d b audiotechnik XSL-SUB Series Subwoofer User Manual
- June 15, 2024
- d b audiotechnik
Table of Contents
d b audiotechnik XSL-SUB Series Subwoofer
Safety precautions
Potential risk of personal injury
Never stand in the immediate vicinity of loudspeakers driven at a high level. Professional loudspeaker systems are capable of causing a sound pressure level detrimental to human health. Seemingly non-critical sound levels (from approx. 95 dB SPL) can cause hearing damage if people are exposed to it over a long period.
In order to prevent accidents when deploying loudspeakers on the ground or when flown, please take note of the following:
- When setting up the loudspeakers or loudspeaker stands, make sure they are standing on a firm surface. If you place several systems on top of one another, use straps to secure them against movement.
- Only use accessories which have been tested and approved by d&b for assembly and deployment. Pay attention to the correct application and maximum load capacity of the accessories as detailed in our specific “Mounting instructions” or in our “Rigging manuals”.
- Ensure that all additional hardware, fixings and fasteners used for deployment are of an appropriate size and load safety factor. Pay attention to the manufacturers’ instructions and to the relevant safety guidelines.
- Regularly check the loudspeaker housings and accessories for visible signs of wear and tear, and replace them when necessary.
- Regularly check all load bearing mounting devices.
Potential risk of material damage
Loudspeakers produce a static magnetic field even if they are not connected or are not in use. Therefore make sure when erecting and transporting loudspeakers that they are nowhere near equipment and objects which may be impaired or damaged by an external magnetic field. Generally speaking, a distance of 0.5 m (1.5 ft) from magnetic data carriers (floppy disks, audio and video tapes, bank cards, etc.) is sufficient.
d &b ArrayCalc
For both safety and acoustic reasons, d&b line arrays must be designed using the d&b ArrayCalc simulation software. The software is available as a native stand-alone application for both Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems and can be downloaded at www.dbaudio.com.
Detailed information on how to use and operate ArrayCalc is provided by the Help system of the software. To access the Help system, press F1 or select the Help button ( ) from the ArrayCalc toolbar. This will launch the Help Viewer which provides an overview of the program as well as a search function and direct access to the related topics.
In addition, ArrayCalc will provide you with typical array configurations within the permitted load limits and will help you get familiar with the mechanical load conditions and limitations.
d &b TI 385
Further information on line array design can be found in “TI 385 d&b Line
array design, ArrayCalc”. The TI is supplied with the software or can be
downloaded from the d&b website at www.dbaudio.com.
d &b Seminar
We also recommend you to attend the regularly hosted d&b Line array training
seminars. Further information regarding the d&b seminars and a seminar
schedule can also be found on the d&b website at
www.dbaudio.com.
d &b Video tutorials
In addition, d&b provides related video tutorials which can also be found on
the d&b website at www.dbaudio.com or www.sl-
series.com.
XSL-SUB/XSL-GSUB loudspeaker
Intended use
NOTICE!
Only operate d&b SL-Series loudspeakers with the specified and correctly configured d&b amplifiers, otherwise there is a risk of damaging the loudspeaker components and the directional characteristics of the system cannot be achieved.
Applicable d &b amplifiers: D40 | D80
Product description
The XSL-SUB and XSL-GSUB are the cardioid subwoofers for the XSL system. They can be used to supplement XSL8 and XSL12 cabinets, either flown (XSL-SUB) or ground stacked (XSL-GSUB). When the Z5770 XSL Flying frame set is used, XSL- SUB cabinets can be flown as separate SUB columns or in mixed arrays together with XSL TOP cabinets using the additional Z5783 XSL-SUB Adapter frame.
Both cabinets are actively driven, 2-way bass-reflex designs housing two long excursion neodymium drivers. One 18″ driver radiates towards the front while one 12″ driver radiates towards the rear of the cabinet.
The front and rear drivers are driven by separate amplifier channels and operate in independent bass reflex chambers.
Through its cardioid dispersion pattern, this setup avoids unwanted energy behind the system and greatly reduces the reverberant field at low frequencies providing highest accuracy in low frequency reproduction. The frequency response extends from 37 Hz to 110 Hz (35 Hz to 85 Hz – INFRA mode).
