Tannoy Ellipse Owner`s Manual

owner’s manual

1.0: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Applications

1.2 Power requirements and safety info

1.3 Design philosophy

2.0: INSTALLATION 2.1 Unpacking and visual checks

2.2 Preliminary recommendations

CONTENTS

3.0: PLACEMENT OF THE SPEAKERS 3.1 Positioning

3.2 Orientation

3.3 Connecting your speakers

3.4 Console Reflections

3.5 The string analyser

4.0: DESIGN FEATURES 4.1 Amplifier stages

4.2 ASP

4.3 The VLF indicator

4.4 Active crossover

4.5 Bass Ports

4.6 Sensitivity controls

4.7 Trim controls

5.0: PERFORMANCE DATA

6.0: TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

7.0: WARRANTY

8.0: SERVICING 8.1 Cabinet finish

8.2 Driver removal

8.3 Crossover

8.4 List of spare parts

9.0: DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY

QUICK SET UP

For those who know what an active nearfield monitor is, and have used broadly similar technology before, please at least read the following sections 1.2, 2.2 and 3.4 before doing anything else. We want you to be able to successfully unpack, set up and turn on your Ellipse Monitors without damaging them or your ears. Please do read all the other information and advice sections when you get around to it, to get the most from this very capable system.

1.0: INTRODUCTION

The Ellipse 8 is a state of the art studio monitor of immense ability, designed by Tannoy to exceed the performance expectations of the audio professional, integrating unique technology with such acoustic benefits as to ensure that there is much more to Ellipse than innovative styling.

The incorporation of the exceptional point source Tannoy Dual Concentric™ driver, leading edge electronics and the Tannoy SuperTweeter™ ensures that Ellipse represents a unique satisfying the most exacting studio monitoring applications.

1.1: APPLICATIONS

Project studios Broadcast control rooms TV control rooms Music studios recording and mixing

WIDEBAND

™ technology integrated solution, which is aimed at

Post-production CD mastering Surround mixing

1.2: POWER REQUIREMENTS

IMPORTANT:

• Check voltage selector is correctly set on the mains input module. The factory set voltage rating is displayed on the IEC mains input module on the rear panel - See fig 1 (Page 4).

• Check that this setting is correct for your area before powering up the system. If it is incorrect, please change over to the alternative setting - See fig 2 (Page 4).

• At the same time as resetting the voltage the mains fuse must also be changed to the appropriate current rating that matches the operating voltage - See fig 3 (Page 4).

Fig. 1.

IEC input module showing voltage setting viewing window with rating set at 100V - 120V.

Fig. 2.

IEC input module showing fuse location and input voltage selector orientated for insertion at 100V - 120V usage.

Fig. 3.

IEC input module showing fuse location and input voltage selector orientated for insertion at 200V - 240V usage.

POWER CABLE CONFIGURATION A mains cable is supplied with an IEC moulded socket at one end and a moulded mains plug, appropriate to the country of

use, at the other end. Where the moulded plug is fitted with a mains fuse, always replace with the same 5A rated fuse. If the fitted plug is unsuitable for your type of power sockets, it should be cut off and disposed of safely ensuring that it cannot be mistakenly inserted into a live socket.

The wires in the mains cable are coloured in accordance with the following code:

Green and Yellow Earth Blue Neutral Brown Live

The internal wires of the mains cable may not correspond with the coloured markings identifying the terminals in your mains plug, if that is the case then please proceed as shown below. Ensure that the terminals are tightened securely, and that no loose strands of wire are present.The cord grip is clamped over the outer sheath of cable, rather than over the wires.

Green and Yellow must be connected to the terminal in the plug marked by the letter E, the earth safety symbol, or coloured Green or Green and Yellow. Blue must be connected to the terminal in the plug marked by the letter N or coloured Black. Brown must be connected to the terminal in the plug marked by the letter L or coloured Red.

IMPORTANT - THIS EQUIPMENT MUST BE EARTHED.

FUSE PROTECTION

Additional mains fuses are provided in the voltage selector section of the IEC mains module. These can only be accessed once the power supply cable has been unplugged. Fuses must only be replaced with those of the same type and rating. Anti-surge type with spiral-wound element is recommended.

