Samson EX10, EX20, EX30 User Manual

®

EX10 • EX20 • EX30

OWNERS MANUAL

Produced by On The Right Wavelength for Samson Technologies Corp.
Copyright 2000, Samson Technologies Corp.

Printed March 2000

Samson Technologies Corp.
575 Underhill Blvd.
P.O. Box 9031
Syosset, NY 11791-9031
Phone: 1-800-3-SAMSON (1-800-372-6766)
Fax: [phone]

Table of Contents

Introduction 3
System Features 4
EX10 6
EX20 8
EX30 10
Positioning and Mounting Instructions 14
Expedition Accessories 16
Specifications 17

Introduction

3

Welcome to Samson Expedition—the portable audio system for the new millenium! This
exceptionally versatile system offers the perfect solution wherever you need portable,
high-quality audio: as a main PA system or as onstage monitors in clubs and
performance halls; in houses of worship; as a sound system for business presentations,
mobile DJs at parties, or aerobics instruction; and for use in outdoor environments such
as parks, beaches and flea markets. What’s more, every Expedition system comes with
a built-in telescoping handle and locking wheels, making it easy to take professional
audio with you wherever you go!

There are three different Samson Expedition systems detailed in this manual. All utilize
the same lightweight yet rugged two-way speaker enclosure that pairs a custom
designed 12" woofer with a matched 1" compression driver. The Expedition EX10 is a
passive 8-ohm enclosure that can be used with any external power amplifier rated at up
to 250 watts. The Expedition EX20 is a powered version that includes a bi-amped power
cell along with an active crossover, speaker protection circuitry and built-in limiting. And
the Expedition EX30 is designed as a total all-in-one portable PA system, adding a four­channel stereo mixer—complete with digital effects—to the equation. In addition, a
number of expansion options are available, including a 500-watt active subwoofer (our
EX500); a rechargable Lead-Acid GelCel battery pack; and a rear-panel mountable
cassette recorder with pitch control. There's even a prewired custom compartment that
accommodates any of three different Samson wireless receivers!

In this manual, you’ll find a more detailed description of the features of all three
Expedition systems, as well as a guided tour through all components, step-by-step
instructions for setting up your system and full specifications. If your Expedition was
purchased in the United States, you’ll also find a warranty card enclosed—don’t forget
to fill it out and mail it! This will enable you to receive online technical support and will
allow us to send you updated information about this and other Samson products in the
future. If your Expedition system was purchased outside of the U. S., contact your
local distributor for warranty details. Also, be sure to check out our website
(http://www.samsontech.com) for complete information about our full product line.

SPECIAL NOTE for U.S. purchasers: Should your Expedition system ever require
servicing, a

Return Authorization number (RA) is necessary. Without this number, the
unit will not be accepted. If your Expedition system was purchased in the United States,
please call Samson at 1-800-372-6766 for a Return Authorization number prior to
shipping your system. If possible, return the unit in its original carton and packing
materials. If your Expedition system was purchased outside of the U. S., contact your
local distributor for information.

System Features

The Samson Expedition system uses state-of-the art
technology to bring a revolutionary new degree of
flexibility and portability to professional audio. Its
main features include:

• A built-in telescoping handle and locking wheels
that make it easier than ever before to transport
your audio system.

• All Expedition enclosures are lightweight and
compact yet exceptionally durable and
roadworthy. Injection-molded with Polypropylene,
they feature substantial internal bracing to support
a nearly 1/2" thick side wall construction, making
them strong and rigid enough to allow maximum
energy to be delivered to the sound output.
In addition, a steel grill and scuff-resistant
textured finish makes for a rugged speaker
enclosure that will deliver dependable
performance in even the most demanding
environments.

• The low frequency section includes a custom
designed Kevlar-impregnated 12" low frequency
driver with a 2.5" Kapton Former voice coil and
50 ounce barium ferrite magnet for accurate and
super-tight bass response.

• A high frequency section that delivers clear,
sweet top end thanks to its 1" compression driver
with a specially designed phenolic diaphragm,
along with a phasing plug for linear response and
an elliptical wave guide horn design that reduces
nearly all sonic diffraction.

• A tilt position that allows the Expedition to be used
as an onstage wedge monitor.

