EAW AX396 User manual

EasternAcoustic Works One Main Street Whitinsville, MA01588 tel [phone] fax [phone] www.eaw.com
EAW products are continually improved. All specifications are therefore subject to change without notice. Part Number: RD0186 (B)AX396 April 2005
AX396 Specifications group · I
DESCRIPTION
TheAX3 Series is a versatile set of arrayable, full-range modules that
can provide the "horsepower" for the high outputs required in larger
venues. TheAX3 Series include horn patterns from 45° x 45° to 90° x
60°.AllAXenclosures,includingtheAX2SeriesandcompanionAX122
subwoofer, have an identically sized, dual trapezoidal shape. This
permitscreatinghorizontallyorverticallyorientatedarraysinavarietyof
beamwidths, with the AX's superior horizontal and vertical pattern
symmetry maintaining the proper relationship between the polar
patterns.Asetof3/8-16threadedmountingpointsfacilitateinstallation.
Single-amp and bi-amp operating modes are user-selectable. In
single-amp mode, the passive crossover is designed to work with a
digital signal processor (DSP). This reduces the crossover’s
complexity, minimizes power losses, and provides more
sophisticateddigitalprocessingtomaximize performance.
TheAX3 Series features a newly-designed, coaxial transducer with
high efficiency, MF cone and HF compression drivers. The drivers
sharea common, neodymium magnet allowingclosely spaced voice
coils. This minimizes the distance between the MF and HF acoustic
origins for highly coherent sound both on and off axis. The MF's
sealed,aluminumchassisactsasaheatsinkfortheentireassembly.
The MF/HF transducer loads into a large, common horn via a
modified version of the EAW's patented Radial Phase Plug™. A
unique HF waveguide is integrated within the center of the phase
plug. It is acoustically transparent to the MF energy while being
acousticallyopaquetoandactingasawaveguidefortheHFenergy.
The low frequencies are reproduced by a pair of spaced, 12-inch
cone drivers. This LF subsystem maintains the overall coaxial
design as its acoustic origin is along the acoustic axis of the MF/HF
subsystem.Inaddition,theLFdriverspacingprovidesbetterpattern
controlthansystems of similarsizethat useasingle LF driver.
The companion AX122 subwoofer is designed to extend the low
frequency response of the AX3 full-range loudspeakers. With an
identically-sizedenclosures,AX122sarray perfectlywithAX3s.
Sixyearwarranty.
3-WAY FULL-RANGE COAXIAL, 90° x60°
See NOTES TABULAR DATAfor details
CONFIGURATION
Subsystem Transducer Loading
LF 2x 12in cone PhaseAligned™
MF 1x 8in cone Horn-loadedw/Radial
PhasePlug™
HF 1x 1.4in exit, 2.5 invoice Horn-loadedw/Radial
coilcompression driver Phase Plug™
Operating Mode AmplifierChannels ExternalSignalProcessing
Single-amp LF/MF/HF DSP
Bi-amp LF, MF/HF DSPw/2-wayfilters
PERFORMANCE 1
Operating Range 68Hz to 20 kHz
Nominal Beamwidth (rotatable)
Horz 90°
Vert 60°
Axial Sensitivity (wholespaceSPL)
LF/MF/HF 100dB 68Hz to 20 kHz
LF 103dB 68Hz to 335 Hz
MF/HF 102dB 275Hz to 20 kHz
Input Impedance (ohms)
Nominal Minimum
LF/MF/HF 8 6.3@ 93 Hz
LF 8 7.9@ 165 Hz
MF/HF 8 6.6@ 510 Hz
High Pass Filter
HighPass =>40 Hz, 24 dB/octaveButterworth
Accelerated Life Test 2
LF/MF/HF 80V 800W @ 8 ohm
LF 89V 1000W @ 8 ohm
MF/HF 49V 300W @ 8 ohm
CalculatedAxial Output Limit (whole space SPL)
Average Peak
LF/MF/HF 129dB 135dB
LF 133dB 139dB
MF/HF 126dB 132dB
ORDERING DATA
Description Part Number
AX3963-WayFull-RangeLoudspeaker Black 0010432
AX3963-WayFull-RangeLoudspeaker White 0011592
AX3963-WayFull-RangeLoudspeaker Black WP 0011570
OptionalAccessories
Eyebolt/Forged Shoulder (3/8-16 x 1.25 in) 104001
1Toachieve specified performance,the listedexternal signalprocessingwith EAW-providedsettings isrequired.
