OWNER'S MANUAL
THE
DAYTON WRIGHT XAM-4 LOUDSPEAKER
Mark 2
DAYTON
WRIGHT GROUP LTD.
Revised: AUGUST 19, 1982
Major Revision: July 25, 2009
CONTENTS
SALES INVOICE
INTRODUCTION
UNPACKING
CONNECTING
DISCONNECTING
OPERATION
MAINTENANCE
SERVICE POLICY
WARRANTY
APPENDICES:
A.
An Introduction to the XAM-4
B.
Use and RF Problems
D.
Technical Information
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS:
WARNING: TO PREVENT
POSSIBLE SHOCK HAZARD
THIS SYSTEM SHOULD
NOT BE EXPOSED TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
PLEASE STAPLE
YOUR
SALES INVOICE
HERE
PLEASE BE SURE
TO SAVE YOUR INVOICE
YOU WILL NEED
IT TO VALIDATE YOUR WARRANTY
Terminals on Speaker Rear:
Possible Connections to Speakers:
Guide:
USING THE L-R, R-L AMBIENCE EXCITATION
The easiest form of ambience enhancement for the XAM-4's is the L-R, R-L
connection of the ambience drivers. (these are located on the back sloping
areas on thr top pf the speakers). In order to understand how this functions
let us consider the usual form of stereo speaker set up.
BACKGROUND:
While an "open" sound is generally obtained through the use of loudspeakers having a wide polar (dispersion ) pattern such as a technique that creates sufficient phase noise and multipath interaction between the direct sound from the loudspeaker and the listening room reflections so as to sgnificantly "blur" the stereo image. While such loudspeakers are "pleasant" to which to listen, they usually have to be located well away from any wall surface, and somewhat closer together, (so that seperation is smaller than their distance from the listener), if any degre of stereo fusion is to be obtained.
This restricts the system from obtaining a wide stereo image and all of the phase noise so produced apparently prevents the listener from perceiving all of the musical detail.
While special treatment of the room to render it anachoic does shappen the stereo image, and allow a greater apparent degree of perception of detail, it is accompanied by a dryness and an "unmusical" qualty of the sound. This may render it unpleasant to listen to for extended periods, as well as making it difficult to obtain sufficient sound pressure levels that ususlly cause listening fatigue.
In addition, such a treatment is not practible for a home environment.
The XAM-4 main stereo sprakers operate in a narrow polar pattern (thus minimizing the room excitation caused by the main speakers), allocating the room excitation to the ambience speaker(s). so mounted that they face away from the listener.
In the L-R, R-L Configuration these ambience speakers are connected
in such a manner that their output is reduced to closer to the signal monoral
signal, that is, being centrally located between the recording mirophones
or their polar pattern, (or if a single mono mike is used and mixed equally
to the right and left channels as is a common practice with singers or
massed choirs).
CONNECTON AND AMBIENCE/STEREO-SPREAD BALANCING:
In this configuration of the XAM-4, the ambience exitation consists of the speakers mounted in such a way that they (substantially), face away from the listener, and fed so that the right ambience speaker is fed a right channel signal that is in phase with the right main speaker, and also fed a signal that is essentially inverted in phase with the left channel.
The opposite is true for the left channel ambience speaker. This may be
accoplished by connecting the "hot" lead of the right ambience speaker
to the "hot" lead of the left ambence speaker Then connecting the "gnd"
leads
tougher via a 25 watt rheostat (typically
a twenty five ohm twenty five watt for a pair of four ohm ambience speakers
excitation that may be requred to "tune" the listening room. Misadjutment
could result in a 'blurring' or 'smearing' effect.
While it would appear on the surface that the hookup is no different than The Haffler Ambiance Exraction System that was employed in the simulation of a four channel system. That system required that the rear ambience system have the rear speakers actually located at the rear of the room.
This control might be called the Stereo Focus Control.
(Caution - be sure that any stereo power amplifier does NOT have a common ground for both channels. And this warning also applies to balanced out put power amplifiers. )
TIME DELAY OF THE AMBIANCE SIGNAL:
Additionally, the combined speaker system can be placed sufficiently far away from the walls behind the speakers so as to add a degree of delay to the main paer of the ambience signal. Under these conditions a greater level of ambience excitation may be employed although a given level of non delayed ambience excitation signal must be present! In the event that the speaker system be so placed, an artifical delay line could be considered, (with the introduction of artificial reverberation types of multi-speaker audio systems, the XAM - 4's can still be used as the man pair of stereo speakers with the multi-channel system as an adjunct).
None of this precludes equalization of the signal feeing the ambience speakers.
(Be sure not to overload the ambience speakers with a high bass boost as these speakers might burn out!)
