PMC ATL MB3 XBD-A User manual

QB1-A
QB1 XBD-A
BB6 XBD-A
BB6
MB3 XBD-A
MB3
Main monitor
user guide
MB3 XBD-A
MB3-A
BB6 XBD-A
BB6-A
QB1 XBD-A
QB1-A
TM
Advanced Transmission Line

This document should not be construed as a commitment on the part of The Professional Monitor Company Limited.
The Professional Monitor Company Limited will not assume responsibility for errors that may appear in this document.
Information may be subject to change.

Warranty Certicate
Please take a few moments to complete the warranty card at the back of this
booklet (or register at www.pmc-speakers.com) as this not only records the
purchase of your loudspeakers, but also provides you with an opportunity to make
suggestions and provide feedback directly to PMC.
Product Support
For product support, accessories or servicing advice, please contact
a PMC authorised dealer. See www.pmc-speakers.com
Company Details
THE PROFESSIONAL MONITOR COMPANY LIMITED
HOLME COURT BIGGLESWADE BEDFORDSHIRE UK
T [phone] F [phone]
email: [email protected] web: www.pmc-speakers.com
Important
!

Our sole aim while designing loudspeakers is to recreate the true essence of an artist’s intention,
combining the maximum possible sonic resolution with solid engineering principles.
We believe that the same loudspeaker can be used throughout the entire audio chain, from
composer to studio or lm stage, post-production or mastering and then, nally, the consumer. We
also think that a well designed loudspeaker should be able to excel regardless of the audio genre,
and reproduce spoken word, rock, pop, or classical music with the same precision and accuracy.
Our unswerving passion for getting designs right has made this goal possible.
Thank you for choosing PMC products. Please read this user guide and install your new main
monitors according to the advice you’ll nd in the following pages.
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Peter Thomas Owner
Oliver Thomas Head Of Design
A message from Peter & Oliver Thomas

Congratulations - You have joined the elite
Over more than two decades PMC has
earned an unrivalled reputation for creating
the world’s nest professional loudspeakers.
Simply put, our loudspeakers provide
a reference for the very highest prole
productions and events. They are found at
every stage of the creative process, from
conception to recording and broadcast
and, of course, in the home.
Our client list reads like a who’s who of
the sonically aware, with Stevie Wonder,
Elbow, Coldplay, Brian May, Universal, EMI,
Sony, Capitol Studios, Pinewood Studios,
Dreamworks, Metropolis Studios and the BBC
among the makers of movies and music who
use our products.
Our loudspeakers were also used in
the production of Titanic, The Bourne
Supremacy, Game of Thrones, Skyfall,
Finding Dory, the Pirates of the Caribbean
franchise, and during broadcasts of the
London Olympics, 2012.
EMI
Stevie Wonder
BBC
Tony Bennett
Coldplay
UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP
elbow
Thomas Newman
Afrojack
Warner Music
Kraftwerk
Pinewood Studios
Capitol Studios
BASEMENT JAXX
ESPN
SONY
JVC Studios
PMC: the authority for quality sound.
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Metropolis Studios

