Turbosound TA-500DP, TA-500H, TA-500t, TA-500HM, TA-500tDP User Manual 2
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ASPECT TA-500 SYSTEMS
TA-500
TA-500DP
TA-500t
TA-500tDP
TA-500H
TA-500HDP
TA-500HM
USER MANUAL
Turbosound Ltd.
Star Road, Partridge Green
West Sussex RH13 8RY United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1403 711447 Fax: +44 (0)1403 710155
web: www.turbosound.com
Issue 1.1 © Turbosound Ltd.
user manual
TA-500
Contents
EC Declaration of Conformity...........................................................................................................................6
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................7
Turbosound Aspect System Concepts .......................................................................................................7
The Aspect Polyhorn™ Concept..................................................................................................................8
The Loudspeaker Management System (LMS) Concept ........................................................................10
LMS-D2X Loudspeaker Management Systems .......................................................................................10
Network Capability .....................................................................................................................................10
Power Amplifiers.........................................................................................................................................11
Digital Controllers .......................................................................................................................................11
Self-powered Loudspeakers ......................................................................................................................11
Aspect Loudspeaker Components ............................................................................................................11
TA-500 Three-way Loudspeaker................................................................................................................13
TA-500DP Self-powered Three-way Loudspeaker...................................................................................13
TA-500t Touring Three-way Loudspeaker................................................................................................13
TA-500tDP Self-powered Touring Three-way Loudspeaker...................................................................13
TA-500H Horizontal Three-way Loudspeaker...........................................................................................14
TA-500HDP Self-powered Horizontal Three-way Loudspeaker..............................................................14
TA-500HM Two-way High/Mid Loudspeaker ...........................................................................................14
TSW-218 Subwoofer...................................................................................................................................14
B18 Subwoofer............................................................................................................................................15
B18DP Self-powered Subwoofer...............................................................................................................15
Transportation.............................................................................................................................................16
Flying and Stacking .........................................................................................................................................17
Flying and Stacking .........................................................................................................................................17
Overview......................................................................................................................................................17
Safety Notes on Rigging ............................................................................................................................18
Secondary Safeties .....................................................................................................................................19
Safety Inspections.......................................................................................................................................19
Sample Certificate of Load Test ................................................................................................................21
Flying Hardware...............................................................................................................................................22
Aspect TA-500 Flying Systems ..................................................................................................................22
Horizontal Coverage ...................................................................................................................................22
Vertical Coverage........................................................................................................................................22
A. TA-500t Touring Flying System.................................................................................................................23
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Flybar Settings ............................................................................................................................................23
Touring two-wide flybar.............................................................................................................................23
Table 1: Flying Matrix.................................................................................................................................25
FC-500T Flying Chains ................................................................................................................................25
TS-890 Tilting Straps ..................................................................................................................................27
Integral Flying Hardware............................................................................................................................27
Bolt ...............................................................................................................................................................28
Captive Biscuit.............................................................................................................................................28
Connecting Flying Chains to the Cabinet .................................................................................................29
Sliding the top chain profile into the slot .................................................................................................30
Connection of additional rows ..................................................................................................................31
Setting the angles between rows..............................................................................................................32
Attaching the biscuit...................................................................................................................................32
Attaching the Tilt Straps.............................................................................................................................33
Lifting the column.......................................................................................................................................34
B. TA-500 Install Flying System......................................................................................................................36
Rigging Instructions....................................................................................................................................37
Flying a single TA-500 cabinet using M10 eyebolts ................................................................................41
LMS series Loudspeaker Management Systems .........................................................................................42
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................42
Unpacking....................................................................................................................................................42
Mechanical Installation...............................................................................................................................42
LMS-D24 and D26 Loudspeaker management Systems .............................................................................43
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Features .......................................................................................................................................................43
Front Panel Functions.................................................................................................................................44
Rear Panel Functions..................................................................................................................................46
Operating the LMS-D24 and D26...............................................................................................................47
