Community WET Series II Specification sheet

WET Series II
Premium Quality All-Weather/All-Purpose
Installation Loudspeakers
WEATHER ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY
Operation and Installation Manual

Community WET Series II - Operation and Installation Manual - Page 2
COMMUNITY PROFESSIONAL LOUDSPEAKERS
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,
where 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 loudspeakers - 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 quality audio products to the many thousands of professional
sound engineers, performers, and end users who rely on them daily.
Community’s philosophy is to build products that are uncompromised in sound quality, reliability,
durability and flexibility, all at a fair price. We provide comprehensive technical support and we stand
behind every product we manufacture. We pledge to do our best to insure that you are satisfied with
your Community purchase!
Community Professional Loudspeakers
333 East Fifth Street
Chester, PA 19013-4511 USA
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]
www.communitypro.com
© 2014 All Rights Reserved

Community WET Series II - Operation and Installation Manual - Page 3
REFERENCE TO EC STATEMENT OF CONFORMITY
This document confirms that the range of products of Community Professional Loudspeakers bearing the
CE label meet 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 19013-4511
USA
TEL: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
Chester, PA USA February 2014

Community WET Series II - Operation and Installation Manual - Page 4
Community WET Series II Operation and Installation Manual
Table of Contents
CHAPTER PAGE
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................................................................6
WET SERIES II LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEMS FROM COMMUNITY..............................................................................................................6
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION ......................................................................................................................................................8
C-TIPS....................................................................................................................................................................................................8
PRECAUTIONS &SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS ........................................................................................................................................8
INTRODUCTION TO WEATHER-RESISTANT LOUDSPEAKERS.................................................................................................................9
UNPACKING AND INSPECTION ..............................................................................................................................................................9
IMPORTANT NOTE –MOUNTING/RIGGING PROVISIONS.................................................................................................................10
WET SERIES II FEATURES AND TECHNOLOGY .....................................................................................................................................10
GETTING ACQUAINTED................................................................................................................................................................................11
PHYSICAL FEATURES ...........................................................................................................................................................................11
GENERAL DESCRIPTION...............................................................................................................................................................................13
HIGH-PASS FILTERS .......................................................................................................................................................................................13
CONNECTING THE AMPLIFIER TO THE LOUDSPEAKER....................................................................................................................14
IMPEDANCE AND COMBINING LOUDSPEAKERS .................................................................................................................................14
UNEQUAL IMPEDANCES......................................................................................................................................................................14
KNOW YOUR AMPLIFIER.....................................................................................................................................................................15
70V AND 100V OPERATION .......................................................................................................................................................................16
USING POWER TAPS...........................................................................................................................................................................16
WIRING DIAGRAMS FOR 70V/100V OPERATION ...........................................................................................................................17
70.7V AND 100V SYSTEMS ..............................................................................................................................................................18
SELECTING AMPLIFIERS................................................................................................................................................................................19
AMPLIFIERS FOR 70V/100V OPERATION.........................................................................................................................................19
AUTOFORMERS...............................................................................................................................................................................................20
WET SERIES II APPLICATIONS.....................................................................................................................................................................20
INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS ..........................................................................................................................................................21
INSTALLING WITH YOKES ....................................................................................................................................................................21
RIGGING AND MOUNTING WET SERIES II ENCLOSURES................................................................................................................22
SAFETY FIRST! .....................................................................................................................................................................................22
RIGGING GUIDELINES..........................................................................................................................................................................22
WET SERIES II MOUNTING YOKES AND MOUNTING KITS..............................................................................................................25
W2-218, W2-228 AND W2-2W8 YOKE ASSEMBLY....................................................................................................................25
SSY25KIT Mounting Kit for W2-112 and W2-312...............................................................................................................................28
MAINTAINING WEATHER RESISTANCE..................................................................................................................................................31
SERVICING WET SERIES II LOUDSPEAKERS...........................................................................................................................................31
REPLACEMENT PARTS .........................................................................................................................................................................31
TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE .......................................................................................................................................................................32
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS.....................................................................................................................................................................33
COMPACT WET II MODELS...............................................................................................................................................................33
LARGE FULL-RANGE WET II MODELS...............................................................................................................................................34
WET II SUBWOOFER MODELS...........................................................................................................................................................35
SUMMING THINGS UP..................................................................................................................................................................................36
WARRANTY INFORMATION AND SERVICE...........................................................................................................................................36

