Tannoy I15 User Manual

i15

USER MANUAL

CONTENTS

1. Introduction

2. Unpacking

3. Connectors/Cabling

4. Polarity Checking

5. Amplification & Power Handling

6. Crossovers

7. Equalisation

8. Dimensions

9. Rigging

10. Performance Data

11. Technical Specifications

12. i15 Recommended Service Parts & Accessories

13. Warranty

14. Wall Mounting Bracket - Assembly Instructions

15. Declaration of Conformity

1. Introduction

The Tannoy i15 professional loudspeaker has been designed for a wide variety of
sound reinforcement applications requiring extended frequency response from a
compact system, capable of delivering high sound pressure levels with extremely low
distortion, resulting in outstanding clarity, definition and detail.

The i15 comprises one 15 inch Dual Concentric driver in which the low frequency
(LF) and high frequency (HF) sources are coincidentally aligned to a point source,
resulting in a smooth uniform frequency response over a wide area of coverage
either as a portable stand alone system or in a multi-cabinet array. The sophisticated
CAD designed waveguide combines 60 degree conical dispersion and excellent
acoustic impedance characteristics. As the system is a point source, clusters and
arrays have minimal lobing. These features are inherent and achieved without the
use of any electronic signal processing

Designed for fixed installations, the i15 is constructed from medium density
fibreboard (MDF), for a high level of acoustic damping. The structural integrity of the
enclosure is further enhanced by internal steel braces which double as the flying
points accepting M8 eyebolts, strategically placed to distribute the weight of the
enclosure evenly.

For applications requiring extended low frequency enhancement, a range of Tannoy
sub-bass systems are available and can be used in conjunction with the i15.

2. Unpacking

Every Tannoy i15 is carefully inspected before packing. After unpacking your
loudspeaker, please inspect for any exterior physical damage, and save the carton
and any relevant packaging materials in case the loudspeaker again requires packing
and shipping. In the event that damage has been sustained in transit notify your
dealer immediately.

3. Connectors/Cabling

The i15 is fitted with two 4-pole Speakon connectors. Speakon has the following
advantages over EP and XLR type connectors: all terminations are solderless, this
makes life easier at the time of installation or when field servicing is required.
Contacts will accept 6 sq. mm wire with an outside diameter of up to 15mm and a
current rating of 30 Amps.
The pins of the Speakon sockets identified as input/output on the rear of the input
panel are paralleled within the enclosure.

Tannoy have adopted the following wiring standard for the i15 :-

Pin 1+ is Positive
Pin 1- is Negative

Should you encounter any problems obtaining Speakon connectors, please contact
Neutrik or its distributors directly on the following numbers:-

UK: NEUTRIK MARKETING: 0171 792 8188
USA: NEUTRIK USA INC.: [phone]

For a world wide list of distributors, please contact Neutrik directly:­NEUTRIK AG: [phone]
Cable choice consists mainly of selecting the correct cross sectional area in relation

to the cable length and the load impedance. A small cross sectional area would
increase the cables series resistance, inducing power loss and response variations
(damping factor).

Connectors should be wired with a minimum of 2.5 sq. mm (12 gauge) cable. This
will be perfectly satisfactory under normal conditions. In the case of very long cable
runs the wire size should exceed this, refer to the following table for guidance:-

CABLE RUN
(m)

10 2.5

25 2.5

50 2.5

100 2.5

4. Polarity Checking

It is most important to check the polarity of the wiring before the speaker system is
used. A simple method of doing this without a pulse based polarity checker for LF
units is as follows: Connect two wires to the +ve and -ve terminals of a PP3 battery.
Apply the wire which is connected to the +ve terminal of the battery to the speaker
cable leg which you believe to be connected to pin 1+ of the speaker connector and
likewise the -ve leg of the battery to pin 1-.

C.S.A. OF EACH
CONDUCTOR (mm)

4.0

6.0

4.0

6.0

4.0

6.0

4.0

6.0

CABLE
RESISTANCE ΩΩ

0.14

0.09

0.06

0.35

0.22

0.14

0.69

0.43

0.29

1.38

0.86

0.58

% POWER LOSS
INTO 8ΩΩ LOAD

1.7

1.1

0.73

4.3

2.7

1.8

8.6

5.4

3.6

17.0

11.0

7.2

% POWER LOSS
INTO 4ΩΩ LOAD

3.5

2.2

1.5

8.6

5.4

3.6

17.0

11.0

7.2

35.0

22.0

14.0

If you have wired it correctly the LF drive unit will move forward, indicating the wiring
is correct. All that remains now is to connect the +ve speaker lead to the +ve
terminal on the amplifier and the -ve lead to the -ve terminal on the amplifier. If
however the LF driver moves backwards, the input connections need to be inverted.

