L-Acoustics X4i User manual

X4i
owner's manual (EN)

Document reference: X4i owner's manual (EN) version 1.1
Distribution date: June 4, 2019
© 2019 L-Acoustics. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the
express written consent of the publisher.

Contents
Safety................................................................................................................................................................ 5
Instructions................................................................................................................................................5
Symbols................................................................................................................................................... 6
Introduction........................................................................................................................................................ 7
How to use this manual............................................................................................................................ 7
X4i miniature enclosure............................................................................................................................. 7
System components.............................................................................................................................................8
Loudspeaker cables...................................................................................................................................9
Rigging elements.......................................................................................................................................9
Electro-acoustical description..............................................................................................................................10
Directivity............................................................................................................................................... 10
Preset description.................................................................................................................................... 10
Connectors............................................................................................................................................. 11
Rigging system description.................................................................................................................................12
X4i........................................................................................................................................................ 12
X-U4i..................................................................................................................................................... 12
Mechanical safety.............................................................................................................................................15
Loudspeaker congurations................................................................................................................................ 16
X4i point source..................................................................................................................................... 16
X4i point source with low-frequency element..............................................................................................17
Inspection and preventive maintenance...............................................................................................................18
How to do preventive maintenance.......................................................................................................... 18
Mechanical system overview....................................................................................................................18
X4i own with X-U4i..................................................................................................................... 18
X4i pole-mounted with X-U4i.......................................................................................................... 19
Acoustical check..................................................................................................................................... 20
Enclosure check............................................................................................................................ 20
Listening test................................................................................................................................. 22
Rigging procedures...........................................................................................................................................24
Flying X4i.............................................................................................................................................. 24
Pole-mounting X4i................................................................................................................................... 26
3

Loudspeaker connection.................................................................................................................................... 28
LA4X......................................................................................................................................................28
LA8....................................................................................................................................................... 29
LA12X....................................................................................................................................................29
Corrective maintenance..................................................................................................................................... 30
X4i exploded view..................................................................................................................................30
D/R - Grill............................................................................................................................................. 31
D/R - Coaxial loudspeaker...................................................................................................................... 32
D/R - HF Diaphragm.............................................................................................................................. 33
Specications................................................................................................................................................... 35
X4i........................................................................................................................................................ 35
Syva Sub............................................................................................................................................... 36
X-U4i..................................................................................................................................................... 37
4

Safety
Safety
Instructions
Inspect the system before any deployment.
Perform safety related checks and inspections before any deployment.
Perform preventive maintenance at least once a year.
Refer to the preventive maintenance section for a list of actions and their periodicity.
Insufcient upkeep of the product can void the warranty.
If any safety issue is detected during inspection, do not use the product before performing
corrective maintenance.
Check for issues. A rigging system part or fastener is missing or loose. A rigging system part exhibits: bends,
breaks, broken parts, corrosion, cracks, cracks in welded joints, deformation, denting, wear, holes. A safety cue
or label is missing. A loose part is not adequately secured.
Never incorporate equipment or accessories not approved by L-Acoustics.
Read all the related PRODUCT INFORMATION documents shipped with the products before
exploiting the system.
Do not store the product on an unstable cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table.
Beware of sound levels.
Do not stay within close proximity of loudspeakers in operation.
Loudspeaker systems are capable of producing very high sound pressure levels (SPL) which can instantaneously
lead to permanent hearing damage to performers, production crew and audience members. Hearing damage
can also occur at moderate level with prolonged exposure to sound.
Check the applicable laws and regulations relating to maximum sound levels and exposure times.
Work with qualied personnel for rigging the system
Installation should only be carried out by qualied personnel that are familiar with the rigging techniques and
safety recommendations outlined in this manual.
Ensure personnel health and safety
During installation and set-up personnel must wear protective headgear and footwear at all times. Under no
circumstances is personnel allowed to climb on a loudspeaker assembly.
Respect the Working Load Limit (WLL) of third party equipment.
L-Acoustics is not responsible for any rigging equipment and accessories provided by third party manufacturers.
Verify that the Working Load Limit (WLL) of the suspension points, chain hoists and all additional hardware
rigging accessories is respected.
Respect the maximum congurations and the recommended safety precautions.
For safety issue, respect the maximum congurations outlined in this manual. To check the conformity of
any conguration in regards with the safety precautions recommended by L-Acoustics, model the system in
Soundvision and refer to the warnings in Mechanical Data section.
Be cautious when ying a loudspeaker conguration.
Before installing/raising the product, check each individual element to make sure that it is securely fastened to the
adjacent element. Always verify that no one is standing underneath the product when it is being installed/raised.
Never leave the product unattended during the installation process.
As a general rule, L-Acoustics recommends the use of secondary safety at all times.
Be cautious when ground-stacking a loudspeaker array.
Do not stack the loudspeaker array on unstable ground or surface. If the array is stacked on a structure, platform,
or stage, always check that the latter can support the total weight of the array.
As a general rule, L-Acoustics recommends the use of safety straps at all times.
X4i owner's manual (EN) version 1.1 5

