B-52 ACT-18 User manual

2
INSIDE THIS INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Important Safety Instructions / Specifications ..........................................................2
Set-up Information........................................................................................................3
Panel Specifications.....................................................................................................4
Controls and Connections...........................................................................................5-7
Contact Information......................................................................................................8
11.Readtheseinstructions.
12.Followallinstructions.
13.Keeptheseinstructions.
14.Heedallwarnings.
15.DonotusetheACT-18nearwater.
16.Cleanonlywithadrycloth.
17.Donotblockanyventilationopenings.
Installinaccordancewiththemanufacturer’s
instructions.
18.Donotinstallnearanyheatsourcessuchas
radiators,stoves,orotherdevicesthatmay
produceheat.
19.Donotdefeatthesafetypurposeofthe
polarizationorgrounding-typeplug.A
polarizedplughastwobladeswithonewider
thantheother.Agrounding-typeplughastwo
bladesandathirdgroundingprong.Thewide
bladeorthethirdprongisprovidedforyour
safety.Iftheprovidedplugdoesnotfityour
outlet,consultanelectricianforreplacement
oftheobsoleteoutlet.
10.Protectthepowercordfrombeingwalkedon
orpinched,particularlyattheplugandthe
pointwhereitexitstheACT-18amplifier.
11.Onlyuseattachments/accessoriesspecified
byB-52Pro-Audio.
12.Useonlywithacart,stand,bracketortable
specifiedbyB-52Pro-Audioorsoldwith
theACT-18.Whenacartisused,usecaution
whenmovingthecart/ACT-18combinationto
avoidinjuryfrom-tipover.
13.UnplugtheACT-18duringlightningstormsor
whenun-usedforlongperiodsoftime.
14.Referallservicingtoqualifiedpersonnel.
ServicingisrequiredwhentheACT-18has
beendamagedinanywaysuchaswhen
power-cordorplugisdamaged,liquidhas
beenspilled,orobjectshavefallenintothe
ACT-18cabinet,theACT-18hasbeen
exposedtomoistureorrain,doesnotoperate
normally,orhasbeendropped.
15.Toreducetheriskoffireorelectricshock,do
notexposetheACT-18torainormoisture.
IMPORTANTSAFETY
INFORMATION
CAUTIONCAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
HEEDALLWARNINGS
WARNING:Toreducetheriskorfireor
electricalshockdonotexposethis
equipmenttorainormoisture.
AMPLIFIERSPECIFICATIONS:
● MadeInTheU.S.A.
● 1200wattRMSDigitalAmplification.
● 800wattsRMS@8Ohms.
● 1200wattsRMS@4Ohms.
● FrequencyRange:30-120Hz(+/-3db).
● CrossoverFrequency:120Hz.
● CrossoverSlope:4thOrder(24db/octave)-LP&HP
● SubsonicFilter:6thOrder(36db/octave).
● THD:0.075%@RatedPowerOverFullBandwidth.
● NominalImpedance:8Ohms
● Sensitivity:102dB
● PeakSPL:132dB
● PowerConsumption@Idle:Lessthan20watts.
● PowerRequirements:120v<>60Hz<>12a.
AMPLIFIERFEATURES:
● XLRBalancedInputs.
● XLRBalancedFull-RangeOutputs
● XLRBalanced(120Hz)High-PassOutputs.
● 0–180DegreePhaseSwitch.
● NeutrikSpeakerOutput.
● FullThermal&ShortCircuitProtection.
● SignalSensingOn/OffCircuitry.
CABINETFEATURES:
●SolidVoid-FreePlywoodConstruction.
●ScratchResistantBlackCarpetFinish.
●3”Heavy-DutyDetachableCasters.
●16-GaugePerforatedSteelGrill.
●Pole-MountReceptacle.
