American Audio Subowoofer PXW 18P User Manual

							
AmericAn Audio
6122 S. Eastern Ave.
Los Angeles, Ca. 90040
www.americanaudio.us
   11/07
User Guide 
and Reference Manual
PXW 18P 
18” Powered Subwoofer 
						

							
©American Audio®   -   www.americanaudio.us   -  PXW 18P   -   Instruction Manual Page 2
PXW 18P                                                                                  Contents
PXW 18P                                                                              Introduction
Introduction: Congratulations and thank you for purchasing the American Audio® PXW 18P.  This pow-
ered  subwoofer  is  a  representation  of  American  Audio’s  continuing  commitment  to  produce  the  best 
and highest quality audio products possible at an affordable price. The subwoofer have been designed 
to be used as both a portable and a permanently installed unit. Please read and understand this manual 
completely before attempting to operate your new subwoofer. This booklet contains important informa-
tion concerning the proper and safe operation of your new subwoofer.
Customer Support: American Audio® provides a toll free customer support line, to provide set up help 
and  answer  any  question  should  you  encounter  problems  during  your  initial  set  up  or  operation.  You 
may also visit us on the web at www.americandj.com for any comments or suggestions. Service Hours 
are Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
 Voice:    (800) 322-6337
 Fax:    (323) 582-2941
  E-mail:   [email protected]
caution! There are no user serviceable parts inside the subowoofer. Do not attempt any repairs, without 
being instructed to do so by an authorized American Audio technician. Doing so will void your manufac-
tures warranty. In the unlikely event your speaker may require service, please contact American Audio®.
CUSTOMER  SUPPORT........................................................................\
..................................................2
UNPACKING.............................................................................................................................2
HANDLING  PRECAUTIONS.............................................................\
......................................................3
FEATURES...........................................................................................................................................4
PRODUCT REGISTRATION.......................................................................................\
.............................5
AVAILAbLE  ACCESSORIES......................................................................................\
.............................5
CONTROLS  AND  FEATURES......................................................................................\
..........................6
SUbWOOFER     SET UP........................................................................\
...................................................8
WARRANTY .......................................................................................................................................9
SPECIFICATIONS............................................................................................................................10
PXW 18P                                                                                  Unpacking
Every  PXW  18P  has  been  thoroughly  tested  and  has  been  shipped  in  perfect  operating  condition. 
Carefully  check  the  shipping  carton  for  damage  that  may  have  occurred  during  shipping.  If  the  car-
ton appears to be damaged carefully inspect your units for any damage and be sure all accessories 
necessary to operate the system have arrived intact. In the event damage has been found or parts are 
missing, please contact our toll free customer support number for further instructions. Please do not 
return the speaker to your dealer without first contacting customer support.  
						

