PASSIVE LOUDSPEAKERS
RSX
RSX110
RSX112
RSX118S
RSX115
RSX215
OWNER'S MANUAL
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Safety Instructions
WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this unit to rain or mois-
ture. To reduce the hazard of electrical shock, do not remove cover or back. No user serviceable
parts inside. Please refer all servicing to qualified personnel. The lightning flash with an arrow-
head symbol within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of unin-
sulated "dangerous voltage" within the products enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude
to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons. The exclamation point within an equilateral
triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance
(servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the product.
Important Safety Instructions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Please read all instructions before operating the unit.
Keep these instructions for future reference.
Please heed all safety warnings.
Follow manufacturers instructions.
Do not use this unit near water or moisture.
Clean only with a damp cloth.
Do not block any of the ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturers
instructions.
8.
9.
Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other
apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug
has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades and a
third grounding prong. The wide blade or third prong is provided for your safety. When the
provided plug does not fit your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obso-
lete outlet.
10. Protect the power cord from being walked on and pinched particularly at plugs, conve-
nience receptacles and at the point at which they exit from the unit.
11. Unplug this unit during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
12. Refer all servicing to qualified personnel. Servicing is required when the unit has been
damaged in any way, such as power supply cord or plug damage, or if liquid has been
spilled or objects have fallen into the unit, the unit has been exposed to rain or moisture,
does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
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Table of Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Key Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Input Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Basic Set Up. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Using Speaker Stands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Floor Monitor Positioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Configuring the RSX118S Subwoofer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Using an External Crossover. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Permanent Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Cable Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
4
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Introduction
Thank you for purchasing a Samson RSX series passive loudspeaker. The RSX series are high
performance loudspeakers designed for portable, front of house, and fixed installation sound
reinforcement applications.
Consisting of four two-way loudspeakers, 10" RSX110, 12" RSX112, 15" RSX115, and dual
15" RSX215, as well as the RSX118S 18" subwoofer, the RSX series features models perfectly
suited for whatever performance requirements you have. The speakers are designed to handle
high output power while producing a smooth, precise sound. For prolonged durability and max-
imum protection against wear and tear, the RSX speakers feature plywood cabinet construction
finished with a durable black textured paint, and black powder-coated perforated steel grille
backed with black cloth. The loudspeaker is furnished with twelve M10x30 fly-points for appli-
cations that require permanent installation.
As fixed sound reinforcement or as a durable, great-sounding road PA, the RSX loudspeaker
is ideal for sound professionals and performers looking for serious output and precision sound
quality from a PA speaker system.
In these pages, you’ll find a detailed description of the features of the RSX loudspeaker,
instructions for its setup and use, and full specifications. If your loudspeaker was purchased
in the United States, you’ll also find a warranty card enclosed—don’t forget to fill it out and
mail it in so that you can receive online technical support and so that we can send you updated
information about this and other Samson products, in the future. Also, be sure to check out our
We recommend that you keep the following records for reference, as well as a copy of your sales
receipt.
Serial number: ________________________________________________
Date of purchase: ______________________________________________
Dealer name: __________________________________________________
With proper care and maintenance, your RSX loudspeaker will operate trouble-free for many
years. Should your loudspeaker ever require servicing, a Return Authorization (RA) number must
be obtained before shipping the loudspeaker to Samson. Without this number, the unit will not
be accepted. Please call Samson at 1-800-3SAMSON (1-800-372-6766) for an RA number
prior to shipping your unit. Please retain the original packing materials and, if possible, return
the unit in its original carton. If your RSX series loudspeaker was purchased outside of the
United States, contact your local distributor for warranty details and service information.
