Meyer Sound Stella - 4 Constellation, Stella - 4C Constellation Operating Instructions Manual

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

Stella™- 4 Constellation™ Installation Loudspeaker
Stella

™

- 4C Constellation™ Installation Ceiling Mount Loudspeaker

LCS SERIES

Keep these important operating instructions.

Check www.meyersound.com for updates.

DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY ACCORDING TO ISO/IEC GUIDE 22 AND EN 45014

Manufacturer's Name:

Meyer Sound Laboratories Inc.

Manufacturer's Address:

2832 San Pablo Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94702-2204, USA

Declares that the products
Product Name: Stella-4

Stella-4C
Stella-188

Product Options: All

Conforms to the following Product Specifications
Safety: EN 60065: 2002

IEC 60065: 2002
UL 60950: 2002

EMC: EN 55103-1: 1997 emission (1)

EN 55103-2: 1997 immunity (2)

This device complies with EN 55103-1 & -2. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired operation.

Supplementary Information

The product herewith complies with the requirements of the Low
Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC and the EMC Directive 89/336/EEC.

Office of Quality Manager
Berkeley, California USA
May 1, 2007

European Contact: Your local Meyer Sound dealer or Meyer Sound
Germany, GmbH. Carl Zeiss Strasse 13, 56751 Polch, Germany.
Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Environmental specifications for Meyer Sound Electronics products

Operating Temperature 0° C to +45° C
Non operating Temperature <–40° C or >+75° C
Humidity to 95% at 35° C
Operating Altitude to 4600 m (15,000 ft)
Non operating Altitude to 6300 m (25,000 ft)
Shock 30 g 11 msec half-sine on

each of 6 sides

Vibration 10 Hz to 55 Hz (0.010 m peak-

to-peak excursion)

Made by Meyer Sound Laboratories
Berkeley, California USA

European Office:
Meyer Sound Lab. GmbH
Carl Zeiss Strasse 13
56751 Polch, Germany

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© 2007
Meyer Sound. All rights reserved.
Stella-4 Constellation Installation Loudspeaker Operating Instructions

The contents of this manual are furnished for informational purposes only, are subject to change without notice, and should not be con­strued as a commitment by Meyer Sound Laboratories Inc. Meyer Sound assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or inaccura­cies that may appear in this manual. Except as permitted by applicable copyright law, no part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without prior writ­ten permission from Meyer Sound.

Stella and Constellation are trademarks of Meyer Sound. Meyer Sound is a registered trademark of Meyer Sound Laboratories Inc. (Reg.
U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off.). All third-party trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective trademark holders.

Printed in the U.S.A.

Part Number: 05.161.005.01 A2

ii

SYMBOLS USED

These symbols indicate important safety or operating features in this booklet and on the chassis:

!

Dangerous voltages: risk of elec-

tric shock

Pour indiquer les risques résult-

ant de tensions dangereuses

Zu die gefahren von gefährliche

spanning zeigen

Para indicar voltajes peligrosos Instrucciones importantes de fun-

Important operating instructions Frame or chassis Protective earth ground

Pour indequer important instruc-

tions

Zu wichtige betriebs-anweisung

und unter-haltsanweisung zeigen

cionamiento y/o manteniento

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

1. Read these instructions.

2. Keep these instructions.

3. Heed all warnings.

4. Follow all instructions.

5. Do not use this loudspeaker near water.

6. Clean only with dry cloth.

7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accor­dance with Meyer Sound's installation instructions.

8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators,
heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus that produce
heat.

9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the grounding-type
plug. A grounding type plug has two blades and a third
grounding prong. The third prong is provided for your
safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet,
consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete
outlet.

10.Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched,
particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the
point where they exit from the loudspeaker or power
supply. The AC mains plug or appliance coupler shall
remain readily accessible for operation.

Masse, châssis Terre de protection

Rahmen oder chassis Die schutzerde

Armadura o chassis Tierra proteccionista

11.Only use attachments/accessories specified by Meyer
Sound.

12.Use only with the caster rails or rigging specified by
Meyer Sound, or sold with the loudspeaker. Handles are
for carrying only.

13.Unplug this loudspeaker during lightning storms or when
unused for long periods of time.

14.Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servic­ing is required when the loudspeaker has been damaged
in any way, such as when the power-supply cord or plug
has been damaged; liquid has been spilled or objects
have fallen into the loudspeaker; rain or moisture has
entered the loudspeaker; the loudspeaker has been
dropped; or when for undetermined reasons the loud­speaker does not operate normally.

CAUTION: To reduce the risk of electric shock,

!

do not expose this loudspeaker to rain or mois­ture. Do not install the loudspeaker in wet or humid
locations without using weather protection equip­ment from Meyer Sound.

iii

SAFETY SUMMARY

English

■ To reduce the risk of electric shock, dis-

connect the loudspeaker from the AC
mains before installing audio cable.
Reconnect the power cord only after
making all signal connections.

■ Connect the loudspeaker to a two-pole,

three-wire grounding mains receptacle.
The receptacle must be connected to a
fuse or circuit breaker. Connection to
any other type of receptacle poses a
shock hazard and may violate local
electrical codes.