Community WET Series II - Operation and Installation Manual - Page 5
TABLE OF FIGURES PAGE
FIGURE 1 - PHYSICAL FEATURES OF A TYPICAL LARGE WET II ENCLOSURE...................................................................................12
FIGURE 2 - WIRING DIAGRAMS FOR W2-218T...........................................................................................................................................17
FIGURE 3 - WIRING DIAGRAMS FOR W2-228T, W2-2W8T AND W2-312-HT.................................................................................17
FIGURE 4 - W2-218 YOKE DIMENSIONS .......................................................................................................................................................25
FIGURE 5 - W2-218 YOKE ASSEMBLY.............................................................................................................................................................25
FIGURE 6 - W2-228 AND W2-2W8 YOKE DIMENSIONS .........................................................................................................................26
FIGURE 7 - W2-228 AND W2-2W8 YOKE ASSEMBLY...............................................................................................................................27
FIGURE 8 - SSY25KIT DIMENSIONS.................................................................................................................................................................28
FIGURE 9 - SSY25KIT ASSEMBLY ......................................................................................................................................................................29
FIND THE LATEST ONLINE
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this manual was complete and accurate at the
time of printing. However, due to ongoing technical advances, changes or modifications may have occurred that are
not covered in this publication. The latest version of this manual and the most recent product information published
by Communtiy is always available at http://www.communitypro.com on the world wide web. The publication date can
be found on the rear cover or last page.

Community WET Series II - Operation and Installation Manual - Page 6
COMMUNITY WET SERIES II
OPERATION AND INSTALLATION MANUAL
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for selecting Community’s WET Series II premium all-weather/all-purpose installation loudspeakers.
WET is an acronym standing for Weather Environmental Technology, which describes one of the main design
goals of this product line.
WET Series II products are built using unique weather-resistant materials that can survive sustained exposure to
harsh climatic conditions. In addition to weather-resistance, these materials also possess favorable acoustical
properties. The result is a line of loudspeaker products that not only performs consistently in tough,
problematic environments, but also provides superlative acoustic performance, typically associated only with
high fidelity “indoor” loudspeakers.
WET Series II Loudspeaker Systems from Community
The upgraded WET Series II from Community combines all of WET’s original weather-defying characteristics
with improved styling and technology. WET II is entirely constructed of corrosion-resistant materials like
fiberglass, stainless steel, polyimide and carbon fiber, using sophisticated technologies to ensure they will
withstand exposure to harsh environmental conditions. Some of our unique materials include:
Carbon Fiber. Used for LF and MF cones, carbon fiber exhibits a superior strength-to-mass ratio (high Young’s
Modulus [E]), over that of traditional cone material, thus improving transient response and efficiency while
simultaneously lowering distortion.
Polyimide. Used for HF diaphragms due to its excellent flexural strength and low resonance; quite unlike
brittle metallic diaphragms.
Fiberglass. All enclosures and horns are constructed of hand-laid fiberglass. Fiberglass is inherently weather-
resistant while exhibiting the strength, stiffness, and non-resonant characteristics needed to insure an
acoustically inert loudspeaker enclosure.
Stainless Steel. All hardware and fasteners, wherever possible, are made of stainless steel, highly resistant to
corrosion and oxidation.
Weather-Stop™ Grille. Each enclosure is fitted with Community’s proprietary Weather-Stop protective grille.
The grille consists of an outer layer of perforated steel finished with Community’s proprietary dual-layer powder
coating process, a center later of reticulated foam, and an inner layer of fine mesh screen made from a
rustproof UV-resistant synthetic material. This grille assembly prevents water intrusion, while providing a high
degree of acoustic transparency.
Ferrofluid. Most LF, MF & HF drivers use Ferrofluid in their voice coil gaps. Ferrofluid provides improved heat
transfer resulting in higher power handling, reduced distortion from fluidic dampening of mechanical
resonance, and it seals the air gaps against corrosion and oxidation.
Input Cables. WET Series II uses type SJOW neoprene jacketed cables rated for outdoor use.