RSX Passive Loudspeakers
5
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Key Features
The RSX series passive speakers are perfectly suited for portable and permanent sound rein-
forcement applications. Here are some of their main features:
RSX110 (10" Two-way passive loudspeaker system)
• 200 watts AES / 800 watts peak power handling
• 10" (254 mm) Celestion low-frequency driver with 2" (50 mm) voice coil
• 1" (25 mm) Celestion PEPT high performance compression driver
• 60° x 90° horn with 1" exit for a controlled, consistent sound
• 2 x Speakon® and ¼” phone parallel speaker jacks
• Standard speaker stand pole socket for tripod mounting
• Twelve M10 (10 mm) fly points
• 60° monitor angle
• Plywood construction with durable black textured paint finish
RSX112 (12" Two-way passive loudspeaker system)
• 300 watts AES / 1200 watts peak power handling
• 12" (304 mm) Celestion low-frequency driver with 2.5" (64 mm) voice coil
• 1.75" (44 mm) Celestion PEPT high performance compression driver
• 60° x 90° horn with 1" exit for a controlled, consistent sound
• 2 x Speakon® and ¼” phone parallel speaker jacks
• Standard speaker stand pole socket for tripod mounting
• Twelve M10 (10 mm) fly points
• 60° monitor angle
• Plywood construction with durable black textured paint finish
RSX115 (15" Two-way passive loudspeaker system)
• 600 watts AES / 2400 watts peak power handling
• 15" (380 mm) low-frequency driver with 3" (76 mm) voice coil
• 1.75" (44 mm) Celestion PEPT high performance compression driver
• 60° x 90° horn with 1" exit for a controlled, consistent sound
• 2 x Speakon® and ¼” phone parallel speaker jacks
• Standard speaker stand pole socket for tripod mounting
• Twelve M10 (10 mm) fly points
• Trapezoidal, plywood construction with durable black textured paint finish
6
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Key Features
RSX215 (Dual 15" Two-way passive loudspeaker system)
• 1200 watts AES / 4800 watts peak power handling
• Dual 15" (380 mm) low-frequency drivers with 3" (76 mm) voice coils
• 1.75" (44 mm) Celestion PEPT high performance compression driver
• 60° x 90° horn with 1" exit for a controlled, consistent sound
• 2 x Speakon® and ¼” phone parallel speaker jacks
• Twelve M10 (10 mm) fly points
• Trapezoidal, plywood construction with durable black textured paint finish
RSX118S (18" Passive Subwoofer)
• 500 watts AES / 2000 watts peak power handling
• 18" (380 mm) low-frequency woofer with 3" (76 mm) voice coil
• 2 x Speakon® parallel speaker jacks
• 96dB SPL sensitivity
• Pole-mount receptacle to stack satellite loudspeakers
• Plywood construction with durable black textured paint finish
RSX Passive Loudspeakers
7
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Input Connections
The RSX jack plates feature parallel speaker connectors. This enables you to directly connect an
extension cabinet to an RSX speaker.
Only use one ¼" or Speakon® connector as an input connector from an amplifier. Typically,
you will only connect a single extension cabinet to an RSX cabinet, but it is possible to daisy-
chain multiple cabinets. When wiring multiple cabinets in parallel, attention must be paid to
the overall impedance of the loudspeaker system, and the minimum load impedance of the
amplifier. Please see the chart below for typical impedance calculations for multiple speaker
arrangements.
Typical Impedance Calculations
16Ω + 16Ω = 8Ω
8Ω + 16Ω = 5.3Ω
8Ω + 8Ω = 4Ω
8Ω + 16Ω + 16Ω = 4Ω
16Ω + 16Ω + 16Ω + 16Ω = 4Ω
4Ω + 8Ω = 2.7Ω
4Ω + 4Ω = 2Ω
It is recommended, especially for installation applications, to use Speakon® style connectors
because they lock into jacks providing a secure connection, are able to handle high current, and
the contacts do not cause a momentary short when connecting to an amplifier or speaker cabi-
net.
When speakers are connected in parallel, the impedance is reduced. The formula to calculate
the total impedance of your speaker system is:
1/R = 1/R + 1/R + 1/R + … 1/R
t
1
2
3
n
where “R” is the impedance of a speaker cabinet.
If all speakers have the same impedance, the total impedance will be equal to the impedance of
a single speaker divided by the total number of speakers. For example, if you have two 4 Ohm
speakers connected in parallel, the total impedance is 4 divided by 2, or 2 Ohms. You must
be careful when connecting speakers in parallel to an amplifier. The impedance can quickly
fall below safe levels. This is especially true when connecting speakers in parallel to a bridged
amplifier.
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Basic Set Up
The RSX loudspeakers are passive cabinets, which means that they need to be connected to a
power amplifier to reproduce an audio signal. Each speaker cabinet features parallel connectors
which enable each cabinet to be daisy chained to an additional loudspeaker. When connecting
multiple speakers to a power amplifier or powered mixer, you must pay attention to the mini-
mum load impedance of the amplifier. Most amplifiers can safely provide power to loudspeakers
with a minimum load impedance of 8 or 4 ohms. The RSX loudspeakers are rated at 8 ohms.
This means if two RSX cabinets are wired in parallel, the nominal impedance of the speaker
system will be 4 ohms.
