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How many amplifiers do I need to drive a typical W8LC
system?
The simple rule of thumb is 3 power amplifiers for 4 W8LC cabinets...
3 x 2ch MA2.8S power amplifiers drive 4 x W8LC
6 x 2ch MA2.8S power amplifiers drive 8 x W8LC
9 x 2ch MA2.8S power amplifiers drive 12 x W8LC
12 x 2ch MA2.8S power amplifiers drive 16 x W8LC
Can I split the system into smaller racks with, say, 3 amps
per rack?
Yes. But remember that our MA2.8S amplifier weighs less than 10kg so a double
width rack housing 9 MA2.8S amplifiers for a standard 12-box system may be no
heavier than a single rack system using conventional power amplifiers. A double width
rack will cater for band zoning (the progressive shelving control applied to the upper
mid & high frequency sections of line array columns to partially compensate for air
absorption) without the need for dedicated master and slave racks linked with
complicated multi-core links. See example of 3-amplifier master-slave rack system for
a 12 W8LC system later.
Why do I need high power amplifiers for the mid & high
frequency sections!?
There are several reasons for this:
1)
Although vocal and percussive signals demand fairly low continuous power,
their peak power can be much higher. Many touring systems have less than adequate
peak power at mid and high frequencies and simply clip vocal fricatives and
percussion transients producing poor mid and high frequency definition.
2)
Our mid and high frequency sections are designed to reproduce these peak
power transients faithfully without stress. We use carefully matched RC coupling
networks to compensate for high frequency driver voice coil inductance. These
coupling networks improve transient performance and present an easy load to the
power amplifier whilst maintaining a high frequency efficiency of 109dB/W/m.
3)
Line Arrays are designed for long throw applications. Air absorption can cause
significant high frequency attenuation at low humidity. Line array columns are usually
band zoned (ie progressive shelving control is applied to the upper mid & high
frequency sections of line array columns to partially compensate for air absorption).
This band zoning relies on the exceptional mid and high frequency performance
provided by adequately powered high-efficient mid and high frequency sections.
Please note that our standard controller limiters are set with finite attack times. This
All material © 2007. Martin Audio Ltd. Subject to change without notice.
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