DIPOLES AND TIME DELAYED AMBIENCE:
In type of handling of delayed room ambience excitation VS direct signals a situation is created that is somewhat similar to the use of an acoustic dipole type of loudspeaker system where this type of system has to be set up with the dipole type well away from the front wall of the listening room. The minimum spacing (optimum front wall-to speaker distance allways seems to be 9 to 12 feet, resulting in a delay of the rear-of-the-dipole signal reflected from the wall in the order of from 18 to 24 microseconds; although it must be noted that in the case of dipole loudspeakers there is litte diminuation of the rear signal for monaural or centered stereo image signsls.
USE OF THE STEREO FOCUS CONTROL:
If the conrtol is adjusted so that the least safe resistance is used in series with the ambiance loudspeakers, their level will be at it's highest in relation to the main loudspeakers. Under this setting only the cenral part of the stereo image will remain "tightly" focussed, any source lying to either side of the central position will have a blurred focus and somewhat less defined. This interdeterminancy will encrease as the apparent distance between the position of and the center of the stereo sound stage increases.
On the other hand, if the control is turned up to palce the maximum resistance in series with the ambiance speakers, the fusion of the stereo replica of each instrument or sound source will be very highly defined. While this might seem desirable, a semi-anechoic effect in the listening room combined with the "dry" nature of that sound can be extremely tiring. In addition (and this is still theory), the subliminally perceived differences in the coloration listening room and that of the recoding studio/hall/wherever, appears to make locking-in to the stereo and subsiquent involvement with the expression of the music, somewhat more difficult.
The ideal installation is one that leaves the accuracy of the positioning of the instruments within the stereo imaging substantially unaltered, but softens the listening room/recording-location discontinuity. Under these conditions, and if the XAM-4's are combined with good support equipment/sound sources, the speakers will seem to vanish as the source of the music.
Experincing this, may requoire that some sort of lighting control be used to dim the listeming room illumination so that distracting visual clues will not disturb the formation of the stereo image.
SUGGESTIONS AS TO THE WIRING OF THE XAM-4 SPEAKERS:
Heavy speaker wire is NOT needed for the connctions between te right and left ambiece speakers. We have found that common two wire 20 gauge works well. Cut enugh to reach the two speakers with the rheotstat or focus control mounted at one end, including enough extra wire so that it will not be a tripping hazard. In the connection layout the other ends are connected as a jumper beteen the RED and WHITE terminals of either the left or right speakers.
The other speaker has a RED to WHITE jumper conected as usual and the other wire is run between the BLACK anbience terminals on the left and right speakers. (As the two ambiece speakers are in series, it really doesn't matter where the series circuit).
MAINSPEAKER WIRING:
On the other hand, a good grade of speaker wiring (cable) is necesiary between the power ampmlifier(s) and the main/subwoofer parts of the XAM-4's!
REVERSING ABSOLUTE PHASE:
As the signal used to drive the ambience speakers is present only on the HOT terminals of the power amplifier (except for the balanced outputs of most internally bridged units), inversion or reversal pf Absolute Phase by swapping the HOT and GROUND connections of both left and right speaker cables will result in the loss of the ambience signal.
To recover it under these unusual circumstances, you will have to connect the BLACK ambience terminal to the BLACK main-speaker terminal (on both speakers please!)--(which you have connected to the HOT terminal pf both your power amplififier.
The inter speaker jumper will then run from WHITE left to WHITE white.
REMBEMBER-THIS IS NECESSAIRY ONLY IF YOU WISH TO CONNECT THE HOT TERMIALS OF YOUR POWER AMPLIFIER TO THE GROUND (BLACK) TERMINALS OF YOUR XAM-4's).
ROOM EQUALIZATION:
Do not equalize the signal to the main speaker. There is one exception
to this. As the sub-woofers have seperate terminals, a seperate stereo
power amplfier may be equalized to improve the bass output.
HISTORICAL NOTE:
The seperation of ambience and the main signal in a single pair of stereo
speaker system was first demonstrated publicly by The Dayton Wright Group
Ltd., in Toronto at the Summer Stereo in 1979, and again in Las Vegas at
the C. E. Show using the XAM-4a. In addition they had a similar display
using their model 15 speakers.
DAMAGE CAUSED TO THE SPEAKER THROUGH MODIFICATION OF ANY OF THE INTERNAL CONNECTIONS OR COMPONENTS, IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. IN THIS WE FOLLOW THE PREVIOUS POLICY AS REGARDS TO FIELD MODIFICATIONS. FIELD MODIFICATIONS WILL VOID THE WARRANTY AUTOMATICALLY.
I
SERVICE POLICY
It is our sincere hope that you have many
years of trouble free enjoyment from this Dayton Wright Loudspeaker.
We are contacted almost weekly by customers who have purchased speakers
as far back as 1990, to tell us how well the units are working and to inquire
about updates. We started to keep a file on preamplifier owners when
we started the company, and although this was not kept current by L
In addition, some owners are willing to pass on such help as they may be able to give to new owners, if you need assistance or wish to offer assistance please contact us.