Community WET Series II - Operation and Installation Manual - Page 7
These materials provide the absolute best in sound quality, appearance, and longevity.
WET II products offer a wide range of power levels, frequency response capability, and directional pattern
control. The WET II product line consists of a basic complement of six sizes of loudspeaker enclosures with
multiple dispersion patterns available in three of the size formats. The models in this range include:
The W2-218 compact two-way, 8-inch full-range system
The W2-228 quasi three-way, 8-inch full-range system
The W2-2W8 compact two-way, dual 8-inch, fill loudspeaker with ultra-wide 120°HF pattern
control
The W2-215 two-way, 15” full-range system
The W2-312 three-way, 12” full-range system
The W2-322L three-way, dual 12” full-range system
The W2-315 three-way, 15” full-range system
The W2-112 single 12” subwoofer system
The W2-122 dual 12” subwoofer system
The W2-125 dual 15” subwoofer system
WET II features greater precision and tighter tolerance fit. Frequency dividing networks have been fine-tuned
for improved acoustical linearity. Plus, a newly developed low-loss, low-distortion 200 Watt high fidelity
autoformer has been developed and is optionally available for 70V/100V applications in the W2-218, W2-228
and W2-2W8.
While handling outdoor applications with ease, the elegant styling of WET II makes them suitable for many
indoor applications as well. All WET II systems are available in standard black or white fiberglass finishes, with
an enclosure-matching black or white stainless steel grille finished with Community’s proprietary dual-layer
powder coating process. White WET II enclosures include matching white grilles, white bezels, white gland
nuts, and white cable, making them perfect for cruise ships, clubs or residential applications. Custom color
exteriors are also possible at a nominal fee.
A black or white powder-coated stainless steel mounting bracket is included with smaller WET II models W2-
218, W2-228 and W2-2W8, while optional mounting accessories are available for the larger full-range and
subwoofer systems. WET II is protected by a five-year product warranty plus a fifteen-year enclosure warranty.
WET II loudspeakers are flexible, easy to install and most importantly, they provide unparalleled sound quality.
They are designed to withstand sustained use under severe climatic conditions, functioning year after year in
even the harshest environments.
This manual is intended to help you install and use WET II loudspeakers safely and effectively. It provides useful
information to help you obtain the best performance, sound quality, and reliability from your WET II systems.
We’ve provided a series of Quick-Start diagrams to enable you to install and operate the products immediately
if required; however, we recommend that you read this manual in its entirety, to help insure that your WET II
installation meets the highest possible standards. 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.

Community WET Series II - Operation and Installation Manual - Page 8
Important Safety Information
Always follow these basic safety precautions when installing and using WET Series II loudspeakers and
accessories:
1. Read these instructions.
2. Keep these instructions.
3. Heed all warnings.
4. Follow all instructions particularly those pertaining to rigging, mounting, hanging, or suspending
the products, and all information pertaining to electrical connections.
5. Only use accessories that are specified and approved by the manufacturer.
The terms CAUTION, WARNING, and DANGER are used throughout this manual to alert the reader to
important safety considerations. If you have any questions or do not understand the meaning of these terms,
do not proceed with installation. Contact your local dealer, distributor, or call Community directly for
assistance. These terms are defined below:
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 likely cause damage to the
equipment or injury to the user or to others in the vicinity.
DANGER: describes an operating condition or user action that will immediately damage the equipment
and/or be extremely dangerous or life threatening to the user or to others in the vicinity.
C-Tips
Occasionally, in this manual, you’ll come across some useful tips that are intended to help you better
plan and execute your installations. We call these C-TIPS (short for COMMUNITY-TIPS). These tips
originate from Community staff members as well as from installers and end users. We welcome any C-
TIPS that you may want to share with us, and we’ll acknowledge you as the source if we print them in
future user’s manuals.
Precautions & Safety Considerations
English - The loudspeakers described in this manual are designed and intended to be ‘flown’ or suspended for
maximum acoustical performance using a variety of rigging hardware, means, and methods. It is essential that
all installation work involving the suspension of these loudspeaker products be performed by competent,
knowledgeable persons who understand safe rigging practices. Severe injury and/or loss of life may occur if
these products are improperly installed. Please read the section on rigging for additional information.
Français - Les haut-parleurs décrits dans ce manuel sont conçus et sont projetés pour être ‘volé’ ou suspendu
pour l'exécution acoustique maximum utilisant une assortiment d'équiper matériel, les moyens, et les
méthodes. C'est essentiel que tout travail d'installation ait impliqué la suspension de ces produits d'haut-
parleur est exécutée par les personnes compétentes et entraînées qui comprennent équiper les pratiques sûres.
La perte sévère de et/ou de blessure de vie peut arriver si ces produits sont incorrectement installés. S'il vous
plaît lire la section d'équiper pour l'information supplémentaire.
Deutsch - Die Lautsprecher, die in diesem Handbuch beschrieben werden, sind entworfen und sind zu sein
‘geflogen' vorgehabt oder sind für maximale hörbare Leistung verschiedene Manipulierenhardware, Mittel, und
Methoden suspendiert benutzend. Es ist wesentlich, dass alle Installationarbeit, die die Aufhängung von diesen
Lautsprechernprodukten verwickelt, von fähigen, ausgebildeten Personen durchgeführt werde, die sichere
Manipulierenpraxis verstehen. Schwere Verletzung bzw. Verlust des Lebens können stattfinden, wenn diese
Produkte unrichtig installiert sind. Bitte lesen Sie den Abschnitt über Manipulieren für zusätzliche
Informationen.