The cabinet enclosures are constructed from marine plywood and have an impact
and weather protected 2K finish. The front and rear of the cabinets are
protected by a rigid metal grill backed by an acoustically transparent and
water repellent fabric. Each side panel incorporates two handles and mounted
on the rear panel are four heavy duty wheels.
Two runners extend from the rear to the front panel of each cabinet protecting
the bottom panel against scratching.
Two correspondingly shaped recesses are incorporated in the top panel of each
cabinet to accept these runners and prevent cabinet movement when stacking
XSL-GSUBs or XSL-SUBs.
An M20 threaded flange in the top panel accepts a corresponding pole for the
deployment of TOP cabinets.
SL-Series rigging components and arrays
The cabinets are mechanically connected using the rigging strands on both sides of the cabinet front and a central strand at the rear of the cabinet.
All necessary rigging components are mounted on the cabinet and fold and/or slide out when needed.
A detailed description of the SL-Series rigging components is given in the respective rigging manuals.
Cardioid dispersion
Cardioid dispersion avoids unwanted energy behind the system and greatly reduces the excitation of the reverberant field at low frequencies providing the greatest accuracy of low frequency reproduction. The subwoofers can be used as stand-alone solutions or in stacked combinations with a minimum distance of 60 cm (2 ft) between adjacent cabinets or between the subwoofers and a side wall. When positioned in front of walls, the minimum distance to rear walls is maintained by the wheels mounted at the rear of the cabinet.
Connections
The cabinets are fitted with NLT4 F/M connectors. All four pins of both connectors are wired in parallel using the following pin assignment:
- Pins 1+/1– feeding the front LF driver.
- Pins 2+/2– feeding the rear LF driver.
d &b LoadMatch
With the d&b four channel amplifier platform, the LoadMatch function enables the amplifier to electrically compensate for the properties of the loudspeaker cable used without the need for an additional sense wire. For applicable loudspeakers, LoadMatch is therefore independent of the connector type used.
Operation
Amplifier output mode(s): 2-Way Active
Application| Setup| Cabinets per pair of amplifier channels
XSL-SUB| XSL-SUB
XSL-SUB AP XSL-SUB Fln| 2
1
2
XSL-GSUB| XSL-SUB
XSL-SUB AP| 2
1
In its standard mode the XSL-SUB/XSL-GSUB can be used as subwoofer for applicable d&b loudspeaker systems operated in CUT mode. The two channels of the system are tuned to create a cardioid dispersion pattern thus providing maximum rejection to the rear. It can be used in flown or stacked combinations with a minimum distance of 60 cm (2 ft) between adjacent columns of cabinets.
AP setup
In connection with d&b Array Processing (AP), the AP setup contains the AP
data that is generated by the d&b ArrayCalc simulation software and
transferred to the applicable amplifiers via the d&b Remote network
(OCA/AES70) using R1. As soon as the data has been sent to the amplifiers, the
AP setup is automatically activated.
Fln setup
The “Fln” setup (flown setup) for XSL-SUBs is meant to work as a low
frequency extension for a flown XSL-SUB array, which can either be part of a
mixed array or a pure SUB column next to or behind an XSL-TOP array.
Thus the setup is based on a higher cut-off frequency with improved phase
alignment in the wider overlap region.
The setup allows both known configurations:
- CUT for TOPs and Standard for SUBs.
- Full range for TOPs and 100 Hz for SUBs.
The setup also includes the Coupling function to allow the configuration of
TOPs and SUBs in one control group.
The INFRA mode is not applicable for this application and is therefore not
available within this setup.
Controller settings
Depending on the selected setup, for acoustic adjustment the 100 Hz (Fln setup) and INFRA modes (Standard setup) as well as the Coupling function can be selected.
100 Hz mode (Fln setup)
With the 100 Hz mode selected, the frequency range of the system is reduced to
the range from 37 Hz to 85 Hz. It can be used when actively driven SUB
cabinets are used to supplement TOP cabinets operated in full range mode in a
mixed array to compensate for the effect of close coupling between the SUB and
TOP cabinets.