●Dimensions(W)x(H)x(D):24”x33”x22”
●Weight:110lbs

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TheB-52ProAudiospeakersdescribedinthisinstructionmanualareintendedforportableusedinwhichthe
speakerswillbeplaceddirectlyonthefloor,stageorasolidplatform.TheACT-18andACT-18Sdescribedin
thismanualshouldnotbesuspendedorflown.Thesemodelsarealsonotintendedforfixedinstallations
outdoorsorinhigh-moistureareas.Moisturecandamagethesubwooferandcancausecorrosionofelectrical
contacts.
Keepspeakersoutofextendedorintensedirectsunlight.Thesubwooferspiderandsurroundwillpremature-
lydryoutandfinishedsurfacesmayfadeandbedamagedbylong-termexposuretointenseultra-violetlight.
B-52Pro-Audiospeakers,especiallytheACT-18,canproducehigh-levelsofenergy.Whenplacedonslippery
surfacessuchaspolishedwoodorsmoothtiles,thespeakermaymovebecauseofitsintensebassoutput.
Precautionsshouldbetakentoensurethesubwooferdoesnotfalloffastageorraisedsurface.
TheACT-18modelsincludeapole-mountingcuptoallowmountingofafull-rangespeakerabovethesub-
woofer.Wheninstallingapoletomountafull-rangespeakerabovetheACT-18,besuretoobservethefollow
precautions:
●Checkthepole’sspecificationstobecertainthatitisdesignedtosupporttheweightonthespeaker.
Observeallsafetyprecautionsspecifiedbythestand’s/pole’smanufacturer.
●Makesurethepoleisplacedcompletelywithinthereceptaclecupbothonthesubwooferandthe
full-rangespeaker.
●Routecablessothatperformers,productioncrewsandaudienceswillnottripoverthemandpullthe
speakerover.
●Donotattempttoplacemorethanonespeakeronapoledesignedforasinglespeaker.
●Donotmountaspeakerabovethesubwooferinwindyconditions.
●B-52Pro-Audiorecommendsthatyounotliftthespeakerabovethesubwooferalone.
Hearingdamage,prolongedexposuretoexcessiveSPL
B-52Pro-Audiospeakers,especiallytheACT-18(S)arecapableofproducingsoundpressurelevels(SPL)suf-
ficienttocausepermanenthearingdamagetoperformers,productioncrewsorpeopleintheaudience.
Hearing-protectiondevices(ear-plugs)arerecommended.Cautionshouldbetakentoavoidextendedexpo-
suretoSPLinexcessof90dBA.
AmplifierModulePrecautions
DonotattempttoservicetheACT-18byyourself.ReferallservicingtoaB-52Pro-AudioAuthorizeddealer.
ServiceisrequiredwhentheACT-18hashadliquidspilledonorinsidethesubwoofer,objectshavefallenonto
thespeakerorithasbeendamagedinanyway,thespeakerhasbeenexposedtorainormoisture,doesnot
operatenormallyorhasbeendropped.
KeepyourACT-18amplifierawayfromsourcesofheatsuchasaradiatororintensesunlight.Donotcover
yourACT-18amplifierwithmaterialthatmayretainheat,suchasablanketorcurtain.Becertainthatthevents
onthepaneloftheamplifierareclearofallobstructionsduringoperation.
WARNING–ShockHazard:
Toreducetheriskoffireorelectricalshock,donotexposethisunittorainormoisture.Donotoperateyour
ACT-18(S)nearapoolorotherstandingwater.Donotbypassordefeatthegroundingorpolarizationmeans
usedontheACT-18amplifier.Makesureallbladesonthepolarizedpowerplugarefullyinsertedintothepower
source.Ensurethepowercordisnotstretched,pinchedorotherwiseabused.Ensurethepowercordisrout-
edtoavoidfoottraffic.YourACT-18amplifiershouldbecleanedonlywithadrycloth.
SettingUpYourACT-18Subwoofer

4
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR ACT-18 ACTIVE 18” SUBWOOFER
PANELCONTROLS
11)LevelControl:Setsthevolumeofthesubwoofer
12)PhaseSwitch:SetsthepolarityoftheACT-18.
13)PowerIndicator:ThePowerindicatorlightswhentheACT-18amplifier
hasbeenturnedonandhaspower.