1
+
1
-
1
+
2
+
SX 1800
2
+
2
-
400
600
W
W
E2517
23FY
1
+
1
-
115V 60Hz, 1900W
Left Output
Right Output
Mono/Sub Output
1+ 1-
1+ 2+
2+ 2-
SX 1800
400
600
W
W
E251753
23FY
1
+
1
-
115V 60Hz, 1900W
RSX Passive Loudspeakers
9
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Using Speaker Stands
The RSX110, RSX112, and RSX115 feature standard 13∕8" pole mount receptacles, which
enable the speaker to be mounted on a standard tripod stand or subwoofer satellite pole. For
best results, raise the speakers above the heads of the listening audience.
When mounting a speaker onto any stand, always ensure that the stand is on a flat, level sur-
face, with the legs fully extended. Be sure to check that the maximum load weight for the
stands is greater than the weight of the RSX loudspeaker. Never use a stand with a maximum
load weight lower than the speaker. Do not attempt to mount more than one speaker on a stand
at one time. The RSX loudspeakers are heavy. It is recommended that a second person to help
place the cabinet on a stand.
When the speaker is placed on a stand, always check the integrity and center of gravity of the
system. If the speaker can be tipped easily, or the pole is swaying, it is recommended that you
lower the height of the stand. Position the stand and route cables so that the performers and
the audience cannot tip over or trip on the system.
Mounted on a tripod stand
Mounted on a subwoofer
satellite pole
10
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Floor Monitor Positioning
The RSX110 and RSX112 are designed to be used
as front-of-house main speakers or as floor monitors.
Featuring compact design with integral 60° monitor
angles, controlled bass frequency reproduction, and clear
high frequency sound, the RSX speakers are ideal for
stage monitoring applications or whenever a performer
needs to direct sound to their ears.
In a large stage monitor system, several RSX speakers
can be daisy-chained together using the parallel speaker
connectors.
Note: Be sure to check the manufacturer's minimum rec-
ommended impedance for your power amplifier to avoid overload and possible damage to both
the speaker and amplifier.
In many instances, when using the RSX speakers as a monitor system, you may choose to use
an external equalizer like the Samson S-Curve 131 to tailor the sound to cut through the stage
levels and to reduce the chance of feedback.
RSX Passive Loudspeakers
11
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Configuring the RSX118S Subwoofer
Before you start plugging in cables, you should take a minute to decide how you want to inter-
face your new RSX118S subwoofer. Most system set-ups fall into one of two categories: Monoor
Stereo sub operation.
Mono Sub Operation
In most cases, a common (mono) sub bass setup
is preferable. Low frequencies produced by a sub-
woofer tend to be non-directional. Since low fre-
quency waves take so much space to develop, it
is difficult for the ear to tell if sub bass is coming
from the left or right side (unless you are in a very
large room). Because of this phenomenon, just
about all sub bass material is mixed in mono.
Stereo Sub Operation
In larger rooms, as well as in theaters and theme
park installations (for low frequency special audio
effects), two or more RSX118S subwoofers can
be used in stereo. For additional low-end, you
can daisy chain a pair of RSX118S subwoofers to
each side of your speaker system using the paral-
lel outputs.
Positioning the Subwoofer
The placement of the subwoofer can affect the overall performance of your system since room
acoustics may create standing waves, an acoustical phenomenon that causes certain bass
frequencies to sound louder. Here are a few points you should consider when setting up your
system, which can help you achieve optimal performance in your space.
The ideal placement of the subwoofer is as close to the main front of house speakers as possi-
ble, in order to blend the satellites and subwoofer. Mounting the satellite speakers on top of the
subwoofer allows you to align the drivers. The closer the subwoofer is to a wall, the louder the
bass frequencies will sound, and you can adjust the mix between the subwoofer and satellite
speakers by moving the subwoofer closer to and further from a wall.
Avoid placing the subwoofer in a corner. This can make the subwoofer appear to be louder, but
only for a limited frequency band, and will make the mix sound "boomy" and not well defined.
The best way to increase the overall level of bass is to add a second subwoofer.
12
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Using an External Crossover
The RSX118S features an 6dB/octave at 150Hz internal low pass filter, which means that
frequencies will be reduced 6dB in level every time the frequency doubles. Consequently, fre-
quencies that are in the range of the satellite speakers will be produced by the subwoofer and
can create comb filtering. When configuring your sound system, you may want to use an exter-
nal crossover, like the Samson S 3-way, to fine tune the crossover frequency and incorporate
the subwoofer with the full-range speakers, as well as to match the room where the system is
installed. The goal is to seamlessly integrate the subwoofer with rest of your speakers to extend
the frequency range of your system, rather than to produce an unnatural, boomy mix. You do
not want the subwoofer and the main speaker to reproduce the same frequencies, as this will
create duplication of low frequencies, and create an imbalanced mix.
