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CONTENTS
1.Introduction
2.Unpacking
3.Connectors/Cabling
4.Polarity Checking
5.Amplification & Power Handling
6.Power Selection
7.Equalisation
8.Dimensions
9.Hardware
10.Performance Data
11.Technical Specifications
12.Troubleshooting Guide
13.i7 Contour Recommended Service Parts & Accessories
14.Warranty
15.Declaration of Conformity
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1. Introduction
Introducing the Tannoy i7 Contour infinite baffle installation loudspeaker, designed for
use in applications requiring high quality music and speech where wide, yet controlled,
coverage is needed.
The i7 Contour comprises four 4-inch (mm) low frequency (LF) drivers and one high
frequency (HF) unit. The LF and HF sources are placed in an array, resulting in a wide
horizontal dispersion and narrow vertical dispersion. These are combined with a smooth
uniform frequency response and excellent acoustic impedance characteristics.
With its slim-line cabinet the i7 Contour’s shallow profile allows discreet vertical or
horizontal mounting close to a wall or ceiling and is available in dark grey or white to
effectively blend into most backgrounds. Utilisation of the dispersion characteristics
(110°×70°) of the loudspeaker allows the i7 Contour to be used in highly reverberant
environments, by directing the sound into the desired space whilst minimising
reflections from adjacent walls or ceilings. An optional mounting bracket ensures simple
and effective installation.
Also available with a built in THP 60 low insertion loss transformer the i7T Contour
provides a more dynamic performance with greater bandwidth than other 70/100V line
systems.
For applications requiring extended low frequency enhancement, a range of Tannoy
sub-bass systems are available and can be used in conjunction with the i7 Contour.
2. Unpacking
Every Tannoy i7 Contour product is carefully inspected before packing. After unpacking
your loudspeakers, 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 i7 Contour has two screw terminals for connection to the amplifier, these are goldplated in order to improve electrical conductivity and to prevent oxidisation. These
terminals are capable of accepting cables with a conductor diameter of up to 6mm.
Red is Positive
Black is Negative
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 mm2 (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: -
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CABLE RUN
(m)
10 2.5
25 2.5
50 2.5
100 2.5
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
4. Polarity Checking
It is most important to check the polarity of the wiring. 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 that is connected to the +ve
terminal of the battery to the speaker cable leg which you believe to be connected to the
red speaker terminal and likewise the -ve leg of the battery to the black speaker terminal.
If you have wired it correctly the LF drive units 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
drivers 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 of 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
the 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
compressor/limiter or active crossover is being used with multiple cabinets; it is
therefore recommended that the same amplifiers be used throughout.
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6. Power Selection (i7T Contour)
Determine the maximum power in watts needed at each speaker location. The i7
Contour transformer can be tapped at 15W, 30W & 60W (left to right positions
respectively) via the rotary switch located on the rear of the loudspeaker cabinet. When
the relevant tappings have been selected add the individual wattages required at all
speakers and select an amplifier with a rating equal to or exceeding the total wattage
required. All of the transformer primaries should be connected in parallel to the output of
this amplifier. If for example, you select the 15-watt transformer tap, it means that at full
rated amplifier output the speaker will receive the full 15 watts. If the amplifier gain is
reduced each speaker will receive a proportional amount of power, maintaining the
overall system balance.
When calculating amplifier wattage requirements for a system, it is recommended that a
generous wattage safety margin (3dB of headroom) be left so that the system does not
have to operate continuously at its full rated output
7. Equalisation
The i7 Contour loudspeaker 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.
Over equalisation can reduce system headroom, and introduce phase distortion
resulting in greater problems than cures. If equalisation is required then it should be
applied gently and smoothly.
8. Dimensions