14)Protection:RedLEDturnsonwhendistortionisaudibleinthe
amplifieroutput.Thisindicatesthatyoushouldturntheamplifier
down.
15)Right&LeftInputs:Theseinputsaresummedandsenttoamplifier’s
LowPassfilter(120Hzandbelow).
16)Right&LeftFull-RangeOutputs:Sendstereofull-rangesignal
allowingdaisychainingofadditionalsubwoofers.Youdonotneedto
y-cableoutofyourmixeroraudiodevicetogetanadditionalfull-
rangesignal.
17)Right&LeftHigh-PassOutputs:Sendstereohigh-passsignal(120
Hzandabove)directlytoactive,full-rangespeakersorthrougharack
mountamplifiertopassivespeakers.
18)ExternalSpeakerOn/OffSwitch:TurnsSpeakonNL-4connector
(andexternalsubwoofer)onandoff.WhenonlyusingtheACT-18,turn
thisswitchoff.Whenanexternal,non-poweredsubwoofer(ACT-18S)
isconnected,turnthisswitchon.NEVERturnswitchonoroffwhile
amplifieristurnedallthewayup.
19)ExternalSpeakerOutput:TheSpeakonNL-4connectorconnects
theamplifiertoanexternal,non-poweredsubwoofer(ACT-18S).Either
pins1+and2+canbeusedasthepositiveconnection.Eitherpins1-
or2-canbeusedastheNegativeConnection.Externalsubwoofer
mustbe8Ohms
10)ON/OFFSwitch:TurnstheACT-18amplifieronoroff.TheACT-18will
onlyturnonwhentheamplifierdetectsanaudiosignal.
11)FuseHolder:Housesafast-resetting12ampfuse.
12)PowerCordConnector:Forattachmentoftheincludedpowercord.

5
12Amp
120VAC60Hz
Fuse
Power
External
Speaker
On
High-Pass Full-Range
Input
Outputs
Protection
Power
CAUTIONCAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
Off
Sub-Out
NeutrikPins:
1+or2+=(+)
1-or2-=(-)
Digital
Amplifier
DesignedbyETISoundSystems/
B-52ProAudio,HuntingtonPark,CA
Model:ACT-18.Maybecoveredby
oneormorepatentspending.
MADEINU.S.A.
WARNING:Toreducetheriskorfireor
electricalshockdonotexposethisequipment
torainormoisture.Pleasereadinstructions
priortooperation.
M
A
D
E
I
N
U
.
S
.
A
.
B 52
-
L
R
Level
Phase
0180
L
R
ON
OFF
ACT-18
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
ACT-18 DIGITAL AMPLIFIER

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M
A
D
E
I
N
U
S
A
B 52
-
M
A
D
E
I
N
U
S
A
B 52
-
M
A
D
E
I N
U
S
A
B 52
-
LR
Audio
Input
M
A
D
E
I
N
U
S
A
B 52
-
HIGH-PASSOUT
B-52ACT-18 B-52ACT-18S
ACT-15/SP-15/ACT-1515
ActiveFull-RangeSpeakers
ACT-18S
M
A
D
E
I N
U
S
A
B 52
-
12Amp
120VAC60Hz
Fuse
Power
External
Speaker
On
High-Pass Full-Range
Input
Outputs
Protection
Power
CAUTIONCAUTION
Off
Sub-Out
N trk Pi
1+ or 2 + =(+)
1 2 ( )
Digital
Amplifier
D d b ETI Sound Systems/
B 52Pro Audio,Huntington P k CA
M d l ACT-18. Maybe d b
at nt d
MADEINU.S.A.
