Genelec 1238AC Operating Manual

1238AC

Operating Manual

Genelec 1238AC
Smart Active Monitor

Genelec 1238AC Operating Manual

Introduction

Congratulations and thank you for

choosing Genelec!

Since 1978, Genelec has been guided

by a single idea – to make perfect

active monitors that deliver neutral and

accurate sound in every kind of acoustical

environment. In Genelec’s quest for this

ultimate goal, our unrivalled commitment

to research and development has led us

to continuously develop innovative driver

technology, electronic circuitry, enclosure

designs and more.

Our design philosophy is based on

sustainability and environmental values,

where industrial design serves our

products' acoustical performance. Your

Genelec product has been designed and

manufactured with care in our factory, in

Finland, using environmentally efficient

solutions to give you reliable operation

over many years.

Please take the time to read this manual.

Happy monitoring!

General Description

The Genelec 1238AC is a three-way

monitoring system for medium sized control

rooms. It performs well as free-standing

monitor as well as ush-mounted in control

room walls. It is suited for recording, lm

and video post-production, broadcast

monitoring as well as for mastering.

The unique Directivity Control

Waveguide™ (DCW™) technology by

Genelec provides excellent stereo imaging

and neutral frequency response even in

dicult acoustics.

With program material at a 2 meter

listening distance, the fast low distortion

ampliers drive a stereo system to peak

sound levels in excess of 124 dB SPL.

The 1238AC is fully compatible with

Genelec Loudspeaker Manager GLM™ and

the proprietary Genelec control network.

It can be used with 8200-series SAM

monitors and 7200-series SAM subwoofers

in the same network.

Drivers and Cabinet

Construction

The 1238AC reproduces low frequencies

with dual 250 mm (10 in) woofers in a 110

litre bass reex enclosure. The proprietary

130 mm (5 in) direct radiating midrange

driver, and a 25 mm (1 in) metal dome

tweeter are acoustically loaded by the

proprietary Directivity Control Waveguide.

All drivers are magnetically shielded.

Amplifiers and Signal

Processing

The 1238AC uses the RAM-L amplier unit.

The RAM-L is designed to be mounted in

a 19 inch rack. Digital signal processing

in the RAM-L amplier unit is done with

high precision algorithms, and includes

driver and amplier overload protection.

The room response compensations

include highly exible parametric lters,

level alignment, and acoustic delay

compensation. These allow accurate

matching to all console output sections

and room acoustics.

Operating Environment

These monitors and their RAM-L

amplifiers are designed for indoor

use only. The permissible ambient

temperature is 15-35 degrees Celsius (50-

95°F) and permissible relative humidity

between 20% and 80%. Humidity

condensation on the product is not

allowed during use. For instance, if the

product has been stored or transported

in a cool environment and then taken into

a warm room, it must be allowed to warm

up to the ambient temperature before

connecting to mains power.

Mounting Considerations

Place the monitor so that its acoustic axes

are aimed towards the listening position

(see Figures 1 and 2). Place monitors

with left-right symmetry and at an equal

distance from the listening position.

L

LISTENING

POSITION

MICROPHONE

GLM
NETWORK

GLM
NETWORK

GLM
NETWORK

USB

RAM-L

INPUT

CONNECTORS

0

30

R

0- 0

100 120

C

Figure 1. The location of the acoustic axis.

LS

RS

Figure 2. Recommended placement

and alignment of monitors in a 5-chan-

nel system (ITU-R BS.775-1)

Cable gauge Max. length

2.0 mm2 (14 AWG) 30 m (100 ft)

3.3 mm2 (12 AWG) 40 m (130 ft)

5.3 mm2 (10 AWG) 60 m (200 ft)

Table 1. Recommended cable thicknesses

for dierent lengths of signal cable

Acoustic reections from objects close

to monitors and the listening position

can cause colouration and blurring of the

sound image. Symmetrical positioning of

reective objects maintains good stereo

imaging. When sot (ush) mounting, the

wall surface should extend to the monitor,

forming a continuous surface.

Figure 3. GLM network cabling

ANALOG
AUDIO
INPUT

ANALOG

IN

DIGITALIN

AES/EBU

www.genelec.com

MADEIN FINLAND

DIGITAL
AUDIO

DIGITAL
THRU
CONNECTOR

1

GND

2

+

-

3

IN

1

23

THRU

213

DIGITAL THRU

AES/EBU

CONTROL
NETWORK

CONTROLNETWORK

CONNECTONLYTOGENELEC NETWORK.

Figure 4. Connector panel of the RAM-L amplier.

LOUDSPEAKER CONNECTOR GROUP

LED CONNECTOR

LOUDSPEAKER CONNECTORS

WOOFER

LOUDSPEAKER

CONNECTOR

CONSULTOPERATING

MANUALBEFORE

OPENING !

DIRECT

MIDRANGE /

TWEETER

SERIALNUMBER

MAINS INPUT
50 /60Hz 750 W
100 - 230 V~

RAM-L AMPLIFIER

MODULE

MAINS
CONNECTOR

Minimum Clearances

The ambient temperature around the

amplifier must not exceed 35 degrees

Celsius (95°F).

When the RAM-L amplier is mounted

in a 19 in rack, the minimum free space is

1/2 U both above and below the amplier

and both sides of the amplier fully open

to enable free movement of air. Use the

included rack mount front plate to ensure

sufficient space above and below the

amplier.

When the RAM-L is mounted on a table,

shelf or similar solid surface, there must

be a free space of at least 250 mm (10

in) above and 10 cm (4 in) on both sides

of the amplifier. Free air flow must be

possible in the front side of the amplier.