Community WET Series II - Operation and Installation Manual - Page 9
Italiano - Gli altoparlanti descritti in questo manuale sono disegnati e sono intesi essere ‘volato' o sospeso per
la prestazione massima acustica usando una varietà di attrezzare di hardware, i mezzi, ed i metodi. È essenziale
che tutta il lavoro di installazione coinvolgendo la sospensione di questi prodotti di altoparlante è eseguita da
dalle persone competenti, addestrate che capisce le pratiche di attrezzare di cassaforte. La lesione severe e/o la
perdita di vita possono accadere se questi prodotti sono erratamente installati. Per favore di leggere la sezione
di attrezzare per le ulteriori informazioni.
Español - Los altavoces descritos en este manual se diseñan y son pensados ser ‘volado' o suspendido para el
desempeño acústico máximo que utiliza una variedad de aparejar hardware, de medios, y de los métodos. Es
esencial que todo trabajo de la instalación que implique la suspensión de estos productos del altavoz sea
realizado por personas competentes y entrenada que entienden aparejar seguro las prácticas. La herida y/o la
pérdida severas de la vida pueden ocurrir si estos productos se instalan impropiamente. Lea por favor la
sección a aparejar para la información adicional.
Introduction to Weather-Resistant Loudspeakers
Weather-resistant is a relative term that implies a loudspeaker’s ability to resist the effects of weather in
outdoor environments. Loudspeakers have been designed to be weather-resistant with varying degrees of
success. Typical weather-related damage problems encountered in such designs, in general order of
significance, concern the enclosure, drivers, hardware, and internal components such as crossovers.
WET Series II loudspeakers have been designed to be highly weather-resistant. WET II enclosures are fabricated
entirely of hand-laminated fiberglass, making it virtually impervious to weather-related effects. The drivers and
their diaphragms are made of highly weather-resistant materials, as in the case of the mid and high frequency
drivers, or are treated to repel moisture, as in the case of the low frequency drivers. All external hardware on
the loudspeaker is stainless steel. The three-layer Weather-Stop™ grille is acoustically transparent but highly
resistant to moisture intrusion. The crossover is located within a sealed chamber that forms the enclosure for
the low frequency drivers. A weather-tight gland nut provides a seal for the input cable. The input cable is a
type SJOW with neoprene insulation which is resistant to weather and UV effects.
Unpacking and Inspection
WET Series II loudspeakers are inherently rugged and are carefully packed in well designed cartons. However,
it’s wise to thoroughly inspect each unit after it has been removed from the packaging, as damage could occur
during shipping.
Please note that once the shipment has left your dealer or the Community factory, the responsibility for
damage is always borne by the freight company. If damage has occurred during shipping, you must file a claim
directly with the freight company. It’s very important to contact the freight company as soon as possible after
receiving your shipment, as most freight companies have a short time limit within which they will investigate
claims. Make sure to save the carton and the packing material, as most claims will be denied if these materials
are not retained. Your Community dealer and the factory will try to help in any way they can, but it is the
responsibility of the party receiving the shipment to file the damage claim.
It’s always a good idea to retain the carton and packing materials indefinitely, if possible, in the event that the
unit may need to be returned to your dealer or distributor for repair in the future.
Each shipping carton contains the following items:
Loudspeaker System (Qty 1)
Operation and Installation Manual (Qty 1)
Warranty Card (Qty 1)
Mounting Yoke for W2-218, W2-228 and W2-2W8 models only (Qty 1)

Community WET Series II - Operation and Installation Manual - Page 10
Important Note – Mounting/Rigging Provisions
The mounting/rigging points found on the sides and back of the enclosure must either be used for mounting
hardware or “plugged” with the bolts and washers provided. The rubber washer provides the water seal and
must be used. The reason for this is that if all these holes are not plugged up, they created leaks in the
enclosure that will compromise its weather-resistance. Open holes will also be detrimental to low frequency
performance with reduced output and/or distortion.
DANGER: All rigging fittings must be fitted with either optional mounting hardware or they must remain
sealed with the Stainless Steel hex-head bolts that come installed in the enclosure, in order to maintain
weather resistance. Additionally, if the rigging fittings are not sealed, air leaks could occur in the
enclosure that will compromise the low frequency performance with added distortion and reduced output.
WARNING: WET Series II rigging fittings are rated at a Working Load Limit of 150 lbs (68 kg) per point.
No single rigging fitting should ever be subjected to a load that is greater than 150 lbs. Failure to heed
this warning could result in injury or death!
WET SERIES II FEATURES AND TECHNOLOGY
In addition to extreme weather-resistance, WET Series II loudspeakers offer numerous features and advances in
technology that provide unprecedented sonic quality and installation flexibility. Some of these include:
Finely tuned internal crossover networks for reduced off-axis lobing, consistent coverage
throughout the crossover region, and greater acoustic linearity.
Uniform-voicing filters minimize sonic variations among the different models.
Geometrically correct large-format hand-laid fiberglass mid and high frequency horns. A wide
selection of dispersion patterns is available.
Aesthetically pleasing, uniquely shaped curved fiberglass enclosures. The enclosure composition
and the enclosure geometry work together to reduce internal reflections and standing waves,
resulting in superior sound quality. Externally, the lack of flat surfaces minimizes water buildup.
Envirotech coating seals crossovers against moisture.
Stainless steel mounting points.
Powder-coated stainless steel yoke brackets included with the four smaller models (W2-218, W2-
228 and W2-2W8); available as an optional accessory kit for the W2-312 and W2-112.
Optional internal 70V/100V autoformer available for the W2-218, W2-228, W2-2W8 and W2-312
for constant voltage distributed systems.
All models are available in black or white finish at no additional charge. Custom colors are available
at a nominal fee.