							
©American Audio®   -   www.americanaudio.us   -  PXW 18P   -   Instruction Manual Page 3
ELECTRICAL PRECAUTIONS
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCKDO NOT OPEN
CAUTION
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle isintended to alert the user to the presence of importantoperating and maintenance (servicing) instructions inthe literature accompanying the appliance.
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within anequilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to thepresence of uninsulated dangerous voltage within theproducts enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitudeto constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
READ INSTRUCTIONS — All the safety and operatinginstructions should be read before the product isoperated.RETAIN INSTRUCTIONS — The safety and operatinginstructions should be retained for future reference.HEED WARNINGS — All warnings on the product andin the operating instructions should be adhered to.FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS — All operating and useinstructions should be followed.CLEANING — The product should be cleaned only witha polishing cloth or a soft dry cloth. Never clean withfurniture wax, benzine, insecticides or other volatileliquids since they may corrode the cabinet.ATTACHMENTS — Do not use attachments notrecommended by the product manufacturer as theymay cause hazards.WATER AND MOISTURE — Do not use this productnear water — for example, near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, or laundry tub; in a wet basement;or near a swimming pool; and the like.ACCESSORIES — Do not place this product on anunstable cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table. Theproduct may fall, causing serious injury to a child oradult, and serious damage to the product. Use onlywith a cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or tablerecommended by the manufacturer, or sold withthe product. Any mounting of the product shouldfollow the manufacturer’s instructions, and shoulduse a mounting accessory recommended by themanufacturer.CART — A product and cart combination should bemoved with care. Quick stops, excessive force, anduneven surfaces may cause the product and cartcombination to overturn.
VENTILATION — Slots and openings in the cabinet areprovided for ventilation and to ensure reliableoperation of the product and to protect it fromoverheating, and these openings must not beblocked or covered. The openings should never beblocked by placing the product on a bed, sofa, rug,or other similar surface. This product should not beplaced in a built-in installation such as a bookcase orrack unless proper ventilation is provided or themanufacturer’s instructions have been adhered to.POWER SOURCES — This product should be operatedonly from the type of power source indicated on themarking label. If you are not sure of the type ofpower supply to your home, consult your productdealer or local power company.LOCATION – The appliance should be installed in astable location.NONUSE PERIODS – The power cord of the applianceshould be unplugged from the outlet when left un-used for a long period of time.
GROUNDING OR POLARIZATION•If this product is equipped with a polarized alternatingcurrent line plug (a plug having one blade wider thanthe other), it will fit into the outlet only one way. Thisis a safety feature. If you are unable to insert the plugfully into the outlet, try reversing the plug. If the plugshould still fail to fit, contact your electrician toreplace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat thesafety purpose of the polarized plug.•If this product is equipped with a three-wiregrounding type plug, a plug having a third (grounding)pin, it will only fit into a grounding type power outlet.This is a safety feature. If you are unable to insert theplug into the outlet, contact your electrician toreplace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat thesafety purpose of the grounding type plug.POWER-CORD PROTECTION - Power-supply cordsshould be routed so that they are not likely to bewalked on or pinched by items placed upon oragainst them, paying particular attention to cords atplugs, convenience receptacles, and the point wherethey exit from the product.OUTDOOR ANTENNA GROUNDING — If an outsideantenna or cable system is connected to the product,be sure the antenna or cable system is grounded soas to provide some protection against voltage surgesand built-up static charges. Article 810 of the NationalElectrical Code, ANSI/NFPA 70, provides informationwith regard to proper grounding of the mast andsupporting structure, grounding of the lead-in wireto an antenna discharge unit, size of groundingconductors, location of antenna-discharge unit,c o n n e c t i o n t o g r o u n d i n g e l e c t r o d e s , a n drequirements for the grounding electrode. See FigureA.LIGHTNING — For added protection for this productduring a lightning storm, or when it is left unattendedand unused for long periods of time, unplug it fromthe wall outlet and disconnect the antenna or cablesystem. This will prevent damage to the productdue to lightning and power-line surges.POWER LINES — An outside antenna system shouldnot be located in the vicinity of overhead power linesor other electric light or power circuits, or where itcan fall into such power lines or circuits. Wheninstalling an outside antenna system, extreme careshould be taken to keep from touching such powerlines or circuits as contact with them might be fatal.OVERLOADING — Do not overload wall outlets,extension cords, or integral convenience receptaclesas this can result in a risk of fire or electric shock.
OBJECT AND LIQUID ENTRY - Never push objects ofany kind into this product through openings as theymay touch dangerous voltage points or short-outparts that could result in a fire or electric shock.Never spill liquid of any kind on the product.SERVICING — Do not attempt to service this productyourself as opening or removing covers may exposeyou to dangerous voltage or other hazards. Refer allservicing to qualified service personnel.DAMAGE REQUIRING SERVICE  - Unplug this productfrom the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualifiedservice personnel under the following conditions:• When the power-supply cord or plug is damaged.•If liquid has been spilled, or objects have fallen intothe product.•If the product has been exposed to rain or water.•If the product does not operate normally by followingthe operating instructions. Adjust only those controlsthat are covered by the operating instructions as animproper adjustment of other controls may result indamage and will often require extensive work by aqualified technician to restore the product to itsnormal operation.•If the product has been dropped or damaged in anyway.• When the product exhibits a distinct change inperformance — this indicates a need for service.REPLACEMENT PARTS -- When replacement partsare required, be sure the service technician has usedreplacement parts specified by the manufacturer orhave the same characteristics as the original part.Unauthorized substitutions may result in fire, electricshock, or other hazards.SAFETY CHECK - Upon completion of any service orrepairs to this product, ask the service technician toperform safety checks to determine that the productis in proper operating condition.WALL OR CEILING MOUNTING — The product shouldnot be mounted to a wall or ceiling.HEAT — The product should be situated away from heatsources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, orother products (including amplifiers) that produceheat.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
ANTENNALEAD INWIRE
GROUNDCLAMP
ANTENNADISCHARGE UNIT(NEC SECTION 810-20)
GROUNDING CONDUCTORS(NEC SECTION 810-21)
GROUND CLAMPS
POWER SERVICE GROUNDINGELECTRODE SYSTEM(NEC ART 250, PART H)
ELECTRICSERVICEEQUIPMENT
Fig. A
NEC — NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE
C A U T I O N : T O R E D U C E T H E R I S K O F E L E C T R I C SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE THE COVER (OR BACK). T H E R E A R E N O U S E R S E R V I C E A B L E P A R T S INSIDE  REFER SERVICE TO YOUR AUTHORIZED AMERICAN AUDIO® SERVICE TECHNICIAN.
PXW 18P                                                                             Handling Precautions 
						