User guide
Contents
General usage guidelines
Introduction
Specications – MB3, BB6 & QB1
PMC’s ATL ™ – How the Advanced Transmission Line works
System description – MB3, BB6 & QB1
User EQ options
Connections
Running in
Accessories
Positioning
Surround monitoring systems
Operational controls
The PMC range
Service
Our meticulous care and attention
Warranty online
Warranty certicate – Part 1 – your copy
Warranty certicate – Part 2 – PMC’s copy
Your comments – help us improve
Inspection certicate
Notes
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Read these instructions and keep them in a safe place for future reference.
Heed all electrical safety warnings, including any on the loudspeakers themselves.
Do not use the loudspeakers near water.
Sufcient clearances and free ow of air are required around the control1200 and the
power2400.
Do not attempt to open the equipment. There are no user serviceable parts inside.
Please refer all servicing to PMC authorised personnel. Servicing is required when the
apparatus is damaged, exposed to moisture, or exhibits a distinct or sudden change of
operation or audio performance.
Unplug this product from both signal source and power during electrical storms or when
unused for extended periods of time.
Packaging material can pose danger to the young and vulnerable. Ensure these items are
stored or disposed of safely.
PMC main monitors can produce sound pressure levels in excess of 120dB. Long-term
exposure to high levels of sound has the potential to cause hearing damage. Use care
when adjusting the system volume to ensure sound pressure levels remain within safe and
comfortable limits.
PMC main monitors contain very powerful magnets and therefore may have a detrimental
effect on nearby magnetically-sensitive items, such as CRT (tube-style) televisions or monitors,
and media such as oppy discs, cassettes and videotapes.
The cabinet should only be cleaned with a dry, lint-free, cloth. Do not use solvents, abrasives,
waxes or liquids as they may be detrimental to the nish.
The control1200 and the power2400 can produce hazardously high outputs, installation must
be carried out by trained staff.
PMC has made efforts to provide accurate installation information and good quality xings.
However, PMC will not be held responsible or liable for injuries or property damage (direct,
indirect or consequential) arising out of use or inability to use this product safely and properly.
This product may contain nuts.
General usage guidelines
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Introduction
Together, our MB, BB and QB reference monitor series comprise the world-class PMC Main Monitor
range — a trio of fully active three-way studio designs combining custom PMC-designed drivers,
Class-D electronics, carefully engineered DSP control and the company’s proprietary ATL ™bass-
loading technology to deliver the ultimate in power and precision, with forensic levels of detail.
The range’s combination of its highly damped, low-resonance cabinets and unique AT L™technology
ensures that unwanted mid-range energy is absorbed, while bass output is substantially extended
whilst having insignicant harmonic distortion. Every element of the design is carefully considered to
maximise transparency and resolution, all the way down to the absorbent material on the front bafes,
which reduce reections for improved dispersion and denition, allowing instruments and vocals to be
reproduced more vividly and with greater presence and clarity than ever before.
The drivers are bespoke PMC creations, with the HF and mid-range drivers common to all three designs.
The 34mm soft-dome tweeter is the most sensitive direct radiating tweeter available anywhere, with a
proven track record for delivering neutral, uncoloured high-resolution audio.
The perforated acoustic lens extends the response beyond 25kHz and controls dispersion to ensure
perfect integration with the highly efcient, low-distortion 75mm soft-dome mid-range driver through
the crossover region.
The MB and BB series feature extremely powerful, custom-tailored Radial bass units, renowned for their
dynamic response and thermal efciency — a 12-inch driver on the MB3, a 15-inch on the BB6 — while
the QB1-A features a quartet of individually matched PMC 10-inch piston drivers for the last word in
accurate, near-instantaneous transient response. Perfectly integrated with the ATL ™, these deliver
the clean, extended bass for which PMC is renowned, accurate all the way down to 20Hz (17Hz on
the BB6).
The 19-inch rackmount, externally housed electronics provide cutting-edge, ultra-low distortion
Class-D power amplication, with a DSP-based crossover providing perfect driver optimisation and
integration, as well as a non-invasive protective limiting system.
Remote control facilities enable the user to calibrate the system level and equalisation, as well as
select between analogue and AES3 digital inputs, and recall personal equalisation presets.
All of PMC’s Main Monitors are available as XBD-A versions, which feature a second bass driver in a
separate powered cabinet, increasing the available LF headroom of the system by 3dB. The XBD-
Active cabinet can also be used as a stand-alone subwoofer or LFE monitor if desired.
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MB3-A
MB3-A MB3-C-A
(Horizontal centre)
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Specication
Type Active 3-way, single-cabinet reference monitor
Usable frequency response 20Hz - 25kHz
Maximum SPL 126dB @1metre
Effective length 3m (10ft)
Crossover frequencies 380Hz & 3.8kHz
Drive unit complement LF PMC 310mm (12-inch) Radial™ driver
MF PMC hand-built 75mm soft-dome driver
HF PMC 34mm soft-dome tweeter with acoustic radiator
Amplier power LF 1 x 2400Wrms MF 1 x 550Wrms HF 1 x 275Wrms
I/O Balanced analogue input, digital AES3 input
Digital input AES3, 24-bit, 192kHz
Analogue input sensitivity Adjustable +4dB to +20dBu
EQ LF shelf +/-8dB, HF shelf +/-8dB
Remote control Wired via RJ45, rotary volume -48.5dB to +15dB
Operational voltage 115V/230V
Cabinet dimensions H870mm (34.2”) W380mm (15”) D535mm (21”)
Weight 49kg (108lbs) each
Available nishes Studio black
System checklist (pair)
1 x MB3-A left hand cabinet
1 x MB3-A right hand cabinet
2 x control1200
2 x power2400
2 x mains connectors
2 x XLR interconnect cables
2 x D-SUB interconnect cables
1 x 20m RJ45 cable
1 x 10m RJ45 cable
1 x rc2 remote controller
2 x speaker loom cables

