Master audio XCELLENCE X-210 User manual

XCELLENCE SERIES
X-210 / X-215W / X-218W Systems
Pol. Ind. Norte - Perpinyà, 25
08226 TERRASSA (Barcelona-SPAIN)
Copyright © 2011 [email protected]
All rights reserved www.master-audio.com
Feb 11
User’s manual

Master Audio
Xcellence Line Array Series. Ver 1.3 Feb 11 2
ENGLISH
Safety Instructions
1. All safety instructions must be read before using this device.
2. The exclamation mark in the triangle indicates internal components which if
replaced can affect safety.
3. The lightning symbol within the triangle indicates the presence of dangerous
uninsulated voltages.
4. This device must not be exposed to rain or humidity.
5. Only clean the device with a dry cloth.
6. Do not situate the equipment where its ventilation system might be interfered with.
7. Do not install the device near heat sources such as radiators, heaters or other
heat-emitting elements.
8. The equipment must be repaired by qualified technical service personnel when:
A. The mains supply cable is damaged, or
B. Any object or liquid has damaged the device; or
C. The equipment does not function normally or correctly; or
D. The equipment has been exposed to the rain; or
E. The chassis is damaged
9. Disconnect the device in the case of electric storms or during long periods of
disuse.
10. Never hang the equipment by its handle.
11. Only use manufacturer recommended accessories.
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DON’T OPEN
To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock do
not expose this equipment to rain or moisture
WARNING:

Master Audio
Xcellence Line Array Series. Ver 1.3 Feb 11 3
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. General product information
Master Audio thank you for the trust placed in our Xcellence loudspeaker systems.
The Line Array Xcellence models combine the benefits of their high quality sound
transducers, the convenience of a self-powered system and the flexibility of the DSP
(digital system processing) for cabinet control.
More than 38 years’ experience in amplifier and acoustic cabinet design using the
highest technology and components come together to give you a product ideal for a
multitude of applications, specially those which require high levels of sound pressure
and a control of vertical coverage. Stadiums, theatres or big events will become the
perfect places for their use.
We suggest you read the following information with attention, assured that it will be of
maximum use in helping you to achieve the best results and optimum performance.
1.2. What is a line array?
The trend in sound reinforcement has been to increase both the sound pressure level
(SPL) and the size of the audience to be covered. This leads to an increase in the
number of cabinets and, as a result of this, an increase in the total size and weight.
A line array is a group of independent sound sources which are vertically stacked in
order to transform the spherical wavefronts generated by individual sources into a
single flat wavefront.
Fig.1. Wavefield interference for different wavefronts.
To carry out effectively arraying individual sound sources the system must follow the
acoustic coupling conditions based on the wavelength, the shape of each source, the
surface area of each transducer and the relative source separation.
An assembly of individual sound sources arrayed with regular separation between the
sources on a plane or curved continuous surface is equivalent to a single sound
source having the same dimensions as the total assembly if the following conditions
are fulfilled:
1) The step of source separation, defined as the distance between the acoustic
centres of the individual sources, is smaller than half the wavelength over the
bandwidth of operation.

Master Audio
Xcellence Line Array Series. Ver 1.3 Feb 11 4
d<= /2
It is not difficult to fulfil this first condition for the low and mid frequencies. For example,
two 7" loudspeakers that are separated by 17 cm will reproduce a cylindrical wave up
to 1015 Hz.
This condition is difficult to be fulfilled for the high frequencies, as their wavelengths
are too small to make the adjacent acoustic centres any smaller than /2. Here comes
the second "arrayability" criterion.
2) The wavefronts generated by the individual sources are planar and the combined
surface area of the sources fills at least 80% of the total target surface area:
H1·W + H2·W+.....+Hn·W >=0.8·H·W
This is achieved by using waveguides, which are coupled to the compression drivers
output. We achieve flat wavefronts with a constant phase. By vertically assembling
these waveguides we fulfil the second criterion of line array construction.
Fig.2. Second criterion of "arrayability"
3) The deviation from a flat wavefront must be less than λ/4 at the highest operating
frequency (this corresponds to less than 5 mm curvature at 16kHz).
This third condition can be explained through our property waveguide. Thanks to some
complex mathematical calculations we have obtained a component which is able to
adapt the circular section of the compression driver to a rectangular section, getting
on-phase waves at the end of the guide. This flat wavefront is ideal for vertical
configurations.

