Peavey QW 3 DATASHEET

FFrreeqquueennccyy rreessppoonnssee,, 11 mmeetteerr oonn--aaxxiiss,,
sswweepptt--ssiinnee iinn aann aanneecchhooiicc
eennvviirroonnmmeenntt::

50 Hz – 16 kHz (±3 dB)

UUssaabbllee llooww ffrreeqquueennccyy lliimmiitt
((--1100 ddBB ppooiinntt))::

33 Hz

PPoowweerr hhaannddlliinngg::

Full range:

1,000 Watts continuous
2,000 Watts program
4,000 Watts peak

Passive mid/high frequency

section:
300 Watts continuous
600 Watts program
1,200 Watts peak

Low frequency section:

500 Watts continuous
1,000 Watts program
2,000 Watts peak

SSoouunndd pprreessssuurree lleevveell,, 11 WWaatttt,,
11 mmeetteerr iinn aann aanneecchhooiicc
eennvviirroonnmmeenntt::
Full range:

96.0 dB SPL, (2.83 Volt input)

Passive mid/high frequency

section:

96.0 dB SPL, (2.83 Volt input)

Low frequency section:

97.0 dB SPL, (2.83 Volt input)

MMaaxxiimmuumm ssoouunndd pprreessssuurree lleevveell
((11 mmeetteerr))::

Full range:

126.0 dB SPL continuous

132.0 dB SPL peak

Passive mid/high frequency

section:

120.8 dB SPL continuous

126.8 dB SPL peak

Low frequency section:

124.0 dB SPL continuous

130.0 dB SPL peak

RRaaddiiaattiioonn aannggllee mmeeaassuurreedd aatt --66 ddBB
ppooiinntt ooff ppoollaarr rreessppoonnssee::

500 Hz – 1.6 kHz:

Horiz. 100˚ ±15˚
Vert. 100˚ ±40˚

1.6 kHz – 5 kHz:
Horiz. 70˚ ±10˚
Vert. 45˚ ±10˚

5 kHz – 16 kHz:

Horiz. 80˚ ±20˚
Vert. 45˚ ± 15˚

DDiirreeccttiivviittyy ffaaccttoorr,, QQ ((MMeeaann))::

11.62 ± 6.17

DDiirreeccttiivviittyy iinnddeexx,, DDii ((MMeeaann))::

9.96 dB ±2.64 dB

TTrraannssdduucceerr ccoommpplleemmeenntt::

Low frequency section:

1x 15" woofer, vented
15" Pro Rider

™

Al CP

Mid frequency section:

1x 6.5" cone on QT Waveguide

6.5" closed back mid-range on a
CH-746qt

High frequency section:

1x .875" exit/51 mm voice coil
compression driver on QT
Waveguide
RX 22 on a CH-746qt

BBooxx ttuunniinngg ffrreeqquueennccyy::

Low frequency section:

44 Hz

HHaarrmmoonniicc ddiissttoorrttiioonn::

1% r

ated power

Second harmonic:

100 Hz: 1.81%
1 kHz: 0.30%

SPECIFICATIONS QW™3

Listen To This

™

SPECIFICATIONS QW™3

Third harmonic:

100 Hz: 0.63%
1 kHz: 0.22%

1

0% rated power

Second harmonic:

100 Hz: 3.14%
1 kHz: 0.37%

Third harmonic:

100 Hz: 0.80%
1 kHz: 0.16%

CCrroossssoovveerr ffrreeqquueennccyy ((iinntteerrnnaall ppaassssiivvee))::

Low frequency – mid frequency:

630 Hz

Mid frequency – high frequency:

4,700 Hz

RReeccoommmmeennddeedd aaccttiivvee ccrroossssoovveerr ffrreeqquueennccyy
rreeggiioonn aanndd ssllooppee::

Low frequency – mid frequency:

650 Hz at 24 dB/octave

TTiimmee ooffffsseett::