Starting up...................................................................................................................................................47
Selecting a Factory Preset..........................................................................................................................47
Creating a Crossover ..................................................................................................................................47
Navigation and Viewing Parameters ........................................................................................................48
Navigation ...................................................................................................................................................49
Presets..........................................................................................................................................................50
Preset Recall ................................................................................................................................................50
Preset Store .................................................................................................................................................51
DSP Processing Layout ..............................................................................................................................52
Input DSP block diagram............................................................................................................................52
Output DSP block diagram.........................................................................................................................52
Stereo / Mono Formats...............................................................................................................................52
DSP processing ...........................................................................................................................................53
Input Channels ............................................................................................................................................53
Parametric Equalisation .............................................................................................................................55
High and Low shelving filters ....................................................................................................................55
Parametric filters.........................................................................................................................................55
Output Channels .........................................................................................................................................56
Gain and Polarity.........................................................................................................................................56
Delay ............................................................................................................................................................56
High and Low Pass Filters..........................................................................................................................57
Parametric Equalisation .............................................................................................................................58
Limiters ........................................................................................................................................................59
Routing.........................................................................................................................................................59
Utilities .........................................................................................................................................................60
Utility functions...........................................................................................................................................60
T-25 and T-45 High Efficiency Audio Power Amplifiers...............................................................................61
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General Features & Facilities .....................................................................................................................61
Front Panel Functions T-25 ........................................................................................................................62
Front Panel Functions T-45 ........................................................................................................................63
Mechanical Installation...............................................................................................................................64
Mains Power................................................................................................................................................64
Powering Up................................................................................................................................................64
Safety Earthing............................................................................................................................................64
Voltage Setting............................................................................................................................................65
Voltage Range .............................................................................................................................................65
Audio Connections & Controls..................................................................................................................65
Polarity .........................................................................................................................................................66
Input Impedance .........................................................................................................................................66
Gain and Sensitivity Settings.....................................................................................................................66
Attenuation & Gain Setting........................................................................................................................67
Output Connections....................................................................................................................................67
Damping Factor...........................................................................................................................................67
Long Speaker Lines ....................................................................................................................................68
The Cooling System ...................................................................................................................................68
Appendix A: Technical Specifications ...........................................................................................................69
Appendix B: Spare Parts List ..........................................................................................................................71
Appendix C: Warranty.....................................................................................................................................72
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EC DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
Manufacturer
Turbosound Ltd
Star Road, Partridge Green, West Sussex, RH13 8RY
Products
TA-500DP
TA-500tDP
TA-500HDP
T-25 Power Amplifier
T-45 Power Amplifier
LMS-D26 Controller
LMS-D24 Controller
Standards
Safety EN60065:2003
Relevant Specifications used as basis for tests EN66103-1:1996
EN55103-2:1996
Category
Professional apparatus for use in Commercial Light Industrial and controlled EMC
environments.
CE Marking
All products are marked in accordance with the relevant statutory requirements.
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INTRODUCTION
Turbosound Aspect System Concepts
The TA-500 system is a modular point source loudspeaker system designed to deliver
extremely high fidelity audio. The system is easily scaleable medium scale ground-stacked
and flown concert touring down to small clubs and events.
The Aspect system concept centres around the exceptional directivity of the patented
Polyhorn™ devices employed in the high frequency and high-mid frequency sections of the
mid/high enclosure. In contrast to the majority of conventional horns, Polyhorns develop
more consistent frequency response across all seats of an auditorium with minimal
interference between adjacent enclosures.
The patented Polyhorn™ devices exhibit a sharp cut-off at the edges of the dispersion
pattern, making it possible to achieve seamless coverage of a venue with minimal
destructive interference between elements, however many individual enclosures are
deployed in the cluster. The Polyhorn™ devices generate phase-coherent and smoothlycurved wavefronts which match the array curvature, whose centre becomes the virtual point
source.
The TA-500 trapezoidal enclosure can be ground-stacked or flown in arrays. It can also be
integrated with TA-880 or TA-890 systems as a front or side fill cabinet.
TSW-218 dual 18” horn-loaded low frequency enclosures or B18 single 18” bandpass
subwoofers provide ideal sub-bass support for the TA-500.