2Forrecommendations toselect poweramplifiersize referto : “HOWMUCHAMPLIFIER POWERDO INEED?”on theEAWweb site.

EasternAcoustic Works One Main Street Whitinsville, MA01588 tel [phone] fax [phone] www.eaw.com
EAW products are continually improved. All specifications are therefore subject to change without notice. Part Number: RD0186 (B)AX396 April 2005
AX396 Specifications group · I
ENCLOSURE
Material Balticbirch plywood
Finish Wearresistanttexturedblackpaint
Grille Powder-coatedperforated steel
B
DIMENSIONS APPLY TO BOTH SIDES
40°
0010425-96
(23.98)
RIGHT SIDE
VIEW B-B
[609.0]
2.12
20.00
36.00
FRONT
GRILLE PARTIALLY SHOWN
[914.4] 32.06
[814.3]
C
L
9.76
[247.9]
2.13
3.48 40°
20.32
[609.6]
24.00
[516.1]
TOP
DIMENSIONS APPLY
TO TOP AND BOTTOM
[88.5] [54.1]
[304.2]
(11.98)
L
CA
15.79
3.48
B
A
[401.0]
[53.8]
[88.5]
[508.0]
C
L
8.65
15.79
4.00
5.00
VIEW A-A
PRODUCTION
L
C
[127.0]
[101.6]
EASTERN ACOUSTIC W ORKS
BACK
SERIAL NUMBER
INPUT
20.65
L
C
PLATE
[524.5]
NOTES
1. SYMBOL INDICATES MOUNTING POINT,
3/8-16 THREADED HOLE (PI ANGLE).
2. SYMBOL INDICATES CENTER OF BALANCE. 3. WEIGHT APPROX. 124 lb [56.2 kg] 4. SHIPPING WEIGHT APPROX. 144 lb [65.3 kg]
CABINET/FINISHED/BLACK/AX344 CABINET/FINISHED/BLACK/AX366
CABINET/FINISHED/BLACK/AX396
CABINET/FINISHED/BLACK/AX364
DESCRIPTION
[401.0]
0010425-66 0010425-64
DRAWING NO.
0010425-44
AX3
[219.7]
L
C
NOTES: Thisdrawinghas beenreduced.Donot scale.
ForWPversion, add0.25 in/6.4mm to the outsidedimensions =0.125in/ 3.2mmallaround.

EasternAcoustic Works One Main Street Whitinsville, MA01588 tel [phone] fax [phone] www.eaw.com
EAW products are continually improved. All specifications are therefore subject to change without notice. Part Number: RD0186 (B)AX396 April 2005
AX396 Specifications group · I
PERFORMANCE DATA
See NOTES GRAPHIC DATA for details
Frequency Response: Processed Bi-amplified
LF = green, MF/HF = black, Complete = blue
SPL(dB)
Frequency Response: Unprocessed
LF = green, MF/HF = black, Single-amp = blue
SPL(dB)
Frequency Response: Digital Signal Processor
LF = green, MF/HF = black, Single-amp = blue
dB re 0.775 V
Beamwidth (-6 dB SPL Points)
Horizontal = orange Vertical = black
Degrees
Impedance Magnitude
LF = green, MF/HF = black, Single-amp = blue
Ohms
120
110
100
90
80
70
60
100
10
1
400
100
10
1100 1000 20000
Frequency(Hz)
10 100 1000 20000
Frequency (Hz)
10
0
-10
-20
-30
-40
-50
20
10
0
-10
-20
-30
-40
10 100 1000 20000
Frequency (Hz)
10 100 1000 20000
Frequency (Hz)
10 100 1000 20000
Frequency (Hz)
SPL(dB)
10
0
-10
-20
-30
-40
-50 10 100 1000 20000
Frequency (Hz)
Frequency Response: Processed Single-amplified
Complete = blue