Low frequency:

0.00 ms

Mid – high frequency:

0.27 ms

IImmppeeddaannccee ((ZZ))::

Full range:

Nominal: 8.0 Ω
Minimum: 5.4 Ω

Passive MF/HF:

Nominal: 8.0 Ω
Minimum: 8.7 Ω

Low frequency:

Nominal: 8.0 Ω
Minimum: 6.9 Ω

IInnppuutt ccoonnnneeccttiioonnss::

Full range: 2x Neutrik

®

NL4

Bi-amp input: 1x Neutrik NL4

switching

Bi-amp thru: 1x Neutrik NL4

EEnncclloossuurree mmaatteerriiaallss aanndd ffiinniisshh::

3/4" poplar plywood finished in black
Hammer Head

™

coating

MMoouunnttiinngg pprroovviissiioonnss::

This unit is not designed for overhead
suspension

DDiimmeennssiioonnss ((HH xx WW xx DD))::

F

ront:

37.25" x 21.00" x 22.75"
946 mm x 533 mm x 578 mm

Rear:

37.25" x 14.00" x 22.75"
946 mm x 356 mm x 578 mm

NNeett wweeiigghhtt::

100 lbs. (45.5 kg)

2

Amplitude Response (1W 1m On-Axis)

110

100

90

80

dB SPL (re 20 Pa)

70

60

20 50 100 200 500 1k 2k 5k 10k 20k

Figure 1

Frequency (Hz)

Impedance

100

50
30

20

Z

(

)

10

5
3

2

1

20 50 100 200 500 1k 2k 5k 10k 20k

Figure 2

Frequency (Hz)

Beamwidth

360
300

180
140

100

80
60

40

Beamwidth (Degrees)

30

20 50 100 200 500 1k 2k 5k 10k 20k

Figure 3

Horizontal
Vertical

Frequency (Hz)

Q & Directivity Index

100

Q

10

1

20 50 100 200 500 1k 2k 5k 10k 20k

Figure 4

Frequency (Hz)

20

Di

10

0

SPECIFICATIONS

FFeeaattuurreess

• 2,000 Watts program, 4,000 Watts
peak

• Very low power compression

• Pro Rider

™

15" woofer with 4" voice

coil

• RX22

™

2" titanium compression driver

• Quadratic Throat Waveguide

™

technology

• Low distortion at high SPL

• Sound Guard

™

III high frequency

driver protection

DDeessccrriippttiioonn

The QW 3 is a three-way, full-range
loudspeaker system employing a newly
developed Pro Rider 15" woofer and an
RX22 compression driver loaded by the
high frequency section of a CH-746qt
Quadratic Throat Waveguide. The 6.5"
driver, loaded by the mid frequency
section of the CH-746qt, handles the
mid-range.

The QW 3’s shape helps reduce the
build up of standing waves inside the
enclosure, which minimizes mid-bass
and mid-range coloration. It is
constructed of premium 18 mm poplar
plywood and covered with a tough,
durable, black textured Hammer Head

™

polyurethane coating. A 16-gauge,
powder-coated, perforated metal grille
covers the front of the system to protect
the speakers from external damage.

The 15" Pro Rider woofer features a
Kevlar

®

impregnated, water-resistant
treated cone and dust cap for superior
environmental stability. An RX22 2"
titanium diaphragm compression driver
handles the high frequencies and
features the Radialinear Planar Phase
Correction System (U.S. Patent
6,064,745), which provides smoother
and extended high frequency response.
This driver and the specially-developed,
ferrofluid-cooled 6.5" mid-range driver
are loaded by the CH-746qt Quadratic
Throat Waveguide (U.S. Patent
6,059,069). This device provides
unparalleled clarity and low distortion
through the mid and high frequency
portions of the audio spectrum.