Safety
Risk of falling objects
Verify that no unattached items remain on the product or assembly.
Risk of tipping
Remove all rigging accessories before transporting a product or an assembly.
Take into account the wind effects on dynamic load.
When a loudspeaker assembly is deployed in an open air environment, wind can produce dynamic stress to the
rigging components and suspension points.
If the wind force exceeds 6 bft (Beaufort scale), lower down and/or secure the product or the assembly.
Intended use
This system is intended for use by trained personnel for professional applications.
As part of a continuous evolution of techniques and standards, L-Acoustics reserves the right
to change the specications of its products and the content of its documents without prior
notice.
Check www.l-acoustics.com on a regular basis to download the latest document and software updates.
Read the maintenance section of this document before servicing the product.
Do not expose the product to extreme conditions.
Do not expose the product to rain or sea spray.
Do not expose the product to moisture (mist, steam, humidity, condensation…) or excessive heat (direct sun,
radiator…) for a long period of time.
Contact L-Acoustics for advanced maintenance.
Any unauthorized maintenance operation will void the product warranty.
Symbols
The following symbols are used in this document:
This symbol indicates a potential risk of harm to an individual or damage to the product.
It can also notify the user about instructions that must be strictly followed to ensure safe installation or operation of
the product.
This symbol noties the user about instructions that must be strictly followed to ensure proper installation or
operation of the product.
This symbol noties the user about complementary information or optional instructions.
6 X4i owner's manual (EN) version 1.1

Introduction
Introduction
How to use this manual
The X4i owner's manual is intended for all actors involved in the system design, implementation, preventive and
corrective maintenance of the X4i system. It must be used as follows:
1. Read the technical description for an overview of all system elements, their features, and their compatibilities.
•Electro-acoustical description (p.10)
•Rigging system description (p.12)
2. Prepare the system conguration. Consider the mechanical limits and the available acoustical congurations.
•Mechanical safety (p.15)
•Loudspeaker congurations (p.16)
3. Before rigging the system, perform mandatory inspections and functional checks.
•Inspection and preventive maintenance (p.18)
4. To deploy the system, follow the step-by-step rigging instructions and refer to the cabling schemes.
•Rigging procedures (p.24)
•Loudspeaker connection (p.28)
The Corrective maintenance (p.30) section contains the operations authorized for the end user.
Performing another operation exposes to hazardous situations.
For advanced maintenance, contact your L-Acoustics representative.
As part of a continuous evolution of techniques and standards, L-Acoustics reserves the right to
change the specications of its products and the content of its document without prior notice. Please
check www.l-acoustics.com on a regular basis to download the latest document and software updates.
Contact information
For information on advanced corrective maintenance:
• contact your Certied Provider or your L-Acoustics representative
• for Certied Providers, contact the L-Acoustics customer service: customer.ser[email protected]
X4i miniature enclosure
X4i is an installation-specic miniature coaxial system designed for
short throw applications requiring seamless integration in the smallest
spaces.
X4i features a 1.4" diaphragm compression driver coaxially loaded
by a 4" neodymium low-mid frequency transducer mounted in a closed
cabinet. X4i operates from 120 Hz to 20 kHz and delivers a peak
SPL of 116 dB. The coaxial transducer arrangement produces a 110°
axisymmetric directivity with a smooth tonal response free of secondary
lobes over the entire frequency range.
The internal passive crossover network uses custom lters. The
L-Acoustics amplied controllers L-Drive parameters ensure the
linearization and protection of the transducers.
X4i owner's manual (EN) version 1.1 7

