Montarbo W18A Instruction Manual

W18A

bi-amped, active loudspeaker system

W18A

bi-amped, active loudspeaker system

__________________________________________

10 - 13

ENGLISH

INDEX

Introduction

Description

Control and connection panel

Important !!!

Appendix

◗ Technical Speciﬁcations

◗

Block diagram

◗ Connectors

◗ Connection example

◗ Spare parts

The lighting ﬂash with arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated 'dangerous voltage' within the product's enclosure, that may be of sufﬁcient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to humans.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions.

IMPORTANT ! SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

WARNING

In order to protect your own and others' safety and to avoid

invalidation of the warranty of this product, please read this section

carefully before operating this product.

This product has been designed and manufactured for being operated as active speaker system in the applications tipical of a sound reinforcement system or of a sound recording system. Operation for purposes and in applications other than these has not been covered by the manufacturer in the design of the product, and is therefore to be undertaken at end user's and/or installer's sole risk and responsability.

This unit conforms to Class 1 insulation, and for safe use it is required that the protective earth contact is connected to a grounded (earthed) outlet.

TO AVOID THE RISK OF FIRE AND/OR ELECTRIC SHOCK:

• Never expose this product to rain or moisture, never use it in proximity of water or on a wet surface. Never let any liquid, as well as any object, enter the product. In case, immediately disconnect it from the mains supply and refer to servicing before operating it again. Never place burning candles or other sources of open ﬂame on top of the device.

• Before connecting this product to the mains supply, always make sure that the voltage on the mains outlet corresponds to that stated on the product.

• This product must be connected only to a grounded mains outlet complying to the safety regulations in force via the supplied power cable. In case the power cable needs to be substituted, use exclusively a cable of the same type and characteristics.

• This device is connected to the power line even when the mains switch is in the O (off) position and the power indicator is off. As long as it is plugged in there are dangerous electrical potentials inside the device, so, before undertaking any sort of maintenance work etc., always make sure it has been unplugged from the mains socket.

• Never place any object on the power cable. Never lay the power cable on a walkway where one could trip over it. Never press or pinch it.

• Never install the product without providing adequate airﬂow to cool it. Never obstruct the air intake openings on it. Leave enough room to get to the mains power socket and the mains connector on the back panel.

• In case the external fuse needs replacement, substitute it only with one of the same type and rating, as stated on the product.

• Always make sure the Power switch is in its '0' (= off) position before doing any operation on the connections of the product.

• Before attempting to move the product after it has been installed, remove all the connections.

• To disconnect the power cable of this product from the mains supply never pull the cable directly. Hold the body of the plug ﬁrmly and pull it gently from the mains supply outlet.

CAUTION!

This product does not contain user serviceable parts.

To prevent ﬁre and/or electrical shock, never disassemble it or

remove the rear panel. For maintenance and servicing always

refer to the ofﬁcial Montarbo Distributor in your Country or

to qualiﬁed personnel speciﬁcally authorised by the Distributor.

Before placing the product on a surface of any kind, make sure that its shape and load rating safely match the product size and weight. Never attempt to hang the product by any means not expressly provided or approved by the manufacturer (i.e. ropes, chains, belts or whatever medium, throgh carring handles, bolts, hooks or whatever). In case the product is factoryﬁtted with speciﬁc mounting hardware, always verify before installation that the lifting and/or hanging system you intend to use is of a proper type and can carry the product weight with the safety ratio required by the regulations in force.

- To avoid shocks, kicks, or whatever action, always reserve a protected area with no access to unqualiﬁed personnel as installation site of the product. In case the product is used near children and animals closest supervision is necessary.

- This product can generate very high acoustic pressures which are dangerous for the hearing system. Always avoid operation at loud levels if anyone is excessively near to the product (at least 1 m of distance).

