Owner`s manual

PAGE 16 Community Solutions™ Owner’s Manual
6 OPERATING MODES
Your SLS and SBS loudspeaker systems are designed to be used with an electronic controller.
6.1 Electronic Controller Options
Community Solutions loudspeakers are specifically designed to be electronically-controlled by a device
that directly precedes the power amplifier in the signal chain. The controller processes the audio
signal to provide an optimized signal to the loudspeaker under all operating conditions. This results in
improved frequency response, maximized power handling, lower distortion and increased protection
for the loudspeaker components. OPERATION WITHOUT THE USE OF AN APPROPRIATE SYSTEM
CONTROLLER IS CONSIDERED ABUSE AND WILL VOID THE WARRANTY.
6.1.3 Radio Design Labs ST-CX1F and ST-CX1W Crossovers
These products, manufactured and sold by RDL, are suitable for use in place of equalizers / high-pass
filters for the SLS915, SLS918, SLS920 full-range (ST-CX1F) and SBS12, SBS22 subwoofers (ST-CX1W).
Because they afford no electronic protection, these products are intended for less demanding
applications where these products will be used at less than maximum output capabilities. A technical
note is available from Community about their proper settings for use with loudspeakers listed.
6.2.3 PASSIVE versus BIAMPLIFIED Mode
In BIAMPLIFIED mode the internal passive crossover of SLS models is still used to divide the frequencies
between the MF and HF drivers that make up the high frequency section. The 2-way SLS915 only has
an LF and HF driver so there is no internal frequency division in BIAMPLIFIED mode. When in
BIAMPLIFIED mode, the PowerSense DDP is NOT bypassed for the SLS models. Therefore all drivers are
still protected by this circuitry. The only exception to this is the SLS918 LF driver which is NOT
protected in BIAMPLIFIED mode.
In BIAMPLIFIED mode There are no performance advantages in the form of more “effective” or higher
“equivalent” power from your amplifiers over PASSIVE mode. While an analysis of this statement is
beyond the scope of this manual, the simple fact is that if you power a loudspeaker with 200 watts,
that is what you have. For example, if the system is BIAMPLIFIED with the woofer powered by a 150
watt amplifier and the high frequency section powered by a 50 watt amplifier, or if the system is in
PASSIVE mode powered by a single 200 watt amplifier, the total power available is 200 watts either
way.
In terms of loudspeaker performance, the advantages of using one mode over the other (PASSIVE or
BIAMPLIFED) are relatively small. However for BIAMPLIFIED mode there are disadvantages of the higher
complexity of the wiring and the additional costs of amplification and electronic crossover. For this
reason we recommend using PASSIVE mode unless there is some other overriding reason to use
BIAMPLIFIED mode.