Amate Audio XCELLENCE XW218 User manual

User’s manual
XW218
July 2023

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Safety Instructions
1. All safety instructions must be read before using this device.
2. Keep and follow these instructions
3. Heed all warnings
4. The exclamation mark in the triangle indicates internal components which if
replaced can affect safety.
5. The lightning symbol within the triangle indicates the presence of dangerous
uninsulated voltages.
6. Only clean the device with a dry cloth.
7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s
instructions.
8. Do not install the device near heat sources such as radiators, heaters or other heat-
emitting elements.
9. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched, particularly at plugs,
convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus
10. 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
11. Disconnect the device in the case of electric storms or during long periods of
disuse.
12. WARNING – To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this device
to rain or moisture
13. The equipment shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing and no objects filled
with liquids, such as vases, shall be placed on the device.
14. For hanging and installation, use manufacturer recommended accessories only.

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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. XW218 cardioid subwoofer array
The emplacement of the subwoofers is critical 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 heavily downgraded.
For example for a sound wave of 100 Hz the wavelength is:
λ  
 340 100  3.4 
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

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nearly equal SPL. In this scenario, for this specific frequency, both of them will work
as one same subwoofer with increased performance.
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 colours. 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 emitted 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 3.3, we talk further about the cardioid configurations.
All this process of subwoofer array sound design could be very time consuming. In
Amate Audio, we worked this out to offer an accessible presets, factory available
inside our Xcellence XW218.

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1.3 Features and presentation
XW218
•Self-powered subwoofer
•XLR electronically balanced input & XLR parallel link
•AC PowerCon input & link
•EtherCon RJ45 input & link
•1 Gbps Ethernet connectivity with Dante
TM
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)
•Ethernet connectivity
•2x 18” neodymium woofers with 4” voice coil
XW218 FEATURES
The XW218 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 XW218 cabinet comes with DSP control, a direct radiation transducer and
acoustic bass reflex cabinet. As a subwoofer system, its usable bandwidth is 25Hz-
130Hz (-10 dB). It has 5000W continuous amplification, thermal protection, output
short circuit protection, independent peak and RMS power limiters, 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 XW218 cabinet is connected using the XLR balanced connector or via Dante
TM
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 an in-built back handle and two
wheels for an easy and comfortable transport.

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Fig.3. XW218 external dimensions
PRESETS
The XW218 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 XW218 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 XW218 extension on floor and upper
frequency limit of the subwoofer at 60 Hz
The XW218 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: XW218
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 XW218 extension on floor and upper
frequency limit of the subwoofer at 80 Hz
The XW218 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: [HPF80 FLAT] [HPF80 FLAT]
Model: XW218
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 XW218 extension on floor and upper frequency limit of the subwoofer
at 60 Hz.
The XW218 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: XW218
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 XW218 extension on floor and upper frequency limit of the subwoofer
at 80 Hz.
The XW218 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: XW218
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.