Amate Audio Xcellence X208 User manual

User’s manual
Manual de usuario
X208 / X215W
X218W3K / X18T /
X21T
May 2017

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2Amate Audio
ENGLISH
Safety Instructions
1. All safety instructions must be read before using this device.
2. The exclamation mark in the triangle indicates internal components which if
replaced can affect safety.
3. The lightning symbol within the triangle indicates the presence of dangerous
uninsulated voltages.
4. This device must not be exposed to rain or humidity. It must not be used for
example near swimming pools, fountains or any other place where it might be
affected by liquids.
5. Only clean the device with a dry cloth.
6. Do not situate the equipment where its ventilation system might be interfered with.
7. Do not install the device near heat sources such as radiators, heaters or other
heat-emitting elements.
8. The equipment must be repaired by qualified technical service personnel when:
A. The mains supply cable is damaged, or
B. Any object or liquid has damaged the device; or
C. The equipment does not function normally or correctly; or
D. The equipment has been exposed to the rain; or
E. The chassis is damaged
9. Disconnect the device in the case of electric storms or during long periods of
disuse.
10. Never hang the equipment by its handle.
11. Only use manufacturer recommended accessories.

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1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. General product information
Amate Audio thank you for the trust placed in our Xcellence loudspeaker systems.
The Line Array Xcellence models combine the benefits of their high quality sound
transducers, the convenience of a self-powered system and the flexibility of the DSP
(digital system processing) for cabinet control.
More than 42 years’ experience in amplifier and acoustic cabinet design using the
highest technology and components come together to give you a product ideal for a
multitude of applications, specially those which require high levels of sound pressure
and a control of vertical coverage. Stadiums, theatres or big events will become the
perfect places for their use.
We suggest you read the following information with attention, assured that it will be
of maximum use in helping you to achieve the best results and optimum
performance.
1.2. What is a line array?
The trend in sound reinforcement has been to increase both the sound pressure
level (SPL) and the size of the audience to be covered. This leads to an increase in
the number of cabinets and, as a result of this, an increase in the total size and
weight.
A line array is a group of independent sound sources which are vertically stacked in
order to transform the spherical wavefronts generated by individual sources into a
single flat wavefront.
Fig.1. Wavefield interference for different wavefronts.
To carry out effectively arraying individual sound sources the system must follow the
acoustic coupling conditions based on the wavelength, the shape of each source, the
surface area of each transducer and the relative source separation.
An assembly of individual sound sources arrayed with regular separation between the
sources on a plane or curved continuous surface is equivalent to a single sound
source having the same dimensions as the total assembly if the following conditions
are fulfilled:

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1) The step of source separation, defined as the distance between the acoustic
centres of the individual sources, is smaller than half the wavelength over the
bandwidth of operation.
d<= /2
It is not difficult to fulfil this first condition for the low and mid frequencies. For
example, two 7" loudspeakers that are separated by 17 cm will reproduce a cylindrical
wave up to 1015 Hz.
This condition is difficult to be fulfilled for the high frequencies, as their wavelengths
are too small to make the adjacent acoustic centres any smaller than /2. Here comes
the second "arrayability" criterion.
2) The wavefronts generated by the individual sources are planar and the combined
surface area of the sources fills at least 80% of the total target surface area:
H1·W + H2·W+.....+Hn·W >=0.8·H·W
This is achieved by using waveguides, which are coupled to the compression drivers
output. We achieve flat wavefronts with a constant phase. By vertically assembling
these waveguides we fulfil the second criterion of line array construction.
Fig.2. Second criterion of "arrayability"
3) The deviation from a flat wavefront must be less than λ/4 at the highest operating
frequency (this corresponds to less than 5 mm curvature at 16kHz).
This third condition can be explained through our property waveguide. Thanks to
some complex mathematical calculations we have obtained a component which is

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able to adapt the circular
section of the compression
driver to a rectangular
section, getting on-phase
waves at the end of the
guide. This flat wavefront is
ideal for vertical
configurations.
Fig.3. High frequency waveguide (half piece)
Sound engineers use line arrays to obtain narrow directivities on the vertical plane.
For configurations with many cabinets (big height) and at high frequencies it is not
unusual to achieve narrow angles- in some cases they may be grade fractions. This
can be useful in venues where both a high sound pressure level and long throw are
required; nevertheless, this means less coverage of the audience area.
It is sometimes useful to achieve an asymmetrical coverage pattern on the vertical
plane, which can be obtained by aiming some of the cabinets through their hinging
points. We are now ready to define the last two criteria of "arrayability".
4) For curved arrays, the tilt angles should vary in inverse proportion to the listener
distance (this is geometrically equivalent to shaping variable curvature arrays to
provide equal spacing of individual element impact zones).
5) There are limits given the vertical size of each cabinet and their relative tilt angles.
In our case the maximum tilt angle (between cabinets) is 10º.
Fig.4. Tilt angle between cabinets (10º maximum)

