Amate Audio XCELLENCE X218WFD User manual

User’s manual
X218WFD
July 2021

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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 thanks you for the trust placed in our Xcellence loudspeaker systems.
The Xcellence series combines the convenience of a self-powered system and the
flexibility of the DSP (digital system processing) for cabinet control. More than 45
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, especially 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 Subwoofer arrays
A subwoofer array consists in a set of two or more subwoofers with the same target
as a Line-Array: Achieve a great Sound Pressure Level (SPL) with a maximum
coverage preventing irregular SPL distribution.
Fig.1. X218WFD cardioid subwoofer array
The emplacement of the subwoofers is crytical in applications where we have two or
more of them. Low frequencies wavelength are longer so the chance of them to
interact negatively increases. In this scenario the performance of our subwoofer array
would be heavely downgraded.
For example for a sound wave of 100 Hz the wavelength is:
λ = 𝑐
𝑓= 340 100 = 3.4 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠
If we place two subwoofers at less of 1.7 meters (Half of λ) the sound waves of 100
Hz corresponding of two different subwoofers will enter in the same period T/2 with a
nearly equal SPL. In this scenario, for this specific frequency, both of them will work
as one same subwoofer with increased performance.

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Fig.2. Phase difference θbetween soundwaves of different sources
We can illustrate this phenomenon looking at the Figure 2. The strokes represent
different subwoofers in different colors. Vertical y axis is the displacement of sound
pressure and x axis is the time when the sound waves reach a specific spatial point.
Phase difference is the Greek letter theta θ.When the phase difference is low the
peak pressure of the two strokes match. This causes a positive addition. When the
phase difference is T/4 the valley of blue stroke matches the peak of red stroke. This
causes negative addition and a theoretical absence of sound.
The closer the distance between subwoofers, the more chances we can get a
positive addition. The more sensible frequencies of the emplacement of the
subwoofers are those closer to the crossover frequency. That is why we advise
against emplacing the subwoofers beneath the line-array towers in the typical L-R
sound system. More information is available in our Recommended Configurations
guide.
With a good sound design we can take profit of the previous phenomenon for
creating a subwoofer array which increase the performance of our sound system.
Also for preventing the soundwaves to be emited in certain areas of interest (E.g.
The Stage). Knowing the sound speed, we can work in both the time and spatial
plane, emplacing the subwoofers in reverse direction to invert the phase in order to
create a cardioid subwoofer array. In section 3.4 we talk further about the cardioid
configurations.
All this process of subwoofer array sound design could be very time counsuming. In
Amate Audio we worked this out to offer an accessible presets, factory available
inside our Xcellence X218WFD. In addition we created a document with different
physical configurations so the user can select the one which fits in the application.
You can find our Recommended Configurations Guide in our website, in the
Downloads section for X218WFD.

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1.3 Features and presentation
X218WFD
•Self-powered subwoofer
•XLR electronically balanced input & XLR parallel link
•AC PowerCon input & link
•EtherCon RJ45 input & link
•1 Gbps Ethernet connectivity with DanteTM audio networking.
•5000W class D amplifier
•24-bit AD/DA converters with 112 dB dynamic range, 48 kHz sampling rate
•DSP Controls (presets, parametric EQs, delay, mute, volume and limiter)
•Amplifier self-diagnostics: input level, temperature, limiter active
•Overvoltage protection (>250V-400V)
•2 x 18” long-excursion neodymium woofers with 4” voice coil and demodulation
rings to reduce distortion and the transitory response.
2 X218WFD FEATURES
The X218WFD cabinet is ideal for bass reinforcement. It includes 5000W amplification
for the woofer and digital signal control by DSP. The manufacturer presets make it
easy, flexible and user-friendly.
2.1 Technical description
The X218WFD cabinet comes with DSP control, direct radiation transducers and
acoustic bass reflex cabinet. As a subwoofer system, its usable bandwidth is 25Hz-
120Hz (-10 dB). It has 5000W continuous amplification (2500W + 2500W), thermal
protection, output short circuit protection, independent peak and RMS power limiters
for each channel, and protection against overvoltage. The DSP includes several
presets which can be selected either accessing the cabinet’s rear control screen or
via the computer with Ethernet connection.
The X218WFD cabinet is connected using the XLR balanced connector or via DanteTM
audio networking, using the RJ45 connectors. Mains supply is through PowerCon. It
is built in birch plywood, which has a high resistance to vibrations and humidity with
black Polyurea paint coating. The front face is protected by two 2 mm thick steel grilles
with acoustically transparent grey cloth. It includes two in-built lateral handles and one
back handle for an easy and comfortable transport.