EasternAcoustic Works One Main Street Whitinsville, MA01588 tel [phone] fax [phone] www.eaw.com
EAW products are continually improved. All specifications are therefore subject to change without notice. Part Number: RD0186 (B)AX396 April 2005
AX396 Specifications group · I
0
-45
-90
-135
180
135
90
45
100 Hz
125 Hz
160 Hz
200 Hz
0
-45
-90
-135
180
135
90
45
250 Hz
315 Hz
400 Hz
500 Hz
0
-45
-90
-135
180
135
90
45
630 Hz
800 Hz
1000 Hz
1250 Hz
0
-45
-90
-135
180
135
90
45
1600 Hz
2000 Hz
2500 Hz
3150 Hz
0
-45
-90
-135
180
135
90
45
4000 Hz
5000 Hz
6300 Hz
8000 Hz
0
-45
-90
-135
180
135
90
45
10000 Hz
12000 Hz
16000 Hz
HORIZONTAL POLAR DATA (Gridlines: 6 dB axial / 15 degree radial)
See NOTES GRAPHIC DATA for details

EasternAcoustic Works One Main Street Whitinsville, MA01588 tel [phone] fax [phone] www.eaw.com
EAW products are continually improved. All specifications are therefore subject to change without notice. Part Number: RD0186 (B)AX396 April 2005
AX396 Specifications group · I
VERTICAL POLAR DATA (Gridlines: 6 dB axial / 15 degree radial)
See NOTES GRAPHIC DATA for details
0
-45
-90
-135
180
135
90
45
100 Hz
125 Hz
160 Hz
200 Hz
0
-45
-90
-135
180
135
90
45
250 Hz
315 Hz
400 Hz
500 Hz
0
-45
-90
-135
180
135
90
45
630 Hz
800 Hz
1000 Hz
1250 Hz
0
-45
-90
-135
180
135
90
45
4000 Hz
5000 Hz
6300 Hz
8000 Hz
0
-45
-90
-135
180
135
90
45
10000 Hz
12000 Hz
16000 Hz
0
-45
-90
-135
180
135
90
45
1600 Hz
2000 Hz
2500 Hz
3150 Hz

EasternAcoustic Works One Main Street Whitinsville, MA01588 tel [phone] fax [phone] www.eaw.com
EAW products are continually improved. All specifications are therefore subject to change without notice. Part Number: RD0186 (B)AX396 April 2005
AX396 Specifications group · I
INPUT PANEL
PASSIVE
INPUT
CONNECT
JUMPERS
FOR PASSIVE
OPERATION
-- +-- +
-- +-- +-- +
BI-AMP INPUT
N/C
LF MF/HF
WHITINSVILLE, MA USA
S/N
MANUFACTURED UNDER ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING U.S. PATENTS:
5,996,728; 6,009,182; 6,016,353; 6,094,495; 6,118,883
NOTES
TABULAR DATA
1. Measurement/DataProcessing Systems: Primary-FChart:proprietaryEAWsoftware;Secondary- Brüel & Kjær2012.
2. MicrophoneSystems: EarthworksM30; Brüel&Kjær4133
3. Measurements: Dualchannel FFT; length:32768samples; sample rate:48kHz; logarithmic sinewavesweep.
4.Measurement System Qualification(includesalluncertainties):SPL:accuracy +/-0.2dB@1 kHz, precision+/-0.5dB 20 Hzto20kHz, resolution0.05dB;Frequency: accuracy+/-1%,
precision+/-0.1Hz,resolution the largerof 1.5Hzor1/48octave;Time:accuracy+/-10.4 µs, precision+/-0.5µs,resolution10.4 µs;Angular: accuracy+/-1°,precision+/-0.5°,resolution0.5°.