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1.3. Fresnel Region (Near Field) and Fraunhofer Region (Far Field)
As our system is able to fulfil the previous conditions it will produce cylindrical waves
to a maximum frequency. The wave will be flat up to a certain distance where it will
start to become spherical (depending on the frequency and the size of the array).
The limit distance between the zone of cylindrical waves (Fresnel) and spherical
waves (Fraunhofer) can be calculated through the following formula
2
231
1
2
3







 Hf fHdc
where
dc= limit distance between near field and far field (in metres)
H = height of the array (in metres)
f= frequency (in kHz)
In the near field region (Fresnel), the wavefront is cylindrical and waves only expand
on the horizontal plane (110º in X208). The height of the wavefront is, in this case,
the total height of the array.
In the far field region (Fraunhofer), the wavefront is spherical and expands both on
the horizontal and vertical planes. The horizontal coverage is 110º and the vertical
coverage is defined by the frequency and the height of the array.
Fig.5. Limits of Fresnel-Fraunhofer Regions
We can create a chart with some of the basic configurations and their performance
regarding wave propagation.

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Frec
(Hz)
4x
X208
dc(m)
8x
X208
dc(m)
12x
X208
dc(m)
16x
X208
dc(m)
100
Esférica
Esférica
Esférica
1.3
125
Esférica
Esférica
0.7
2.2
250
Esférica
1.1
3
5.6
500
0.5
2.8
6.6
11.8
1k
1.4
5.9
13.3
23.8
2k
2.9
11.9
26.8
47.9
4k
5.9
23.9
54
95.9
8k
11.9
47.9
107.9
191.9
10k
14.9
59.9
134.9
239.8
Fig.6. dc Calculation
An 8-cabinet array has a near field extending to 12 metres at 2kHz. Beyond this
distance the wavefront will be spherical.
In the first zone (Fresnel), sound pressure loss is only 3 dB per doubling of distance,
whereas in the second zone (Fraunhofer) the loss is 6 dB. In long throw and high
SPL configurations it is very important to produce cylindrical waves.
Fig.7.Cylindrical wave (A) vs Spherical wave (B)
(A): -3 dB / doubling of distance
(B): -6 dB / doubling of distance
1.4. Features and appearance
X208A
- Self-powered acoustic system.
- 2400W amplifier for low-mid range.
- 600W amplifier for mid-high range.
- 24-bit AD/DA converters with 112dB dynamic range, 96kHz sampling rate.
- DSP Controls (parametrics, delay, volume and limiters).
- Self amplifier diagnostics: output power, temperature, clipping.
- Overvoltage protection (>250V-400V).
- Ethernet connectivity.

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- Two 8” woofers in neodymium (2.5” voice coil).
- Two 1.7” voice coil diameter, 1” exit PEN diaphragm compression drivers.
- High frequency planar waveguide design.
- 110º horizontal directivity.
- Birch plywood construction.
- Black textured Polyurea paint finish: totally ecological.
- Frontal steel grilles with acoustically transparent grey cloth.
X208P
- Passive acoustic system.
- Two 8” woofers in neodymium (2.5” voice coil).
- Two 1.7” voice coil diameter, 1” exit PEN diaphragm compression drivers.
- High frequency planar waveguide design.
- 110º horizontal directivity.
- Birch plywood construction.
- Black textured Polyurea paint finish: totally ecological.
- Frontal steel grilles with acoustically transparent grey cloth.
X215W Subwoofer
- Self-powered subwoofer.
- 2500W amplifier.
- 24-bit AD/DA converters with 112dB dynamic range, 96kHz sampling rate.
- DSP Controls (parametrics, delay, volume and limiters).
- Self amplifier diagnostics: output power, temperature, clipping.
- Ethernet connectivity.
- Overvoltage protection (>250V-400V).
- Two 15” long-excursion woofers in neodymium, 4” voice coil and
demodulation rings to reduce distortion and the transitory response.
- Birch plywood construction.
- Black textured Polyurea paint finish: totally ecological.
- Frontal steel grilles with acoustically transparent grey cloth.
X218W3K Subwoofer
- Self-powered subwoofer
- 3000W amplifier.
- 24-bit AD/DA converters with 112dB dynamic range, 96kHz sampling rate.
- DSP Controls (parametrics, delay, volume and limiters).
- Self amplifier diagnostics: output power, temperature, clipping.
- Ethernet connectivity.
- Overvoltage protection (>250V-400V).
- Two 18” long-excursion woofers in neodymium, 4.5” voice coil and
demodulation rings to reduce distortion and the transitory response.
- Birch plywood construction.
- Black textured Polyurea paint finish: totally ecological.
- Frontal steel grilles with acoustically transparent grey cloth.

