Mackie S225 Owner's Manual - Page 6

CONNECTIONS PLACEMENT The S225 has two connectors labeled IN/OUT. One is a Neutrik Speakon™ connector and the other is a female 1/4" TS connector. These connectors are wired in parallel, and can be used either as an input from a power amplifier, or as a "thru" connection for connecting the input signal to another speaker's input. NEVER connect more than one output from a power amplifier to the S225 inputs. Keep in mind, when connecting two or more speakers in parallel using the "thru" connections, that you want to be sure not to go below the minimum impedance requirements for your power amplifier. The S225 has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Two S225s in parallel equals 2 ohms. Three S225s in parallel equals 1.3 ohms. Four S225s in parallel equals 1 ohm. Use high-quality speaker cable as recommended by the power amplifier manufacturer. DO NOT use coaxial shielded cable like a guitar cord to make speaker connections. They are not designed to handle the high currents required to drive a loudspeaker. The Speakon connector is wired as follows: Pin 1+ = Signal ("+" or hot) Pin 1- = Ground ("-" or cold) The S225 speaker is designed to sit on the floor or stage. WARNING: The cabinet has no rigging points and is not suitable for rigging. NEVER attempt to suspend the S225 by its handles. The S225 should never be pole-mounted. You can create a horizontal array by placing the cabinets side-by-side. However, you should have a good understanding of the relationship between the splay angle (the angle between the facing sides of the cabinets), the on-axis power, and frequency cancellation effects between cabinets. When two cabinets are placed side-by-side, the actual splay angle is 20º (determined by a 10º angle on each cabinet side). As the splay angle increases toward the angle of horizontal coverage (80º for the S225), the on-axis power decreases, but the frequency response becomes smoother as the comb-filtering effects (caused by the interaction in the area of double-coverage) decrease. As with any powered components, protect them from moisture. If you are setting them up outdoors, make sure they are under cover if you expect rain. Room Acoustics The S225 loudspeakers are designed to sound as neutral as possible; that is, to reproduce the input signal as accurately as possible. Speakon Connectors 1- 1+ COLD HOT 1- 1+ 2+ 2- Room acoustics play a crucial role in the overall performance of a sound system. Here are some additional placement tips to help overcome some typical room problems that might arise: • Avoid placing loudspeakers in the corners of a room. This increases the low frequency output and can cause the sound to be muddy and indistinct. The 1/4" TS jack is wired as follows: Tip = Signal ("+" or hot) Sleeve = Ground ("-" or cold) SLEEVE SLEEVE TIP • Avoid placing loudspeakers against a wall. This, too, increases the low frequency output, though not as much as corner placement. However, if you do need to reinforce the low frequencies, this is a good way to do it. TIP TIP 1/4" TS Connectors SLEEVE 6