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The Aspect Polyhorn™ Concept
The patented Polyhorn™ design effectively solves the problem of the tendency for
exponential horns to beam with increasing frequency. Dividing the multi-cellular horn into
multiple tapered waveguides guarantees that the path length of each micro-horn is equal
from the surface of the driver diaphragm to the horn mouth, and ensures that all frequencies
from all parts of the diaphragm arrive at the horn mouth together. This provides the
wavefront with uniformity of phase. A further benefit of the Polyhorn™ geometry is that the
sound wave does not suffer from edge-diffraction effects which have a tendency to confuse
the directionality of the sound source.
Each cabinet in an array of Aspect loudspeakers contribute to the generation of a single,
cohesive, and more or less continuous wavefront without noticeable comb-filtering effects. In
addition, the Polyhorn™ design offers the possibility of locating the acoustic centre well
behind the motor system and even the enclosure. The wavefront radii can now be arranged
to coincide with the array curvature, forming a single virtual point source.
Because of the Polyhorn™ design’s sharp cut-off, its array angle can in practice be taken as
being the same as the dispersion angle.
Fig 1. Conventional HF horns produce
destructive interference
Fig 2. Poyhorn™ creates smoothly curved and
phase-coherent wavefront
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• The TA-500 features approximately twice the horizontal and vertical dispersion as
the narrower TA-880 and TA-890 products, making it more suitable for medium- and
near-field applications in smaller rooms.
• The Polyhorn™ displays a similarly sharp cut-off at the dispersion edges to the
narrower TA-880 and TA-890 products, as illustrated below, and this makes it
practical to cover a lot of small to medium venues with only two cabinets per side,
giving approximately 100º of horizontal coverage per array.
TA-880
narrow 25º horizontal coverage
TA-500
wider 50º horizontal coverage
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The Loudspeaker Management System (LMS) Concept
Turbosound Loudspeaker Management Systems are more than just electronic crossovers.
As well as steep slope active filters and high performance limiters, they provide full digital
alignment of all components in the Aspect enclosures, to ensure a coherent acoustic output.
They also incorporates a number of features which contribute to overall system reliability
and ease of setting-up and use.
All system parameters such as crossover frequencies, limiter settings and equalisation can
be simply called up from a factory-set menu, making it possible to maintain consistent and
repeatable system performance.
Because the power amplifiers can be included as part of the Aspect system, the controllers
are able to utilise output limiters which are precisely matched to the system requirements,
being pre-set to prevent the amplifiers from clipping. Inputs and outputs are fully balanced,
providing isolation between the controller and the amplifier inputs. These factors contribute
to high reliability in the adverse circumstances often encountered under arduous touring
conditions.
In addition, LMS-D2X series controllers are equppied with built-in network capability,
allowing maximum control and flexibility over the loudspeaker system’s performance and
security.
LMS-D2X Loudspeaker Management Systems
Use of Turbosound loudspeaker management systems ensures accurate time-alignment of
the system drive units and also provides a facility for users to select additional delay, either
to compensate for physical displacement of ground-stacked bass enclosures relative to flown
high packs, or to provide full range delay for correct image localisation or use in distributed
systems.
Network Capability
Turbosound LMS series loudspeaker management systems and Turbosound self-powered
loudspeaker systems are fully networkable, enabling control and monitoring of all networked
devices via the BvNet protocol using Turbosound’s TurboDrive™ software, available as a
free download from the Turbosound website www.turbosound.com
For a detailed explanation of TA-500 networking capability please consult the TurboDrive™
User Guide, available in pdf as a download from our ftp site ftp://ftp.turbosound.com.