System components
System components
Loudspeaker enclosures
X4i 2-way passive coaxial enclosure: 4'' LF + 1.4'' HF diaphragm
Syva Sub Infra low frequency subwoofer: 1 x 12'' LF
Refer to the Syva user documentation for information on using Syva Sub.
Powering and driving system
LA4 / LA4X / LA8 /
LA12X
Amplied controller with DSP, preset library and networking capabilities
Refer to the LA4 / LA4X / LA8 / LA12X user manual for operating instructions.
Loudspeaker cables
SP cables 4-point speakON loudspeaker cables (4mm² gauge)
SP cables come in four sizes: SP.7 (0.7m/2.3ft), SP5 (5m/16.4ft), SP10 (10 m/32.8ft) and
SP25 (25m/82ft)
SP-Y1 breakout cable for two passive enclosures (2.5mm² gauge) provided with a CC4FP adapter
4-point speakON to 2 × 2-point speakON
speaker cable 2.5mm2 cable
Speaker cable used to connect enclosures in parallel. Adapt the cable length to the installation.
custom 2-point
speakON cable
2-point speakON cable (2.5mm2 gauge) to bare wire cable
This cable needs to be custom made.
Information about the connection of the enclosures to the LA amplied controllers is given in
this document.
Refer to the LA4 / LA4X / LA8 / LA12X user manual for detailed instructions about the whole cabling scheme,
including modulation cables and network.
Rigging elements
X-U4i Adjustable U-Bracket for X4i
Transportation accessories
L-Case 2U Electronics transport and protection case
Software applications
Soundvision 3D acoustical and mechanical modeling software
LA Network Manager Software for remote control and monitoring of amplied controllers
Refer to the Soundvision help.
Refer to the LA Network Manager help.
8 X4i owner's manual (EN) version 1.1

System components
Loudspeaker cables
0.7 m / 5 m / 10 m / 25 m
CH(1)
CH(2)
1 m
SP.7 / SP5 / SP10 / SP25 SP-Y1
+
-
2-point speakON
cable (2.5mm2 gauge)
to bare wire cable
This cable needs to
be custom made.
Rigging elements
X-U4i
X4i owner's manual (EN) version 1.1 9

Electro-acoustical description
Electro-acoustical description
Directivity
X4i generates an axisymmetrical directivity pattern of 110°.
10 000
Frequency (Hz)
-180
-160
-140
-120
-100
-80
-60
-40
-20
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
Angle (°)
0
1 000100
Dispersion angle diagram of a single enclosure, using lines of equal sound pressure at -3 dB, -6 dB, -12 dB.
Preset description
[X4]
outputs channels routing gain delay polarity mute
OUT 1 PA IN A 0 dB 0 ms + ON
OUT 2 PA IN A 0 dB 0 ms + ON
OUT 3 PA IN A 0 dB 0 ms + ON
OUT 4 PA IN A 0 dB 0 ms + ON
[SYVA SUB_200]
outputs channels routing gain delay polarity mute
OUT 1 SB IN A 0 dB 0 ms + ON
OUT 2 SB IN A 0 dB 0 ms + ON
OUT 3 SB IN A 0 dB 0 ms + ON
OUT 4 SB IN A 0 dB 0 ms + ON
10 X4i owner's manual (EN) version 1.1