■ Do not install the loudspeaker in wet or

humid locations without using weather
protection equipment from Meyer
Sound.

■ Do not allow water or any foreign object

to get inside the loudspeaker. Do not
put objects containing liquid on or near
the unit.

■ To reduce the risk of overheating the

loudspeaker, avoid exposing it to direct
sunlight. Do not install the unit near
heat-emitting appliances, such as a
room heater or stove.

■ This loudspeaker contains potentially

hazardous voltages. Do not attempt to
disassemble the unit. The unit contains
no user-serviceable parts. Repairs
should be performed only by factory­trained service personnel.

Français

■ Pour réduire le risque d’électrocution,

débrancher la prise principale de l’haut­parleur, avant d’installer le câble d’inter­face allant à l’audio. Ne rebrancher le
bloc d’alimentation qu’après avoir
effectué toutes les connections.

■ Branchez l’haut-parleur dans une prise

de courant à 3 dérivations (deux pôles
et la terre). Cette prise doit être munie
d’une protection adéquate (fusible ou
coupe-circuit). Le branchement dans
tout autre genre de prise pourrait
entraîner un risque d’électrocution et
peut constituer une infraction à la régle­mentation locale concernant les instal­lations électriques.

■ Ne pas installer l’haut-parleur dans un

endroit où il y a de l’eau ou une humid­ité excessive.

■ Ne pas laisser de l’eau ou tout objet

pénétrer dans l’haut-parleur. Ne pas
placer de r´cipients contenant un liquide
sur cet appareil, ni à proximité de celui­ci.

■ Pour éviter une surchauffe de l’haut-

parleur, conserver-la à l’abri du soleil.
Ne pas installer à proximité d’appareils
dégageant de la chaleur tels que radia­teurs ou appareils de chauffage.

■ Ce haut-parleur contient des circuits

haute tension présentant un danger. Ne
jamais essayer de le démonter. Il n’y a
aucun composant qui puisse être
réparé par l’utilisateur. Toutes les répa­rations doivent être effectuées par du
personnel qualifié et agréé par le con­structeur.

Deutsch

■ Um die Gefahr eines elektrischen

Schlages auf ein Minimum zu
reduzieren, den Lautsprecher vom
Stromnetz trennen, bevor ggf. ein
Audio-Schnittstellensignalkabel ange­schlossen wird. Das Netzkabel erst
nach Herstellung aller Signalverbindun­gen wieder einstecken.

■ Der Lautsprecher an eine geerdete

zweipolige Dreiphasen-Netzsteckdose
anschließen. Die Steckdose muß mit
einem geeigneten Abzweigschutz
(Sicherung oder Leistungsschalter) ver­bunden sein. Der Anschluß der unter­brechungsfreien Stromversorgung an
einen anderen Steckdosentyp kann zu
Stromschlägen führen und gegen die
örtlichen Vorschriften verstoßen.

■ Der Lautsprecher nicht an einem Ort

aufstellen, an dem sie mit Wasser oder
übermäßig hoher Luftfeuchtigkeit in
Berührung kommen könnte.

■ Darauf achten, daß weder Wasser noch

Fremdkörper in das Innere den
Lautsprecher eindringen. Keine
Objekte, die Flüssigkeit enthalten, auf
oder neben die unterbrechungsfreie
Stromversorgung stellen.

■ Um ein Überhitzen dem Lautsprecher

zu verhindern, das Gerät vor direkter
Sonneneinstrahlung fernhalten und
nicht in der Nähe von wärmeabstrahl­enden

■ Haushaltsgeräten (z.B. Heizgerät oder

Herd) aufstellen.

■ Im Inneren diesem Lautsprecher herr-

schen potentiell gefährliche Spannun­gen. Nicht versuchen, das Gerät zu
öffnen. Es enthält keine vom Benutzer
reparierbaren Teile. Reparaturen dürfen
nur von ausgebildetem Kundenienst­personal durchgeführt werden.

Español

■ Para reducir el riesgo de descarga eléc-

trica, desconecte de la red de voltaje el
altoparlante antes de instalar el cable
de señal de audio. Vuelva a conectar la
alimentacion de voltaje una vez efectu­adas todas las interconexiones de
señalizacion de audio.

■ Conecte el altoparlante a un tomacorri-

ente bipolar y trifilar con neutro de
puesta a tierra. El tomacorriente debe
estar conectado a la protección de deri­vación apropiada (ya sea un fusible o un
disyuntor). La conexión a cualquier otro
tipo de tomacorriente puede constituir
peligro de descarga eléctrica y violar los
códigos eléctricos locales.

■ No instale el altoparlante en lugares

donde haya agua o humedad excesiva.

■ No deje que en el altoparlante entre

agua ni ningún objeto extraño. No
ponga objetos con líquidos encima de
la unidad ni cerca de ella.

■ Para reducir el riesgo de sobrecalen-

tamiento, no exponga la unidad a los
rayos directos del sol ni la instale cerca
de artefactos que emiten calor, como
estufas o cocinas.

