Martin Audio W8LM User Manual

W8LM Mini Line Array

Mini, high performance three-way
line array enclosure

Century Point, Halifax Road, Cressex Business Park,
High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP12 3SL, England.
Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
All information is Copyright © 2006 Martin Audio Ltd.

www.martin-audio.com

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touring and theatre

features

 Mini three-way line array element
 Hybrid™ dual 8" (200mm) LF+MF configuration (-3dB@60Hz)
 LF+MF - 100dB @1W, 1m (single cabinet)
 Twin 1" (25mm) HF horn - 106dB @1W, 1m (single cabinet)
 Consistent 100º (-6dB) horizontal mid and HF pattern control
 Passive or biamp operation
 12 ohm system impedance, up to 4 cabinets on one amplifier channel
 Fast, integral rigging system with variable splay angles
 ViewPoint™ array optimisation software
 Factory controller presets for a wide variety of configurations
 Compatible with W8L and W8LC line-array elements
 Compatible with WSX, WLX and WMX subwoofers

applications

 Theatre Sound Reinforcement
 Live Sound Reinforcement
 Corporate Events
 Fixed Installations
 Delay systems for large scale outdoor sound reinforcement

The Martin Audio W8LM is a mini line array enclosure designed to bring line array performance benefits to a variety
of small and medium scale applications. It meets the need for a versatile, scalable system that can be flown or ground
stacked for corporate events, theatres and indoor venues. It is also suitable as a delay system for large scale outdoor
sound reinforcement.

Following the constant directivity horn design philosophy of the W8L and the W8LC, the W8LM is a three-way
system that combines line array principles with innovative horn loading techniques to produce a next generation,
small line array with maximum dynamic impact.

Amazingly for its size, the W8LM is a full-bandwidth system (-3dB @ 60Hz) and may be used without subwoofers
in many applications. Where additional low frequency extension is required, it is ideally complemented by ground
stacked WSX or WLX/WMX Hybrid™ folded horn/reflex loaded subs. Alternatively if flown sub-bass is required
then WLX/WMX Hybrid™ folded horn/reflex loaded subs may be used.

To achieve the vertical pattern required, practical line arrays are nearly always curved in the vertical plane –
invalidating some of the simplistic ideas about wavefront curvature associated with first generation line arrays. The
acoustic elements of the W8LM have been developed to have optimal wavefront curvature characteristics for real
world situations where higher degrees of array curvature are likely.

Whilst the W8LM is a three-way system, it can be driven two-way active or entirely passively via its internal
crossover, (selected by a rear mounted switch). To make system design even more cost effective, the W8LM is a 12
ohm cabinet and up to four cabinets can be driven off one channel of a professional quality amplifier such as the
MA2.8s or MA4.2s.

The minimum number of W8LM elements in an array is 3, but most applications will require blocks of 4, 8 or 12
elements, depending on the required output capability and
vertical coverage angle.

W8LM Mini Line Array

Mini, high performance three-way
line array enclosure

Century Point, Halifax Road, Cressex Business Park,
High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP12 3SL, England.
Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
All information is Copyright © 2006 Martin Audio Ltd.

www.martin-audio.com

2 of 5

touring and theatre

polar plots

W8LM Mini Line Array

Mini, high performance three-way
line array enclosure

Century Point, Halifax Road, Cressex Business Park,
High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP12 3SL, England.
Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
All information is Copyright © 2006 Martin Audio Ltd.

www.martin-audio.com

3 of 5

touring and theatre

frequency responses

W8LM Mini Line Array

Mini, high performance three-way
line array enclosure

Century Point, Halifax Road, Cressex Business Park,
High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP12 3SL, England.
Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
All information is Copyright © 2006 Martin Audio Ltd.

www.martin-audio.com

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touring and theatre

overall dimensions

W8LM Mini Line Array

Mini, high performance three-way
line array enclosure

Century Point, Halifax Road, Cressex Business Park,
High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP12 3SL, England.
Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
All information is Copyright © 2006 Martin Audio Ltd.