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X18T Subwoofer
- Self-powered subwoofer.
- 2500W amplifier.
- 24-bit AD/DA converters with 112dB dynamic range, 96kHz sampling rate.
- DSP Controls (parametrics, delay, volume and limiters).
- Self amplifier diagnostics: output power, temperature, clipping.
- Ethernet connectivity.
- Overvoltage protection (>250V-400V).
- 18” neodymium woofer with 4” voice coil.
- Birch plywood construction.
- Black textured Polyurea paint finish: totally ecological.
- Frontal steel grilles with acoustically transparent grey cloth.
X21T Subwoofer
- Self-powered subwoofer.
- 2500W amplifier.
- 24-bit AD/DA converters with 112dB dynamic range, 96kHz sampling rate.
- DSP Controls (parametrics, delay, volume and limiters).
- Self amplifier diagnostics: output power, temperature, clipping.
- Ethernet connectivity.
- Overvoltage protection (>250V-400V).
- 21” neodymium woofer with 5.3” voice coil.
- Birch plywood construction.
- Black textured Polyurea paint finish: totally ecological.
- Frontal steel grilles with acoustically transparent grey cloth.
2. X208A/P. FEATURES
The X208A cabinet includes 2400W bi-amplification for the low-mid range woofers,
600W for the high range compression drivers and digital signal control by DSP. The
manufacturer presets make it easy, flexible and user-friendly.
The basic set is composed of three units X208P (passive) and one unit of X208A
(active). This last model includes all the necessary electronics to feed the X208P
units.
The result is a clean, high quality sound at full power in large sites.
2.1. Technical description
The X208A cabinet comes with DSP control, full range sound delivery thanks to its
direct radiation transducers and acoustic bass reflex cabinet. As a full range system,
its usable bandwidth is 78Hz-18kHz (-10dB).
It has 3000W continuous amplification (2400W + 600W), thermal protection, short
circuit protection at the output, maximum power limiters on each channel, and
protection against mains overvoltage. The DSP includes some presets which can be

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selected either accessing the cabinet’s rear control panel or via the computer with
Ethernet connection.
The X208A cabinets are connected using the XLR balanced connector. Mains supply
is through PowerCon at 230V.
Both X208A and X208P are built in birch plywood which has a high resistance
against vibrations and humidity.
High resistance weatherproof bi-component paint. The front face is protected by two
1.5 mm thick steel grilles with acoustically transparent grey cloth.
They include in-built black painted stainless steel rigging hardware and handles for
an easy and comfortable transport.
2.2. Presets
The X208A includes some manufacturer presets for different types of application.
The DSP system can also store up to 23 customer’s presets, depending on user
requirements.
The presets in the X208 are based on the number of boxes, the type of configuration
(flat, standard arc, maximum arc) and frequency range (full range or use with
subwoofer)
[Nº of BOXES] _ [CONFIGURATION] _ [FREQUENCY RANGE]
[Nº of BOXES]
2 : 2 boxes
4 : 4 boxes –6 boxes
8 : 8 or more boxes
[CONFIGURATION]
FLAT: Flat boxes at 0º (longthrow application)
ARC-: Standard curved boxes, i.e. 0º/1º/3º/6º or similar (for mid field application).
ARC+: Maximum curved boxes, i.e. 5º or more degrees between cabinets (for
nearfield application)
[FREQUENCY RANGE]
FR: Full-range. Frequency response down to 78Hz
SW: Frequency response down to 90Hz (for subwoofer use)
Example:
[4FLAT_FR]: 4 boxes / flat configuration / full-range