■ Este altoparlante contiene niveles de

voltaje peligrosos en potencia. No
intente desarmar la unidad, pues no
contiene piezas que puedan ser repar­das por el usuario. Las reparaciones
deben efectuarse únicamente por parte
del personal de mantenimiento capaci­tado en la fábrica.

iv

CONTENTS

Chapter 1: Introduction 7

How to Use this Manual 7
Introducing the Stella-4 7

Chapter 2: Connecting the Stella-4 9

The Stella-4 Connector 9

Loudspeaker Wiring with Belden 1502R Cable 9

The Stella-188 Power Supply 9

The Stella-188 Front Panel 9

AC Power 10
Voltage and Load Current LEDs (1–8) 10
Fuse Slow Blow (1–8) 10

The Stella-188 Back Panel 10

AC Input 10
Audio Input 11
Channel Outputs (1–8) 12

Connecting Stella-4s to the Stella-188 13

Chapter 3: Stella-4 Mounting Options 15

Important Safety Considerations 15

Use a Safety Cable with the Stella-4 15

Mounting the Stella-4 15

Mounting the Stella-4 with an MMB Bracket 16
Mounting the Stella-4 with an MMB Bracket and OmniMount 20.5 ST 16
Mounting the Stella-4 with an MAMB Adjustable Bracket 16

Mounting the Stella-4C 17

Installing the Stella-4C in a Backcan 17

Appendix A: Specifications 19

Stella-4 and Stella-4C Specifications 19
Stella-188 Specifications 20

v

CONTENTS

vi

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL

Make sure to read these operating instructions in their
entirety before configuring a loudspeaker system with
Stella-4s. In particular, pay close attention to material related
to safety issues.

As you read these operating instructions, you will encounter
the following icons for notes, tips, and cautions:

NOTE: A note identifies an important or useful

piece of information relating to the topic under

discussion.

TIP: A tip offers a helpful tip relevant to the topic

at hand.

CAUTION: A caution gives notice that an

!

action may have serious consequences and
could cause harm to equipment, personnel, delays,
or other problems.

Information and specifications are subject to change.
Updates and supplementary information are available on the
Meyer Sound website:

■ http://www.meyersound.com

Meyer Sound Technical Support is available at:

■ Te l: +1 510 486.1166

■ Fax: [phone]

■ Email: [e-mail]

Ω

INTRODUCING THE STELLA-4

The Stella-4 is a self-powered loudspeaker designed prima­rily for installations with the LCS Constellation system. Its
single 4-inch cone transducer, housed in a compact alumi­num die cast enclosure, delivers an impressive frequency
range of 100 Hz to 22 kHz and a maximum peak SPL of
108 dB (93 dB average) at one meter. Containing onboard
amplification and processing, the Stella-4 exhibits the same
high intelligibility and flat frequency and phase response
characteristic of Meyer Sound loudspeakers.

Stella-4 Loudspeaker

The Stella-4 receives balanced audio and DC power from a
five-pin Phoenix-style connector on its back panel. Meyer
Sound's patented Iso-Input™ transformer-isolated differen­tial inputs yield a high common-mode signal rejection ratio
(CMRR). Because the Stella-4 has been optimized to toler­ate voltage drops of up to 30% it can accommodate light­gauge cables and long cable runs.

Stella-188 Power Supply

The required method for delivering DC power and balanced
audio to the Stella-4 is with the Stella-188 Power Supply.
The single-space rack unit can accommodate up to 16
Stella-4s. The Stella-188 accepts balanced audio through its
25-pin D-sub Audio Input connector and outputs the audio,
along with 18 V of DC power, to its five-pin Phoenix Channel
Output connectors. The front panel of the Stella-188 has
LEDs for monitoring voltage output and connectivity to the
Stella-4s.

7

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

The Stella-4 can be easily mounted on ceilings or walls with
mounting accessories available from Meyer Sound and
third-party manufacturers.

Stella-4 Loudspeaker Mounted with MAMB Adjustable Bracket

The Stella-4C offers the same sonic capabilities as the
Stella-4 in a package specifically designed for flushmount
ceiling and wall applications, where it mounts in standard
8-inch backcans from third-party manufacturers. The
Stella-4C is housed in an aluminum die cast enclosure with
a heatsink on the back.

Stella-4C Ceiling Mount Loudspeaker

8

CHAPTER 2: CONNECTING THE STELLA-4

THE STELLA-4 CONNECTOR

The Stella-4 receives DC power and balanced audio from
the five-pin Phoenix connector on its back panel. The con­nector’s five pins include two for DC power (negative and
positive) and three for balanced audio (shield, negative, and
positive). These pins are clearly labeled on the Stella-4 back
panel. The connector accepts conductors up to 12 AWG
(American Wire Gauge) or 2.5 mm
Stella-4 requires DC power in the range of 12–18 V DC.

Stella-4 Connector

A single composite cable (such as the Belden 1502R) wired
for both DC power and balanced audio can be used to con­nect the Stella-4 to one of the Stella-188’s eight Channel
Outputs.

