4-pin connectors. There
are two connectors on each of the input

Xw12 Two-Way, Full-Range Floor Monitor

panels to allow paralleling of other Xw12
systems. The Neutrik Speakon

®

NL4MPR
is used for both connections. The pin as­signments are as follows:

Pin 1+: LF(+)
Pin 1-: LF(–)
Pin 2+: HF(+)

Pin 2-: HF(–)
The wiring diagram of the loudspeaker
system is shown in Figure 7. The electrical
impedance is shown in Figure 6.

Amplifier Requirements

Power amplifiers with the following ratings
are recommended for use with the Xw12
speaker systems:

LF: 600 watts per channel into 8 ohms.

HF: 600 watts per channel into 8 ohms.
Xw12 speakers may be paralleled only with
other Xw12 speakers if the amplifier is ca­pable of delivering full power at the lower
impedances. The use of amplifiers with
lower power ratings is acceptable; how­ever, the full-power capabilities of the Xw12
speakers will not be realized. The use of
amplifiers with significantly higher power
ratings will generate maximum dynamic
range and fidelity, but care must be uti­lized for longer duration signals as mechani­cal and thermal damage are possible in the
system. Under certain circumstances, higher
rated amplifiers are acceptable. It is accept­able to drive the Xw12 speakers with a ste­reo power amp utilizing one channel to drive

2

the low frequencies and the other channel
to drive the high frequencies.

Field Replacement

The Xw12 may be serviced in the following
ways. Remove the grille to allow access to
both the woofer and high-frequency driver.
Remove the woofer bolts to allow the woofer
to easily be removed for repair or replacement.
In case of a compression driver failure, a dia­phragm assembly replacement kit is available.
T o remove the compression driver, remove the
horn-mounting screws. Remove the woofer
to gain access to the compression driver. Re­move the two accessable hex socket screws
attaching the horn to the driver through the
woofer cut-out opening. After removing the
screws, lift the high-frequency horn and ro­tate 180 degrees allowing access to remove
the remaining screws. Remove the compres­sion driver through the woofer cut-out open­ing. If desired, the complete driver may be re­turned for service.
The following replacement parts are avail­able from EVI Audio Service in Buchanan,
Michigan:
LF: Complete woofer: EV Part No. 812-2997
HF: Diaphragm kit: EV Part No. 84233-XX

Architects' And Engineers'
Specifications

The loudspeaker speaker system shall be a
two-way biamped system with performance
controlled by a variety of dedicated electronic
control units. The loudspeaker system shall
have a 305-mm (12-inch) direct-radiating
driver with an 8-ohm, 63.5-mm (2.5-inch)
voice coil constructed of aluminum wire, and
shall be capable of a 300-watt shaped pink­noise signal with a 6-dB crest factor for eight
hours (as per ANSI/EIA RS-426-A 1980).
The loudspeaker system shall have a 35.6-mm
(1.4-inch) exit compression driver mounted on
a high-frequency horn. The compression
driver shall have 76.2-mm (3.0-inch) diam­eter, titanium dome and a 16-ohm nominal,

76.2-mm (3.0-inch) di ameter voice coil con­structed of aluminum wire, and shall be ca­pable of handling a 75-watt, 1,600- 20,000­Hz pink-noise signal with a 6-dB crest factor
for eight hours (as per ANSI/EIA RS-426-A
1980 standard). The high-frequency horn shall
be of the constant-directivity type and shall

produce a nominal horizontal beamwidth
(6-dB-down angle) of 80° from 2,000-20,000
Hz and a nominal vertical beamwidth of 55°
from 1,600-20,000 Hz. The loudspeaker
system enclosure shall be constructed of 18-mm
thick, 12-ply flat birch plywood and .75-inch
thick, 12-ply curved birch plywood, covered
with black textured paint and shall have a
14-gauge perforated steel grille.
When used with the electronic control unit,
the loudspeaker system shall have a flat on­axis frequency response from 60 -16,000 Hz.
The loudspeaker enclosure dimensions
shall be 358.3 mm (14.11 in.) high, 584.2 mm
(23.00 in.) wide and 408.8 mm (16.10 in.) deep
and shall weigh 28.2 kg (62 lb).
The loudspeaker shall be the Electro-Voice
Xw12 .

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
Electro-Voice Service or any of its autho­rized service representatives. Obtaining
Warranty Service: To obtain warranty ser­vice, a customer 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. A list of authorized service repre-