Community WET Series II - Operation and Installation Manual - Page 11
GETTING ACQUAINTED
Physical Features
Note: These drawings show the physical features of a W2-218 and a W2-312 enclosure. Other WET Series II
enclosures may differ in size, shape, and number of mounting points.
Figure 1 – Physical Features of a Typical Compact WET II Enclosure
NO. FEATURE DESCRIPTION
MOUNTING/RIGGING
POINTS1
½”-13 captive zinc plated inserts with ½”-13 x 2” stainless steel bolts and
lock, flat and rubber washers. Used for attaching the yoke mounting brackets
or customer-supplied mounting system.
W2-218, W2-228 and W2-2W8 include two ½”-13 rigging points.
W2-112 and W2-312 include four ½”-13 rigging points.
W2-215, W2-322L, W2-315, W2-122 and W2-125 include six ½”-13 rigging
points.
GRILLE Powder-coated perforated steel backed by reticulated foam and a UV-
resistant layer of fine-mesh screen. Supplied, mounted to front of enclosure.
INPUT CABLE For signal connections to the loudspeaker. About 12 feet of 16-2 SJOW (or
18-gauge, 5-conductor, UV-resistant for 70V/100V models) retained by a
factory-sealed gland nut.
WET II LABEL Model number, coverage pattern and serial number.
MOUNTING YOKE The yoke shown is supplied with W2-218, W2-228 and W2-2W8. An optional
mounting kit (model SSY25KIT) is sold separately for W2-312 and W2-112
that utilizes two metal plates in addition to a yoke for added safety.
NAMEPLATE Community logo.
1150 lbs (68 kg) Working Load Limit / 15:1 Safety Factor

Community WET Series II - Operation and Installation Manual - Page 12
Figure 1 - Physical Features of a Typical Large WET II Enclosure
NO. FEATURE DESCRIPTION
MOUNTING/RIGGING
POINTS2
½”-13 captive zinc plated inserts with ½”-13 x 2” stainless steel bolts and
lock, flat and rubber washers. Used for attaching the yoke mounting brackets
or customer-supplied mounting system.
W2-218, W2-228 and W2-2W8 include two ½”-13 rigging points.
W2-112 and W2-312 include four ½”-13 rigging points.
W2-215, W2-322L, W2-315, W2-122 and W2-125 include six ½”-13 rigging
points.
GRILLE Powder-coated perforated steel backed by reticulated foam and a UV-
resistant layer of fine-mesh screen. Supplied, mounted to front of enclosure.
INPUT CABLE For signal connections to the loudspeaker. About 12 feet of 16-2 SJOW (or
18-gauge, 5-conductor, UV-resistant for 70V/100V models) retained by a
factory-sealed gland nut.
WET II LABEL Model number, coverage pattern and serial number.
MOUNTING YOKE The yoke shown is an optional mounting kit (model SSY25KIT) sold
separately for W2-312 and W2-112 that utilizes two metal plates in addition
to a yoke bracket for added safety.
NAMEPLATE Community logo.
2150 lbs (68 kg) Working Load Limit / 15:1 Safety Factor