Each Stella-4 loudspeaker comes with one Phoenix cable
connector for making Stella-4 loudspeaker cables. For infor­mation on Stella-4 cable requirements, see “Cable Lengths
and Cable Gauges for Stella-4s” on page 13.

CAUTION: When wiring Stella-4 cable connec-

!

tions, make sure each pin in the connector is
wired correctly to avoid damage to the loudspeaker
and polarity reversal, which can affect system perfor­mance.

2

. To function properly, the

Loudspeaker Wiring with Belden 1502R Cable

When wiring Stella-4 loudspeaker cables with Belden 1502R
cable, make sure to use the conventions in Table 1. The red
and black wires in the Belden 1502R cable have a thicker
gauge than the other three wires and should be used for DC
power. The blue, white, and shield wires are shielded
together and should be used for audio.

Red: DC power (+)
Black: DC power (–)

White: audio (+)

Blue: audio (–)
Audio shield

Belden 1502R Composite Cable

Table 1: Wiring for Stella-4 Loudspeaker Cables with Belden 1502R

Wire Gauge Gauge

Red DC power, positive (+) 18 AWG

Black DC power, negative (–) 18 AWG

Blue Balanced audio, positive (+) 22 AWG

White Balanced audio, negative (–) 22 AWG

Shield Balanced audio, shield 24 AWG

Both ends of the Stella-4 loudspeaker should be wired so
that the pins in the Stella-4 connector align with those in the
Stella-188 Channel Output connectors (see “Channel Out­puts (1–8)” on page 12).

THE STELLA-188 POWER SUPPLY

The Stella-188 was designed to deliver eight channels of
balanced audio and DC power to up to 16 Stella-4 loud­speakers. The Stella-188 is a switched-mode regulated
power supply that occupies one space in a standard 19-inch
rack.

TIP: When connecting two Stella-4s to a single

Stella-188 Channel Output, you can daisy-chain
the cable of the first Stella-4 to the second Stella-4.
To do so, wire the cable connector plugged into the
first Stella-4 with both the cable connected to the
Stella-188 and the cable connected to the second
Stella-4.

The Stella-188 Front Panel

The Stella-188 front panel includes a power switch and
LEDs for monitoring each of the eight loudspeaker channels,
as well as a fuse for each channel.

Stella-188 Power Supply Front Panel

9

CHAPTER 2: CONNECTING THE STELLA-4

AC Power

The Stella-188 is powered on and off with the AC Power
switch.

Voltage and Load Current LEDs (1–8)

The Voltage and Load Current LEDs are useful for verifying
whether each of the eight Channel Outputs have voltage
and whether their connected Stella-4 loudspeakers are
receiving DC power and audio.

Stella-188 Channel LEDs and Fuses

Voltage LEDs (1–8)

The blue Voltage LEDs indicate whether voltage is present
for each of the eight loudspeaker channels. These LEDs
should be lit when the Stella-188 is powered on. If a channel
is not lit, its fuse may need to be replaced. If a group of four
Voltage LEDs is not lit (either 1–4 or 5–9), one of the two
Stella-188's internal power supplies may have failed.

The Stella-188 Back Panel

The Stella-188 back panel includes an AC connector, an
Audio Input connector for receiving up to eight channels of
source audio, and eight Channel Output connectors that can
deliver DC power and balanced audio to up to 16 Stella-4
loudspeakers.

Stella-188 Power Supply Back Panel

AC Input

The Stella-188 has an international standard IEC-320 AC
inlet (line, neutral/line, earth). The inlet can accept different
power chord types for outlets used throughout the world.
Make sure to use the correct power chord for the AC power
in your area. The Stella-188 operates at an AC voltage range
of 100–240 V at 50–60 Hz.

Stella-188 Current Draw

The Stella-188 Power Supply presents a dynamic load to the
AC mains, which causes its current draw to fluctuate as vol­ume levels change. Since different cables and circuit break­ers heat up at varying rates, it is important to understand the
following types of current ratings and how they affect circuit
breaker and cable specifications.

Load Current LEDs (1–8)

The green Load Current LEDs indicate whether a loud­speaker is connected to the channel and receiving power.
As a channel's audio signal increases, its LED becomes
brighter. If an LED is not lit, check that the channel's Voltage
LED is lit (the fuse is working) and verify the cable connec­tion to the loudspeaker.

Fuse Slow Blow (1–8)

Each loudspeaker channel is protected with its own fuse. A
maximum of two loudspeakers can be connected per chan­nel; connecting more than that could cause the fuse to be
tripped. If you have to replace a fuse, make sure to use a 4­amp, 250-volt slow-blow fuse (T4A-250V). These fuses are
available from Meyer Sound (PN 420.022).

■ Idle Current — The maximum rms current during idle

periods.

■ Maximum Long-Term Continuous Current — The

maximum rms current during a period of at least 10 sec­onds. The Maximum Long-Term Continuous Current is
used to calculate temperature increases for cables, to
ensure that cable sizes and gauges conform to electrical
code standards. It is also used as a rating for slow-react­ing thermal breakers.