• For 100V - 120V use 5mm ( “) x 20mm ( “) Time Delay rated at 3.15A (T3.15A).

• For 200V - 240V use 5mm ( “) x 20mm ( “) Time Delay rated at 1.6A (T1.6A).

FOR YOUR OWN PROTECTION

• Store the complete packaging in case it is needed for re-use.

• Never expose the unit to moisture, water and extremes of temperature or humidity. Specifically, the unit shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing and that no objects filled with liquids, such as vases, shall be placed on the unit. Allow 150mm (6”) behind the unit to allow for sufficient ventilation. Efficient ventilation must not be impeded.

• Never remove the rear panel of the unit, as there is a risk of electric shock.

• There are no user serviceable parts inside the unit. Always refer servicing to your Tannoy dealer or authorised service agent.

• Avoid violent shocks to the unit during packing or transportation.

• Do not plug the unit into the mains until all other connections have been made and checked.

• Terminals marked with the flash symbol are hazardous live and the external wiring connected to these terminals requires installation by an instructed person or the use of a ready-made lead or cord.

1.3: DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

The design of an active monitoring system encompasses many interdependent components: drive units, enclosure, amplifiers and so on. For the Ellipse development programme, each element has been re-examined, looking for new ways of doing things, free of the limitations imposed by accepted techniques, and finding solutions with imagination and flare.

Setting new standards for quality in reference monitoring, the Tannoy Ellipse represents a new generation of active reference monitors featuring wide bandwidth technology. By linking the Tannoy Dual Concentric™ driver with a time-aligned Tannoy WIDEBAND up to and beyond 40kHz, a true wide bandwidth monitoring system has been created for use with contemporary high rate digital audio.

Considerable design effort has gone into finding ways to move away from the conventional rectangular enclosure with its uninspiring appearance, resonant flat panels, internal standing waves and high-frequency diffraction problems. The resulting elliptical cabinet has a lot of advantages, and not just in the looks department.

The critically designed amplifier module provides high power output, low distortion and a dedicated package of ASP to optimise the full acoustic potential of the driver and enclosure technology in Ellipse.

TANNOY DUAL CONCENTRIC™

A complex driver design principle in itself, the Dual Concentric™ loudspeaker unit was first patented by the company in 1947. The continuous process of acoustic and materials development has brought us to the compact, sophisticated unit used in Ellipse

- comprising dual magnet assembly, high frequency Tulip WaveGuide™ and injection moulded polypropylene low/mid frequency cone.

The clear acoustic advantages of the Dual design are not trivial matters to get right. For example, the cone is required to simultaneously reproduce the lower six octaves of the frequency spectrum, whilst acting as a continuation of the hyperbolic high frequency horn. The high frequency driver itself has to cover 4 octaves from midrange to 20kHz, with consistent amplitude, phase and dispersion.

™ SuperTweeter™ in a tri-amped active system, carrying on the consistent frequency response and dispersion

However, the design effort is worth it, as the intrinsic advantages of the Tannoy Dual Concentric™ are numerous.

• There is a coincident point source across the frequency spectrum, high, mid and low.

• The high sensitivity of the HF low-pressure horn driver gives excellent headroom and freedom from thermal compression.

• The intrinsic near time-alignment of the two component parts of the driver design allows true time-alignment to be achieved with a limited amount of electronic phase / time manipulation in the active crossover filters.

TANNOY

Continuing the frequency response to 50kHz, the pod-mounted SuperTweeter™ uses a specially developed aluminium alloy and carbon fibre dome with a rare earth magnet, and is driven by a dedicated 30W IC power amplifier with 80kHz bandwidth. The SuperTweeter™ is time-aligned to the Dual Concentric™, over a wide horizontal dispersion, using a fourth order Gaussian hipass filter and critical physical positioning.

The crossover frequency is very high at 14kHz, well away from the mid frequency band where sensitive stereo location information is concentrated. Listening at 1 metre on axis with the high frequency horn, the precise point where the signals synchronise, the SuperTweeter™ is undetectable as a separate source.

WIDEBAND

™ SUPERTWEETER™

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