INFRA mode (Standard setup)
With the INFRA mode selected, the frequency response of the system extends
from 35 Hz to 85 Hz. The XSL-SUB/XSL-GSUB can now be used to supplement
applicable d&b loudspeaker systems operated in full range mode.
Coupling function
The Coupling function compensates for coupling effects between the cabinets by reducing the low and low-mid frequency level.
The SL-Series setups provide a two-stage filter (Low/Mid), which allows the independent shaping of the low and low-mid responses.
The characteristcs of the Coupling function are shown in the diagram opposite. The standard setting (0) maintains the default array response. Coupling values can be set in the range from +5 to –5 (Low) and from 0 to –8 (Mid) in increments of 0.5.
Note: Please note that all cabinets within the array should be operated with the same Coupling setting. When processed conventionally (Line/Arc), the larger the array the more attenuation by Coupling will be required to achieve a neutral response.
When operated with ArrayProcessing (AP), an array will automatically be provided with the system target response, as shown in the graphic opposite. All coupling effects caused by the array length and shape are considered in the AP data. The Coupling function may still be used for additional corrections, for example of room properties or coupling effects between main hangs and outfills.
Technical specifications
Standard setup…
Frequency response (–5 dB Standard)… 37 Hz – 110 Hz
Frequency response (–5 dB INFRA)… 35 Hz – 85 Hz
Fln setup…
Frequency response (–5 dB Standard)… 40 Hz – 125 Hz
Frequency response (–5 dB 100 Hz )… 37 Hz – 85 Hz
Max. sound pressure (1 m, free field) with D40/D80… 137 dB
…(SPLmax: Broadband signal IEC 60268)
Loudspeaker data
Nominal impedance front/rear… 8/16 ohms
Power handling capacity front (RMS/peak 10 ms)… 700/1500 W
Power handling capacity rear (RMS/peak 10 ms)… 400/800 W
Components… 1 x 18″ driver front/1 x 12″ driver rear
Connections… 1 x NLT4 F/M
Pin assignment… 1+: Front+/1–: Front– /2+: Rear+/2–: Rear–
Optional front splay (XSL-SUB)… 0° or 2.5°
Weight XSL-SUB… 66 kg (146 lb)
Weight XSL-GSUB… 62 kg (136 lb)
Dimension
**XSL-SUB cabinet dimensions in mm [inch]**
The same dimensions apply to the XSL-GSUB
Manufacturer’s declarations
Conformity of loudspeakers
This declaration applies to: d&b
Z0774 XSL-SUB loudspeaker d&b Z0775 XSL-GSUB loudspeaker by d&b audiotechnik
GmbH & Co. KG.
All product variants are included, provided they correspond to the original technical version and have not been subject to any later design or electromechanical modifications.
We herewith declare that said products are in conformity with the provisions of the respective directives including all applicable amendments.
Detailed and applicable declarations are available on request and can be ordered from d&b or downloaded from the d&b website at www.dbaudio.com.
WEEE Declaration (Disposal)
Electrical and electronic equipment must be disposed of separately from normal waste at the end of its operational lifetime. Please dispose of this product according to the respective national regulations or contractual agreements. If there are any further questions concerning the disposal of this product, please contact d&b audiotechnik.
WEEE-Reg.-Nr. DE: 13421928
CUSTOMERS SUPPORT
General information
XSL-SUB/XSL-GSUB Manual
Version: 1.3 en, 01/2023, D2753.EN .01
Copyright © 2023 by d&b audiotechnik GmbH & Co. KG; all
rights reserved.
Keep this document with the product or in a safe place so that it is available
for future reference.
We recommend you to regularly check the d&b website for the
latest version of this document.
When reselling this product, hand over this document to the new owner.
If you supply d&b products, please draw the attention of your
customers to this document. Enclose the relevant documents with
the systems. If you require additional documents for this purpose,
you can order them from d&b.
d&b audiotechnik GmbH & Co. KG
Eugen-Adolff-Str. 134, D-71522 Backnang, Germany
T +49-7191-9669-0, F +49-7191-95 00 00