Community WET Series II - Operation and Installation Manual - Page 13
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
WET Series II loudspeakers are designed for top-of-the-line installation work. Their premium components are
housed in rugged, uniquely shaped curved enclosures that are acoustically inert. WET II systems are
characterized by high power and low distortion, with exceptional musicality and speech intelligibility.
The WET II line comprises six form-factors, three of which may be ordered with a choice of horn patterns. The
four smaller models may be ordered with an internal 70V/100V autoformer for constant voltage applications,
and all models are available in either a black or white finish. Custom colors are also available; prices will be
quoted upon request. Three models of WET II subwoofers round out the line, providing extended bass
response for foreground music applications.
HIGH-PASS FILTERS
We strongly recommend the use of an external, active high-pass filter to protect the cone drivers from
excessive low frequency excursion. Additionally, a high-pass filter will avoid wasting amplifier by attempting to
reproduce frequencies below the loudspeaker’s intended operating range. The recommended filter settings are
as follows:
Model High-Pass Filter
W2-218 70 Hz, 24db/octave
W2-228 60 Hz, 24db/octave
W2-2W8 60 Hz, 24db/octave
W2-215 50 Hz, 24db/octave
W2-312 55 Hz, 24db/octave
W2-322L 40 Hz, 24db/octave
W2-315 60 Hz, 24db/octave
W2-112 50 Hz, 24db/octave
W2-122 45 Hz, 24db/octave
W2-125 30 Hz, 24db/octave
Many modern DSP loudspeaker controllers or loudspeaker management devices can provide the required high-
pass filter mentioned above, as well as general equalization to correct for room response problems, digital
delay to correct for timing differences among multiple loudspeakers, as well as other DSP ‘tools’ that can help
solve acoustic anomalies. Such devices can also be used as protective peak limiters to protect the system from
damage, as further described below.

Community WET Series II - Operation and Installation Manual - Page 14
CONNECTING THE AMPLIFIER TO THE LOUDSPEAKER
All WET Series II loudspeakers come with an attached input cable that is coated with an EPDM rubber jacket,
twelve feet in length and colored to match the finish of the enclosure. The cable enters the enclosure through a
waterproof gland nut. The other end of the cable is un-terminated.
A typical installation method is to bring the cable into a waterproof Junction Box equipped with a waterproof
gland nut. Connections within the J-Box may be made with barrel-type crimp connectors, wire nuts, solder and
heat-shrink, or terminal strips. We recommend using barrel-type crimp connectors that are crimped with a
forged crimp tool (such as Klein 1005) or a ratcheting tool (such as Klein T1720), as this method, when properly
executed, results in a gas-tight connection that is quick and easy to accomplish.
DANGER: When wiring the amplifier(s) to the loudspeaker(s), always power-down the amplifier(s) and
disconnect its AC Mains plug(s). Many modern, high-power amplifiers can deliver enough voltage and
current to cause a harmful or lethal electric shock. Shocks from very low frequencies, such as kick drums,
can cause the human heart to stop beating at relatively low voltage levels.
WARNING: After wiring the amplifier(s) to the loudspeaker(s), first power-up all devices that are
upstream of the amplifier, such as mixers, equalizers, compressor/limiters, etc., before powering-up the
amplifier. This is to avoid passing any clicks or pops that may originate in the upstream devices to the
loudspeakers. The amplifier should initially be powered-up with its gain controls turned all the way
down. After making sure that a continuous signal is present, such as a CD playing, slowly raise the level
of the gain controls to establish that the wiring has been installed correctly. Only then should the
loudspeaker be operated at normal output levels.
Impedance and Combining Loudspeakers
Loudspeakers of identical type may be wired together on the same amplifier. This forms a parallel circuit.
When two loudspeakers are wired in parallel, the nominal impedance of the circuit will divide in half. For
example, if two 8 ohm loudspeakers are wired in parallel, the result will be a 4 ohm load and the power from
the amplifier will be divided equally between both. If four 8 ohm (or two 4 ohm) loudspeakers are wired in
parallel, the result will be a 2 ohm load and again, the power will be divided equally among the loudspeakers.
If an uneven number of loudspeakers are wired in parallel, you can use the following formula to calculate the
resultant impedance, where Z is the impedance in ohms: 1/Z + 1/Z +1/Z = 1/Zt = Z. Here’s an example: 1/8 +
1/8 + 1/8 = 1/.375 = 2.666 ohms.
Unequal Impedances
It’s important to note that when wiring loudspeakers of unequal impedances in a parallel circuit, the power will
not be divided equally among each loudspeaker.
For example, if an 8 ohm and a 4 ohm loudspeaker are wired in parallel the resultant load will be 2.6 ohms. The
4 ohm loudspeaker will draw twice as much power from the amplifier than the 8 ohm loudspeaker. In this
example, if the amplifier is capable of producing 1800 watts into the 2.6 ohm load of the paralleled
loudspeakers, the 4 ohm loudspeaker will receive 1183 watts while the 8 ohm loudspeaker receives 591 watts.