Specication
Type Active 3-way, twin-cabinet reference monitor
Usable frequency response 20Hz - 25kHz
Maximum SPL 129dB @1metre
Effective
TM
Advanced Transmission Line
length 2 x 3m (10ft)
Crossover frequencies 380Hz & 3.8kHz
Drive unit complement LF 2 x PMC 310mm (12-inch) Radial™driver
MF PMC hand-built 75mm soft-dome driver
HF PMC 34mm soft-dome tweeter with acoustic radiator
Amplier power LF 1 x 2400Wrms MF 1 x 550Wrms HF 1 x 275Wrms
I/O Balanced analogue input, digital AES3 input
Digital input AES3, 24-bit, 192kHz
Analogue input sensitivity Adjustable +4dB to +20dBu
EQ LF shelf +/-8dB, HF shelf +/-8dB
Remote control Wired via RJ45, rotary volume -48.5dB to +15dB
Operational voltage 115V/230V
Cabinet dimensions H 1740mm (68.5”) W380mm (15”) D535mm (21”)
Weight 88kg (194lbs) per channel
Available nishes Studio black
System checklist (pair)
2 x MB3-A 3-way cabinets
2 x XBD-A (MB3-A) cabinets
2 x control1200
2 x power2400
2 x mains connectors
2 x XLR interconnect cables
2 x D-SUB interconnect cables
1 x 20m RJ45 cable
1 x 10m RJ45 cable
1 x rc2 remote controller
2 x speaker loom cables
MB3 XBD-A
MB3 XBD-A MB3 XBD-C-A
(Vertical centre)
MB3 XBD-C-A
(Horizontal centre)
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Specication
Type Active 3-way, single-cabinet reference monitor
Usable frequency response 17Hz - 25kHz
Maximum SPL 128dB @1metre
Effective
TM
Advanced Transmission Line
length 4m (13ft)
Crossover frequencies 380Hz & 3.8kHz
Drive unit complement LF PMC 380mm (15-inch) Radial™driver
MF PMC hand-built 75mm soft-dome driver
HF PMC 34mm soft-dome tweeter with acoustic radiator
Amplier power LF 1 x 2400Wrms MF 1 x 550Wrms HF 1 x 275Wrms
I/O Balanced analogue input, digital AES3 input
Digital input AES3, 24-bit, 192kHz
Analogue input sensitivity Adjustable +4dB to +20dBu
EQ LF shelf +/-8dB, HF shelf +/-8dB
Remote control Wired via RJ45, rotary volume -48.5dB to +15dB
Operational voltage 115V/230V
Cabinet dimensions H 1040mm (40.9”) W432mm (17”) D790mm (31.1”)
Weight 73kg (161lbs) each
Available nishes Studio black
System checklist (pair)
1 x BB6-A left hand cabinet
1 x BB6-A right hand cabinet
2 x control1200
2 x power2400
2 x mains connectors
2 x XLR interconnect cables
2 x D-SUB interconnect cables
1 x 20m RJ45 cable
1 x 10m RJ45 cable
1 x rc2 remote controller
2 x speaker loom cables
BB6-A
BB6 BB6-C
(Horizontal centre)
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Specication
Type Active 3-way, twin-cabinet reference monitor
Usable frequency response 17Hz - 25kHz
Maximum SPL 131dB @1metre
Effective
TM
Advanced Transmission Line
length 2 x 4m (13ft)
Crossover frequencies 380Hz & 3.8kHz
Drive unit complement LF 2 x PMC 380mm (15-inch) Radial™driver
MF PMC hand-built 75mm soft-dome driver
HF PMC 34mm soft-dome tweeter with acoustic radiator
Amplier power LF 2 x 2400Wrms MF 1 x 550Wrms HF 1 x 275Wrms
I/O Balanced analogue input, digital AES3 input
Digital input AES3, 24-bit, 192kHz
Analogue input sensitivity Adjustable +4dB to +20dBu
EQ LF shelf +/-8dB, HF shelf +/-8dB
Remote control Wired via RJ45, rotary volume -48.5dB to +15dB
Operational voltage 115V/230V
Cabinet dimensions H 2080mm (81.8”) W432mm (17”) D790mm (31.1”)
Weight 136kg (300lbs) per channel
Available nishes Studio black
System checklist (pair)
2 x BB6-A 3-way cabinets
2 x XBD-A (BB6) cabinets
2 x control1200
4 x power2400
2 x mains connectors
2 x XLR interconnect cables
4 x D-SUB interconnect cables
1 x 20m RJ45 cable
1 x 10m RJ45 cable
1 x rc2 remote controller
2 x speaker loom cables
BB6 XBD-A
BB6 XBD-A BB6 XBD-C-A
(Vertical centre)
BB6 XBD-C-A
(Horizontal centre)
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Specication
Type Active, single cabinet reference monitor
Usable frequency response 20Hz - 25kHz
Maximum SPL 132dB @1metre
Effective TM
Advanced Transmission Line
length 2.7m (8.9ft)
Crossover frequencies 380Hz & 3.8kHz
Drive unit complement LF 4 x PMC 250mm/10” piston driver