☛ Never expose children to high sound sources

PACKAGE CONTENTS

◗ Bi-ampliﬁed active system W18A

◗ Power supply cable

◗ XLR to XLR cable (for connection to the mixer)

◗ Owner’s manual

◗ Warranty certiﬁcate

◗ CE declaration of conformity

W18A

bi-amped, active loudspeaker system

The trapezoidal enclosure design is based on solid technical reasons:

• directivity remains constant and controlled, even when two or more enclosures are installed side by side.

• the problems related to interferences and irregularities in frequency response and directivity, typically encountered when using multiple enclosures, are thus dramatically reduced. Multiple enclosures arrays can be assembled for wide dispersion and/or long throw.

Description

Introduction

The 2-way bass reﬂex enclosure incorporates:

■ custom designed, high quality components.

■ 2 ampliﬁers:

600 + 250 W continuous 850 + 350 W peak

■ 2 independent processors

■ 24dB/Oct electronic crossover

The bass reﬂex enclosure, constructed from birch plywood, is equipped with a custom designed 18" low frequency woofer and a 2" driver with constant directivity horn for the mid/high frequencies, each driven by its own dedicated power ampliﬁer. A high slope 24dB/Oct. electronic crossover and two processors (one for each ampliﬁer) optimize the dynamic range and frequency response of the system, while protecting the drivers from thermal and electrical overloads, resulting in increased reliability and outstanding performance. Its adaptability to various applications allows the W18A to be used in any type of installation ensuring optimum results to any professional requirement for sound reinforcement and distribution.

wide dispersion

long throw

long throw / wide dispersion

ENGLISH

A High grade birch plywood construction, phenolic glued; polyurethane painted

B Constant directivity, high frequency horn (dispersion 90° x 60°) with 2" dynamic driver (featuring aluminum ﬂat wire voice coil, kapton former, titanium dome)

C Powder coated, perforated, steel grid.

D 18" high efﬁciency woofer

E Tunig ports

F Side recessed handles

G Control and connection panel

Construction and components conform to the highest professional standards for maximum reliability.

W18A

bi-amped, active loudspeaker system

ENGLISH

Control and connection panel

1 The W18A speaker system is equipped with XLR male (OUT) and female (IN) parallel connected sockets allowing easier daisy-chaining.

❚ Mixer output ➔ W18A input ('IN' socket) ❚ W18A output ('OUT' socket) ➔ input ('IN' socket) of the W18A

to be connected in parallel.

☛ See 'connectors' and 'connection examples' at pages 12 and 13.

2 Main volume (VOL). Adjusts the input levels of the two built-in power ampliﬁers to adapt them to the output level of the mixer.

3 High frequencies level control (H.F.).

NOTE: if you are using a Montarbo mixer (or any mixer having an

output level of 0dB) for optimum performance it is advisable to set both controls fully clockwise (to their maximum settings).

4 POWER / 0 - I: Mains power on/off switch.

5 Mains power cord socket (with built-in fuse).

Use only the factory supplied mains cable or a suitable cable with a ground connection and marked with the safety approvals valid in the country of use. When installing make sure that it is easy to get to this connector and to the mains plug.

FUSE REPLACEMENT

Service fuse

Spare fuse

W18A

bi-amped, active loudspeaker system

ENGLISH

Important !

Product care and maintenance

• Never expose the enclosure to heat sources (heaters or other products that produce heat).

• Never place burning candles or other sources of open ﬂame on top of the device.

• Never expose the enclosure to direct sunlight, excessive vibrations or mechanical shocks.

• Avoid operating and storing the enclosure in damp or dusty places: this may lead to malfunctions and premature degrading of speciﬁcations.

• Avoid using the enclosure close to strong sources of electromagnetic interferences (e.g. video monitors, high power electrical cabling). This may lead to degradation of audio quality.

• When setting up the system up outdoors, be sure to protect it against rain.

• Care should be taken so that objects do not fall and liquid is not spilled onto the enclosure. In public event don't let people, musicians, technicians or anyone put glasses, cups, ashtrays or cigarettes on the enclosure.