							
©American Audio®   -   www.americanaudio.us   -  PXW 18P   -   Instruction Manual Page 4
PXW 18P                                                            Safety Precautions
•   The PXW 18P can easily reproduce sound   pressure levels (SPL) sufficient enough to cause   
   sever and permanent hearing damage. A great degree of care should be taken to protect your    
 ears to prolong exposure to SPL in excess of 85db.
• For adult use only - Keep out of the reach of children.
•   be sure all power is turned off before making subwoofer connections
•  Do not remove the protective grills under any conditions
•    Always use a power cord that meets the manufactures exact power specifications
•   Disconnect from main power before making any type of connection
•   To reduce the risk of electrical shock or fire, do not expose this unit rain or moisture
•   Always mount the speakers in a safe and stable matter.
•   Power Cord Protection - Power supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be     
 walked on or pinched by items placed upon or against them, paying particular attention to cords   
 at  
plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the mixer.
•    Heat -The subwoofer should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, heat regis-   
 ters,   
stoves, or other mixers (including amplifiers) that produce heat
•  be sure to save the packing carton in the event the unit needs to be returned for service
• Read all documentation before attempting to operate your new system. Please save all your    
 docu  mentation for future reference
•  Do not spill water or other liquids in to or on to your subwoofer.
•  be sure that the local power outlet matches that of the required voltage for your subwoofer.
• Do not attempt to operate this subwoofer if the power cord has been frayed or broken. Please    
 route your   power cord out of the way of foot traffic
• Always have the gain controls set to their lowest level during initial power-up to prevent sub-    
 woofer and speaker damage
• Servicing - The user should not attempt to service the subowoofer beyond that described in this   
 manual. All other servicing should be referred to qualified service personnel. The subwoofer     
   should only be serviced by qualified personal when;
    A.  Objects have fallen, or liquid has been spilled into the subwoofer.
    b.   
The subwoofer has been exposed to rain or water
   C.  The subwoofer does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a change in performance
      D. The terminal/cross-over plate has been damaged
PXW 18P                                                              Main Features
    PXW 18P:
•  Powered Subwoofer
•  Limit Indicator
•  In and Out balanced XLR Jacks for Parallel Connections
•  built-in Carrying Handles
•  Attached Wheels on the Subwoofer 
						