MF PMC hand-built 75mm soft dome driver
HF PMC 34mm soft dome tweeter with acoustic radiator
Amplier power LF 2 x 4000Wrms MF 1 x 550Wrms HF 1 x 275Wrms
I/O Balanced analogue input, digital AES3 input
Digital input AES3, 192kHz 24bit
Analogue input sensitivity Adjustable +4dB to +20dBu
EQ LF shelf +/-8dB, HF shelf +/-8dB
Remote control Wired via RJ45, rotary volume -48.5dB to +15dB
Operational voltage 115V/230V
Cabinet dimensions H 820mm (32.2”) W1092mm (42.9”) D523mm (20.6”)
(max depth)
Weight 150kg (330lbs) each
System checklist (pair)
2 x QB1-A 3-way cabinets
2 x control1200
4 x power2400
2 x mains connectors
2 x XLR interconnect cables
4 x DSUB interconnect cables
1 x 20m RJ45 cable
1 x 10m RJ45 cable
1 x rc2 remote controller
2 x speaker loom cables
QB1-A
QB1-A
QB1-A
QB1 XBD-A
BB6 XBD-A
BB6
MB3 XBD-A
MB3
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Specication
Type Active, twin-cabinet reference monitor
Usable frequency response 20Hz - 25kHz
Maximum SPL 132dB @1metre
Effective
TM
Advanced Transmission Line
length 2 x 2.7m (8.9ft)
Crossover frequencies 380Hz & 3.8kHz
Drive unit complement LF 8 x PMC 250mm/10” piston driver
MF PMC hand-built 75mm soft dome driver
HF PMC 34mm soft dome tweeter with acoustic radiator
Amplier power LF 4 x 2400Wrms MF 1 x 550Wrms HF 1 x 275Wrms
I/O Balanced analogue input, digital AES3 input
Digital input AES3, 192kHz 24bit
Analogue input sensitivity Adjustable +4dB to +20dBu
EQ LF shelf +/-8dB, HF shelf +/-8dB
Remote control Wired via RJ45, rotary volume -48.5dB to +15dB
Operational voltage 115V/230V
Cabinet dimensions H 1640mm (64.6”) W1092mm (42.9”) D523mm (20.6”)
(max depth)
Weight 290kg (639lbs) per channel
System checklist (pair)
2 x QB1-A 3-way cabinets
2 x XBD-A (QB1-A) cabinets
2 x control1200
8 x power2400
2 x mains connectors
4 x XLR interconnect cables
8 x DSUB interconnect cables
1 x 20m RJ45 cable
1 x 10m RJ45 cable
1 x rc2 remote controller
2 x speaker loom cables
QB1 XBD-A
QB1 XBD-A
QB1-A
QB1 XBD-A
BB6 XBD-A
BB6
MB3 XBD-A
MB3
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characteristically transparent midrange, fast,
attacking bass, and outstanding clarity.
A further advantage is greater bass extension
and loudness than a ported or sealed
design of a similar size, even if similar drivers
were used. Moreover, the very consistent
bass driver loading brings the welcome
benet that the frequency response remains
consistent regardless of listening level, and
analytical auditioning can be conducted
without the need for high replay volumes to
achieve optimal bass response – a unique
and very valuable characteristic.
PMC’s unique ATL ™(Advanced
Transmission Line) enclosures have taken
loudspeaker design to the highest level,
using sophisticated cabinet construction,
proprietary drive units, and patented
absorption materials and techniques. The
benets are enormous compared to the
relatively simple sealed and ported designs
currently available elsewhere.
PMC’s innovative approach places the bass
driver near one end of a long tunnel (the
Advanced Transmission Line). This tunnel
is heavily damped with acoustic material
specied carefully to absorb the upper bass
and higher frequencies radiating from the
rear of the bass driver. The lowest frequencies
are allowed to pass down the line and
emerge from the large vent in the same
polarity as the driver’s frontal radiation,
the vent acting essentially as a second bass
driver.
An important benet of the ATL ™ approach
is that the air pressure inside the cabinet,
loading the bass driver, is maintained.
This helps to control the driver over a wide
frequency range and signicantly reduces
LF distortion. Consequently, the upper bass
and midrange detail is not masked by
harmonic distortion and the result is PMC’s
Advanced Transmission Line:
How it works
‘No other bass loading technology provides such resolution and tonal accuracy at all volume levels’
BB6-A
