Community SLS User manual

COMMUNITY
SOLUTIONS™
Owner’s Manual
SLS Full-Range Loudspeakers
And
SBS Subwoofers

PAGE 2 Community Solutions™ Owner’s Manual
A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION
Since the founding of our company in 1968, Community has been a constant developer and innovator
of loudspeaker technology. Many of our engineering achievements were undertaken to solve problems,
when no prior solutions existed. Others resulted from simply seeing a better way to do things.
Over the years our technologies have been imitated, and our methods have become common practice
throughout the professional sound industry. However, developments like carbon fiber diaphragm
compression drivers still stand alone, and well ahead of the competition. Just a few of Community’s
unique accomplishments include the following:
•First successful fiberglass mid, high frequency, and large-format bass horns.
•First compression loaded mid-range horn for touring systems - the LMF.
•First suspension-less diaphragm HF driver - the VHF100.
•First mid-range, full-decade (200 Hz - 2 kHz) high-power compression driver - the M4.
•First carbon fiber diaphragm compression drivers - M4, EM280, EM282.
•First Ferrofluid-cooled professional woofers - the VBS Series.
•First product series with all drivers Ferrofluid-cooled.
•First air-cooled loudspeakers for touring systems - AirForce.
•First three-way cinema loudspeaker systems - Paramount Executive Studio Theatre, Warner Bros.
screening theatre and dubbing rooms.
•First electro-acoustic system to equal the sound level of pneumatic warning sirens.
•First to provide loudspeaker coverage over an entire country - Denmark Emergency System.
•First comprehensive, calibrated data acquisition of sound reinforcement products.
•First integral signal-aligned three-way sound reinforcement systems - RS Series.
•First pro audio company with an Internet Web site.
•First all horn-loaded, high-fidelity, weather-resistant loudspeaker - R2 Series.
In line with our history of excellence and innovation, each Community product is manufactured in
accordance with a complicated and exacting chain of procedures that ensure absolute quality.
With our unique designs, our sophisticated techniques, and our proprietary materials and transducers,
we are committed to bringing only the finest audio products to the many thousands of professional
sound engineers, performers, and end users who rely on them daily.
Community Professional Loudspeakers
333 East Fifth Street
Chester, PA 19013-4511 USA
TEL: [phone] FAX: [phone]
© 2010 All Rights Reserved

PAGE 3 Community Solutions™ Owner’s Manual
EC STATEMENT OF CONFORMITY
This document confirms that the range of products of Community Professional Loudspeakers bearing
the CE label meets all of the requirements in the EMC directive 89/336/EEC laid down by the Member
States Council for adjustment of legal requirements. Furthermore, the products comply with the rules
and regulations referring to the electromagnetic compatibility of devices from 30-August-1995.
The Community Professional Loudspeaker products bearing the CE label comply with the following
harmonized or national standards:
DIN EN 55013:08-1991
DIN EN 55020:05-1995
DIN EN 55082-1:03-1993
The authorized declaration and compatibility certification resides with the manufacturer and can be
viewed upon request. The responsible manufacturer is the company:
Community Light & Sound
333 East Fifth Street
Chester, PA 19013
USA
TEL: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
Chester, PA USA July 2010