5. Environment: Measurementstime-widowedandprocessed toeliminateroomeffects,approximatingan anechoic environment.Dataprocessedas anechoicorfractional space, as noted.
6. MeasurementDistance: 7.46m.Acoustic responses representcomplexsummation of the subsystems at20m. SPLisreferencedtootherdistancesusingtheInverseSquareLaw.
7. Volts: Measuredrmsvalue ofthe testsignal.
8. Watts: Per audioindustrypractice,“loudspeaker watts”are calculatedasvoltagesquareddivided by ratednominalimpedance. Thus, thesearenotTrueWattunitsof energy asdefinedby
InternationalStandard.
9. SPL: (SoundPressureLevel) Equivalenttotheaverage levelofasignal referenced to0dB SPL=20 microPascals.
10.Subsystem: Thisliststhe transducer(s)andtheiracoustic loadingforeachpassband.Sub = Subwoofer, LF=LowFrequency,MF = MidFrequency, HF=HighFrequency.
11.Operating Mode: Userselectableconfigurations.Betweensystemelements,acomma(,)=separateamplifierchannels;aslash (/) = singleamplifier channel. DSP=DigitalSignalProcessor.
IMPORTANT:To achieve thespecifiedperformance,the listedexternalsignalprocessing mustbeusedwith EAW-providedsettings.
12.Operating Range: Range wheretheprocessedFrequency Responsestayswithin-10dB SPLofthe poweraveragedSPLwithin thisrange;measuredon thegeometricaxis.Narrow band
dipsareexcepted.
13.Nominal Beamwidth: Designanglefor the-6dBSPLpoints,referencedto 0 dBSPLas the highestlevel.
14.Axial Sensitivity: Power averagedSPLover theOperatingRangewith aninputvoltagethatwould produce 1Wat the nominalimpedance;measuredwith noexternalprocessingon the
geometricaxis,referenced to1m.
15.Nominal Impedance: Selected 4,8,or16 ohmresistancesuchthatthe minimum impedancepointis no morethan20%below thisresistanceovertheOperating Range.
16.Accelerated Life Test: Maximumtest inputvoltageappliedwithan EIA-426Bdefined spectrum;measuredwith recommended signalprocessingandRecommended ProtectionFilter.
17.CalculatedAxial OutputLimit: Highestaverage and peakSPLspossibleduring theAccelerated LifeTest. ThePeak SPLrepresentsthe2:1 (6 dB)crestfactor of theLifeTestsignal.
18.High Pass Filter: Thishelpsprotecttheloudspeaker fromexcessiveinputsignal levels atfrequenciesbelow the OperatingRange.
GRAPHICDATA
1.Resolution:Toremoveinsignificant finedetails,1/12octavecepstralsmoothingwas applied toacousticfrequencyresponses and1/3octavecepstralsmoothing was appliedtothe
beamwidthandimpedancedata. Othergraphs areplottedusingraw data.
2.Frequency Responses: Variationinacousticoutputlevelwithfrequencyfora constantinputsignal.Processed: normalized to 0dBSPL. Unprocessed inputs:2 V (4 ohm nominalimpedance),
2.83V(8 ohmnominalimpedance),or 4V (16ohmnominal impedance) referencedtoadistanceof 1m.
3.Processor Response: The variationinoutputlevel with frequencyfora constant input signalof0.775V =0dBreference.
4.Beamwidth:Average angle foreach1/3octavefrequency bandwhere,startingfromthe rearoftheloudspeaker,the outputfirstreaches-6 dBSPLreferenced to 0dBSPLas thehighest
level.Thismethodmeans theoutputmaydrop below -6dBSPLwithinthebeamwidthangle.
5.Impedance: Variationin impedance magnitude,inohms,with frequencywithoutregardto voltage/currentphase.This means theimpedancevalues maynot
beusedto calculateTrueWatts(see9 above).
6.Polar Data:Horizontalandvertical polarresponsesforeach 1/3octavefrequencyband100 Hz to16kHz or OperatingRange.