Electro-acoustical description
Connectors
IN LINK
X4i
2 × 2-point screw terminal
X4i is provided with a connector sealing plate with two cable glands for 2.5 mm2 cables.
If only one connector is used, replace one cable gland with the protective plug.
Pass the cables through the cable glands before connecting them to the screw terminals.
Secure the connector sealing plate to protect the connectors.
T10
Internal pinout for L-Acoustics 2-way passive enclosures
screw terminal points IN + IN -
Transducer connectors + -
X4i owner's manual (EN) version 1.1 11

Rigging system description
Rigging system description
X4i
X4i features one M5 insert and screw on each side to connect X-U4i.
Three M6 inserts and screws at the back of X4i are available for compatible rigging accessories.
Secondary safety for own enclosures
Use one insert at the back of the enclosure to implement a secondary safety.
M5
(X-U4i)
M6
M5
(X-U4i)
Always put the screws back into place to avoid leaks.
X-U4i
X-U4i is a U-bracket compatible with X4i.
12 X4i owner's manual (EN) version 1.1

Rigging system description
It can be used to mount one X4i on the wall or under the ceiling, with site angle adjustment.
2 x Ø 6.6 mm /
0.2 in
70 mm / 2.8 in
Fasteners for wall-mounting or ceiling-mounting
Secure the bracket with two M6 screws.
Select screw length and anchors applicable to the wall or ceiling properties.
X-U4i features three holes on both sides to closely t the enclosure and to optimize visual impact.
X4i owner's manual (EN) version 1.1 13

Rigging system description
X-U4i features a Ø 11 mm insert dedicated to pole-mounting.
Ø 11 mm / 0.4 in
The U-bracket can be tted to a microphone stand with a Ø 10 mm threaded axis (European standard) and the matching
locking ring.
Adapter for US microphone stand
Use a 3/8"-16 male to 5/8"-27 female microphone screw adapter and a locking ring to mount X4i on a US
standard microphone stand.
14 X4i owner's manual (EN) version 1.1

Mechanical safety
Mechanical safety
The X4i rigging system complies with EN 62368-1: 2014 Audio/video, information and communication technology
equipment — Part 1: Safety requirements.
The deployments described in this manual achieve a safety factor of 5.
X4i
conguration rigging accessory maximum / safe limit
wall-mounted / ceiling-mounted X-U4i 1
pole-mounted X-U4i + microphone stand (European
standard)
1
Secondary safety for own enclosures
Use one insert at the back of the enclosure to implement a secondary safety.
X4i owner's manual (EN) version 1.1 15

Loudspeaker congurations
Loudspeaker congurations
X4i point source
In this conguration, the X4i system operates over the nominal frequency range of the enclosure.
The [X4] preset delivers a reference frequency response in short throw applications.
X4i is driven by the LA4 / LA4X / LA8 / LA12X amplied controllers.
Enclosure X4i
Preset [X4]
Frequency range (-10 dB) 120 Hz - 20 kHz
16 X4i owner's manual (EN) version 1.1

Loudspeaker congurations
X4i point source with low-frequency element
In a typical distributed conguration with Syva Sub, the bandwidth of the X4i system is extended down to 29 Hz and the
system contour is reinforced by 12 dB at 50 Hz.
The X4i enclosure is driven with the same preset as in point source conguration.
The [SYVA SUB_200] preset provides Syva Sub with an upper frequency limit at 200 Hz.
X4i and Syva Sub are driven by the LA4 / LA4X / LA8 / LA12X amplied controllers.
Enclosure X4i Syva Sub
Preset [X4] [SYVA SUB_200]
Frequency range (-10 dB) 29 Hz - 20 kHz
Delay values
Do not forget to add the pre-alignment and geometric delays depending on the conguration.
Pre-alignement delays
[X4] + [SYVA SUB_200] X4i = 0 ms Syva Sub = 0.3 ms
X4i owner's manual (EN) version 1.1 17