PAGE 4 Community Solutions™ Owner’s Manual
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
EC Statement of Conformity..............................................................................................3
1. Introduction and Safety Information.....................................................................5
2. Introduction to Electronically Controlled Loudspeaker Systems............................6
3. Unpacking and Inspection....................................................................................7
Quick Start-up – Passive Mode / SBS Subwoofer ...............................................................8
Quick Start-up – Biamplified Mode ...................................................................................9
4. Physical Features .................................................................................................10
5. General Description .............................................................................................12
6. Operating Modes .................................................................................................16
6.1 Electronic Controller Options ...............................................................................16
7. System Configurations .........................................................................................17
8. Choosing Power Amplification .............................................................................19
9. Operating Requirements ......................................................................................20
10. Electrical Installation ............................................................................................ 22
10.5 Connecting the Loudspeakers .............................................................................23
11. Physical Installation .............................................................................................25
12. Acoustical Adjustments........................................................................................32
13. Operating Precautions..........................................................................................35
14. Operating Precautions – SLS918...........................................................................40
15. Servicing ..............................................................................................................41
16. Technical Specifications .......................................................................................42
17. In Case of Difficulty .............................................................................................44
18. Warranty Information ...........................................................................................47
19. Replacement Parts List .........................................................................................49
Index ............................................................................................................................50-51
FIGURES and TABLES PAGE
Quick Start-up – PASSIVE Mode / SBS Subwoofer ..............................................................8
Quick Start-up – BIAMPLIFIED Mode..................................................................................9
Fig 1: Physical Features .................................................................................................10
Fig 2: Configurations Using A System Controller............................................................18
Fig 3: Configurations Using A System Controller............................................................19
Fig 4: Wiring for SLS in Passive Mode .............................................................................23
Fig 5: Wiring for SLS in Biamplified Mode.......................................................................24
Fig 6: Wiring for SBS Subwoofers ...................................................................................24
Fig 7: Feet Installation and Stacking Enclosures ............................................................. 25
Fig 8: Installing a Custom Grille Cloth............................................................................26
Fig 9: Working Load Limits (WLL) for Mounting/Rigging Points ......................................28
Fig 10: Mounting/Rigging Point Locations .......................................................................28
Fig 11: Working Load Limits (WLL) for Pull-back Points....................................................29
Fig 12: Stand and Bracket Mounting Points......................................................................30
Fig 13: SBS25 Pole Socket ................................................................................................31
Fig 14: Effects of Amplifier Clipping ................................................................................37
Fig 15: Sound Exposure Limits.........................................................................................38
Fig 16: Servicing SLS Drivers............................................................................................41
Table 1:Product Listing.....................................................................................................12
Table 2:Amplifier Power for SLS in Passive Mode with Electronic Controller ......................20
Table 3:Amplifier Power for SLS in Biamplified Mode with Controller ................................20
Table 4:Amplifier Power for SBS with Electronic Controller................................................21
Table 5:Loudspeaker Wire Selection .................................................................................22
Table 6:Omnimount™ Bracket Selection............................................................................30

PAGE 5 Community Solutions™ Owner’s Manual
COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS™ OWNER’S MANUAL
1 INTRODUCTION
Welcome! You’ve joined the group of people that have chosen high quality Community loudspeaker
systems and components for 30 years. We’re really gratified you did and we will do our best to make
sure you are satisfied with your new loudspeaker.
In order for you to get the most effective use of this product please take a few minutes to read this
manual. We have included a great deal of useful information that will help you to realize the best
performance, operation, sound quality, and reliability from your new loudspeaker.
1.1 Community Solutions Loudspeaker Systems
This manual contains information for the proper set-up and operation of the Community Solutions
Series loudspeaker systems consisting of the SLS full-range loudspeakers and SBS subwoofers. While
every attempt has been made to ensure this information is correct and up to date, Community
continuously incorporates worthwhile improvements to each product which may include changes
and/or modifications not contained in this manual.
1.2 IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
The terms “Caution,” “Warning,” and “Danger” are used throughout this manual to alert the reader to
important safety considerations. If you have any questions about any aspects of these cautions,
contact your local dealer, distributor or Community.
CAUTION: describes an operating condition or user action that may expose the equipment or
user to potential damage or danger.
WARNING: describes an operating condition or user action that will cause damage to the
equipment or injure the user.
DANGER: describes an operating condition or user action that will immediately damage the
equipment or be extremely dangerous or possibly life-threatening to the user.