www.martin-audio.com

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touring and theatre

architectural and engineering specifications

The loudspeaker system shall be of the three-way
horizontally formatted line array type, switchable
passive/bi-amp. The low and mid frequency sections shall
consist of two 8" (200mm) cone transducers, one direct
radiating and reflex loaded and one front loaded by a
constant directivity mid-horn using a toroidal phase plug
and reflex loaded, with both sharing the same enclosure.
The drivers shall operate in tandem to produce low
frequencies up to 300Hz. Above 300Hz, the direct
radiator driver shall be rolled off by an internal passive
network and the horn loaded driver reproduce mid
frequencies up to 2.2kHz. The high frequency section
shall consist of two 1" (25mm) horn elements vertically
mounted to produce a low-curvature vertical wavefront.
The enclosure shall be constructed of heavily braced
multi-laminate plywood with all flying hardware integral
and captive. Bi-amp or passive operation shall be selected
by a switch at the rear of the enclosure. In bi-amp mode
the loudspeaker shall be operated with a separate
electronic controller providing a 2.2kHz crossover
between mid and high frequencies. In passive mode the
mid and high frequency sections shall be integrated by an
internal 2.2kHz crossover network.

Performance of the loudspeaker system with its
electronic controller shall meet or exceed the following
criteria:
Frequency response measured 1 metre on axis shall be
60Hz-18kHz ±3dB.
High frequency dispersion at -6dB points shall be
100˚H x 7.5˚V.
Power handling shall be 400W AES, 1600W peak FR/(LF
+ MF), 75W AES, 300W peak HF.
Rated impedance shall be 12 ohms FR/(MF + HF),
12ohms HF.
Maximum SPL measured at 1 metre on axis shall be
125dB continuous, 131dB peak.
Dimensions (W) 620mm x (H) 243mm x (D) 400mm
(24.4ins x 9.6ins x 15.8ins).
Weight 29kg (64lbs).

The loudspeaker system shall be the Martin Audio
W8LM.

NN oo tt ee ss
(1) Measured on-axis in half space at 2 metres, then referred to 1 metre.
(2) AES Standard ANSI S4.26-1984.
(3) Measured in half space at 2 metres with 1 watt input, using band limited pink noise, then referred to 1 metre.
(4) Measured in half space at 2 metres using band limited pink noise, then referred to 1 metre.
(5) Measured on-axis in open (4π) space at 2 metres, then referred to 1 metre.
(6) Measured in open (4π) space at 2 metres with 1 watt input, using band limited pink noise, then referred to 1
metre.
(7) Measured in open (4π) space at 2 metres using band limited pink noise, then referred to 1 metre.

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Due to Martin Audio’s policy of continuing improvement, we reserve the right to alter these specifications without prior
notice. Martin Audio is committed to refining state of the art sound reinforcement, combining in-depth product and field
applications research with advanced manufacturing techniques. Every Martin Audio product is built to the highest
manufacturing standards and rigorously tested to ensure that it meets the performance criteria specified in the design.

technical specifications (single enclosure)

TYPE Three-way, compact line array element
FREQUENCY RESPONSE (5) 60Hz-18kHz ± 3dB
DRIVERS: LF + MF Section 8" (200mm)/2" (50mm) voice coil, reflex-loaded

direct radiator
8" (200mm)/2" (50mm) voice coil, neodymium
driver, front horn loaded, rear reflex loaded

DRIVERS: HF Section 2 x 1" (25mm) exit HF compression drivers,

horn loaded

RATED POWER (2) LF + MF: 400W AES, 1600W peak

HF: 75W AES, 300W peak
Passive: 400W AES, 1600W peak

SENSITIVITY (6) LF + MF: 100dB

HF: 106dB
Passive: 99dB rising to 105dB at HF

MAXIMUM SPL (calculated @ 1m) LF + MF: 125dB continuous, 131dB peak

HF: 125dB continuous, 131dB peak
Passive: 124dB continuous, 130dB peak

NOMINAL IMPEDANCE LF + MF: 12 ohms

HF: 12 ohms
Passive: 12 ohms

DISPERSION (-6dB) 100º horizontal (down to 800Hz),

7.5º vertical

120º horizontal (down to 700Hz) @ -10dB
CROSSOVER 300Hz passive, 2.2kHz active or passive
ENCLOSURE Vertical trapezoid with 3.75º wall angle, multi-

laminate birch ply construction
FINISH Textured paint
PROTECTIVE GRILLE Perforated steel
CONNECTORS 2 x Neutrik NL4
DIMENSIONS (W) 620mm x (H) 243mm x (D) 400mm

(W) 24.4ins x (H) 9.6ins x (D) 15.8ins
WEIGHT (including rigging hardware) 29kg (64lbs)

accessories

ASF20001 Flying frame
ASF20002 Lifting bar
HAM09002 Groundstack bar
HTK175 Flying pin