■ Burst Current — The maximum rms current during a

period of around one second. The Burst Current is used
as a rating for magnetic breakers. It is also used for cal­culating the peak voltage drop in long AC cable runs,
according to the following formula:

V pk (drop) = I pk x R (cable total)

■ Ultimate Short-Term Peak Current — A rating for fast-

reacting magnetic breakers.

■ Inrush Current — The spike of initial current presented

when powering on.

10

STELLA-4 OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

You can use the following tables as a guide for selecting
cable gauges and circuit breaker ratings for the system’s
operating voltage.

Current Draw for Stella-188 with Eight Stella-4s

Current Draw
(Eight Stella-4s)

Idle Current 0.583 A rms 0.550 A rms 0.659 A rms

Maximum Long-Term
Continuous Current

Burst Current 2.4 A rms 1.4 A rms 2.8 A rms

Ultimate Short-Term
Current

Inrush Current 17.2 A peak 17.0 A peak 18.4 A peak

Current Draw for Stella-188 with 16 Stella-4s

Current Draw
(16 Stella-4s)

Idle Current 0.943 A rms 0.751 A rms 1.078 A rms

Maximum Long-Term
Continuous Current

Burst Current 5.2 A rms 3.0 A rms 6.7 A rms

Ultimate Short-Term
Current

Inrush Current 17.2 A peak 17.0 A peak 18.4 A peak

115

V AC

2.2 A rms 1.2 A rms 2.5 A rms

6.8 A peak 3.5 A peak 7.6 A peak

115

V AC

4.5 A rms 2.15 A rms 5.5 A rms

13.0 A peak 9.0 A peak 15.0 A peak

230

V AC

230

V AC

100

V AC

100

V AC

Safety Issues

Pay close attention to these important electrical and safety
issues.

■ The Stella-188 requires a grounded outlet.

Earth ground

Chassis ground

■ Do not use a ground-lifting adapter or cut the AC cable

ground pin.

The minimum electrical service amperage required by a
Stella-188 is the sum of the Maximum Long-Term Continu­ous Current for all Stella-4s connected to the Stella-188. An
additional 30% above the minimum amperage is recom­mended to prevent peak voltage drops at the service entry.

NOTE: For best performance, the AC cable

voltage drop should not exceed 10 V, or 10%
at 115 V and 5% at 230 V. Make sure that even with
AC voltage drops that the AC voltage always remains
within the operating window.

■ Keep all liquids away from the Stella-188 to avoid haz-

ards from electrical shock.

■ Do not operate the unit if the power cables are frayed or

broken.

Audio Input

Up to eight channels of balanced audio are received via the
Stella-188’s Audio Input connector. Each of the eight audio
channels is hard-wired to the corresponding Stella-188
Channel Outputs, thereby allowing for easy distribution of
discrete audio channels for Constellation installations.

Stella-188 Audio Input

11

CHAPTER 2: CONNECTING THE STELLA-4

The Audio Input connector requires either a 25-pin D-sub to
8-channel audio snake, or 25-pin D-sub to D-sub cable for
connecting directly to audio processors.

Meyer Sound manufacturers the following cables that can
be used with the Stella-188 Audio Input connector (for more
information, contact Meyer Sound).

■ D-sub male to D-sub male cable, 0.5 meters

(PN 28.167.012.01)

■ D-sub male to D-sub male cable, 1 meter

(PN 28.167.012.02)

■ D-sub male to D-sub male cable, 2 meters

(PN 28.167.012.03)

■ D-sub male to XLR female cable, 10 feet

(PN 28.139.009.01)

You can also make your own audio cables for connecting to
the Stella-188. The Audio Input connector uses the following
Tascam DA-88 wiring scheme.

Table 2: Pin Outputs for Stella-188 Audio Input Connector

Channel
Number

1 D-sub 25 D-sub 24 D-sub 12

2 D-sub 11 D-sub 10 D-sub 23

3 D-sub 22 D-sub 21 D-sub 9

4 D-sub 8 D-sub 7 D-sub 20

5 D-sub 19 D-sub 18 D-sub 6

6 D-sub 5 D-sub 4 D-sub 17

7 D-sub 16 D-sub 15 D-sub 3

8 D-sub 2 D-sub 1 D-sub 14

XLR Pin 1

(Chassis)

XLR Pin 2

(Hot)

XLR Pin 3

(Cold)

Channel Outputs (1–8)

Stella-188 Channel Outputs

The eight Channel Outputs deliver DC power (18 V DC) and
balanced audio to up to eight loudspeaker channels. Each
Channel Output can drive up to two Stella-4 loudspeakers.
The Channel Outputs use five-pin Phoenix connectors with
three pins for balanced audio (positive, negative, and shield)
and two for DC Power (positive and negative). These pins
are clearly labeled on the Stella-188 back panel. A single
composite cable (such as the Belden 1502R) wired for both
DC power and balanced audio can be used to connect to
each Stella-4.

Each Stella-188 comes with Phoenix cable connectors for
creating Stella-4 loudspeaker cables. For information on
Stella-4 cable requirements, see “Cable Lengths and Cable
Gauges for Stella-4s” on page 13.