Full-range input to the system is made
via two 4-pin Neutrik

®

jacks in parallel. A
4-pin Neutrik switching jack provides bi­amp input flexibility while maintaining
superior signal integrity. The inclusion of
a standard 4-pin Neutrik jack in parallel
on the driver side of the bi-amp

switching jack allows daisy-chaining to
another cabinet for bi-amp operation.

The internal passive crossover features
the Sound Guard III high frequency
driver protection circuit and an advanced
topology crossover with high
performance components to provide
high power handling and reliability.
Sound Guard provides medium- and
long-term driver overload protection
without impairing musical transients or
dynamics. The crossover provides driver
roll-off and protection as well as driver
EQ for the woofer and horn sections of
the loudspeaker. The result is a clean,
clear and smooth response. High quality,
reliable crossover components include
polypropylene capacitors and high
current inductors. The optimal
integration of the crossover with the
selected drivers results in a smooth
frequency response from the QW 3.

FFrreeqquueennccyy rreessppoonnssee

This measurement is useful in
determining how accurately a given unit
reproduces an input signal. The
frequency response of the QW 3 is
measured at a distance of 1 meter using
a 1 Watt swept-sine input signal (into the
nominal impedance). As shown in Figure
1, the selected drivers in the QW 3
combine to give a smooth frequency
response from 50 Hz – 16 kHz.

DDiirreeccttiivviittyy

Beamwidth is derived from the -6 dB
points from the polar plots (see Figure

3), which are measured in a whole space
anechoic environment. Q and Directivity
Index are plotted for the on-axis
measurement position. These
specifications provide a reference to the
coverage characteristics of the unit. The
parameters indicate proper placement
and installation in the chosen
environment. The blending of
components in the QW 3 exhibit a
desirable beamwidth and directivity
(Figures 3 and 4) suitable for sound
reinforcement applications.

PPoowweerr hhaannddlliinngg

There are many different approaches to
power handling ratings. Peavey rates
this loudspeaker system’s power
handling using a full-range form of the
AES Standard 2-1984. Using audio band
20 Hz to 20 kHz pink noise with peaks of
four times the RMS level, this strenuous
test signal assures the user that every

portion of this system can withstand
today’s high technology music. This
rating is conditional upon having a
minimum of 3 dB available amplifier
headroom.

HHaarrmmoonniicc ddiissttoorrttiioonn

Graphs representing second and third
harmonic distortions vs. frequency are
plotted in Figures 3 and 4 for two power
levels: 10% of rated input power and
either 1% of rated input power or 1 Watt,
whichever is greater. Distortion is read
from the graph as the difference
between the fundamental signal
(frequency response) and the desired
harmonic. For example, a distortion
curve that is down 40 dB from the
fundamental is equivalent to 1%
distortion.

MMoouunnttiinngg

CCaauuttiioonn::

This loudspeaker system is not

designed for overhead suspension.

AArrcchhiitteeccttuurraall aanndd eennggiinneeeerriinngg
ssppeecciiffiiccaattiioonnss

This loudspeaker system has an
operating bandwidth of 50 Hz – 16 kHz
and a nominal output level of 96.0 dB
when measured at a distance of 1 meter
and an input of 1 Watt. The nominal
impedance is 8.0 Ohms. It has a
maximum continuous power handling of
1,000 Watts, maximum program power
of 2,000 Watts and a peak power input
of at least 4,000 Watts, with a minimum
amplifier headroom of 3 dB. The
nominal radiation geometry is 85˚ in the
horizontal plane and 45˚ in the vertical
plane. The outside dimensions are

37.25" high by 21.00" wide by 22.75"
deep, and the system weighs 100 lbs.

33 ++ 22 YYEEAARR LLIIMMIITTEEDD WWAARRRRAANNTTYY
NNOOTTEE::

For details, refer to the
warranty statement. Copies of
this statement may be obtained
by contacting Peavey Electronics
Corporation, P.O. Box 2898, Meridian,
Mississippi 39301-2898.

3