3-Way, Single-Amp (LF/MF/HF)
AMP MF
XVR
HF
LF
DSP
EQ
HPF
DSP
EQ
DELAY
HPF/LPF
3-Way, Bi-Amp (LF, MF/HF)
AMP
HF
XVR
LF
MF
AMP
SIGNAL DIAGRAM
LEGEND
DSP: User-supplied Digital Signal Processor.
HPF: High Pass Filter for crossover or Recommended High Pass Filter.
LPF: Low Pass Filter for crossover.
LF/MF/HF: Low Frequency / Mid Frequency / High Frequency.
AMP: User-supplied PowerAmplifier.
XVR: Passive LPFs, HPFs, and EQ integral to the loudspeaker.
AX396
90
60
HORN PATTERN LABEL (factory installed horn orientation)

EasternAcoustic Works One Main Street Whitinsville, MA01588 tel [phone] fax [phone] www.eaw.com
EAW products are continually improved. All specifications are therefore subject to change without notice. Part Number: RD0186 (B)AX396 April 2005
AX396 Specifications group · I
AXSERIESTECHNOLOGY
CONVENTIONALLOUDSPEAKERS
Good arrayability depends on the beamwidth patterns as well as the off-axis response to be symmetrical for both the
horizontal and vertical planes. A typical, high power, loudspeaker baffle is shown in Fig 1. For this and similar
arrangements, the height or width of each horn is typically smaller than ideal, reducing pattern control at the low end of
their passbands in one plane. Because the driver arrangement is asymmetrical, the projection pattern will be
asymmetrical left-to-right and up-to-down. In addition, the physical spacing between drivers means the time arrival from
eachdriverchangeswithlistenerlocation.Whilesignaldelayscancorrectfortimearrivaldifferences,theoptimumdelays
can only be set for one direction. Listeners off-axis of this path will still experience different arrival times from the various
drivers. When multiple loudspeaker are arrayed, these problems are compounded by the drivers in the additional
loudspeakers. Betterlayouts,suchasfound inEAW’s KF730,KF600, KF750, KF760,and KF850Serieshave improved
onsome ofthese issues,but notall ofthematonetime.
To eliminate arrival time differences, provide smooth off-axis response, and optimize pattern control for arraying, drivers
must be positioned symmetrically with as little physical offset as possible in all three planes .Additionally, horns need to
besymmetrically sizedand aslarge aspossible toachievethedesiredpatterncontrolat theirlowest frequencies.
COAXIALDRIVERS
Asolution for the above problems is the co-axial driver, where two passbands, typically an LF (low frequency) or MF (mid
frequency)conedriverandHF(highfrequency)compressiondriverarecombinedwithinasingledriverassembly.Apassage
is created in the center, i.e. the pole piece, of the cone driver through which the HF driver's energy passes . While this can
almosteliminateany timearrivaldifferencesfromthedrivers,thereare significantlimitationstotypicalco-axialdesigns.
Horn-loading is normally required for high output loudspeakers. To this end, the cone driver’s diaphragm is used as the
HF horn. However, this allows the HF to be modulated by high cone excursions. In addition, a horn’s rate of expansion
(curvatureangle)shouldalwaysincreasetowardsthehornmouth.Simplyloadingacoaxialdriveronto ahornbreaks this
rule by creating a decrease in expansion rate at the driver-to-horn throat junction as shown in Fig 2. This causes
significant reflections off the horn walls, with resulting multiple arrivals at the listener, and prominent, undesirable side
lobes. Also, the path length from the cone center to the horn throat is longer than that from the circumference. In the
crossover region, this difference is typically an appreciable fraction of a wavelength.All these things result in uneven
frequencyresponse, smearedtransients,andpoorpattern control.
(CSA)CONCENTRIC SUMMATIONARRAYTECHNOLOGY
To solve these problems, EAW Engineers developed a new, sealed, coaxial driver. Its MF cone and HF compression
drivers share a single magnet structure, bringing the MF and HF sources as close together as physically possible. This
producesanAcousticSingularity,essentially apoint source,over theMF/HF operatingrangeof275Hzto20kHz.