Community WET Series II - Operation and Installation Manual - Page 15
Know Your Amplifier
Not all amplifiers can safely drive loads below 4 ohms. Very low impedance loads may cause the amplifier to
overheat which may lead to device failure. Even if the amplifier is quite stable driving a low impedance load,
the cable loss will be greater, the damping factor is reduced, and if the amplifier were to fail, a larger portion of
the sound system would be taken off-line.
C-TIP: Keeping the loads at 4 ohms or higher will lengthen the life of your amplifier(s), while improving
the reliability and overall sound quality of your sound system.
Below is a table that gives a quick look at the effect of wire size on line loss. These numbers assume that the
amplifier is producing a constant 48 Volts at its output terminals, which is equivalent to 288 watts into 8Ωor
576 watts into 4Ω:
Size Length Load Z Loss in dB
#10 AWG 100’ 8 Ω-0.42 dB
#10 AWG 200’ 8 Ω-0.83 dB
#10 AWG 100’ 4 Ω-0.83 dB
#10 AWG 200’ 4 Ω-1.58 dB
#12 AWG 100’ 8 Ω-0.66 dB
#12 AWG 200’ 8 Ω-1.28 dB
#12 AWG 100’ 4 Ω-1.28 dB
#12 AWG 200’ 4 Ω-2.39 dB
#14 AWG 100’ 8 Ω-1.03 dB
#14 AWG 200’ 8 Ω-1.95 dB
#14 AWG 100’ 4 Ω-1.95 dB
#14 AWG 200’ 4 Ω-3.55 dB

Community WET Series II - Operation and Installation Manual - Page 16
70V AND 100V OPERATION
Using Power Taps
A WET Series II loudspeaker equipped with an optional autoformer has four selectable power taps. These are
set at 12.5W, 25W, 50W and 100W on the W2-218, and at 25W, 50W, 100W and 200W on the W2-228, the
W2-2W8, and the W2-312 for 70V systems (note: for 100V systems the taps equal twice the numeric value
stated above; i.e. a 25W tap becomes a 50W tap, and so on). Note that the autoformer has a maximum output
capability of 200W regardless of the primary voltage.
By choosing one of the four taps, you can govern how much amplifier power is available for each loudspeaker.
For example, if the 50W tap is selected, that particular loudspeaker will draw 50 watts of power when a 70V
amplifier is run at its maximum level. A second loudspeaker might be connected to the same amplifier, but
tapped at 100W (100 watts). In such case, the second loudspeaker will draw 100 watts from the same amplifier,
making it 3dB louder than the first loudspeaker. A third loudspeaker might be tapped at 200 watts, which
would make it 3dB louder than the second loudspeaker, and 6dB louder than the first.
By using the various taps, one can balance the relative sound levels in a system. A loudspeaker that is closer to
audience members will need to be tapped at a lower wattage than one that is farther away, in order to produce
similar output levels (of course the amplifier must be capable of delivering output power that is at least equal
to the sum of the taps).
As a guideline, every time you double the distance from a sound source, the level typically will drop by 6 dB,
which is equivalent to one-fourth of the power. Although this is an acoustical law, and is true in a free space
environment such as outdoors, the effect of room acoustics can radically change the actual results. Even
outdoors, it is normally not possible to validate this acoustical law using a sound level meter, due to the ground
plane effect.

Community WET Series II - Operation and Installation Manual - Page 17
Wiring Diagrams for 70V/100V Operation
Figure 2 - Wiring Diagrams for W2-218T
Figure 3 - Wiring Diagrams for W2-228T, W2-2W8T and W2-312-HT

Community WET Series II - Operation and Installation Manual - Page 18
70.7V and 100V Systems
Several voltage standards have been put in place regarding so called ‘constant voltage systems.’ In the United
States, 25V, 70.7V and 100V are common. Occasionally 140V systems can be found, usually in very large venues
such as racetracks, where the need to overcome cable resistance by scaling the voltage upwards becomes
extremely important, due to the very long cable lengths from the amplifiers to the loudspeakers. In Europe and
Asia, most constant voltage systems use the 100V standard.
A WET Series II loudspeaker equipped with an optional autoformer supports both the 70.7V and 100V
standards. The same physical conductors are used for both voltage standards, but the power level of each tap
is different, depending on whether the voltage is 70.7V or 100V.
A 100V system will produce twice the power at a given tap, as that of a system that is operated at 70.7 volts.
This can be verified by the simple Ohm’s Law calculation E2/Z = W, where E is the voltage applied, Z is the load
impedance, and W is the power expressed in Watts. Assuming a load impedance of 50 ohms, we can see that
70.7 x 70.7 / 50 = 99.97 and that 100 x 100 / 50 = 200. Therefore, when scaling up from 70.7V to 100V the
power will double; when scaling down, the power will halve.
CAUTION: Be sure to carefully observe polarity when wiring your loudspeakers. If one loudspeaker is
wired with the opposite polarity from another loudspeaker, acoustic cancellation will occur. The result
will be less power output than if only one loudspeaker were used by itself.