CAUTION: When wiring cable connections for

!

the Stella-188 Channel Outputs, make sure
each pin in the connector is wired correctly to avoid
damage to the loudspeaker and polarity reversal,
which can affect system performance.

Stella-4 Current Draw

Each Stella-4 draws a maximum current of 1.5 A rms and

3.3 A peak from the 18 V DC output of the Stella-188. The
Stella-4 presents a dynamic load to its DC power source,
which causes its current draw to fluctuate as volume levels
change. The cabling between the Stella-4 and the Stella-188
adds resistance and hence causes a voltage drop at the
loudspeaker. Because lower voltages compromise peak
SPL, and in some cases frequency response, cable resis­tance should be minimized.

12

NOTE: When connecting a single Stella-4 to a

Stella-188 Channel Output, the total cable
resistance should not exceed 4 ohms. When con­necting two Stella-4s to a Stella-188 Channel Output,
the total cable resistance should not exceed 2 ohms.

STELLA-4 OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

Cable Lengths and Cable Gauges for Stella-4s

When connecting a single Stella-4 to a Stella-188 Channel
Output, you can use cable lengths of up to 300 feet with
only 1 dB of peak SPL loss, using 18 AWG wire. When con­necting two Stella-4s, equivalent lengths are possible with
heavier wire gauges (see Table 3 and Table 4).

Table 3: Stella-4 Loudspeaker Cable Lengths (AWG)

Cable Gauge Resistance

12 AWG 0.0016 1200 ft 600 ft

14 AWG 0.00253 750 ft 375 ft

16 AWG 0.00402 475 ft 237.5 ft

18 AWG 0.00636 300 ft 150 ft

20 AWG 0.01008 175 ft 87.5 ft

Table 4: Stella-4 Loudspeaker Cable Lengths (European)

Cable Gauge Resistance

2.50 mm

1.50 mm

1.00 mm

0.75 mm

2

2

2

2

(Ω/ft)

(Ω/m)

0.0052 365 m 157.5 m

0.01076 175 m 87.5 m

0.02087 90 m 45 m

0.03307 55 m 27.5 m

Approximate

Max. Length

(1 Stella-4

per Channel)

Approximate

Max. Length

(1 Stella-4

per Channel)

Approximate

Max. Length

(2 Stella-4s

per Channel)

Approximate

Max. Length

(2 Stella-4s

per Channel)

CONNECTING STELLA-4S TO THE STELLA-188

Audio
sources

Stella-188

Stella-4s

To connect Stella-4s to the Stella-188:

1. Power off the Stella-188.

The maximum cable length for a single Stella-4 can be cal­culated with the following formula:

maximum length = 4 ohms / 2 * cable resistance

For example, the maximum length of an 18 AWG cable with
a resistance of 0.00636 is 314.4 feet (4 / 2 * 0.00636). If you
are using two Stella-4s, the distance is reduced by half to

157.2 feet, since the maximum cable resistance for two
Stella-4s is 2 ohms.

NOTE: For long cable runs, you can use large

cable gauges for most of the run and then ter­minate with the appropriate gauge (see Table 3 and
Table 4) at the connector.

2. Connect a 25-pin D-sub audio cable or snake into the
Stella-188 Audio Input connector. This cable should use
the Tascam DA-88 wiring scheme (see Table 2).

3. Connect audio sources (from a mixer or processor) to the
other end of the audio cable or snake.

4. Connect the Stella-4 loudspeakers to the Stella-188
Channel Outputs. Use a composite cable (such as the
Belden 1502R) wired for both DC power and balanced
audio and outfitted with five-pin Phoenix connectors.

13

CHAPTER 2: CONNECTING THE STELLA-4

To connect two Stella-4s to a single Stella-188 Channel
Output, daisy-chain the cable of the first Stella-4 to the
second Stella-4. Wire the cable connector plugged into
the first Stella-4 with both the cable connected to the
Stella-188 and the cable connected to the second
Stella-4.

NOTE: When connecting two Stella-4s to a

single Stella-188 Channel Output, the maxi­mum cable length is reduced by half. For maximum
Stella-4 cable lengths, refer to Table 3 on page 13
and Table 4 on page 13.

5. Enable output from the audio sources (from a mixer or
processor) connected to the Stella-188.

6. Power on the Stella-188 and monitor the LEDs on the
front panel to verify connections.

14

CHAPTER 3: STELLA-4 MOUNTING OPTIONS

IMPORTANT SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

When installing Meyer Sound loudspeakers, the following
precautions should always be observed:

■ All Meyer Sound products must be used in accordance

with local, state, federal, and industry regulations. It is
the owner's and user's responsibility to evaluate the reli­ability of any rigging method for their application. Rigging
should only be carried out by experienced professionals.

■ Use mounting and rigging hardware that has been rated

to meet or exceed the weight being hung.

■ Use mounting hardware appropriate for the surface

where the loudspeaker will be installed.

■ Make sure bolts and eyebolts are tightened securely.

Meyer Sound recommends using Loctite® on eyebolt
threads and safety cables.

■ Inspect rigging hardware regularly and immediately

replace worn or damaged components.