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Power Amplifiers
In addition to the Turbosound T-25 and T-45 model amplifiers recommended for use with
Aspect systems, the following other power amplifier brands provide sufficient performance
and mechanical compatibility to perform well with Aspect loudspeaker systems:
• MC2 E series
• Lab Gruppen FP series
• Crest Pro series
• QSC Powerlight II series
Digital Controllers
In addition to the Turbosound LMS-D24 and LMS-D26 loudspeaker management systems,
the following digital crossovers have been tested and are recommended for use with Aspect
systems:
• BSS FDS366
• XTA 224. 226 and 428
• Dolby Lake Contour and Dolby Lake controller
Self-powered Loudspeakers
Aspect TA-500 series cabinets are additionally available with integrated networkable Class D
amplifier modules, taking consistent performance and ease of use to a new level. Featuring
lightweight high-power amplifiers using 96kHz DSP and operating at better than 90%
efficiency, self-powered TA-500 products eliminate the need for separate amplifier racks and
controllers, as well as the attendant cabling. Powered loudspeakers can be controlled and
monitored over a network with a PC running the TurboDrive™ software.
Aspect Loudspeaker Components
All the drive units have been designed in-house specifically for the Aspect system and are
manufactured exclusively for Turbosound. This means that they are expressly suited to their
intended purpose, and make use of innovative features to ensure premium performance.
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Neodymium magnets are used throughout all drive units. This results in higher efficiency,
less power compression and reduced overall weight.
Low-mid frequency drivers are designed to be rear-facing in the enclosure, enabling the
heatsink / phase plug to be placed in the air flow to aid cooling.
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TA-500 Three-way Loudspeaker
The TA-500 trapezoidal enclosure contains a Turboloaded neodymium 15" LF driver, a custom 10” MF
driver on a Polyhorn™ device, and a custom HF driver
on a Polyhorn™ device, covering a frequency range
from 60Hz up to 18kHz (with DSP). The two Polyhorn™
devices are designed to generate an exceptionally
smooth and accurately defined wavefront across a 50º
horizontal by 25º vertical dispersion pattern, and over
the entire mid and high frequency bands.
It is configured as a switchable tri-amped or bi-amped
(with passive high end) product.
The TA-500 is equipped for flying in fixed installations with an external flying system.
TA-500DP Self-powered Three-way Loudspeaker
The TA-500DP is a networkable, digitally self-powered
version of the TA-500, and contains a Turbo-loaded
neodymium 15" LF driver, a custom 10” MF driver on a
Polyhorn™ device, and a custom HF driver on a Polyhorn™
device, covering a frequency range from 60Hz up to 18kHz. It
includes an integrated 2-channel Class D power amplifier
and control electronics module with built-in network
capability.
TA-500t Touring Three-way Loudspeaker
The trapezoidal TA-500t is fully equipped for flown touring
applications with an integrated rigging system designed for
quick and easy flying with the minimum of external parts.
The rigging system allows speaker clusters up to a
maximum of nine enclosures to be assembled to suit a wide
range of venues and audience spaces. It contains a Turboloaded neodymium 15" LF driver, a custom 10” MF driver on
a Polyhorn™ device, and a custom HF driver on a
Polyhorn™ device
TA-500tDP Self-powered Touring Three-way Loudspeaker
A self-powered version of the TA-500t with integrated
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rigging system and integrated Class D amplifier module.
TA-500H Horizontal Three-way Loudspeaker
The TA-500H is a horizontally-orientated version of
the TA-500 with the mid/high section rotated
through 90° in order to maintain a 50° horizontal
by 25° vertical dispersion pattern housed in a
rectangular enclosure.
TA-500HDP Self-powered Horizontal Three-way
Loudspeaker
A self-powered version of the TA-500H horizontal
enclure with integrated Class D amplifier module.
TA-500HM Two-way High/Mid Loudspeaker
A high/mid cabinet used for downfill and infill
applications. Consists of a custom 10” MF driver on a
Polyhorn™ device, and a custom HF driver on a
Polyhorn™ device in a trapezoidal enclosure.
TSW-218 Subwoofer
The horn-loaded TSW-218 is designed to
cover the sub and low frequency ranges from
25Hz to 160Hz, and can be used as part of a 5way Aspect system in order to reinforce subbass frequencies. It utilises two custom
designed neodymium 18” drivers loaded with
TurboBass™ devices. The proprietary loading
technique and horn flare design produces
significant mutual coupling between adjacent
enclosures, resulting in sensitivity gains of up
to 110dB with eight units coupled.