Community WET Series II - Operation and Installation Manual - Page 19
SELECTING AMPLIFIERS
Amplifiers are a vital part of the sound system’s performance and should be carefully selected for appropriate
power output. A table is provided below to help you size your amplifier’s power output capability to the
various models in the WET Series II product line.
Typically, it’s good practice to select an amplifier that can provide substantially more power than the
continuous rating of the loudspeaker. This is so that enough reserve power will be available for transient peaks.
More loudspeakers are damaged by under-powering them than by over-powering.
If you know in advance that a particular loudspeaker, or zone of loudspeakers will never be used at, or near
their maximum rated power, then it’s acceptable to select a power amplifier that is equal to, or slightly larger
than the loudspeaker’s power handling specification. We do not recommend operating WET Series II
loudspeakers with an amplifier that does not at least meet the rated power handling of each model.
Model Rated Power Handling Recommended Amplifier Power
W2-218 125W RMS / 300W Program 250 - 375 WRMS at 8 Ω
W2-228 250W RMS / 600W Program 500 - 750 WRMS at 4 Ω
W2-2W8 250W RMS / 600W Program 500 - 750 WRMS at 8 Ω
W2-215 200W RMS / 500W Program 400 - 600 WRMS at 8 Ω
W2-312 200W RMS / 500W Program 400 - 600 WRMS at 4 Ω
W2-322L
LF: 400W RMS / 1000W Program
MF/HF: 160W RMS / 400 W
Program
Bi-amped
LF: 800 - 1200 WRMS at 4 Ω
MF/HF: 320 to 640 WRMS at 8 Ω
W2-315 200W RMS / 500W Program 400 – 600 WRMS at 4 Ω
W2-112 200W RMS / 500W Program 400 – 600 WRMS at 8 Ω
W2-122 400W RMS / 1000W Program 800 – 1200 WRMS at 4 Ω
W2-125 400W RMS / 1000W Program 800 – 1200 WRMS at 4 Ω
Note: “WRMS” = “Watts RMS” = “Watts Root Mean Squared”
Amplifiers for 70V/100V Operation
In past times, nearly all 70V/100V amplifiers were of modest power level and employed step-up transformers to
increase their output voltage to a fixed value of 70V (or 100V) at their maximum operating level. The purpose
of stepping up the output voltage is largely to decrease the wire size needed for a given system, particularly
when long wire runs are unavoidable. A basic rule of Ohm’s Law is that the higher the voltage and the higher
the load impedance, the less effect the cable resistance has on the absorption of power within the cable. A
70V/100V system achieves both of these desirable design goals.
A second important reason for constant voltage systems is that the use of a step-down transformer at each
loudspeaker (or in the case of WET II products… a step-down autoformer) permits the installer to choose among
several power taps at each individual loudspeaker location. This lets the installer adjust each loudspeaker’s
level in relation to the other loudspeakers, even though multiple loudspeakers are driven by the same amplifier
on the same circuit. Without a transformer (or an autoformer), level adjustment could only be accomplished by
adding resistance to one or more loudspeakers. Resistors would in fact reduce the operating level, but would
also consume valuable power from the amplifier, as well as produce unnecessary heat as a byproduct.

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AUTOFORMERS
Autoformers, or autotransformers as they’re often called, perform similarly to transformers but with certain
distinct advantages. First, they exhibit inherently lower distortion and lower insertion loss than an equivalent
rated transformer. Second, they are less prone to magnetic core saturation than a transformer, providing better
linearity under peak operating conditions. Lastly, they can be manufactured to a greater level of precision than
that of a transformer at a similar or lower cost. For these reasons, WET Series II loudspeakers have been
designed to use autoformers rather than transformers, when equipped for 70.7V/100V constant voltage
applications.
WET SERIES II APPLICATIONS
WET Series II loudspeakers can be used in many different ways to fulfill numerous application requirements.
The most obvious are related to outdoor environments and/or harsh climatic conditions. Some of these
include:
Cruise Ships
Stadia
Outdoor Clubs & Resorts
Themed Entertainment Attractions
Water Parks
Swimming Pools
Skating Rinks
Public Parks
Outdoor Home Entertainment
Perhaps less obvious are the many applications that WET II products can fulfill in normal ‘indoor’ environmental
conditions. Some typical applications are listed below:
Sound Reinforcement in Houses of Worship
Theatrical Sound
Concert Halls & Performing Arts Centers
Night Club and DJ Sound Systems
Bars and Restaurants
Gymnasium and Field House Sound
Arena Sound
Auditoria and Corporate Training Facilities
Health Clubs
Retail Environments
Aquatic Centers
WET II loudspeakers produce the same superb sound quality both indoors and out! Their attractive and
uniquely shaped enclosures often lend an interesting visual aspect to architectural design themes.