Wharfedale Pro WLA-12 Guide

www.wharfedalepro.com

OPERATING MANUAL AND USER GUIDE

WLA-12

OPERATING MANUAL AND USER GUIDE

ImportantWarningsAndSafetyInstructions

• Read these instructions

• Follow these instructions

• Keep these instructions for future reference

• Heed all warnings

• Do not use this system near water or moisture

• Clean only with a dry cloth

• Install in accordance with these Wharfedale Pro operating instructions

• Follow the manufacturers operating instructions for all peripheral devices such

as ampliers and processors

• Do not install near heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves or

any other apparatus that produces heat (For example lighting systems and

ampliers)

• Use only accessories specied or supplied by Wharfedale Pro

• Do not use shielded microphone/instrument cables to connect ampliers and

speakers, use only approved speaker cables with proper connectors

• Use caution with placement and operation of this speaker system, permanent

hearing damage can be caused by prolonged exposure to excessive sound

pressure levels

• Refer all servicing to qualified professionals. Servicing is required when the

loudspeaker has been damaged in any way, such as impact damage, liquid

ingress or foreign object damage. In addition the loudspeaker should be

referred to qualied service personnel if there is any kind of malfunction.

Rigging, suspending and mounting should only be attempted by

experienced qualied professionals. Incorrect usage can result in

damage to equipment and property, injury and even death. Under

no circumstances should you attempt to rig, suspend or mount

these speakers unless you are fully qualied and certied to do

so by relevant local, state and national authorities. If you are not

properly qualied or do not know of pertinent regulations consult

qualified personnel for advice. Consult a structural engineer

before suspending a speaker system and ensure that the total

weight of your system can be held by the truss or mounting

surface.

Inspect all mounting hardware before your line array is own. If there is any

damage or distortion to any mounting hardware do not fly the array until

any damaged hardware is repaired or replaced. Only use Wharfedale Pro

supplied Quick Release Pins, contact your Wharfedale Pro Distributor if any

Quick Release Pins are lost or damaged.

WLA Series

Contents

Important Warnings And Safety Instructions ...................................................1

Introduction ..........................................................................................................3

Features................................................................................................................4

Splay Angles ........................................................................................................5

Level Tapering .....................................................................................................5

Air Absorption .....................................................................................................6

Full Range Mode ..................................................................................................8

Bi-Amp Mode .......................................................................................................9

Parallel Wiring ....................................................................................................10

WLA-12 Fly Frame ............................................................................................. 11

WLA-12 Dolly .....................................................................................................13

Installation ..........................................................................................................14

Dimensional Drawings - WLA-12 .....................................................................18

Dimensional Drawings - WLA-12 Fly Frame ...................................................19

Dimensional Drawings - WLA-12 Dolly ............................................................20

Example Arrays .................................................................................................21

Specication ......................................................................................................22

Warranty..............................................................................................................22

OPERATING MANUAL AND USER GUIDE

Introduction

The Wharfedale Pro WLA-12 is a mid format line array system with exceptional

output, frequency response, directivity and throw capability. High tech

transducers and enclosure design techniques give the WLA-12 a perfect power to

size ratio.

The WLA-12 achieves ultra high sensitivity with its fully horn-loaded architecture.

A horn-loaded 12” LF is combined with three horn-loaded titanium compression

drivers for the HF, generating huge SPL with maximum efciency. The ultra high

sensitivity of the WLA Series creates punishing level from even the most modest

of power ampliers, ensuring that your system can generate a huge SPL.

Physically aligned transducers and an internal passive crossover network deliver

natural intelligibility, clarity and precision without the need for expensive speaker

management. A rear panel bypass setting allows you to use an external active

crossover network or speaker management system to ne tune the system.

Rhino Rock™, our proprietary ultra tough textured composite finish is used

to ensure that the WLA-12 can withstand life on the road, even in the most

demanding touring applications.

