Martin Audio Blackline F8, User Manual

Page 1: ...he Martin Experience All material 2008 Martin Audio Ltd Subject to change without notice Blackline F8 F10 F12 F15 F215 H3 H3H H3T S12 S15 S18 S218 includes M3 controller configuration notes User s Guide ...

Page 2: ...d controllers 8 1 M3 2 input 4 output analogue system controller 8 2 DX1 2 input 6 output digital loudspeaker management system 8 3 DX2 4 input 8 output digital loudspeaker management system 8 4 Engineer Installed system digital management processor 9 System configurations 9 1 Passive systems 9 2 Bi amplified systems 9 3 Tri amplified systems 10 M3 Configuration 10 1 Front panel With Sub mode 10 2...

Page 3: ...t to the highest standard and thoroughly inspected before it leaves the factory After unpacking the system examine it carefully for any signs of transit damage and inform your dealer if any such damage is found It is suggested that you retain the original packaging so that the system can be repacked at a future date if necessary Please note that Martin Audio and its distributors cannot accept any ...

Page 4: ...er may also be used to configure systems for additional sub bass cabinets e g F8 S12 S15 S18 or S218 combinations F10 The Blackline F10 is a versatile two way passive system designed to provide exceptional sound reinforcement and stage monitoring from a very compact enclosure It features a powerful 10 250mm low frequency driver and a 1 25mm HF compression driver mounted on a constant directivity 9...

Page 5: ...and an aluminium demodulating ring This reduces intermodulation distortion and improves midrange performance when driven hard Increased excursion is available by virtue of a triple roll surround and deep motor structure The directivity of the LF driver has been matched to the HF horn in the crossover region by improved crossover design and cone profile optimisation also the new HF compression driv...

Page 6: ...r For demanding applications Martin Audio recommends an M3 DX1 DX2 or Engineer system controller configured to perform EQ and limiter functions The M3 DX1 DX2 or Engineer system controller may also be used to configure systems for additional sub bass cabinets e g F15 S18 or S218 combinations 3 2 2 way dual lf full range system F215 The Blackline F215 is a two way passive trapezoidal enclosure with...

Page 7: ...one and triple roll surround for increased excursion The H3 H3T mid horn has a unique phase ball loading device which maintains the constant directivity characteristics of the horn at the upper end of its range It is driven by a new 10 250mm midrange driver with an aluminium demodulating ring for improved high mid clarity and reduced distortion when driven hard The 70 x 40 H3 H3T HF section featur...

Page 8: ... may also be used to configure H3H systems for additional sub bass cabinets e g H3H with S218 3 4 Sub bass systems S12 The Blackline S12 is an extremely compact sub bass system It has been designed for use with the F8 and F10 full range loudspeakers in situations where extended low frequency output and increased system headroom are required The S12 has an integral user selectable 120Hz passive cro...

Page 9: ...el connected to F8 F10 or F12 systems to provide low frequency extension without the need for an additional amplifier An M3 DX1 DX2 or Engineer system controller may also be used to provide an active crossover with enhanced control facilities The S15 is provided with a top hat fitting that can be used to pole mount an F8 F10 or F12 above the enclosure S18 The compact Blackline S18 sub bass system ...

Page 10: ...60mm 4 100mm voice coil drivers with water resistant cones and triple roll surrounds The S218 is designed to be used as part of a high power active system It must be electronically crossed over with a Martin Audio M3 DX1 DX2 or Engineer system controller 3 5 Grille removal To remove the grille first remove any grille retaining screws The grille can then be removed by inserting a flat bladed screwd...

Page 11: ...cts structural engineers or other specialists if in any doubt Blackline Series enclosures are designed for portable applications but can be suspended singly by means of the threaded inserts provided Enclosures are fitted internally with steel corner reinforcement brackets where necessary to ensure that each cabinet is strong enough to be hung from its top Never suspend one enclosure from another t...

Page 12: ...table but can seriously stress your system by dumping large amounts of distortion into the high frequency drivers Blackline model Peak power rating Suggested power amplifier Minimum Recommended F8 600W into 8Ω MA1 3s MA1 6s MA4 8Q F10 F12 1 2KW into 8Ω MA1 6s MA4 8Q MA2 8s MA6 8Q F15 1 6KW into 8Ω MA2 8s MA4 2s F215 3 2KW into 4Ω MA2 8s MA4 2s H3 H3H LF 3KW into 8Ω MA2 8s MA4 2s MF HF 1 2KW into 8...

Page 13: ...8 to allow 4 core cable users to double the copper area and therefore reduce power losses 7 Cable lengths When connecting Blackline systems to an amplifier it is recommended that the return resistance of the cable used is less than one tenth of the nominal impedance of the system or systems in parallel The table below gives an indication of the maximum permissible cable runs for various conductor ...