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B18 Subwoofer
The B18 is a compact bandpass subwoofer designed to be
used in a variety of installed sound system applications as
well as portable sub-bass support for Aspect TA-500
enclosures. It consists of a high-excursion, 4” voice-coil, 18”
LF driver in a bandpass birch plywood enclosure of modest
dimensions. Speakon NL4 connectors are provided on the
rear panel with special cable access bays that allow cabinets
to be positioned against a wall when interconnected.
B18DP Self-powered Subwoofer
A self-powered version of the B18 subwoofer with integrated
Class D amplifier module.
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Transportation
An optional WB-500 wheelboard is available which clips on to the front of the cabinet,
allowing single units to be conveniently transported. These are designed to be stackable, so
that when not in use they can be neatly stored without taking up unecessary floor space.
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FLYING AND STACKING
Overview
The Aspect system flying hardware is specifically designed to take advantage of its precise
horizontal directivity characteristics, as well as to allow a wide range of adjustment of the
vertical angles between adjacent enclosures, and the overall vertical inclination of each
column of enclosures. This means that arrays can easily be optimised to suit the coverage
requirements of any situation.
Sound radiating from adjacent cabinets will successfully blend over a range of included
angles, creating a coherent point-source image, and this results in the ability to tailor both
the overall coverage and the SPL at a given distance.
The concept of arraying a point-source loudspeaker system is to create part of the surface of
a sphere. A small part of a large sphere will form a high-directivity (long-throw) system with
a high SPL at a distance, whereas a large part of a small sphere will be of lower directivity
producing less SPL at a distance, but having a wider angle of coverage. This approach leads
to the creation of a virtual point source of sound behind the array.
There are some simple rules to follow to help achieve this goal:
• Obtain a smooth even curve in the horizontal plane.
• Use a similar amount of tilt on each column.
• Ensure that the bottom corners of each column are in line with each other.
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Safety Notes on Rigging
The Turbosound Aspect rigging system has been designed and constructed to
a high standard of safety, and tested to the most demanding of specifications.
In order to ensure the highest safety standards, the information following on
the assembly and safe use of rigging accessories must be carefully understood and followed.
Only use Turbosound recommended rigging accessories, which are specifically designed for
their intended purpose. Do not use Turbosound rigging with other types or brands of
loudspeakers. This practice may compromise safety standards and Turbosound will not be
responsible for damage or injury so caused.
Do not modify the rigging accessories, or use them in a way other than that described in this
user manual. Rigging components supplied as part of a complete assembly are noninterchangeable and must not be exchanged with the component parts of any other
assembly.
The component parts of a Turbosound rigging accessory must only be assembled using the
fasteners and methods of assembly recommended in this manual. The use of fasteners and
methods of assembly not specified or approved by Turbosound may result in an unsafe
rigging assembly. Welding, or any other means of permanently fixing rigging components to
each other or to cabinet fixing points is not allowed.
Rigging assemblies must only be assembled using the appropriate parts and fixings as
specified in this manual using the specific mounting instructions. Rigging components or
assemblies must only be fixed to Turbosound loudspeaker cabinets using the cabinet fixing
points, assembly methods and fasteners specified in this manual and the specific mounting
instructions.
Walls, floors or ceilings must be capable of safely and securely supporting the actual load.
The rigging accessory used must be safely and securely fixed both to the loudspeaker and to
the wall, floor or ceiling.
When mounting rigging components on walls, floors or ceilings ensure that all fixings and
fasteners used are of an appropriate size and load rating. Wall and ceiling claddings and the
construction and composition of walls and ceilings all need to be taken into account when
determining whether a particular fixing arrangement can be safely employed for a particular
load. Cavity plugs or other specialist fixings, if required, must be of an appropriate type,
fitted and used in accordance with the maker’s instructions.
Use only the rigging accessory fixing holes indicated in this manual and the specific
mounting instructions to fix Turbosound rigging accessories to walls, floors or ceilings.