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System description – MB3, BB6 & QB1
The electronic heart of PMC’s main monitors
is a powerful DSP stage which operates at a
xed sample rate of 192kHz. The balanced
analogue line input level is conditioned by a
low-noise gain stage prior to A-D conversion,
to optimise the signal-noise ratio. The
converter is a very high quality multi-bit delta-
sigma device, producing a 24 bit, 192kHz
output. The AES3 digital input is sample rate
converted to 192kHz.
The DSP stage provides the overall system
level control, 24dB/octave precision
crossovers, and both driver optimisation and
protection. The sophisticated digital signal
processing enables perfect matching between
the three drivers’ responses and roll-off rates,
optimising the contribution of each driver,
minimising distortion, and providing a atter and
more natural balance over the widest possible
listening area.
The output signals from the DSP system are
converted back to analogue to feed three
separate Class-D power ampliers and
their respective drivers. The amplier design
ensures that driver impedance variations with
frequency are fully compensated to maintain a
uniform frequency response.
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User EQ options
The main monitor series master cabinet remote control unit has facilities for ve user-congurable
equalisation presets, each of which can be named for easy recognition (eg. Frank, Geoff etc).
These DSP-based user-equalisation options include LF and HF shelf responses, as shown in the
graph above, each adjustable over a range of ±8dB in increments of less than 1dB, with xed knee
frequencies of 200Hz and 5kHz, respectively.
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Connections
!
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Caution
To avoid potential damage, please ensure that the signal source is turned off before
connecting or disconnecting your active loudspeakers.
Connections
The rear panels of the control1200 and power2400 carry various connectors for audio,
control and mains power.
Audio
The electronically-balanced analogue audio input and the AES3 digital input accept
3-pin male XLR connectors, wired with Pin-1 screen (ground), Pin-2 signal positive (hot),
and Pin-3 signal negative (cold). If the monitor is to be used with an unbalanced
analogue signal source pins 1 and 3 of the input XLR should be connected together
inside the male XLR plug. Thru connections are provided for signal distribution.
Power
A single IEC (C14) mains socket is provided with an integral fuse-holder for the control1200
and an IEC (C20) mains socket with a seperate fuse-holder is provided for the power2400,
both include a voltage selector (115/230VAC) and a power switch. Only change fuses
with the power cord removed completely from the control1200 or power2400. A remote
powering facility is provided via the ‘Trigger In’ terminals which accept a 4 to12V AC
or DC voltage to enable remote switch on from an external device. The Trigger Thru
terminals can be used to extend the control signal to another speaker in the system.
Remote Control
The ‘Remote In’ RJ45 socket accepts the connection from the remote control unit, while
the Thru socket is used to distribute the control signal to the next speaker in the system.
Please Note that the nal loudspeaker in the chain must have the loopback connector
tted to the RJ45 Remote Thru socket.
Note: The control1200 and power2400 units must be earthed

Audio in,
digital or
analog
Remote
control rc2
Link to next
channel
control1200
MB3-A
connections
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
Rear of MB3-A
Key
XLR signal cables
Speaker cables
Control cables
(RJ45 or 9 pin dsub)

Audio in,
digital or
analog
Remote
control rc2
Link to next
channel
control1200
MB3 XBD-A
connections
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
Rear of MB3 XBD-A
Key
XLR signal cables
Speaker cables
Control cables
(RJ45 or 9 pin dsub)