							
©American Audio®   -   www.americanaudio.us   -  PXW 18P   -   Instruction Manual Page 5
PXW 18P™                                                        Registration
The PXW 18P carries a one year (365 days) limited warranty. Please fill out the enclosed warranty card 
to  validate  your  purchase.  All  returned  service  items  whether  under  warranty  or  not,  must  be  freight 
pre-paid  and  accompany  a  return  authorization  (R.A.)  number.  The  R.A.  number  must  be  clearly 
written  on  the  outside  of  the  return  package.  A  brief  description  of  the  problem  as  well  as  the  R.A. 
number must also be written down on a piece of paper and included in the shipping container. If the 
unit is under warranty, you must provide a copy of your proof of purchase invoice. You may obtain a 
R.A. number by contacting customer support at (800) 322-6337. All packages returned to the service 
department not displaying a R.A. number on the outside of the shipping package will be returned to 
the shipper unopened. 
The serial and model number for this unit is located on the rear panel  Please write down the num-
bers here and retain them for future reference.
Model No.________________________________   Date Purchased___________________________
Serial No.________________________________   Dealer Name______________________________ 
						

							
Subwoofer Rear Panel:
1. LIMIT  INDICATOR  – The  LIMIT  INDICATOR  will  blink  on  occasion  when  built-in  limiter  is 
active. NOTE:  If  the  indicator  glows  or  starts  to  blink  frequently,  you  should  turn  down 
the SUBWOOFER LEVEL. 
2. SIGNAL INDICATOR – The SIGNAL INDICATOR will glow when when there is a signal received 
to the FULL RANGE input.
3.    SUBWOOFER  GAIN CONTROL  – This  knob  is  used  to  regulate  the  output  level  of  the  sub-
woofer. Use this to set the balance between the speakers and subwoofers.
4. PROTECT  INDICATOR  – The  PROTECT  INDICATOR  will  begin  to  glow  when  the  subwoofer  goes 
into protect mode. Protect mode prevents the subwoofer amplifiers from getting to hot. When the sub-
woofer goes into protect mode all output will stop. This is to protect the subwoofer and any speakers 
connected to the subwoofer.  
5.   POWER LED - This L.E.D. will be lit when you switch on the power.      
6. HIGH PASS XLR  OUTPUT – These outputs are used to send the incoming signal to a full range 
PXW 18P                                                        Controls and Features
©American Audio®   -   www.americanaudio.us   -  PXW 18P   -   Instruction Manual Page 6
1
3
2
9
8
7
6
5
4 
						

							
©American Audio®   -   www.americanaudio.us   -  PXW 18P   -   Instruction Manual Page 7
PXW 18P                                                       Controls and Features
active speaker or power amp.
7. PHASE  SWITCH  – The PHASE  SWITCH  reverses  the  polarity  of  the  subwoofer.  This  switch 
depends  on  the  placement  of  the  subwoofer  relative  to  the  speakers.  Experiment  with  the 
switch and postions of the subwoofer and speakers to find the best sound.
8. FULL  RANGE XLR INPUT – These connections are designed to accept a line input signal from 
a mixer or other line level device with a balanced output jack. Use a balanced cable when the 
signal cable length exceeds 15 feet, this will reduce excessive signal loss.  be sure to connect 
only line level input devices such as mixers to these inputs.
9. THRU (FULL RANGE  OUTPUT) – These outputs are used to send the signal from the FULL RANGE 
INPUTS to another device. 
						

							
©American Audio®   -   www.americanaudio.us   -  PXW 18P   -   Instruction Manual Page 8
AUX4
AUX/IN
MADEINCHINA
MODELNO.:Q-3433MKIIPOWERSOURCE:115/230V~50/60Hz20W
MINMAXTRIMOUTPUT
PXW 18P                                                                        Set-Up
PXW 18P Set-Up
XLR-XLR balanced Cables
SUBWOOFER
DLS 15PDLS 15P 
						