Please note that this address all communications information is no longer valid ! It is included only for the record as it was once in the DW manual
Address mail to
The Dayton Wright Group Limited
Director of Customer Service
97 Newkirk Road North
Richmond Hill, Ontario L4C 3G4
Canada. Telephone: (416) 884-8586
LIMITED WARRANTY
The Dayton Wright Group Limited warrants all products sold under the Dayton Wright trade name to be free from defects in workmanship or in parts for a period of 3 years from date of manufacture subject to the following conditions:
1. This is a Limited Warranty under U.S. law.
2. The Warranty may be extended up to one additional year upon the production of the bill of sale by the first owner, but in no case shall it extend beyond 4 years from date of manufacture.
3. The Warranty is not transferable, and extends only to the original purchaser. In the event that a dealer has been using speakers at his home for several months he may be considered to have purchased the speakers from his store. If in doubt, have the dealer certify that the speakers are new stock. If you have any doubt that the speakers you have purchased are new, or if you suspect that the dealer may have sold you used speakers as new, contact us at once.
4. During the period that the Warranty is in effect, the Dayton Wright Group Limited will be responsible for the cost of labor and parts. As Dayton Wright Group Ltd. built the speakers, we will be responsible for the shipping costs of the return shipment. he responsibility for even one way shipment. The customer must prepay all shipments sent to us for repair, collect shipments will be refused. If therefore you are shipping to us from outside of Canada, be sure that you file the proper Export Documents by including them with your shipment; otherwise you may be charged duty on the Original List Price by your country's Customs. There is nothing that we at The Dayton Wright Group Limited can to stop this and therefore we do not accept responsibility for Duty or Brokerage Charges on re-importation of repaired goods into your country. U.S. owners should make out and include the U.S.Customs Form "CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION" (Customs Form 4455) with shipments out of the U.S.A.
PLEASE INSURE ALL SHIPMENTS!
5. We reserve the option to examine all 'warranty returns' to determine whether the equipment was abused or misused. If we find that was the case, we will notify the customer before proceeding with any non-warranty repairs.
6. We reserve the option to replace defective units with the equivalent equipment.
7. In no case does our liability exceed the original wholesal price of the equipment.
8. Prior to returning any Equipment, a 'RETURN AUTHORIZATION' must be obtained. This can be done by telephone. We will require the following information:
Name, Address, Phone number, serial and model numbers, date of purchase, Name and Address of Dealer, and the nature of the complaint. To prevent abuse of this Warranty, we reserve the right to charge the customer for service if the equipment is found to have no Defect.
9. A photocopy of the original Bill Of Sale or Invoice MUST accompany all returns. Please enclose this together with as much information that you can on the nature of the malfunction, and be sure that the RETURN AUTHORIZATION number is marked on all packages.
10. Your warranty does not protect you for damage in shipment or for theft. All units shall be well and properly packed nor shipment. We will not be responsible for shipping damage nor for the collection of any claims for shipping damage. We suggest that you use the original shipping cartons which were designed to protect against shipping damage. If these were discarded, we can supply replacements, but we regret that we will have to charge you for them and will have to ship them to you collect. Again, we cannot be responsible for units that were lost or stolen so be sure that you have made proper insurance arrangements prior to shipping.
11. The preamplifier shall not have been abused or the warranty will be voided. The Dayton Wright Group Limited shall be the sole judge of whether a unit is question has been abused. Abuse includes, but is not limited to: subjecting the units to unreasonable operating or environmental conditions, dropping or other inappropriate physical treatment, overdriving of the units, continued operation with the Bias mis-adjusted, continued operation while defective, or while connected to defective equipment, or to equipment operated in a defective manner. Further, the Warranty shall be voided if the unit has been repaired or altered in any way so as, in our judgement, to affect its reliability, stability, or performance characteristics.
12. No Warranty shall apply to units where the serial number has been removed, altered, defaced, or where the serial number plate has been damaged, or where there is evidence that the serial number plate has been removed and replaced. At our option, the Warranty may be voided on units where the seal has been cut, removed, or replaced.
13. The Dayton Wright Group Limited shall not be responsible for damages, consequential or incidental.
14. This Warranty is in lieu of all others, expressed or implied, and The Dayton Wright Group Limited does not authorize any of its employees, agents, distributors, or any other persons to make amendments, additions, extensions, or modifications to the content or intent of same.
15. SUBJECT TO LOCAL LEGISLATION YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE ADDITIONAL RIGHTS AND PROTECTION UNDER THIS WARRANTY.
NOTE
This Warranty applies only to Dayton Wright
products sold in North America (i.e. Canada, the 48 Contiguous United States
of America, Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. Possessions and Territories).
Units sold outside of these
Geographical limits are warranted by the
distributor who imported same, or are covered under a Dayton Wright Group
Limited Warranty with modified terms.
Units affected by this clause should be
accompanied by a separate Warranty statement.
© 1980, 1999, 2009 Wright
Electroacoustics
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