The real challenge was coupling this MF/HF device to a single horn without the acoustical difficulties of typical coaxial
drivers.Thisrequiredcreating bothanalways-increasinghornexpansionrateovertheHFrange(Fig 3)andaphaseplug
toproperly loadtheMFconedriver,bothtoimproveitsefficiencyand eliminatecone-to-hornpathlengthdifferences.The
solutioninvolvedamodifiedversionofEAW'spatentedRadialPhasePlugdesign,developedespeciallyforconedrivers.
The phase plug was modified both to accommodate the AX's smaller MF driver diaphragm and to allow a conical HF
waveguidetonest within itscenter, optimizedfor proper HFwavefront expansionintothe horn (Fig4). While aphysically
elegant solution, the waveguide's location within the MF phase plug meant it had to be acoustically transparent to MF
energyand opaquetoHFenergy.
Green circle: circum = 8.017, open = [(2 x 0.386) + (2 x 0.415)] / 8.017 = 20%
Red circle: circum = 11.728, open = [(2 x 0.315) + ( 2 x 0.822)] /11.728 = 20 %
Blue circle: circum = 14.313, open = [(2 x 0.424) + ( 2 x 1.007)] / 14.313 = 20 %
0.386
0.415
0.315
0.822
0.424
1.007
Fig 1 - Conventional High Output Loudspeaker
Fig 2 - Typical Coax HF Expansion
Fig 4 -AX Coaxial Driver
Fig 3 -AX Coax HF Expansion
Fig 6 -AX HF Waveguide OpenArea at 3 Cross-sections
Aseriesof holeswas addedtothewaveguidethat metbothacousticalcriteria.Thelocation andsizingof
these holes was based on a numerical sequence called The Fibonacci Numbers, first identified by
mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci. The holes were laid out along the walls of the waveguide by
crisscrossing spirals based on the sequence. The holes allow the waveguide to act as two mechanical
filters:alowpassfortheMFandahighpassfortheHF.Thisbehaviorwasusedtorefinetheholeshapes,
sizes,andquantities, thegoal being rawMF andHFresponses thatcouldbe easilysmoothed by simple
passive filters and digital signal processing (DSP). The open area of the waveguide was evenly
distributed along the walls to achieve symmetrical off-axis MF response. At the same time, the hole
shapes and sizes were randomized to randomize the minor HF nulls caused by the holes. This resulted
inany crosssection throughthe waveguidebeing physically20%openand80%solid(Fig5).
AXSERIESAPPLICATION
To give array designers the most flexible, predictable and accurate array modules ever, this patent-
pending, CSAdevice was coupled to a selection of high-Q and medium-Q horns. Closely coupled, dual
12-inch woofers located on opposite edges of the horn extends theAcoustical Singularity concept into
the low frequencies. Both the MF/HF horns and dual-trapezoidal enclosures are symmetrical. This
meansthat boththe hornsand enclosuresare fullyrotatabletocreatethedesiredarraypattern.
EAW patentsfor thefundamentalideas behindtheAX Series:
1996US Patent6,118,883 LFspacingtomatch beamwidththroughcrossover withina horn:
Thegoal: Consistentpower responseacross LFto MFsub-systemtransitions.
Thesolution:Apreciseformulatocalculatethe LFdriverspacingrequiredbyagivenMF hornmouthsize.
1996US Patent6,094,495 RadialPhase Plug:
Thegoal:amidrange driverthatcouldcoupleto ahornwithoutmultiplepathlengths,multiplearrivals,or
frequencyresponse anomalies.
The solution:Acone driver with a small-radius dust cap coupled to a Radial Phase Plug that equalizes
pathlengthsfromtheentiredriversurface tothe hornthroat.
2004Patent PendingCSATechnology:
Thegoal:acoaxialMF/HFdriverthatcouldfunctionasanAcousticalSingularitywhencoupledtoahorn.
The solution: A new sealed MF/HF driver, whose cone and compression elements share the same
magnet structure, and a new phase plug with an HF waveguide that allows MF energy to pass through
whileproperly guidingthe expansionofthe HFwavefront.