Page 14: ...er in this user guide for further information 8 2 DX1 2 input 6 output digital loudspeaker management system The DX1 is a powerful 2in 6out DSP based audio processing unit for live applications and fixed installations The unit is configurable in 5 basic modes 2x2 way 2x3 way 4 way 5 way and 6 way crossover Each input has adjustable gain and delay Each output consists of a high and low pass filter ...

Page 15: ...martin audio com for loading via a pc A note on the illustrations Please note that for simplicity only the left channel is shown and each line in the diagram represents a pair of wires The illustrations show systems configured using the cost effective Martin Audio M3 controller Larger zoned systems may require the more comprehensive facilities offered by Martin Audio digital controllers like the D...

Page 16: ...n and the subwoofer rear switch set to Passive for this configuration to work correctly See M3 configuration notes later 9 2 Bi amplified systems Typical F8 F10 F12 or F15 plus S12 S15 or S18 active system set up F12 F15 shown Typical main to sub ratio 1 1 The M3 front panel and internal Combo card must be set for With Sub operation and the subwoofer rear switch set to Active for this configuratio...

Page 17: ...also be used like this but with an M3 F215 card in place of the Combo card The M3 front panel and internal Combo card must be set for With Sub operation for this active configuration See M3 configuration notes later H3 H3H or H3T bi amplified system set up H3 shown The M3 front panel must be set for Full range operation for this active configuration See M3 configuration notes later ...

Page 18: ...re complex designs is to use the Martin Audio DX1 digital 2 input 4 output controllers which come fully loaded with a many Martin Audio presets including settings suitable for Blackline combinations Further operational choices include a 4 input 8 output DX2 digital controller or a choice of 4 input 8 output or 8 input 8 output digital management processors called Engineer The Engineer offers a fle...

Page 19: ...oving coil loudspeakers can be run up to their AES power rating continuously and up to the higher Peak power rating for transient musical peaks Choose an amplifier capable of delivering the loudspeaker s Peak power rating Use the M3 s carefully timed limiters to avoid exceeding the AES long term power rating This policy avoids clipping transient peaks Clipping not only sounds unacceptable but can ...

Page 20: ...ect to change without notice Limiter settings Important Set the motherboard output limiter jumpers Ch1 J11 Ch2 J12 Ch3 J13 Ch4 J14 to suit the recommended limiter thresholds vs power amplifier gain shown below Output channel limiter jumpers ...

Page 21: ...All material 2007 Martin Audio Ltd Subject to change without notice Output limiter thresholds vs power amplifier gain see next page if you know the amp s sensitivity but you do not know its gain ...

Page 22: ...All material 2007 Martin Audio Ltd Subject to change without notice Estimated power amplifier gain vs output specification sensitivity ...

Page 23: ... These jumpers should be set by experienced electronics technicians only Remove the M3 lid and locate the jumpers on the Combo Card Use J1 J2 J5 J6 to configure F8 F10 F12 F15 and J3 J4 J7 and J8 to configure the M3 for S12 S15 S18 S218 as follows Quick start illustrations Set the M3 Combo Card to suit the main or main sub combination as shown in the following illustrations F8 only Front panel in ...

Page 24: ...All material 2007 Martin Audio Ltd Subject to change without notice F8 with S218 Front panel in With Sub mode Flown F8 with S218 Front panel in With Sub mode ...

Page 25: ...All material 2007 Martin Audio Ltd Subject to change without notice F10 only Front panel in Full Range mode F10 with S12 S15 or S18 Front panel in With Sub mode ...

Page 26: ...All material 2007 Martin Audio Ltd Subject to change without notice F10 with S218 Front panel in With Sub mode Flown F10 with S218 Front panel in With Sub mode ...

Page 27: ...All material 2007 Martin Audio Ltd Subject to change without notice F12 only Front panel in Full Range mode F12 with S12 S15 or S18 Front panel in With Sub mode ...

Page 28: ...All material 2007 Martin Audio Ltd Subject to change without notice F12 with S218 Front panel in With Sub mode Flown F12 with S218 Front panel in With Sub mode ...

Page 29: ...All material 2007 Martin Audio Ltd Subject to change without notice F15 only Front panel in Full Range mode F15 with S12 S15 or S18 Front panel in With Sub mode ...

Page 30: ...All material 2007 Martin Audio Ltd Subject to change without notice F15 with S218 Front panel in With Sub mode Flown F15 with S218 Front panel in With Sub mode ...

Page 31: ... room surfaces e g from a truss Top card high pass filter The Combo Card high pass filter HPF jumpers J1 J5 should be placed in the Out position when the front panel With Sub is selected as the LF cutoff for the F8 F10 F12 or F15 loudspeaker is set by the motherboard main to sub crossover function in this mode 10 5 M3 F215 top card For use with Blackline the F215 full range or with S218 10 6 M3 H3...