Use a Safety Cable with the Stella-4

Meyer Sound recommends attaching a safety cable to the
Stella-4 before installation. This ensures the loudspeaker will
not accidentally fall during installation, and it provides addi­tional safeguards for the loudspeaker if for some reason its
mounting hardware fails.

MOUNTING THE STELLA-4

The Stella-4 can be mounted with the following bracketing
options:

■ The MMB bracket lets you mount the Stella-4 on a wall,

ceiling, or single-gang electrical back box. You can also
use the MMB to mount the Stella-4 with other third-party
options like the OmniMount 20.5 ST.

Stella-4 MMB Bracket

■ The MAMB adjustable bracket lets you mount the

Stella-4 on a wall, ceiling, or single-gang electrical back
box. In addition, the MAMB allows the Stella-4's position
to be adjusted up to 45 degrees in any direction.

Threaded hole for safety
cable attachment

Stella-4 Safety Cable Attachment

A safety cable attachment is included with the Stella-4. The
attachment includes a metal loop, screw, and two washers
that screw into the back of the Stella-4. Once the safety
cable attachment is securely installed, a safety cable (not
included) can be attached to it.

Stella-4 MAMB Adjustable Bracket

NOTE: Both the MMB and MAMB brackets

ship with grommets installed in the four corner
holes of the loudspeaker plates. These grommets
absorb vibrations between the mounting surface and
the Stella-4 loudspeaker and should not be removed.

15

CHAPTER 3: STELLA-4 MOUNTING OPTIONS

Mounting the Stella-4 with an MMB Bracket

To mount the Stella-4 with an MMB bracket:

1. Separate the MMB wall plate from the MMB loudspeaker
plate by unscrewing the thumbscrew.

2. Mount the MMB wall plate to the wall with one of the fol­lowing options. Position the wall plate so its hinges are
pointing up.

■ Mount directly to the wall surface using screws in the

four corner holes. Use fastening hardware appropriate
for the mounting surface.

■ Mount on a single-gang electrical back box using screws

in the two center holes (top and bottom).

3. Attach the MMB loudspeaker plate to the back of the
Stella-4 using screws in the four corner holes. The loud­speaker plate should be positioned parallel to the heat­sink grooves on the back of the Stella-4 (so the Stella-4's
Phoenix connector is not covered).

3. Attach the OmniMount mounting plate to the MMB loud­speaker plate using screws in the two center holes (top
and bottom).

4. Attach the mounting plate to the OmniMount ball-clamp
assembly according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Mounting the Stella-4 with an MAMB Adjust­able Bracket

To mount the Stella-4 with an MAMB adjustable bracket:

1. Separate the MAMB wall plate from the pivot plate
assembly by removing the center screw and washers.

4. Attach the loudspeaker plate to the wall mount using the
hinges and tighten the thumbscrew with a screwdriver
(but don't over-tighten it).

Mounting the Stella-4 with an MMB Bracket and OmniMount 20.5 ST

To mount the Stella-4 with an MMB bracket and OmniMount

20.5 ST:

1. Separate the MMB wall plate from the MMB loudspeaker
plate by unscrewing the thumbscrew.

2. Attach the MMB loudspeaker plate to the back of the
Stella-4 using screws in the four corner holes. The loud­speaker plate should be positioned parallel to the heat­sink grooves on the back of the Stella-4 (so the Stella-4's
Phoenix connector is not covered).

2. Mount the MAMB wall plate to the wall with one of the
following options.

■ Mount directly to the wall surface using screws in the

four corner holes. Use fastening hardware appropriate
for the mounting surface.

■ Mount on a single-gang electrical back box using screws

in the two center holes (top and bottom).

3. Attach the MAMB pivot plate assembly to the Stella-4
using screws in the four corner holes. The pivot plate
assembly should be positioned parallel to the heatsink
grooves on the back of the Stella-4 (so the Stella-4's
Phoenix connector is not covered).

16

STELLA-4 OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

4. Attach the pivot plate assembly to the wall plate using
the screw and washers previously removed. Tighten the
screw.

5. To adjust the position of the Stella-4, loosen the four
pivot plate screws and position the Stella-4 as neces­sary. Tighten the pivot plate screws to secure the
Stella-4.

MOUNTING THE STELLA-4C

The Stella-4C can be mounted flush in ceilings and walls
with any standard 8-inch backcan (such as the Atlas
BMT95-8 and Lowell CP-84 and XCP-84) with a minimum
depth of 4 inches.

Installing the Stella-4C in a Backcan

To install the Stella-4C into a standard 8-inch backcan:

1. Mount the backcan in the ceiling or wall according the
manufacturer's instructions.

2. Place the Stella-4C in the backcan and secure it with the
8-32 screws included with the Stella-4C.

Backcan

Stella-4C
grille frame

Stella-4C

3. Attach the Stella-4C grille frame:

■ Screw the three threaded studs (included with the

Stella-4C) into the Stella-4C grille frame.

■ Attach the grille frame to the Stella-4C by inserting the

other ends of threaded studs into the three nylon latches
in the Stella-4C.

■ Gently push the grille frame in until it locks in place flush

with the wall or ceiling.