A good place to start is to use the frequency response of your speaker cabinets. You can usually
find this information in the documentation included with your speakers. Start by setting your
crossover frequency to the lowest frequency that your satellite speaker produces.
If your satellite speakers are large (12" or 15") start with a crossover frequency of 80Hz. If
your speakers are small (8” or 10”) start with a crossover frequency of 100Hz. If you have an
oscillator (there are many free oscillator smartphone and tablet apps available), slowly sweep
from 400Hz down to 40Hz, and listen to how the subwoofer and speakers blend together. You
may need to raise or lower the crossover frequency control to create the smoothest frequency
response. If you do not have an oscillator, use music tracks that have a steady bass line and
kick drum. Slowly adjust the crossover frequency until you find the optimum setting.
RSX Passive Loudspeakers
13
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Permanent Installation
The RSX series loudspeakers are a perfect solution for many fixed installations such as live
sound venues, discos, schools, houses of worship, convention centers and airport terminals. The
two-way speaker enclosures are extremely versatile for installation as they can be suspended in
several different positions by using the twelve fly points.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Suspending an RSX loudspeaker should only be done by a qualified,
licensed and insured professional sound contractor. Installation in an unsafe manner or location
can result in property damage and serious injury. When installing the speaker, make sure all
local ordinances are understood and adhered to. Always check and ensure that whatever struc-
ture the speaker is mounted to is devoid of cracks, deformations, or any signs of fatigue.
The RSX speakers are designed to be mounted directly to a
structure. Never suspend an RSX cabinet from another speak-
er, and do no suspend another speaker from an RSX cabinet.
When suspended, always affix a safety cable from the RSX
cabinet to the mounting structure.
Thimble
Wire rope
A minimum of two (2) attachment points must be used when
suspending the speaker enclosure. The rear and side attach-
ment points are only used as pull-back points to adjust the
angle of the speaker. Only the top and bottom fly points are
load-bearing suspension points.
Shackle
Eyebolt
When suspending the RSX cabinet, it is recommended that
you use an eyebolt, thimble, and shackle along with wire rope.
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Cable Wiring
The RSX series speaker connections are made via the rear panel ¼" and/or Speakon® connec-
tors for easy interface with industry standard cables. Standard, unshielded speaker wire (avail-
able at your local pro audio or music store), with either ¼" phone or Speakon connectors and
wire gauge of 12–14 AWG is recommended.
If your amplifier uses binding posts you can use speaker cables with banana connectors, but be
sure to pay attention to the +/– polarity when making the connections. Make sure that the + ter-
minal of the speaker, or banana connector, is connected to the + terminal of the power ampli-
fier, and that the – terminal of the speaker, or banana connector, is connected to the - terminal
of the power amplifier. It is important that your PA system is connected in-phase, otherwise you
will not have the proper low-end response and stereo image.
Use the following diagrams below to ensure proper connections when wiring your system:
Unbalanced 1/4” Connector
Signal
Signal
Tip (signal)
Ground
Ground
Sleeve (ground)
Speakon® Wiring Guide
+
-
1- 1+
2+ 2-
NOT CONNECTED
RSX Passive Loudspeakers
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Technical Specifications
Model
RSX110
RSX112
300 watts AES
1200 watts peak
8 ohms
200 watts AES
800 watts peak
8 ohms
Power Rating
Nominal Impedance