If problems are encountered, inspect the cable wiring in the first instance. It should
also be noted that different amplifier manufacturers utilise different pin configurations
and polarity conventions, if you are using amplifiers from more than one
manufacturer, check the polarity at the amplifiers as well as the loudspeakers.

5. Amplification & Power Handling

As with all professional loudspeaker systems, the power handling is a function of
voice coil thermal capacity. Care should be taken to avoid running the amplifier into
clip (clipping is the end result of overdriving any amplifier). Damage to the
loudspeaker will be sustained if the amplifier is driven into clip for any extended
period of time. Headroom of at least 3dB should be allowed. When evaluating an
amplifier, it is important to take into account its behaviour under low impedance load
conditions. A loudspeaker system is highly reactive and with transient signals it can
require more current than the nominal impedance would indicate.

Generally a higher power amplifier running free from distortion will do less damage to
the loudspeaker than a lower power amplifier continually clipping. It is also worth
remembering that a high powered amplifier running at less than 90% of output power
generally sounds a lot better than a lower power amplifier running at 100%. An
amplifier with insufficient drive capability will not allow the full performance of the
loudspeaker to be realised.

It is important when using different manufacturers’ amplifiers in a single installation
that they have very closely matched gains, the variation should be less than +/-

0.5dB. This precaution is important to the overall system balance when only a single
active crossover is being used with multiple cabinets, it is therefore recommended
that the same amplifiers are used throughout.

6. Crossovers

The i15 is supplied as standard for passive operation via the internal crossover
network. If higher peak outputs are required then the i15 can be used in conjunction
with the Tannoy TX2 controller/crossover which provides high pass filtering and a
degree of parametric equalisation (see performance data section), as well as a fixed
crossover point for use with sub-bass loudspeakers.

7. Equalisation

The i15 is designed to need no equalisation or correction to overcome system
limitations. As a result, it will only need equalisation to compensate for difficult
acoustic environments.

Excess equalisation can reduce system headroom, and introduce phase distortion
resulting in greater problems than it cures. If equalisation is required then it should be
applied gently and smoothly. Violent equalisation will be detrimental to the overall
sound quality.

8. Dimensions

9. Rigging

10. Performance Data

11. Technical Specifications

Frequency Response (1) +/- 3dB 60Hz - 22kHz

37Hz - 22kHz (with Tx2 controller)

Recommended Amplifier Power 250 - 500 watt / 8 ohm
Power Handling(2) Average Programme Peak (10ms)

250 watt 500 watt 1000 watt

Sensitivity (1)

2.83 volt @ 1m 99 dB
Maximum SPL (3) Average Peak

@ 1m 123 dB 129 dB

Impedance Nominal 8.0 ohm

Minimum 6.0 ohm

DI Averaged (PCQ) 9.97, 500 Hz - 16 kHz

@ 1kHz (ISO) 8.5
@ 2kHz (ISO) 9.1
@ 4kHz (ISO) 9
@ 8kHz (ISO) 12.5
@ 16kHz (ISO) 14.15

Q Averaged (PCQ) 11.92, 500 Hz - 16 kHz

@ 1kHz (ISO) 7.1
@ 2kHz (ISO) 8.1
@ 4kHz (ISO) 7.9
@ 8kHz (ISO) 17.8
@ 16kHz (ISO) 26

Distortion

0.1 Full Power 2nd Harmonic 3rd Harmonic
250 Hz 0.18% 0.44%
1000 Hz 1.77% 1.77%
10000 Hz 1.58% 0.11%

0.01 Full Power 2nd Harmonic 3rd Harmonic
250 Hz 0.09% 0.09%
1000 Hz 0.50% 0.71%
10000 Hz 0.56% Below measurement limit

Driver Complement 1 x 15” (381mm) Constant Directivity Dual Concentric

Type number 3804

Crossover Point Passive 1.6kHz

3rd order high pass, 2nd order low pass
Halogen HF protection

Enclosure 65 litre vented, MDF
Finish Textured black\grey paint
Connectors 2 x Speakon NL4MPR IN/OUT
Fittings 8 x M8 flying inserts & 1 x M8 pullback point
Dimensions 590mm(H) x 450mm(W) x 420mm(D)

23.2ins(H) x 17.71ins(W) x 16.54ins(D)

Weight 24 Kg (52.8 lbs)

NOTES: (1) Average over stated bandwidth. Measured at 1m on axis, in an anechoic chamber.