NOTE: The Stella-4’s grille frame is held in

place with the loudspeaker’s three nylon
latches. To remove the grille frame, gently pull it,
evenly, until it is releases from the latches.

17

CHAPTER 3: STELLA-4 MOUNTING OPTIONS

18

APPENDIX A: SPECIFICATIONS

STELLA-4 AND STELLA-4C SPECIFICATIONS

Operating Frequency Range 100 Hz – 22 kHz

Frequency Response 115 Hz – 20 kHz ± 4 dB

Maximum Peak SPL 108 dB (free field, measured with music referred to 1 meter)

Transducer One 4” cone driver

Phase Response 250 Hz – 18 kHz ± 30°

Coverage 60° (3–13 kHz ±10°); 120° (below 2 kHz)

Transducer One 4” cone driver

Voltage Requirement 12–18 V DC

Audio/Power Connector Single 5-pin Phoenix (3 pins for balanced audio, 2 pins for DC power)

Audio Input 10k Ohm balanced internal isolation transformer

Current Draw 1.5 A average; 3.3 A peak

Noise Floor < 20 dB A weighted

Stella-4 Dimensions 5.39” (front OD) x 6.33” (max OD) x 5.32” D

137 mm (front OD) x 161 mm (max OD) x 135 mm D

Stella-4C Dimensions 11.75” (front OD) x 6.33” (rear OD) x 4.45” D

298.42 mm (front OD) x 160.78 mm (rear OD) x 112.95 mm D

Stella-4 Weight 5.0 lbs (2.27 kg)

Stella-4C Weight 6.0 lbs (2.72 kg)

[137mm]

5.32

[135mm]

Stella-4 Dimensions

5.39

6.33

[161mm]

2.00

[51mm]

2.00

[51mm]

6.33

[160.78mm]

[112.95mm]

11.24

285.54mm]

4.45

11.75

[298.42mm]

3.98

[101.18mm]

1.35

[34.42mm]

Ø0.23

[Ø5.95mm]

7.17

[182.20mm]

Ø13.25

[Ø336.55mm]

Stella-4C Dimensions

10.00

[254.00mm]

1.35

[34.42mm]

6.53

[165.92mm]

7.89

[200.33mm]

Stella-4C with Typical Third-Party Backcan Dimensions

19

APPENDIX A: SPECIFICATIONS

STELLA-188 SPECIFICATIONS

Audio Input 8-channel 25-pin D-sub connector wired as SIM 3 Line Switcher

(Tascam DA-88 format)

Outputs 8 channels of 5-pin Phoenix connectors (3 pins for balanced audio

hard-wired to the D-sub input connector, 2 pins for DC power)

Output Voltage 8 outputs of 18 V DC

4 amps per channel fused protected
(Stella-4/Stella-4C current draw is 1.5 A average and 3.3 A peak)

Front Panel On-off switch

8 LEDs to indicate voltage presence on output
8 LEDs to indicate load

AC Connector Detachable IEC 320 (line, neutral/line, earth)

Current Draw

Idle Current 8 Stella-4s (1 per channel) 0.583 A rms (115 V AC); 0.550 A rms (230 V AC); 0.659 A rms (100 V AC)

16 Stella-4s (2 per channel) 0.943 A rms (115 V AC); 0.751 A rms (230 V AC); 1.078 A rms (100 V AC)

Maximum Long-Term

Continuous Current

Burst Current 8 Stella-4s (1 per channel) 2.40 A rms (115 V AC); 1.40 A rms (230 V AC); 2.80 A rms (100 V AC)

Ultimate Short-

Ter m Cur r e nt

Inrush Current 17.2 A peak (115 V AC); 17.0 A peak (230 V AC); 18.4 A peak (100 V AC)

Dimensions 1RU high

Weight 13.0 lbs (5.9 kg)

8 Stella-4s (1 per channel) 2.20 A rms (115 V AC); 1.20 A rms (230 V AC); 2.50 A rms (100 V AC)

16 Stella-4s (2 per channel) 4.50 A rms (115 V AC); 2.15 A rms (230 V AC); 5.50 A rms (100 V AC)

16 Stella-4s (2 per channel) 5.20 A rms (115 V AC); 3.00 A rms (230 V AC); 6.70 A rms (100 V AC)

8 Stella-4s (1 per channel) 6.80 A peak (115 V AC); 3.50 A peak (230 V AC); 7.60 A peak (100 V AC)

16 Stella-4s (2 per channel) 13.0 A peak (115 V AC); 9.0 A peak (230 V AC); 15.0 A peak (100 V AC)

19.00" w x 1.73" h x 13.57" d
(482.60 mm x 43.94 mm x 348.78 mm)

1.73

[43.94mm]

Stella-188 Dimensions

20

19.00

[482.60mm]

16.90

[429.26mm]

13.57

[344.78mm]

14.07

[357.40mm]

Meyer Sound Laboratories Inc.
2832 San Pablo Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94702

www.meyersound.com
T: +1 510 486.1166
F: +1 510 486.8356

© 2007

Meyer Sound Laboratories Inc.

05.161.005.01 A2