PAGE 6 Community Solutions™ Owner’s Manual
2 INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICALLY-CONTROLLED
LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEMS
In simple terms, an electronically-controlled loudspeaker system consists of:
1. The loudspeaker components and enclosure.
2. An associated electronic device that modifies the source signal in some fashion.
3. The power amplifier used to drive the loudspeaker system.
A properly designed electronically-controlled loudspeaker system, in combination with a power
amplifier of appropriate rating, will provide enhanced performance over a non-electronically-
controlled loudspeaker in one or more of the following ways:
•Improved frequency response
•Maximized power handling
•Higher acoustic output
•Lowered distortion
•Protection of the loudspeaker system components
All loudspeaker systems have frequency response limitations. Flat response from a system is typically
attained by lowering the output in certain portions of the system’s passband to match the lower output
of the system at other frequencies within its passband. As a consequence the overall sensitivity of the
system is lowered. Rather than modifying the system, the input signal may be modified by an
electronic controller to compensate for those areas within the system’s passband where it would
normally have lower output. In this way flat frequency response can be achieved while maintaining the
sensitivity of the system.
All loudspeaker systems have power handling limitations beyond which they can be damaged. An
electronic model may be developed with characteristics that help prevent exceeding the mechanical
and/or thermal limits of the system’s components. For example, suppose it can be determined with
accuracy that an input signal of 20 volts to the voice coil of a driver will cause the voice coil former to
strike the rear of the magnet assembly. If the electronic model for this speaker is designed so that the
input signal to the driver’s voice coil may never exceed 19.5 volts, then it should never be capable of
bottoming out.
Some other important operational characteristics may also be addressed by a controller. One is
compensating for the natural characteristics of human hearing, which does not “hear” low frequencies
and high frequencies as well at lower sound pressure levels. The controller can increase the output of
these frequencies at low volume (in essence, a sophisticated loudness control). The controller can
then reduce the output at these frequencies as the signal level is increased. Another is providing an
electronic crossover function; while yet another might be to correct for phase anomalies in the
loudspeaker system.
A properly designed electronic system controller will provide the necessary equalization, compression,
and limiting required for the associated loudspeaker system. It will do this inaudibly when the
loudspeaker system is operated within its rated power constraints. Even when this boundary is
exceeded, it will apply control in a manner that is audibly acceptable.

PAGE 7 Community Solutions™ Owner’s Manual
3 UNPACKING AND INSPECTION
The Community SLS and SBS loudspeakers are inherently rugged and are carefully packed in well
designed cartons. It is a good idea to carefully inspect the unit after it has been removed from the
packaging as sometimes there is hidden damage due to some unfortunate incident in shipment.
Please note that once the shipment has left Community (or the dealer), the responsibility for damage is
borne by the freight company. This means that if there is damage, you must file a claim with the
freight company. Each freight company has its own set of regulations that must be followed and forms
that must be filled out. Therefore the freight company must be contacted as soon as a shipping
damage problem is discovered. Save the carton and packing material because many damage claims
will be considered invalid if these are thrown away. The Community dealer and the factory will try to
help in any way possible. Remember, though, it is up to the party receiving the shipment to file a
damage claim.
It is always a good idea to keep the carton and packing material in case the unit must be shipped back
to your dealer or export distributor.
The shipping carton contains the following items:
(1) Loudspeaker system
(Lot) Packing material
(4) Filister head screws
(4) Rubber feet
(1) Owner’s manual
(1) Neutrik Speakon in-line connector model NL4FC
(1) 5/32” Allen wrench
3.1IMPORTANT NOTE – Mounting/Rigging Points
The eight SLS and SBS mounting/rigging points found on the top and bottom of the enclosure must
either be used for mounting hardware or “plugged” with the hex-socket screws provided. The reason
for this is that if all these holes are not plugged up, they can create air leaks in the enclosure that will
compromise the low frequency performance with reduced output and/or distortion.

PAGE 8 Community Solutions™ Owner’s Manual

PAGE 9 Community Solutions™ Owner’s Manual

PAGE 10 Community Solutions™ Owner’s Manual
FIGURE 1: Physical Features