Tannoy operate a policy of continuous research and development. The introduction of new materials or manufacturing
methods will always equal or exceed the published specifications which Tannoy reserve the right to alter without prior notice.
Please verify the latest specifications when dealing with critical applications.

(2) Long term power handling capacity as defined in EIA standard RS - 426A.
(3) Unweighted pink noise input, measured at 1m in half space conditions.

12. i15 Service Parts & Accessories

Part Number Description

7900 0463 Driver Kit - 3804
7900 0464 Recone Kit - 3804
7900 0199 HF Diaphragm Kit
7300 0570 Crossover Kit - 1225
7900 0442 Paint - Touch up Black-Grey
8000 0647 Flying Kit ( 3 x M8 Eyebolts )
8000 0671 Wall Mounting Bracket
8000 0630 TannoyTX2 Active System Controller/2-way Stereo Crossover

13. Warranty

No maintenance of the i15 loudspeaker is necessary.
All Tannoy professional loudspeaker products are covered by a 5 year warranty from

the date of manufacture subject to the absence of misuse, overload or accidental
damage. Claims will not be considered is the serial number has been altered or
removed. Work under warranty should only be carried out by a Tannoy Professional
dealer or service agent. This warranty in no way affects your statutory rights. For
further information please contact your dealer or distributor in your country. If you
cannot locate your distributor please contact Customer Services, Tannoy Ltd at the
address given below.

Customer Services
Tannoy Ltd.
Rosehall Industrial Estate
Coatbridge

Strathclyde

ML5 4TF
Scotland

Telephone: [phone] (National)

[phone] (International)

Fax: [phone] (National)

[phone] (International)

e-mail: [e-mail]

DO NOT SHIP ANY PRODUCT TO TANNOY WITHOUT PREVIOUS AUTHORISATION

Our policy commits us to incorporating improvements to our products through
continuous research and development. Please confirm current specifications for
critical applications with your supplier.

EASE Data for Tannoy Professional products available on request.

14. Wall Mounting Bracket - Assembly Instructions

A dedicated wall mounting bracket (Part No. 8000 0671) is available for the i15.
The design of the bracket allows the loudspeaker to mounted either in portrait or
landscape orientation:-

Landscape mounting - Remove two of the original M8 countersunk screws on one
side of the cabinet, place the T- Bar in position and fix in place using the two cap­head bolts which are included along with the bracket hardware, remembering to use
the washers and locking washers which are also provided. Assemble the bracket as
shown on the diagram below. It is imperative that the bracket is fixed soundly to the
wall. Be sure to use the correct fixings (e.g. Rawbolt, Rawplug) according to the wall
type.

Portrait mounting - Using a hacksaw, cut along the indents on the T-bar. Carry out
the above instructions, removing two of the original M8 countersunk screws on top of
the cabinet.

Exploded View of Bracket

Assembled View of Bracket

Declaration of Conformity

The following apparatus is/are manufactured in the United Kingdom by Tannoy Ltd
of Rosehall Industrial estate, Coatbridge, Scotland, ML5 4TF and conform(s) to the
protection requirements of the European Electromagnetic Compatibility Standards
and Directives relevant to Domestic Electrical Equipment. The apparatus is
designed and constructed such that electromagnetic disturbances generated do not
exceed levels allowing radio and telecommunications equipment and other
apparatus to operate as intended, and, the apparatus has an adequate level of
intrinsic immunity to electromagnetic disturbance to enable operation as specified
and intended.

Details of the Apparatus: Tannoy Contractor Loudspeaker

Model Number: i15

Associated Technical File: EMCi15

Applicable Standards: EN 50081-1 Emission

EN 50082-1 Immunity

Signed:

Position: Technical Manager

Tannoy Professional

Date: 16

th

July 1998

For Tannoy Ltd

Tannoy Loudspeakers are manufactured
in Great Britain by :

Tannoy Ltd, Rosehall Industrial Estate, Coatbridge,
Strathclyde, ML5 4TF, SCOTLAND
Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Internet:http://www.tannoy.com

Tannoy North America Inc. 335 Gage Avenue, Kitchener, Ontario, CANADA, N2M 5E1
Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Tannoy Nederland BV, Anthonetta Kuijlstraat 19, 3066 GS, Rotterdam THE NETHERLANDS
Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Issue 3 Part No. 6481 0285

GH 14th April 1997