							
©American Audio®   -   www.americanaudio.us   - PXW 18P   -   Instruction Manual Page 9
1-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY
A. American Audio® hereby warrants, to the original purchaser, American Audio® products to be    
 free of manufacturing defects in material and workmanship for a period of \
1 Year (365 days) from   
 the date of purchase. This warranty shall be valid only if the product is purchased within the    
 United States of America, including possessions and territories. It is t\
he owner’s responsibility to   
 establish the date and place of purchase by acceptable evidence, at the time service is sought. 
b. For warranty service, send the product only to the American Audio® factory. All shipping charges
 must be pre-paid. If the requested repairs or service (including parts replacement) are within the   
 terms of this warranty, American Audio® will pay return shipping charges only to a designated 
 point within the United States. If the entire instrument is sent, it must be shipped in its original
 package. No accessories should be shipped with the product. If any accessories are shipped 
 with the product,  American  Audio®  shall  have no liability whatsoever for loss of or damage to 
 any such accessories, nor for the safe return thereof.  
C. This warranty is void if the serial number has been altered or removed; if the product is modified 
 in any manner which American Audio® concludes, after inspection, affects the reliability of the 
 product; if the product has been repaired or serviced by anyone other than the American Audio® 
 factory unless prior written authorization was issued to purchaser by American Audio®; if the 
 product is damaged because not properly maintained as set forth in the instruction manual. 
D. This is not a service contract, and this warranty does not include maint\
enance, cleaning or peri-
 odic check-up. During the period specified above, American Audio® will replace defective parts 
 at its expense, and will absorb all expenses for warranty service and repair labor by reason of 
 defects in material or workmanship. The sole responsibility of American Audio® under this war-
 ranty shall be limited to the repair of the product, or replacement thereof, including parts, at the
 sole discretion of American Audio®. All products covered by this warranty were manufactured    
 after January 1, 1990, and bear identifying marks to that effect. 
E. American Audio® reserves the right to make changes in design and/or improvements upon its
 products without any obligation to include these changes in any products theretofore manufac-
 tured. 
F. No warranty, whether expressed or implied, is given or made with respect to any accessory sup-
 plied with products described above. Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law, all 
 implied warranties made by American Audio® in connection with this product, including warran-
 ties of merchantability or fitness, are limited in duration to the warranty period set forth above. 
 And no warranties, whether expressed or implied, including warranties of merchantability or 
 fitness, shall apply to this product after said period has expired. The consumer’s and or Dealer’s
 sole remedy shall be such repair or replacement as is expressly provided above; and under no
 circumstances shall American Audio® be liable for any loss or damage, direct or consequential,
 arising out of the use of, or inability to use, this product.  
G.  This warranty is the only written warranty applicable to American Au\
dio® Products and super-
 sedes all prior warranties and written descriptions of warranty terms an\
d conditions heretofore    
 published. 
PXW 18P                                                               Warranty 
						

							
©American Audio®   -   www.americanaudio.us   -  PXW 18P   -   Instruction Manual Page 10
Model: American Audio® PXW 18P - Professional Powered Subwoofer
Subwoofer Section:
Component:  18” Woofer (4 Ohm)
Dimensions:   35.4” x 28.7” x 29.1” / 900mm x 730mm x 740mm
Weight:   187.3 Lbs. / 85 kgs 
Environmental conditions: Operational temperature:  5 to 35˚C (41 to 95˚F)    
        Operational humidity:  25 to 85% RH (non-condensation)     
       Storage temperature:  -20 to 60˚C (4 to 140˚F)
Frequency Response:   (-3db) : 35Hz ~ 120Hz
Frequency Range:    (-10db) : 25Hz ~ 120Hz    
Maximum SPL @ 1m:   128db
Peak Output @ 1m:    134db
Crossover Frequency:   120Hz (12db/octave)
Input Type:   balanced Differential
Input Impedence:    50k
Input Protection:    Level Protected
Thermal Protection:   Input Stage Muting, Auto-Reset
Low-Frequency Tranducer Diameter:   18” (457mm)
Voice Coil Diameter:        4.0”   (100mm)
Low-Frequency Power Amplifier: Rated Power* 800 Watts Continuous, 1000 Watts Peak
Rated THD:     < 0.03%
Cooling:     Passive-Heatsink with Speed Sensitive Electric Fan
NOTES:
The specifications are subject to change to any improvement by negotiations in advance.
The parts are subject to change to any improvement within the range of the specifications.
PXW 18P™                                       Technical Specifications