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SOUND REINFORCEMENT
500 WATT Bi-AMPED ACTIVE LOUDSPEAKER
AUDIO
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Safety Instructions/Consignes de sécurité/Sicherheitsvorkehrungen/Instrucciones de seguridad WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this unit to ATTENTION: Pour éviter tout risque d’électrocution ou d’incendie, ne pas rain or moisture. To reduce the hazard of electrical shock, do not remove cover or exposer cet appareil à la pluie ou à l’humidité. Pour éviter tout risque d’électrocu- back. No user serviceable parts inside. Please refer all servicing to qualified per
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Table of Contents Introduction 2 dB500a Features 3 dB500a Layout Front View Layout 4 Rear Panel Layout 5 Quick Set-up 6 Positioning the d500a 7 Operating the dB500a 8-9 Controls and Functions 8 Input and Output Connectors 9 Setting Up Your dB500a System 10-11 Using Speaker Stands 10 Stacking the dB500a 10 Permanent Installation 11 System Set-up Compact Lounge PA for Two 12 Live Band PA System with Monitors 13 dB500a Wiring Guide 14 Specifications 15 Copyright 2002, Samson Technologies Corp. Prin
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Introduction Congratulations on purchasing the Samson dB500a! The dB500a speaker system by Samson takes the concept of powered PA systems to a new level. By combining 500 watts of power, advanced active processing and the highest quality speaker and cabinet components, the dB500a provides studio quality sound for any kind of live application. The monitor features a super heavy-duty, custom designed 15-inch low frequency driver and a 1.75 inch titanium diaphragm high frequency driver on a 1" thro
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dB500a Features The Samson dB500a active two- way loudspeaker is an all-in-one solution for live sound. Here are some of its main features: • Two-way Active Loudspeaker – Standard speaker stand receptacle, 15 and 30 degree monitor angles, arrayable with 10 Fly Points. • Custom designed, heavy-duty, 15-inch low frequency driver with a 2.5-inch voice coil and 50 oz. magnet. • 1" Throat, high-frequency compression driver with 1.75-inch titanium diaphragm and 75 oz. magnet structure. • Efficient 40
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dB500a Layout dB500a Front View Layout 5 Handle – One of three, ultra oversized, 1 Enclosure – Rugged polypropylene plas- rubber grip carry handles. tic enclosure. 6 Power LED – Blue Light Emitting Diode 2 Stacking Bumper – Gender mating illuminates indicating the unit is powered bumpers for stacking dB500’s. on and ready for operation. 3 Wide Dispersion Horn – 1 inch throat, 60 7 15 Inch Driver – Custom designed, x 90 degree wide dispersion horn pro- heavy-duty, 15” low frequency driver pro-
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dB500a Layout dB500a Rear Panel Layout dB500a REAR PANEL 4 1 2 3 5 1 MIC LEVEL – Used to adjust the volume of the microphone input. 15 6 SAMSON 2 AMP / CLIP LED - Dual color LED lights Green when 444 4 888 8 amp is active, flashes Red when the amp is clipped AMP / CLIP 12 12 12 12 010 0 10 MIC LEVEL EQUALIZER PROTECTION LINE LEVEL or stays Red indicating the amplifier is in protect LOW 100Hz HIGH 10KHz mode. PEAK 3 LINE LEVEL – Used to control the level of the line MIC INPUT LINE OUTPUT LINE IN
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Quick Set-Up In the following pages of this manual you will find a detailed explanation of all the dB500a’s functions and controls, but if you just want to get started quickly you can follow the steps below. IMPORTANT NOTE: To ensure the cleanest and loudest possible output, and to protect your speaker system, we highly recommend pressing the LIMITER switch on. Using a Microphone • Be sure that the dB500a’s Power switch is set to the off position. •Turn the LINE and MIC LEVEL controls fully coun
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Positioning the dB500a Microphone Positioning - How to Reduce Feedback Feedback is the annoying howling and squealing that is heard when the microphone gets too close to the speaker and the volume is high. You get feedback when the microphone picks up the amplified signal from the speaker, and then amplifies through the speaker again, and then picks it up again, and so on and so on. In general, it is always recom- mended that any LIVE mic (a mic that’s on) is positioned behind the speaker en