Frequency Response
Sensitivity (1w @ 1m)
Maximum SPL
65 Hz to 17 kHz 3dB
97 dB
65 Hz to 19 kHz 3dB
97 dB
127 dB SPL
132 dB SPL
LF Driver
10" (254 mm) Celestion woofer
with 2" (50 mm) voice-coil
12" (304 mm) Celestion woofer
with 2.5" (64 mm) voice-coil
HF Driver
Celestion 1” (25 mm) voice-coil
compression driver
Celestion 1.75” (44 mm) voice-
coil compression driver
HF Protection
Directivity
Internal overload Lamp
60° x 90°
Internal overload lamp
60° x 90°
Enclosure
Trapezoidal, 15 mm, 9 layer ply- Trapezoidal, 15 mm, 9 layer ply-
wood cabinet
wood cabinet
Finish
Black, Textured Paint
12 x fly-points, M10
Integrated carry handle
Black, Textured Paint
12 x fly-points, M10
Integrated carry handle
Suspension
Transportation
Grille
Black, Powder Coated, perforated Black, Powder Coated, perforated
steel with black cloth backing
2 x Speakon® NL2, 2 x ¼”
21” x 13.1” x 12.8”
steel with black cloth backing
2 x Speakon® NL2, 2 x ¼”
24.6” x 15.3” x 13.7”
Connectors
Dimensions (H x W x D)
(533 mm x 334 mm x 325 mm) (625 mm x 389 mm x 350 mm)
Net Weight
Shipping Weight
31.7 lb (14.4 kg)
35.2 lb (16 kg)
42.8 lb (19.4 kg)
47 lb (21.3 kg)
6”
6.5”
325 mm
12.8”
350 mm
13.7”
334 mm
13.1”
389 mm
15.3”
533 mm
21”
625 mm
24.6”
16
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Technical Specifications
Model
RSX115
RSX215
1200 watts AES
4800 watts peak
8 ohms
600 watts AES
2400 watts peak
8 ohms
Power Rating
Nominal Impedance
Frequency Response
Sensitivity (1w @ 1m)
Maximum SPL
50 Hz to 20 kHz 3dB
98 dB
40 Hz to 20 kHz 3dB
98 dB
127 dB SPL
132 dB SPL
LF Driver
1 x 15" (380 mm) woofer with 3"
(76 mm) voice-coil
2 x 15" (380 mm) woofer with
3" (76 mm) voice-coil
HF Driver
Celestion 1.75” (44 mm) voice-
coil compression driver
Celestion 1.75” (44 mm) voice-
coil compression driver
HF Protection
Directivity
Internal overload Lamp
60° x 90°
Internal overload lamp
60° x 90°
Enclosure
Trapezoidal, 15 mm, 9 layer ply- Trapezoidal, 15 mm, 9 layer ply-
wood cabinet
Black, Textured Paint
12 x fly-points, M10
2 x Integrated carry handles
wood cabinet
Black, Textured Paint
12 x fly-points, M10
2 x Integrated carry handles
Finish
Suspension
Transportation
Grille
Black, Powder Coated, perforated Black, Powder Coated, perforated
steel with black cloth backing
2 x Speakon® NL2, 2 x ¼”
28.3” x 17.4” x 15.2”
steel with black cloth backing
2 x Speakon® NL2, 2 x ¼”
44” x 17.4” x 15.2”
Connectors
Dimensions (H x W x D)
(720 mm x 442 mm x 387 mm) (1120 mm x 442 mm x 387 mm)
Net Weight
Shipping Weight
56.2 lb (25.5 kg)
63.5 lb (28.8 kg)
87.34 lb (39.7 kg)
96.58 lb (43.9 kg)
12.2”
12.2”
387 mm
15.2”
387 mm
15.2”
442 mm
17.4”
442 mm
17.4”
720 mm
28.3”
1120 mm
44”
RSX Passive Loudspeakers
17
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Technical Specifications
Model
RSX118S
500 watts AES
2000 watts peak
8 ohms
Power Rating
Nominal Impedance
Frequency Response
Sensitivity (1w @ 1m)
Maximum SPL
650 mm
25.6”
35 Hz to 150 Hz 3dB
96 dB
126 dB SPL
LF Driver
1 x 18" mm (483 mm) woofer
with 3" mm (76 mm) voice-coil
600 mm
23.6”
Crossover
Directivity
Enclosure
6 dB/oct LPF @ 150 Hz
Omnidirectional
Rectangular, 18 mm, 11 layer
plywood cabinet
Finish
Black, Textured Paint
n/a
2 x Integrated carry handles
Suspension
Transportation
Grille
550 mm
21.7”
Black, Powder Coated, perforated
steel with black cloth backing
Connectors
2 x Speakon® NL4
Dimensions (H x W x D)
21.7” x 25.6” x 23.6”
(550 mm x 650 mm x 600 mm)
Net Weight
75 lb (34 kg)
Shipping Weight
87.5 lb (39.66 kg)
At Samson, we are continually improving our products, therefore specifications and images are
subject to change without notice.
18
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Notes
RSX Passive Loudspeakers
19
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Samson Technologies Corp.
45 Gilpin Avenue
Hauppauge, New York 11788-8816
Phone: 1-800-3-SAMSON (1-800-372-6766)
Fax: 631-784-2201
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