Inspection and preventive maintenance
Inspection and preventive maintenance
How to do preventive maintenance
Inspect the system before any deployment and after any corrective maintenance operation.
Perform preventive maintenance at least once a year.
Refer to the maintenance manuals for advanced maintenance.
Rigging and hardware
Refer to the Mechanical system overview (p.18) to identify critical parts of the system.
Acoustics
Perform the Enclosure check (p.20).
Perform the Listening test (p.22) to detect any degradation in sound quality.
Mechanical system overview
Critical parts of the lifting chains are highlighted.
The indicates a visual inspection. The indicates a functional check.
Replacing screws
If a screw is loose, remove and replace it.
Always use the new screws provided in the repair kit.
If no new screw is available, add blue threadlocker before reusing the screw.
Do not apply more than the indicated torque.
X4i own with X-U4i
screws are not loose
secondary safety is present
grill screws are tightened
connector sealing plate is secured
18 X4i owner's manual (EN) version 1.1

Inspection and preventive maintenance
X4i pole-mounted with X-U4i
grill screws are tightened
screws are not loose ring is tightened
X4i owner's manual (EN) version 1.1 19

Inspection and preventive maintenance
Acoustical check
Enclosure check
This feature is available on:
LA4X
LA12X
ENCLOSURE CHECK measures impedance at the reference frequencies for the connected loudspeaker family. The
measured impedance is compared to the expected range allowing for fast detection of loudspeakers presenting circuit
continuity issues.
The results can be used for preliminary diagnosis but cannot replace a comprehensive quality control.
Prerequisite
ENCLOSURE CHECK measurements can only be reliable if the following requirements are met:
Environment and temperature:
• Ambient temperature must be comprised between 0°C / 32°F and 40°C / 104°F. Ideal temperature is 20°C /
68°F.
• Enclosures must be at room temperature. If warm from a recent high level use or recently moved from a cold
environment, let the loudspeakers reach room temperature before starting.
Enclosures:
• Enclosures must be included in the embedded factory preset library.
• Enclosures must be in nominal operating conditions:
• Remove covers or dollies obstructing the loudspeakers or the vents.
• Check for obvious physical damage or air leak: visually inspect the grill, gasket, cabinet, and connector plate
for loose, missing or damaged parts.
Connection:
• Use only 10 m / 30 ft 4 mm² / AWG 11 speaker cables.
• Do not connect enclosures in parallel.
Amplied controllers:
• LA4X must run at least rmware version 1.1.0.
• LA4X load sensors must be calibrated. Refer to the Load Sensor Calibration Tool technical bulletin for more
information.
• LA4X must warm up for at least 10 minutes after power up. Do not power off, reboot or switch to standby mode to
avoid resetting the countdown.
• Load a preset corresponding to the connected loudspeaker's family. Presets from the user memories may be used on
condition they are made of presets supported in the embedded factory preset library.
Procedure
1. Power up the amplied controller. Let LA4X warm up for at least 10 minutes.
2. Connect the loudspeaker enclosures to the amplied controller.
3. Load a preset from or built from the embedded library corresponding to the connected loudspeaker family.
4. On the amplied controller, use the encoder wheel to select MONITORING & INFO. Press the OK key or the
encoder wheel to validate.
5. Use the encoder wheel to select ENCLOSURE CHECK.
Beware of sound levels.
Although the sound pressure levels generated for the ENCLOSURE CHECK are moderate, do not stay within
close proximity of the loudspeakers and consider wearing ear protection.
6. Press the OK key or the encoder wheel to launch the ENCLOSURE CHECK.
The amplied controller generates short sinusoidal signals simultaneously for each connected output.
The amplied controller displays the results for each output.
20 X4i owner's manual (EN) version 1.1