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Operating the dB500a Controls and Functions The following section details each part of the dB500a’s INPUT section including the MIC and LINE inputs, the two-band EQ, as well as the MIC and LINE LEVEL controls. 1 MIC LEVEL SAMSON 4 5 6 The dB500a’s MIC LEVEL controls 444 4 3 the overall level of the microphone 1 888 8 AMP / CLIP input. The MIC LEVEL control 12 12 12 12 010 0 10 features an audio taper. Raise the MIC LEVEL PROTECTION LINE LEVEL EQUALIZER LOW 100Hz HIGH 10KHz MIC Level to adjust
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Operating the dB500a Controls and Functions - continued LOW FILTER 7 The dB500a also incorporates a Low-cut FILTER which when engaged will roll off SAMSON the low frequency response of the cabinet 444 4 beginning at 80Hz. The low cut FILTER is 888 8 two pole, which means that the low fre- AMP / CLIP 12 12 12 12 010 0 10 quency roll off will gradually cut more and MIC LEVEL PROTECTION LINE LEVEL EQUALIZER more of the low frequencies (12dB per LOW 100Hz HIGH 10KHz 7 8 9 octave). When you press th
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Setting Up Your dB500a System Using Speaker Stands The dB500a enclosure features a standard 1 3/8”, pole mount receptacle, which is compatible with speaker stands from a variety of manufacturers. Before installing the dB500a on a speaker stand, loosen the thumbscrew located on the bottom of the rear side of the enclosure. Once installed on the stand, be sure to tighten the thumbscrew to hold the speaker in place. Be careful not to over tighten the thumbscrew to avoid stripping the threads. Stack
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Setting Up Your dB500a System Permanent Installation The dB500a is logical solution for many fixed installations in live sound venues, discos, schools, houses of worship, con- vention centers and airport terminals to name a few. The enclosure is extremely versatile for installation as it can be hung in several different positions by using the ten Fly-points. IMPORTANT NOTE: Hanging the dB500a is serious business and therefore licensed and insured professional sound contractors only should perfo
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dB500a System Set Compact Lounge PA for Two This example shows a PA system set-up that can be used for a small club, at a ceremony or in a lounge, using a single dB500a for both a microphone and vocal. A separate signal is sent from the vocal micro- phone to the dB500a’s Mic input, and from the keyboard to the dB500a’s Line input. The individual Mic and Line level controls allow you to create a mix right on the dB500a. For further control, you can use the dB500a’s two-band equalizer to boost
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dB500a System Set Up Live Band PA System With Monitors 13 This example shows a typical PA system using mixer with a pair of dB500a’s for the main left and right mix. A separate signal from the mixer’s AUX/MONITOR bus is sent to two additional dB500a’s placed in the tilt-back, wedge positions for use as floor monitors. In order to increase the output of the monitor system, the use of an external graphic equalizer like one of the Samson “E” or “S curve” series is highly recommended.
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dB500a Wiring Guide CONNECTING THE dB500a The are several ways to interface the dB500a to support a variety of applications. The dB500a features balanced inputs and outputs, so connecting balanced and unbalanced signals is possible. Unbalanced 1/4” Connector Balanced TRS 1/4” Connector XLR to XLR Balanced Unbalanced 1/4” Connector to RCA XLR to Balanced 1/4-Inch 14
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dB500a Specifications Inputs Microphone Balanced XLR Line Balanced Combo XLR/Line Outputs Extension Balanced XLR Controls Mic Level Rotary Line Level Rotary Low EQ Rotary Center Detent, +/-12dB @100Hz High-EQ Rotary Center Detent, +/-12dB @ 10kHz Low Filter Switch Push Switch, High Pass (low-cut) 12dB per octave @80Hz Output Switch Push Switch, Selects Mix orThru for Line Output Connector Limiter Switch Push Switch, Optimax Multi-band dynamics - In/Out Power Rating: Low Frequency 400 Watt RMS Hi
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Notes 16
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Samson Technologies Corp. 575 Underhill Blvd. P.O. Box 9031 Syosset, NY 11791-9031 Phone: 1-800-3-SAMSON (1-800-372-6766) Fax: 516-364-3888 www.samsontech.com
