3
Lend Me Your Ears
Exposure to extremely
high noise levels may cause
permanent hearing loss. In-
dividuals vary considerably
in susceptibility to noise-
induced hearing loss, but nearly everyone will
lose some hearing if exposed to sufficiently in-
tense noise for a period of time. The U.S.
Government’s Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) has specified the per-
missible noise level exposures shown in this
chart.
According to OSHA, any exposure in excess
of these permissible limits could result in some
hearing loss. To ensure against potentially
dangerous exposure to high sound-pressure
levels, it is recommended that all persons
exposed to equipment capable of producing
these levels use hearing protectors while this
unit is in operation. Ear plugs or protectors in
the ear canals or over the ears must be worn
when operating this amplification system in
order to prevent a permanent hearing loss if
exposure is in excess of the limits set forth here.
Duration Per Day Sound Level dBA,
Typical
In Hours
Slow Response
Example
8
90
Duo in small club
6
92
4
95
Subway Train
3
97
2
100
Very loud classical music
1.5
102
1
105
Patrice screaming at Ron about deadlines
0.5
110
0.25 or less
115
Loudest parts at a rock concert
The SWA1801
can produce a
maximum SPL of
135 dB @ 1m
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for choosing Mackie Designs’
active sound reinforcement speaker systems.
The SWA1801 is a high-output active
subwoofer system. It features a high-precision
18" transducer combined with application-
specific amplifier technology. The system is
composed of a single, compact subwoofer cabinet
with built-in control and amplifier electronics.
Connecting and setting up the SWA1801 is
a breeze. It accepts a stereo or mono line-level
signal via female XLR input jacks. Male XLR
Thru jacks are provided for daisy-chaining the
signal to additional SWA1801 cabinets. The
built-in crossover separates the low frequencies
from the high frequencies, and routes the high
frequencies to the male XLR high-pass output
jacks. Connect these to the inputs of full-range
active speakers such as the Mackie Designs
SA1521s, or to an amplifier powering a pair of
passive speakers such as the combination of
Mackie Designs M•1400i and S500s. A Phase
switch gives you the option of reversing the po-
larity of the signal to the subwoofer by 180º. A
Subwoofer Level control allows you to adjust the
balance between the subwoofer and the full-range
speakers.
The built-in amplifier produces 900 watts of
continuous power. The amplifier module sits on
a heatsink that eliminates the need for fans,
dramatically extending life expectancy, and elimi-
nating maintenance cycles. A tremendous benefit
of having the amplifier located within the subwoofer
cabinet is that the SWA1801 functions as a system,
optimizing acoustic, electronic, and mechanical
designs to achieve the highest level of performance
and value.
The cabinet is constructed with 15 mm thick
multi-layered birch plywood. Carrying handles are
integrated into each side for easy loading, and
casters are attached to the rear for easy transport.
CONTENTS
Lend Me Your Ears ................................................... 3
INTRODUCTION ....................................................... 3
REAR PANEL DESCRIPTION .................................... 4
HOOKUP DIAGRAMS ............................................... 5
CONNECTIONS ........................................................ 6
PLACEMENT ............................................................ 6
AC POWER .............................................................. 7
Warranty Service ............................................... 7
Troubleshooting ................................................. 7
Repair ............................................................... 9
SWA1801 SPECIFICATIONS ................................... 10
Architect’s and Engineer’s Specifications ......... 11
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for more information about this and other Mackie products.
Part No. 0002871 Rev. B 01/03
©2003 Mackie Designs Inc. All Rights Reserved.