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Fig.3. X218WFD external dimensions
3 PRESETS
The X218WFD includes several manufacturer presets for different types of application.
The DSP system can also store up to 25 other presets, depending on user
requirements
3.1 As extension on floor for X212AFD
The X218WFD provides an extension of the bandwidth in the low end for the Xcellence
Line Array system X212AFD, down to 25 Hz. The overall system operates over the
nominal bandwidth 25 Hz –18 kHz, -10dB.
This extension can be done at two different crossover points: 60Hz or 80Hz. Please
note that depending on the crossover point used in the subwoofer, the corresponding
preset must be selected in X212AFD.

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3.1.1 X212AFD as a line source with X218WFD extension on floor and upper
frequency limit of the subwoofer at 60 Hz.
The X218WFD provides an extension of the bandwidth in the low end, down to 25 Hz.
The system operates over the nominal bandwidth 25 Hz –18 kHz, -10dB.
Model: X212AFD
Preset: [HPF60 FLAT] [HPF60 FLAT]
Model: X218WFD
Preset: [LPF60 X212]
[LPF60 X212]
The minimum number of cabinets to be used as a line source system is 6
cabinets. We do not recommended to use less than 6 cabinets per side.
The optimum number of cabinets per side would be from 8-9 cabinets to
up.
Place the subwoofers side by side. If not possible, the maximum distance
between two adjacent acoustic centres must be 2.8m when the upper
frequency limit of the subwoofer is at 60 Hz.
SYSTEM ALIGNMENT
The system is pre-aligned from the factory. Do not forget to add the
geometric delay depending on the configuration used.

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3.1.2 X212AFD as a line source with X218WFD extension on floor and upper
frequency limit of the subwoofer at 80 Hz.
The X218WFD provides an extension of the bandwidth in the low end, down to 25 Hz.
The system operates over the nominal bandwidth 25 Hz –18 kHz, -10dB.
Model: X212AF/D
Preset: [HPF80 FLAT] [HPF80 FLAT]
Model: X218WFD
Preset: [LPF80 X212]
[LPF80 X212]
The minimum number of cabinets to be used as a line source system is 6
cabinets. We do not recommended to use less than 6 cabinets per side.
The optimum number of cabinets per side would be from 8-9 cabinets to
up.
Place the subwoofers side by side. If not possible, the maximum distance
between two adjacent acoustic centres must be 2.1m when the upper
frequency limit of the subwoofer is at 80 Hz.
SYSTEM ALIGNMENT
The system is pre-aligned from the factory. Do not forget to add the
geometric delay depending on the configuration used.

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3.1.3 X212AFD as a line source (including NearField and Longthrow cabinets)
with X218WFD extension on floor and upper frequency limit of the
subwoofer at 60 Hz.
The X218WFD provides an extension of the bandwidth in the low end, down to 25 Hz.
The system operates over the nominal bandwidth 25 Hz –18 kHz, -10dB.
[HPF60 LTHROW]
Model: X212AFD
Preset: [HPF60 LONGTHROW]
Model: X212AFD [HPF60 FLAT]
Preset: [HPF60 FLAT]
Model: X212AFD
Preset: [HPF60 NEARFIELD] [HPF60 NFIELD]
Model: X218WFD
Preset: [LPF60 X212]
[LPF60 X212]
The minimum number of cabinets to be used as a line source system is 6
cabinets. We do not recommended to use less than 6 cabinets per side.
The optimum number of cabinets per side would be from 8-9 cabinets to
up.
Place the subwoofers side by side. If not possible, the maximum distance
between two adjacent acoustic centres must be 2.8m when the upper
frequency limit of the subwoofer is at 60 Hz.
SYSTEM ALIGNMENT
The system is pre-aligned from the factory. Do not forget to add the
geometric delay depending on the configuration used.

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3.1.4 X212AFD as a line source (including NearField and Longthrow cabinets)
with X218WFD extension on floor and upper frequency limit of the
subwoofer at 80 Hz.
The X218WFD provides an extension of the bandwidth in the low end, down to 25 Hz.
The system operates over the nominal bandwidth 25 Hz –18 kHz, -10dB.
[HPF80 LTHROW]
Model: X212AFD
Preset: [HPF80 LONGTHROW]
Model: X212AFD [HPF80 FLAT]
Preset: [HPF80 FLAT]
Model: X212AFD [HPF80 NFIELD]
Preset: [HPF80 NEARFIELD]
Model: X218WFD
Preset: [LPF80 X212]
[LPF80 X212]
The minimum number of cabinets to be used as a line source system is 6
cabinets. We do not recommended to use less than 6 cabinets per side.
The optimum number of cabinets per side would be from 8-9 cabinets to
up.
Place the subwoofers side by side. If not possible, the maximum distance
between two adjacent acoustic centres must be 2.1m when the upper
frequency limit of the subwoofer is at 80 Hz.
SYSTEM ALIGNMENT
The system is pre-aligned from the factory. Do not forget to add the
geometric delay depending on the configuration used.