• Integral 1 3/8" pole-mount receptacle and convenient fly points allow the
Expedition to be pole-mounted or “flown” using standard PA hardware.

• The EX10 is a passive cabinet that can be used with any power amplifier
rated at up to 250 watts into 8 ohms. It requires no power and provides
dual Speakon™ and 1/4" connectors that allow multiple EX10s to be
daisy-chained where extended coverage is required.

• The EX20 contains dual power amplifiers and an active crossover.
Operating in a biamped configuration, one power amp drives the low
frequency section with 150 watts of power and the other drives the high
frequency section with 50 watts of power. The active crossover uses an
advanced Linkwist-Riley constant phase filter that provides a steep rolloff of
24 dB per octave to reduce sonic distortion at the crossover frequencies.
Dual balanced XLR connectors allow daisy-chaining of multiple Expedition
enclosures, and a switchable limiter circuit assures a clean output even
when you’re pushing the EX20 to maximum levels. In addition, there are
three stages of speaker protection, including relay switching for power on
and off.

4

SAMSON

System Features

• The EX30 includes all the features of the
EX20, and adds a flexible four-channel
stereo mixer that provides two
monophonic and one stereo mic/line
channels with dual XLR and 1/4"
connectors. In addition, separate dual
phono connectors allow you to hook up
an external cassette or CD player.
Each mixer channel includes two-band
equalization and independent volume
control, and there’s even built-in digital
effects for the addition of six different
reverb presets. Balanced left and right
XLR outputs allow daisy-chaining of
multiple Expedition speakers (with a
mono/stereo switch that allows operation
in either mode), and a VU meter enables
you to continuously monitor output levels.
The EX20 and EX30 also include a meter
that shows battery level when used with
the optional RB 2030 rechargable battery
cartridge (see below).

• The top panel of both the EX20 and
EX30 provides a prewired compartment
that accommodates a variety of Samson
wireless systems that offer superior RF
and audio performance already proven
on stages around the world. Receivers
supported include the UM1 or M32 UHF
models or the VM1 VHF model.

• A wide range of optional accessories,
including: the MP 1030 mounting bracket,
which allows any Expedition enclosure to
be “flown” from the ceiling; the RB 2030
rechargable battery cartridge, which
provides up to two hours of power to
either the EX20 or EX30 from its dual
Lead-Acid GelCel batteries; and the TD30 cassette recorder, which fits neatly into a
special compartment above the EX30’s mixer to provide background music and/or
to record meetings or performances. The TD30 even includes a pitch control so you
can alter the tempo of the music for applications like aerobic instruction.

• The EX500 is an active subwoofer that pairs a massive 500-watt amplifier with a
heavy-duty 15" low frequency driver. It is an ideal complement to any Expedition
enclosure or any loudspeaker system, when the application requires deep, powerful
low end response. Its built-in stereo electronic crossover allows the EX500 to
operate either in mono or as a common subwoofer in a stereo system. It features
an all-steel grill and rigid corners, as well as an integral pole mount.

5

Expedition EX10

Guided Tour

1: 1/4" input - Use this standard 1/4" connector to connect signal from a power
amplifier (rated at up to 250 watts into 8 ohms) to the EX10.

2: Speakon™ input - Alternatively, you can use this Speakon™ connector to
connect signal from a power amplifier (rated at up to 250 watts into 8 ohms) to
the EX10.

3: 1/4" extension - Use this standard 1/4" connector to daisy-chain one EX10
to another. See below for interconnection diagrams.

4: Speakon™ extension - Alternatively, you can use this Speakon™ connector
to daisy-chain one EX10 to another. See below for interconnection diagrams.

Speakon™ Wiring

Interconnecting the EX10

6

Using one EX10: A single mono signal (bus or aux
send) is routed from a mixer to a power amplifier.
One speaker output of the power amplifier is connected
to

either the EX10 1/4" input connector (solid line) or

Speakon™ input connector (dotted line).

+

SPEAKON™

-

1- 1+

2+ 2-

NOT CONNECTED

SPEAKON™

SAMSON

S

E

R

V

O

­2

4

0

SAMSON

MMPL2242

MPL2242

MPL2242