Where specified, the recommended maximum torque settings for screw fasteners must be
strictly complied with.
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Secondary Safeties
All loudspeakers flown in theatres, studios or other places of work and entertainment must,
in addition to the principle load bearing means of suspension, be provided with an
independent, properly rated and securely attached secondary safety.
Only steel wire ropes or steel chains of an approved construction and load rating may be
used as secondary safeties. Plastic covered steel wire ropes are not permitted for use as
secondary safeties.
Safety Inspections
Carefully inspect rigging systems components and cabinets for defects or signs
of damage before proceeding to assemble a flown array. If any parts are
damaged or suspect, DO NOT USE THEM.
Regular, more rigorous test and inspection of rigging components must also be carried out.
Safety legislation and test and inspection requirements will vary from country to country. In
most cases, annual independent test and inspection by a suitably approved and qualified
inspector will be required. Users must ensure compliance with all applicable safety
requirements.
Turbosound recommends regular safety inspections and further recommends that a logbook
be kept detailing the test and inspection history of each Turbosound rigging accessory.
Turbosound has adopted the following load safety factors:
• 12 x load safety factor: Chains, ropes, shackles, eyebolts, straps and hooks.
• 5 x load safety factor: Accessories generally employed in fixed, permanent
installations.
Always wear protective headwear, footwear and eye protection in accordance with local
regulations. Anyone involved in flying ANY sound system, especially in a touring capacity,
should take note of the following advice:
The rigging of a flown sound system may be dangerous unless undertaken by qualified
personnel with the required experience and certification to perform the necessary tasks.
Fixing of hanging points in a roof should always be carried out by a professional rigger and
in accordance with the local rules of the venue. The house rigger and/or building manager
must always be consulted.
You should observe particularly the following points:
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When initially ratcheting a column of speakers it is good to bear in mind the expected angle
of inclination so as to avoid ending up with too much of the strap left on the ratchet. This is
important because the ratchet can only take three complete turns before it releases itself.
WARNING: If a tilt strap is released suddenly, the column of enclosures may
tend to swing violently forwards and care must be taken to avoid danger to
persons in the vicinity. It is essential to check that nobody is standing
immediately in front of the column, and to give a suitable warning, before the strap is
released. Ideally, two persons should support the column from the side whilst the strap is
released, or alternatively the bottom row may be returned to the ground before release. In
any event it is essential that all personnel in the vicinity are aware that the system is about to
move and that they must keep clear.
Aspect Flying System components have been individually tested in accordance with the
following regulations:
• The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
• The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992
• The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998
Each component is covered by a Record of Load Test Certificate, which may be obtained on
request from Turbosound, quoting the indentifying number(s) from the flying equipment. A
copy of a sample certificate is reproduced overleaf.
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Sample Certificate of Load Test
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FLYING HARDWARE
Aspect TA-500 Flying Systems
To take full advantage of the very precise dispersion properties of the Aspect system, two
types of rigging system have been developed: a fully-integrated touring flying system which
allows clusters to be rigged quickly and easily with an absolute minumum of additional
external hardware; an an external flying system designed for use in fixed installations.
The flying systems are inherently safe, flexible and simple to use. The rigging design allows
the creation of clusters and arrays that can be assembled quickly and with a minimum
number of crew, and with full control of the vertical angles between enclosures and their
vertical inclination.
Horizontal Coverage
Because the Polyhorn’s design dramatically reduces the acoustic energy outside of the
specified 50° horizontal dispersion pattern, it is recommended that Aspect TA-500 enclosures
always be arrayed in a smooth even curve, resulting in an array angle of 50° between boxes.
Based on this assumption it is an easy job to assess how many columns, and therefore which
particular combination of flybars, will be needed to achieve the required coverage.
Vertical Coverage
Vertical coverage is dictated by the physical dimensions of the room and the location of the
audience spaces. The number of boxes required in a vertical column is therefore determined
by a number of factors including the trim height of the cluster, the vertical coverage you are
trying to achieve, and the distance or projection required.
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