• Always leave the protective grid mounted on the enclosure.

• Use a soft brush or a jet of air to clean the enclosure. Do not use alcohol, solvents or detergents.

• Take care of your connector cables. Make sure that they are not damaged, knotted or twisted.

• Do not force connectors and controls.

• Make sure the mains power switch is off ('0') before starting any connection.

• As long as it is plugged in there can be dangerous electrical potentials inside the device, so, before undertaking any sort of maintenance work etc., always make sure it has been unplugged from the mains socket.

Mains power connection

• Make sure the mains power switch is off ('0').

• Check that mains voltage corresponds to the voltage indicated on the panel, under the mains socket.

• Use only the factory supplied mains cable or, if a different plug style is needed, a suitable cable with a ground connection and marked with the safety approvals valid in the country of use.

• Leave enough room to get to the mains power socket and the mains connector on the back panel. As long as it is plugged in there can be dangerous electrical potentials inside the device, even when the mains switch is in the '0' (off) position and the power indicator is off so, before undertaking any sort of maintenance work etc., always make sure it has been unplugged from the mains socket.

Connection to the mixer

If the mixer has XLR balanced outputs: use standard balanced XLR connectors.

If the mixer has XLR unbalanced outputs: in this case, unless using a Montarbo mixer, make sure that the XLR outputs on the mixer are unbalanced to IEC 268 standard: 1 = GND, 2 = HOT, 3 = GND.

If the mixer has JACK balanced outputs (stereo jacks): it is possible to use stereo jack-XLR adapters, wired according to IEC 268: pin 1 = ground (sleeve), pin 2 = tip, pin 3 = ring.

If the mixer has JACK unbalanced outputs (mono jacks):

use suitable Jack-XLR male adapters unbalanced according to IEC 268: pin 1 = ground, pin 2 = tip, pin 3 = ground

☛ See 'connectors' at page 12.

• Always use only heavy gauge, high quality SHIELDED cables (signal cables).

• Always make sure that the mixer and the powered enclosures are switched off before connecting them. This will to avoid annoying noises and signal peaks, which can also be dangerous for the enclosures themselves.

Parallel connection of two or more systems

• Always use only heavy gauge, high quality SHIELDED cables (signal cables). Connect the LINK OUT socket of the ﬁrst system to the LINK IN socket the second system and the LINK OUT of the second system to the LINK IN of the third, and so on.

☛ See 'connection examples' at page 13.

Input sensitivity and clipping. How to avoid clipping

Every ampliﬁed speaker system is characterized by a value of input sensitivity. The sensitivity is deﬁned as the value of the ampliﬁer's input signal that will result in maximum power output. An increase in input signal over that threshold will result, not in increased power, but in a distortion phenomenon called 'clipping' (output stage saturation).

In this condition, the speaker will operate improperly. The diaphragm will exceed it's excursion limits, and the voice coil will overheat beyond it's thermal limits, resulting in overheating and premature failure. The active processors will help in avoiding clipping, by reducing the ampliﬁer gain and thus the input sensitivity, but this type of protections may be overridden in very extreme conditions. What the active processor cannot modify is a signal that is distorted before getting to the active speaker's input.

The effects of this type of signal are the same as described above.

How to avoid clipping

The simplest way to avoid clipping is to check each level in the signal's chain. Start from each input channel of the mixer and adjust the gain control and the equalizer's controls so that the PFL meter will never (or only occasionally) indicate more than 0dB. In simpler mixers, check that the 'clip' or 'peak' indicator is always off, or blinks only occasionally. If these levels are exceeded, reduce the channel's input gain. Once the desired mix is obtained, adjust the output level so that it never exceeds the active speaker's or the power ampliﬁer's input sensitivity, as displayed on the master output VU-meter. In model W18A the input sensitivity is 0dB.

+ 9 hidden pages

Montarbo W18A Instruction Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual