Focal SM8 User Manual

SM8 USER MANUAL

Professional Digital Monitoring System

Français page 9

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SM8 USER MANUAL

An example of this equipment has been tested and found to comply with the following
European directives and international standards:

Electromagnetic compatibility

EN 55103
EN 61000

Electrical safety

EN 60065

CAUTION!
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
DO NOT EXPOSE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.

Important safety information

Please read carefully the following instructions and safety information. Heed all warnings and follow all instructions.

• Do not remove the back panel. There are no user serviceable parts inside; please refer to qualified service personnel.
This equipment must be earthed.

• Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where
they exit from the apparatus.

• Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.

• Servicing is required when the unit has been damaged in any way, such as power cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been
spilled or objects have fallen into the unit, the unit has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has
been dropped.

• Do not place naked flame sources, such as lighted candles, on the apparatus.

• Use the apparatus only in moderate climates (not in tropical climates).

• Do not expose the apparatus to dripping or splashing.

• Do not place objects filled with liquids, such as vases, on the apparatus.

Precaution

The SM8 uses a tweeter equipped with a Beryllium dome, allowing a frequency range extending beyond 40kHz. In its solid
form, Beryllium is harmless. However, due to its nature, certain special precautions should be observed to avoid exposure to
unnecessary risk:

• Under no circumstances should the Beryllium dome be subjected to any form of abrasive action. To ensure no accidental
damage to the tweeter dome it is advised to carefully replace the protection covers while not in use.

• In the unlikely case of damage to the dome, of any form, a wide piece of adhesive tape should be immediately used to seal
the whole front surface of the tweeter. The protective cover should then be replaced and also taped securely in place. You
should then inform the dealer from whom you purchased the product so that the tweeter can be removed by a professional
and returned to the product distributor for replacement.

• If the dome is broken in any way giving rise to loose particles of Beryllium, these should be carefully collected with the use of
an adhesive tape and sealed in a zip-top bag to be returned with the tweeter.

For further information, please contact Focal-JMlab directly:

[e-mail]

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Thank you for choosing the FOCAL SM8.
The SM8 is a world class Professional Digital Monitoring System.
It has been designed to offer superb imaging, outstanding precision and frequency extension, in a compact format
suitable for mid or near field monitoring.
This exceptional acoustic performance comes together with tremendous versatility, thanks to the digital nature of the
system with numerous controls accessible either from a computer or wirelessly from a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).
For both cases an easy-to-use and friendly programme is provided by Focal. Additionally and for simple gain control
and mute, a proprietary remote control is also available as an option.

INTRODUCTION

Unpacking

In addition to one loudspeaker and a user manual (such as this one), each carton should contain:

• A power cord

• A MIDI cord

• A CD-ROM

• A copy of the "Focal Manager" user manual

• A "quick start" leaflet

• A guarantee card

Please check that none of these items are missing, and remove all accessories from the carton.

To remove the loudspeaker from its carton without damage, open the end flaps fully and bend them right back. Then remove
the upper cushion and lift the loudspeaker out gently: please beware that one of the enclosure sides may hold a passive radiator
and thus handling of the speaker requires special care.

Inspect the speaker for signs of any possible damage. In the unlikely event of this having occurred please inform the carrier and
supplier. It is a good practice to keep the packaging in case of future transportation.

Preliminary recommendations

We would like to give a word of warning about the high sound pressure levels that can be generated by the SM8’s, especially
in a 5.1 configuration. Because of their low levels of distortion, and the minimal fatigue incurred by the user, it is not always
obvious to realise the actual sound pressure level whilst working.
Please bear in mind that exposure to excessive levels over a sustained period of time may lead to permanent hearing loss.

After having unpacked the unit, first check that the operating voltage is correctly set (see location on rear panel figure...).
If it is not, adjust the selector to the appropriate position. Also check and if necessary replace the fuse, which rating depends
on the operating voltage (please refer to technical specifications).

Warranty

This product is guaranteed against defects in components and workmanship only, for a period of one year from the date of
shipment to the end user. During the warranty period Focal will, at their discretion, either repair or replace products which prove
to be defective, provided that the product is returned, shipping prepaid, to an authorised Focal service facility.
Defects caused by unauthorised modifications, accident, negligence or any misuse are not covered by this warranty.
For further information please contact your dealer or the distributor in your country.

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PRODUCT OVERVIEW

The SM8 is a two-way active loudspeaker, comprising an 8" low/mid unit, loaded with a passive radiator of similar size,
and an inverted Beryllium dome (fig. A).
The integral electronics driving the 2 transducers is characterised not only by its exceptional level of performance but also
by features allowed by the digital signal processing it uses.
For example, crossing over is taken care of by a FIR (finite impulse response) filter, also called "non recursive", which is a DSP
technique allowing ultra steep (approx. 200dB/octave) roll offs with no phase shifts.
From the user point of view, this among other things means that whatever the orientation of the cabinets is (i.e. "portrait" or
"landscape"), the detrimental effects of directivity lobing around the crossover point will be kept minimal.
The attached pictures allow locating the main components, on the front and rear panels.

Rear panel description

As can be seen on the rear panel view (fig. B), two separate XLR-type inlets are provided for audio connections, one for an
analogue signal, the other one for a digital (AES-3 compatible) signal.
Both use the standard cabling scheme, namely:
Pin 1 = Ground (shield)

Pin 2 = In phase voltage ("hot")
Pin 3 = Out-of-phase voltage ("cold")

Selection of one input or the other is done automatically by the SM8 internal programme, with highest priority to the incoming
digital signal whenever it can be locked on.

Analogue input

The analogue signal is to connect to the dedicated XLR input mentioned above (inside the ANALOGUE IN box).
The sensitivity of this input is +4dBu, in accordance with standard professional audio equipment.
When this input is used the sampling rate of the internal A/D converter is 96kHz.

Digital input

The digital signal is to connect to the XLR input located inside the DIGITAL IN box.
This input will accept AES signal with sampling rates of 44.1, 48, 88.2 or 96kHz and the internal programme will update its
parameters accordingly and automatically.
As is known, the AES signal carry data for 2 separate audio channels (namely "Left" and "Right") so it is necessary to select
which one of the two is to be used (each SM8 deals with only one input channel): this is done by means of a two-position switch
located above the XLR connector.
When using the digital input, please bear in mind the usual recommendations applicable to digital connections, especially if
long cable runs are required: choose an appropriate (110 Ohms) cable, use an AES compatible distributor to ensure impedance
matching when several receivers are fed from a single source. Focal can supply an inexpensive passive splitter (please contact
your dealer).

Power on

Serial control input

Control mode switch

MIDI in / out connectors

Balanced analogue input

Left / right switch

A

B

Digital input

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SETTING UP THE SYSTEM

Control facilities

They are three different ways of remotely controlling a SM8 loudspeaker:

• Through an Infra-Red receiver, located on the front of the cabinet, below the midrange driver. This is the link provided for a
wireless control from a PDA. It will operate at distances of up to (approx.) 3 metres.

• Via a serial RS-232 port, intended to connect to a computer or the proprietary remote control unit.

• By means of a MIDI link, allowing data in and out.

Selection between those three operation modes is achieved by operating the three-position switch (IR, PC, and MIDI marks
respectively) located within the INTERFACE box of the rear panel.

The principle of operation of a complete system, as far as remote control is concerned, is based on a "master/slave" scheme.
One single loudspeaker is set to receive control information, becoming the master, and pass on the information to all the others
(slaves). All the slave units must be set to the MIDI switch position, and linked together to the master, in a daisy chain scheme:
MIDI cables will be used, going from the "MIDI OUT" connector of one speaker, to the "MIDI IN" connector of the next speaker.
The master unit may use either IR or PC modes, depending on the control source. Please note that the CONTROL switch
should be set before powering the speaker, proper operation is not guaranteed otherwise.

Initialising the whole loudspeaker system

Before starting to work with your SM8 system, you need to go through a quick initialisation procedure, in order to specify which
loudspeaker will be allocated a specific channel: please note this is for control data only, you still need to properly set the Left/
Right switch for the audio data if you are to use the digital input (see previous section).
Indeed, most controls can be set individually and independently for the various channels: this adds a great deal of flexibility
when it comes to tailor the system to your listening environment, as described in the next sections.
In case the initialisation is not carried out, the factory set default values are such that all speakers will respond to any controls,
regardless of the channels selected.

At this stage, it is assumed that all the loudspeakers are appropriately configured with respect to the CONTROL switch and
associated connections. One of them should have been configured as the "master", and all the others as slaves.
Make sure there are no audio connection, then turn the power on by pressing the switch on the back of the speakers: a green
LED indicator should come on.

Start the Focal Manager programme on the computer (or the PDA), and select the Initialisation menu.
If needed please refer to the Focal Manager manual, which details the software operation.
You will have to tick the boxes corresponding to the audio channels to be used in your actual configuration (except for the
Sub): Left, Right, Centre, Left Surround, Right Surround. You will then have to check for the serial numbers of the corresponding
speakers: they can be found on the back of each unit.
Finally enter these numbers in the relevant fields, but using only the last 6 numerical digits.
Once this is done and verified, click on the Send box.
Please note that the Subwoofer does not need any initialisation, as by definition it can only be utilised for this particular channel.