Master Audio
Xcellence Line Array Series. Ver 1.3 Feb 11 5
Fig.3. High frequency waveguide (half piece)
Sound engineers use line arrays to obtain narrow directivities on the vertical plane. For
configurations with many cabinets (big height) and at high frequencies it is not unusual
to achieve narrow angles- in some cases they may be grade fractions. This can be
useful in venues where both a high sound pressure level and long throw are required;
nevertheless, this means less coverage of the audience area.
It is sometimes useful to achieve an asymmetrical coverage pattern on the vertical
plane, which can be obtained by aiming some of the cabinets through their hinging
points. We are now ready to define the last two criteria of "arrayability".
4) For curved arrays, the tilt angles should vary in inverse proportion to the listener
distance (this is geometrically equivalent to shaping variable curvature arrays to
provide equal spacing of individual element impact zones).
5) There are limits given the vertical size of each cabinet and their relative tilt angles.
In our case the maximum tilt angle (between cabinets) is 6º.
Fig.4. Tilt angle between cabinets (6º maximum)

Master Audio
Xcellence Line Array Series. Ver 1.3 Feb 11 6
1.3. Fresnel Region (Near Field) and Fraunhofer Region (Far Field)
As our system is able to fulfil the previous conditions it will produce cylindrical waves
to a maximum frequency. The wave will be flat up to a certain distance where it will
start to become spherical (depending on the frequency and the size of the array).
The limit distance between the zone of cylindrical waves (Fresnel) and spherical
waves (Fraunhofer) can be calculated through the following formula
2
231
1
2
3







 Hf fHdc
where
dc= limit distance between near field and far field (in metres)
H = height of the array (in metres)
f= frequency (in kHz)
In the near field region (Fresnel), the wavefront is cylindrical and waves only expand
on the horizontal plane (120º in X-210). The height of the wavefront is, in this case,
the total height of the array.
In the far field region (Fraunhofer), the wavefront is spherical and expands both on
the horizontal and vertical planes. The horizontal coverage is 120º and the vertical
coverage is defined by the frequency and the height of the array.
Fig.5. Limits of Fresnel-Fraunhofer Regions
We can create a chart with some of the basic configurations and their performance
regarding wave propagation.

Master Audio
Xcellence Line Array Series. Ver 1.3 Feb 11 7
Freq
(Hz) 2x X-210
dc(m)
4x
X-210
dc(m)
8x
X-210
dc(m)
12x
X-210
dc(m)
100 Spherical Spherical Spherical 0.99
125 Spherical Spherical Spherical 1.88
250 Spherical Spherical 2 4.97
500 Spherical 1 4.56 10.48
1k 0.5 2.28 9.38 21.21
2k 1.14 4.69 18.88 42.55
4k 2.34 9.44 37.84 85.16
8k 4.72 18.9 75.71 170.4
10k 5.9 23.65 94.64 213
Fig.6. dc Calculation
An 8-cabinet array has a near field extending to 19 metres at 2kHz. Beyond this
distance the wavefront will be spherical.
In the first zone (Fresnel), sound pressure loss is only 3 dB per doubling of distance,
whereas in the second zone (Fraunhofer) the loss is 6 dB. In long throw and high
SPL configurations it is very important to produce cylindrical waves.
Fig.7.Cylindrical wave (A) vs Spherical wave (B)
(A): -3 dB / doubling of distance
(B): -6 dB / doubling of distance
1.4. Features and appearance
X-210A
- Self-powered acoustic system.
- 2400W amplifier for low-mid range.
- 600W amplifier for mid-high range.
- 24-bit AD/DA converters with 112dB dynamic range, 96kHz sampling rate.
- DSP Controls (parametrics, delay, volume and limiters).
- Self amplifier diagnostics: output power, temperature, clipping.
- Ethernet connectivity.
- Overvoltage protection (>250V-400V).