A versatile captive, hidden rigging system allows for fast setup with the widest

range of splay angles, while keeping the toughened steel brackets hidden

within the chassis. Inter element splay angles from 0° to 12.5° are possible, a

guarantee that a WLA-12 system can meet the needs of your venue.

WLA Series

High Sensitivity, Full Horn Loaded Design

400W/800W/1600W Power Handling

12” Horn Loaded LF Driver

3” LF Voice Coil

3x 1” Exit HF Compression Drivers

1.8” Pure Titanium HF Diaphragms With Rare Earth Magnets

Physically Aligned Transducers

Internal Passive Crossover Network

External Crossover Bypass Switching

Front Hinged Rigging System

Captive Rigging Hardware with Tethered Quick Release Pins

Comprehensive Adjustable Splay Angles

Tethered Quick Release Pins (Each Rated To 2000Kg)

Rhino Rock™ Textured Composite Finish

Trapezoid Baltic Birch Plywood Enclosure

2x Parallel Speakon Inputs

Features

OPERATING MANUAL AND USER GUIDE

SplayAngles

The WLA can be configured with several different splay angles. The splay

angles determine the amount of overlap between individual units. This is used

to determine the amount of summation, or “throw”, for separate sections of the

array. As the splay angle between boxes increases the summation decreases but

spectral variance due to interactions between elements is also decreased.

For many venues a good compromise between throw and spectral variance

can be reached by varying the splay angle across the length of the array. By

varying the angular separation along the length of the array a balance can be

met for the required coverage. Smaller splay angles provide higher summation

to cover more distant seating and bleachers. Larger splay angles provide lower

summation with reduced spectral variance for closer seating. Used correctly this

can provide even coverage over long distances.

Each group of loudspeakers with a different splay angle will require a separate

channel of amplification and different EQ settings. This is due to the different

summation effects caused by differing splay angles.

Tapering the level of enclosures has a beam steering effect which can be used in

conjunction with angular separation between elements. The beam will be steered

away from the “on-axis” center line of the array toward the cabs being driven at

the highest level. The extent of the beam steering effect depends on the length of

the array and the level difference between the top and bottom of the array. This

technique allows you to further tailor the vertical coverage to differently shaped

venues, reducing the level variance between the front and rear of the venue.

Ideally the level of each enclosure is tapered gradually (e.g. 0.5dB or 1dB

per element). This means you will require an amplifier channel per element in

passive mode, or two amplier channels per element in bi-amp mode. Groups of

elements can be tapered in pairs or more, although a more gradual taper will give

you smoother vertical pattern control.

LevelTapering

WLA Series

AirAbsorption

The high frequency performance of the medium and long throw sections of

the line array will be limited by air absorption. As the distance from the source

increases, the mid and high frequencies will be reduced. The amount of

absorption at a given frequency is a function of pressure, temperature, and

relative humidity. By far the most important factor is the relative humidity,

although temperature does have a signicant effect.

To achieve minimal spectral variance across the coverage of the array, the groups

of loudspeakers covering the middle to rear of the venue will require equalization

to compensate for this effect. Air absorption is difcult to predict with any great

accuracy, and in any case the relative humidity of the venue is likely to change

when the audience arrive or the weather changes. It is important that the venue

is monitored during the event as the equalization applied during the design stage

with an empty venue may not be suitable during the event.

As a general guide, boost above 8KHz for a long throw group of loudspeakers,

and 12KHz for a medium throw group of loudspeakers is recommended.

The chart overleaf shows attenuation in dB/m for a given frequency and humidity.

It is important to note that the effects of air attenuation are linear, unlike the level

attenuation from distance from the inverse square law. For example, at 100m a

source would be 40dB down compared to it’s SPL at 1m. Assuming 50% relative

humidity and 20ºC the level at 10KHz will be an additional 16dB below this

(approximately 56dB down).

OPERATING MANUAL AND USER GUIDE

AirAbsorption

Humidity (%)

WLA Series

FullRangeMode

OPERATING MANUAL AND USER GUIDE

Bi-AmpMode

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