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Xi-2181 Bass System
Xi-2181 Bass System
2
ing its sonic integrity from the very-lowest
sound pressure levels to the very-highest
sound pressure levels. This means that the
front-of-house engineer will not have to re-
tune the EQ and level settings as the SPL is
increased throughout the show. This also
means that the sound-system performance
will remain consistent in different array con-
figurations and from venue to venue.
The X-Array
Install™ systems utilizes full
top/bottom L-track.
The durable Xi-2181 enclosure is con-
structed of 18-mm, 13-ply birch plywood and
has a wear-resistant black, textured paint fin-
ish. The system is trapezoidal, forming an
18° wedge and includes a heavy-duty steel
grille with a water-resistant charcoal-gray
foam interlining.
Applications
The X-Array
Install™ loudspeaker systems
were designed for optimal performance in
both concert-sound and permanent-installa-
tion applications where studio-monitor
sound quality is required at concert-sound
levels. The X-Array
Install™ loudspeaker
systems work well individually, in small ar-
rays and in large arrays. The high acoustic
output from these compact, lightweight sys-
tems provide the highest acoustic-power-to-
weight ratio, the highest acoustic-power-to-
frontal-area ratio, and the highest acoustic-
power-to-bulk-volume ratio in the industry.
That means that X-Array
™
systems will be
considerably smaller and lighter compared
to competitive systems having equivalent
acoustic output. With its response from 37-
200 Hz, the Xi-2181 is recommended for
low-frequency applications where very-high
levels of bass are required from a compact
enclosure. Specifically, the Xi-2181 has been
optimized to provide low-frequency rein-
forcement for the Xi 2153, 2183, 2123, 1123,
1153, 1152, 1122 systems. The Xi-2181 may
be used individually or in multiples to con-
struct low-frequency arrays, or may be used
with the mid-bass-/high-frequency or low-/
mid-bass-/high-frequency X-Array
Install™
loudspeaker systems to construct large full-
range arrays. The Merlin ISP100 as well as
the Electro-Voice Dx34A and Klark Teknik
DN8000 digital crossovers are recommended
for signal control. (See the Crossover, Equal-
ization and Signal Delay Controller section.)
The Electro-Voice P3000 amplifier is recom-
mended for powering the Xi-2181. (See the
Amplifier Recommendations section.)
Power-Handling Capabilities
The Xi-2181 systems are rated as per the
“ANSI/EIA RS-426-A Loudspeaker Power-
Rating, Full-Range Test,” which uses a
shaped-random-noise signal to simulate typi-
cal music to test the mechanical and thermal
capabilities of the loudspeakers. A digital
crossover was used to provide the appropri-
ate filtering and equalization. The test pa-
rameters are as follows:
Low-Frequency Section (Pins 1 and 2 par-
alleled):
P
E(MAX)
: 1,200 watts
Test Voltage: 58.7-volts rms
117.4-volts peak
R
SR
(1.15R
E
): 2.88 ohms
Amplifier Recommendations
Power amplifiers with the following ratings
are recommended for use with the Xi-2181
loudspeaker systems:
LF: 800 watts into 8 ohms
91-volts rms short term
130-volts peak
Xi-2181 loudspeakers may be paralleled with
other Xi-2181 systems as long as the ampli-
fiers can drive the lower impedances. To
maintain a sufficient damping factor with
long cable runs, amplifier loads of four ohms
per channel are recommended. The
Electro-Voice P3000 amplifiers are ideal for
powering the X-Array
™
systems.
Crossover, Equalization and Signal
Delay Controller
The Xi-2181 is intended to be used with
other X-Array
Install™ loudspeaker systems
to construct full-range arrays as an active sys-
tem requiring an active crossover, equaliza-
tion and signal delay controller. For basic
applications, the Merlin ISP100, or the Elec-
tro-Voice Dx34A 2-in/4-out controller is rec-
ommended. The Klark Teknik DN8000 2-
in/5-out controller is also recommended.
Linkwitz-Riley crossover filters with a mini-
mum slope of 24 dB per octave at 125 Hz
are recommended, and infrasonic filter pro-
tection at 32 Hz or higher with a minimum
slope of 12-dB/octave is recommended in the
low-frequency section. The ISP100 as well
as the Dx34A and the DN8000 offer appro-
priate filtering, equalization and signal de-
lay capabilities to provide optimum perfor-
mance of the X-Array Install™ loudspeaker
systems. Digital parameter settings for all
controllers are available upon request.
Electrical Connection and System Wiring
Two paralleled Neutrik 8-pin Speakon
®
con-
nectors are used for electrical connection to
the Xi-2181 loudspeakers with the follow-
ing pin assignments:
LF1: Pins 1 Paralleled
LF2: Pins 2 Paralleled
The Xi-2181 wiring diagram is shown in
Figure 7. Since the connectors are paralleled,
it does not matter which connector is used
as the input or output when paralleling
Xi-2181 systems. Although Pins 3 and 4 are
not used by the Xi-2181 systems, they are
paralleled on the input panel. This allows an
X-Array
Install™ MB/HF box to be paral-
leled with an Xi-2181, allowing all eight con-
ductors to be used with a single cable run to
the amplifiers. Note that, when two Xi-2181
systems are jumped from one to another via
the input/output connections, the amplifier
home-run cable will have two woofers on
Pins 2 (for a 4-ohm load) and two woofers
on Pins 1 (for a 4-ohm load).
Flying the X-Array Install™ Systems
A manual entitled the X-Array Install™ Fly-
ing Manual is available from Electro-Voice
and is included with each flying Xi loud-
speaker system. A brief introductory over-
view is included here. The X-Array-Install™
Flying Manual should be consulted for com-
plete structural specifications and detailed
information on safely suspending and using
the Xi systems.
The Xi-2181 loudspeaker system includes
flying hardware, a unique two-point flying
system that permits a wide range of vertical
angle adjustment, and offers maximum flex-
ibility in array design for both touring sound
and permanent installations. The quick-re-
lease, aircraft-rated heavy-duty L-track type
hardware design allows arrays of loudspeak-
ers to be assembled (and disassembled) very