Master Audio
Xcellence Line Array Series. Ver 1.3 Feb 11 8
- Two 10” woofers in neodymium (2.5” voice coil).
- Three 1.7” voice coil diameter, 1” exit Mylar diaphragm compression drivers.
- High frequency planar waveguide design.
- 120º horizontal directivity.
- Birch plywood construction.
- Black textured paint finish: totally ecological.
- Frontal steel grilles with acoustically transparent grey cloth.
X-210P
- Passive acoustic system.
- Two 10” woofers in neodymium (2.5” voice coil).
- Three 1.7” voice coil diameter, 1” exit Mylar diaphragm compression drivers.
- High frequency planar waveguide design.
- 120º horizontal directivity.
- Birch plywood construction.
- Black textured paint finish: totally ecological.
- Frontal steel grilles with acoustically transparent grey cloth.
X-215W Subwoofer
- Self-powered cabinet.
- 2400W amplifier.
- 24-bit AD/DA converters with 112dB dynamic range, 96kHz sampling rate.
- DSP Controls (parametrics, delay, volume and limiters).
- Self amplifier diagnostics: output power, temperature, clipping.
- Ethernet connectivity.
- Overvoltage protection (>250V-400V).
- Two 15” long-excursion woofers in neodymium, 4” voice coil and demodulation
rings to reduce distortion and the transitory response.
- Birch plywood construction.
- Black textured paint finish: totally ecological.
- Frontal steel grilles with acoustically transparent grey cloth.
X-218W Subwoofer
- Self-powered.
- 2400W amplifier.
- 24-bit AD/DA converters with 112dB dynamic range, 96kHz sampling rate.
- DSP Controls (parametrics, delay, volume and limiters).
- Self amplifier diagnostics: output power, temperature, clipping.
- Ethernet connectivity.
- Overvoltage protection (>250V-400V).
- Two 18” long-excursion woofers in neodymium, 4” voice coil and demodulation
rings to reduce distortion and the transitory response.
- Birch plywood construction.
- Black textured paint finish: totally ecological.
- Frontal steel grilles with acoustically transparent grey cloth.

Master Audio
Xcellence Line Array Series. Ver 1.3 Feb 11 9
2. X-210A/P. FEATURES
The X-210A cabinet includes 2400W bi-amplification for the low-mid range woofers,
600W for the high range compression drivers and digital signal control by DSP. The
manufacturer presets LF_XTEND, COMPACT, NEARFIELD and LONGTHROW
make it easy, flexible and user-friendly.
The basic set is composed of one unit X-210P (passive) and one unit of X-210A
(active). This last model includes all the necessary electronics to feed the X-210P
unit.
The result is a clean, high quality sound at full power in large sites.
2.1. Technical description
The X-210A cabinet comes with DSP control, full range sound delivery thanks to its
direct radiation transducers and acoustic bass reflex cabinet. As a full range system,
its usable bandwidth is 70Hz-18kHz (-10dB).
It has 3000W continuous amplification (2400W + 600W), thermal protection, short
circuit protection at the output, maximum power limiters on each channel, and
protection against mains overvoltage. The DSP includes some presets which can be
selected either accessing the cabinet’s rear control panel or via the computer with
Ethernet connection. The LF_XTEND preset gives a maximum flat response for full
range applications (without subwoofer); COMPACT preset gives a maximum flat
response for a standard configuration of four X-210 and one/two subwoofers (X-
215W/X-218W) and it can be also used for an 8-box configuration (central cabinets);
NEARFIELD preset has -3dB in high range for the lowest cabinets in a line array;
LONGTHROW preset has +3dB in high range for the highest cabinets in a long-throw
configuration (8 box); STACK-2 preset gives a maximum flat response for a standard
configuration of two stacked X-210 on one X-215W / X-218W.
The X-210A cabinets are connected using the XLR balanced connector. Mains supply
is through PowerCon at 230V.
Both X-210A and X-210P are built in birch plywood which has a high resistance
against vibrations and humidity.
High resistance weatherproof bi-component paint. The front face is protected by two
1.5 mm thick steel grilles with acoustically transparent grey cloth.
They include in-built black painted stainless steel rigging hardware and handles for an
easy and comfortable transport.
2.2. Presets
The X-210A includes some manufacturer presets for different types of application.
The DSP system can also store up to 23 customer’s presets, depending on user
requirements.

Master Audio
Xcellence Line Array Series. Ver 1.3 Feb 11 10
P1-LF_XTEND
• Flying / Stacking
• Flat response
• 4 x X-210
• without subwoofer/s
• Theatres/speech
• 70Hz-18kHz (X-210)
P2-COMPACT
• Flying / Stacking
• Flat response
• 4 x X-210
• with subwoofer/s
• 90Hz–18kHz (X-210)
P3-NEARFIELD
• Flying / Stacking
• -3dB high range
• X-210 lower cabinets
• with subwoofer/s
• 90Hz–18kHz (X-210)
P4-LONGTHROW
• Flying / Stacking
• +3dB high range
• X-210 upper cabinets
• with subwoofer/s
• 90Hz–18kHz (X-210)