WARNING:To reduce theriskorfire or
l tr al h kd t this equi nt
t t Plea d tr t
trat
M
A
D
E
I
N
U
S
A
B 52
-
L
R
Level
Phase
0180
L
R
ON
OFF
ACT-18
ACT-15/SP-15/ACT-1515
ActiveFull-RangeSpeakers
M
A
D
E
I N
U
S
A
B 52
-
M
A
D
E
I
N
U
S
A
B 52
-
12Amp
120VAC60Hz
Fuse
Power
External
Speaker
On
High-Pass Full-Range
Input
Outputs
Protection
Power
CAUTIONCAUTION
Off
Sub-Out
N trk Pi
1+ or 2 + =(+)
1 2 ( )
Digital
Amplifier
D d b ETI Sound Systems/
B 52Pro Audio,Huntington P k CA
M d l ACT-18. Maybe d b
at nt d
MADEINU.S.A.
WARNING:To reduce theriskorfire or
l tr al h kd t this equi nt
t t Plea d tr t
t rat
M
A
D
E
I
N
U
S
A
B 52
-
L
R
Level
Phase
0180
L
R
ON
OFF
ACT-18
LR
AudioInput
M
A
D
E
I
N
U
S
A
B 52
-
HIGH-PASSOUT
B-52ACT-18 B-52ACT-18S
ACT-18S
Rack-MountAmplifier
SPEAKEROUT
SPEAKEROUT
AudioInput
M
A
D
E
I N
U
S
A
B 52
-
PASeries/SR-Series
PassiveFull-RangeSpeakers
M
A
D
E
I N
U
S
A
B 52
-
M
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D
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I
N
U
S
A
B 52
-
M
A
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N
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S
A
B 52
-
PASeries/SR-Series
PassiveFull-RangeSpeakers
LR
LR
ConnectingYourACT-18ToActiveFull-RangeSpeakers
(AswellastheACT-18S-Passive18”subwoofer)
ConnectingYourACT-18ToPassiveFull-RangeSpeakers
(AswellastheACT-18S-Passive18”subwoofer)

7
12Amp
120VAC60Hz
Fuse
Power
External
Speaker
On
High-Pass FullRange
Input
Outputs
Protection
Power
CAUTIONCAUTION
Off
Sub-Out
Ntrk Pi
1+ or 2 + =(+)
1 2 ( )
Digital
Amplifier
D d b ETI Sound Systems/
B 52Pro Audio,Huntington P k CA
M d l ACT-18. Maybe d b
at nt d
MADEINU.S.A.
WARNING:To reduce theriskorfire or
ltr al h k d t this equi nt
t t Plea d tr t
t rat
M
A
D
E
I N
U
S
A
B 52
-
L
R
Level
Phase
0180
L
R
ON
OFF
ACT-18
12Amp
120VAC60Hz
Fuse
Power
External
Speaker
On
High-Pass Full-Range
Input
Outputs
Protection
Power
CAUTIONCAUTION
Off
Sub-Out
N trk Pi
1+ or 2 + =(+)
1 2 ( )
Digital
Amplifier
Ddb ETI SoundSystems/
B 52Pro Audio,Huntington P k CA
M d l ACT-18. Maybe d b
at nt d
MADEINU.S.A.
WARNING:To reduce theriskorfire or
ltr al h k d t this equi nt
t t Plea d tr t
t rat
M
A
D
E
I N
U
S
A
B 52
-
L
R
Level
Phase
0180
L
R
ON
OFF
ACT-18
LR
AudioInput
M
A
D
E
I N
U
S
A
B 52
-
FULL-RANGEOUT
ACT-18S
AudioInput
M
A
D
E
I N
U
S
A
B 52
-
ACT-18S
FULL-RANGEOUT
M
A
D
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N
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S
A
B 52
-
B-52ACT-18
M
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D
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I N
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S
A
B 52
-
B-52ACT-18
M
A
D
E
I N
U
S
A
B 52
-
B-52ACT-18S
M
A
D
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N
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S
A
B 52
-
B-52ACT-18S
Daisy-chainingYourACT-18ToAdditionalACT-18Subwoofers
(AswellastheACT-18S-Passive18”subwoofers)
WARRANTYINFORMATION
ThankyouforchoosingthisB-52Pro-Audiosoundproduct.B-52manufacturessomeoftheworld’sbestsoundingandmostreliableprofessionalspeakersys-
temsandcomponents.E.T.I.SoundSystems,Inc.,manufacturersofB-52,takesgreatprideinthoroughlytestingeachB-52productpriortoshipment.Please
readthewarrantytermsandconditionsbelowandcarefullyreadtheprovidedLimitedWarrantyCardforadditionaltermsandconditions.
