User manual

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MSE-218 User Manual
v1.0 February 2013
2.0 – The MSE-218 Subwoofer
The MSE-218 is a high-power subwoofer system, designed to fulfil the most demanding applications where
scalability and single-enclosure use are as important as sonic performance. The MSE-218 has been developed
to answer a call from customers who don’t always have the physical space available to use MSE-118 Quake
subwoofers in significant numbers, yet still require impressive SPL and frequency response. MSE-218
subwoofers are inherently scalable – they can be used as single units, or in large numbers for filling arena or
stadium shows. The substantial enclosure houses a pair of reflex-loaded 4.5” voice coil, 18” (457mm)
neodymium LF cone drive units. Like all EM Acoustics products, headroom is key. Peak-to-peak linear cone
travel is 28mm, meaning large amounts of low frequency information can be produced by a surprisingly small
and lightweight subwoofer enclosure.
The MSE-218 requires an active crossover to function correctly – although the choice of filter points is very
wide, allowing the user to tailor the response to exactly what is required. Cardioid DSP program settings are
also available to create arrays with significant rejection to the rear of the subwoofers, by stacking three
enclosures in a block (two facing forwards, one facing backwards).
The robust enclosure is constructed from premium 18mm (3/4”) multi-laminate Birch plywood – rebated,
screwed & glued together. The enclosure is finished in black textured paint as standard, however RAL colour
matching as well as weather protection options are available if required. Due to the extremely high cone
travel available, enclosure rigidity was key in the design - the baffle is made in total from five 18mm
thicknesses of premium plywood. Runners are provided on the bottom of the enclosure to protect the paint
finish when in use, and recesses on the top of the enclosure allow stable stacking of arrays. Eight steel bar
handles and tour-grade castors are also fitted as standard. A pair of M20 threaded flange adapters are also
provided in the top of the enclosure for mounting fullrange products above for compact systems. Lastly, a
tough hex-punched grille protects the drive units from damage, which can be quickly removed for service
purposes.
The MSE-218 subwoofer is designed and manufactured in our UK headquarters, and every unit is rigorously
tested before they leave the factory.