LOUDSPEAKER&MID-RANGECOMPONENTS:E.T.I.SoundSystems,Inc.warrantstheoriginalpurchaserthattheB-52subwooferwillbefreefromdefects
inmaterialandworkmanshipforaperiodof(5)FIVEYEARSfromtheoriginalpurchasedate.Adatedsalesreceiptwillestablishcoverageunderthiswarranty.
Thiswarrantywillautomaticallyterminate(5)fiveyearsaftertheoriginalsalesdate.SeeprovidedLimitedWarrantyCardforadditionaltermsandconditions.
B-52AMPLIFIER:E.T.I.SoundSystems,Inc.warrantstheoriginalpurchaserthattheB-52amplifierwillbefreefromdefectsinmaterialandworkmanshipfor
aperiodof(2)TWOYEARSfromtheoriginalpurchasedate.Adatedsalesreceiptwillestablishcoverageunderthiswarranty.Thiswarrantywillautomatically
terminate(2)twoyearsaftertheoriginalsalesdate.Ifthisproductisdefectiveinmaterialsorworkmanshipaswarrantedabove,yoursoleremedyshallberepair
orreplacementasprovidedabove.SeeprovidedLimitedWarrantyCardforadditionaltermsandconditions.
B-52CABINETS:E.T.I.SoundSystems,Inc.offersaLIFETIMEwarrantytotheoriginalpurchaserthatB-52cabinet’sconstructionwillbefreefromdefectsin
materialandworkmanship.Adatedsalesreceiptwillestablishcoverageunderthiswarranty.Thewarrantydoesnotcoverserviceorpartstorepairdamage
causedbyneglect,abuse,normalwear&tearandcosmeticappearanceofthecabinetrynotdirectlyattributedtodefectsinmaterialorworkmanship,orserv-
ice&repair,modificationstothecabinetwhichhasnotbeauthorizedorapprovedbyE.T.I.SoundSystems,Inc.Ifthisproductisdefectiveinmaterialsorwork-
manshipaswarrantedabove,yoursoleremedyshallberepairorreplacementasprovidedabove.SeeprovidedLimitedWarrantycardforadditionaltermsand
conditions.
INCIDENTALORCONSEQUENTIALDAMAGE:InnoeventE.T.I.SoundSystems,Inc.beliableforanyincidentalorconsequentialdamagesarisingoutofthe
useorinabilitytouseofanyB-52product,evenif,E.T.I.SoundSystems,Inc.oraB-52dealerhasbeenadvisedofthepossibilityofsuchdamages,oranyother
claimbyanyotherparty.SomeStatesdonotallowtheexclusionorlimitationofconsequentialdamages,sotheabovelimitationandexclusionmaynotapply
toyou.ThiswarrantygivesyouspecificlegalrightsandyoumayalsohaveotherrightsthatmayvaryfromStatetoState.SeeprovidedLimitedWarrantycard
foradditionaltermsandconditions.
RETURNPROCEDURES:Intheunlikelyeventthatadefectshouldoccur,followtheprocedureoutlinedbelow.Defectiveproductsmustbeshippedtogether
withaproofofpurchase,freightprepaidandinsurednetwhic5AeauthorizaB-D2dealryfrwhfrndyofpurchdlowtheprodu(fotdirectbyE.T)108(.I.SoundSystems,Iply)]TJT*7.037Twc.atheprodutsmustreturtlinotdirectednntE.T.I.SoundSystems,Inw(fiswarranorreplacem/&repair)55aReturtairRAN.

E.T.I.SOUNDSYSTEMS,INC.
3383GageAvenue,HuntingtonPark,CA,90255
Phone:[phone]Fax:[phone]
National:1-800-344-4ETI
Internet:www.B-52PRO.com
E-mail:[email protected]
8