zapco DC-352 User manual
Owner's manual
DC-series
Before operating the unit, please read this manual throughly
and retain it for future reference.
Sound Quality / Integration Amplifiers
With Full On-Board Processing and Zapco DPN
Protect your Investment
Note your information below for reference:
Model # Serial #
Date Purchased
And: Register your Zapco product now
At: www.zapco.com
Mission Statement
ZAPCO IS DEDICATED TO THE PURSUIT OF AUDIO FIDELITY.
Our passion, our “Driving Force” is to design and manufacture car audio products of
unsurpassed quality, to provide unparalleled support and service for these products and
to conduct business in a manner that will enhance the quality of life for all involved.
There is absolutely no substitute for experience; that is a simple fact of life. Another simple
fact is that for over 30 years, ZAPCO has been the leader in defining quality standards for
the car audio industry. These years of experience have led to a thorough understanding
of the challenges that are unique to the world of car audio. ZAPCO’s relentless quest for
sonic purity consistently yields imaginative designs that utilize the most innovative
technologies. There sulting products set the criteria by which all others in the industry
are judged. Feel the passion, hear the quality, know the performance and reliability by
making ZAPCO the “Driving Force” in your car audio system.
Sonic Purity
Our dedication to sonic purity requires that the highest quality internal components are
used.
Resistors
All resistors (other than power resistors) are 1% precision low noise metal film.
This is a key reason why ZAPCO products have the industries’ best low noise specifications,
and why you won’t see as much fluctuation in our test certificates as you will with other
brands. Precision resistors also reduce distortion and improve channel matching.
Capacitors
Capacitors are similar to batteries. Like a battery, they store energy and have
electrolyte (internal fluid). Also like a battery, a capacitor can have a very limited life.
“Computer grade” capacitors for example, are reliable only in cool environments with
very little current applied to them. Only the best high current and high temperature
capacitors should be used in an auto-sound application. Although these capacitors
typically cost five times as much as those commonly used in other brands, ZAPCO insists
that no audio degradation will occur over time.
Transistors
Two types of transistors are used in ZAPCO products, bipolar and MOSFET.
MOSFET transistors are rugged, high current output devices that are best suited as
switches. They are the choice for switching power supplies. They are however, very
non-linear and are not suitable for use as audio outputs. They cannot be matched and
their inherent distortion requires too much feedback to achieve reasonable distortion
levels. Bipolar output transistors are used exclusively in the audio stage of all Reference
Series amplifiers. The audio performance of a bipolar transistor heavily outweighs any
minor advantages a MOSFET might offer regarding durability. We solve the durability
concerns by simply using more output devices than the amplifier requires. This gives us
a bulletproof amp with the sound quality we demand of a ZAPCO product.
-3-
Welcome to the World of Zapco Digital - 2012
For 2012: Zapco takes you to the next level with the new Zapco DC-Series amps, with
more control more features and speaker level inputs the make integration of the DC amps
with a factory stereo a breeze
What's New for 2012
First, of course, the DSP-Z8 has 2 more output channels than its predecessor. This allows
an active 4-way system to be set up, or an active 3-way main system with a rear fill.
The crossover of the DSP-Z8 has been improved by allowing up to 36dB/Octave slopes for
a sharper cut-off and better speaker protection.
The Signal delay function of the DSP-Z8 has more resolution, allowing adjustments down
to 3mm
Direct Muting has been added and can be used by individual channels or by channel pairs
The new DSP-Z8 accepts speaker level inputs through its balanced RCA input connectors.
You can just attach RCA connectors directly to the speaker outputs of a factory stereo
(up to 22 Volts) and plug them right into the DSP-Z8.
A voltage sensitive EQ filter lets you activate an EQ filter at a predetermined input level
to compensate for active factory equalization when integrating the processor and/or
amplifiers into your factory stereo system.
In this manual we will take you through the programming and control functions of the
Zapco DSP-Z8 and the on-board DSP in the Zapco DC Series of DSP controlled amplifiers
as well networking operations of Zapco's DPN system.
-4-
Transformers
Most of the transformers used in our products are hand-wound to ensure
maximum quality. This provides a guarantee that current capability, efficiency, and
radiated noise are all kept within our demanding parameters. Another critical aspect of
the transformer is mounting; all transformers are securely mounted in their respective
chassis. Transformers are massive, and if not securely mounted can cause failure among
internal components due to vibration.
Power Supplies
Regulated or Unregulated? For years amplifier designers have debated which
type of power supply is best. What's the truth about power supplies? They each have
advantages and disadvantages and there is no, one, best type. Limiting yourself to one
type of power supply limits your amplifier design flexibility. ZAPCO uses both types of
power supplies depending on the intended use of each amplifier, as well as expected
current demands and operating environment.
Zapco Digital
Who has the number one name in state of the art audio equipment?
Zapco!
But, when most people think of Zapco, they picture compact, powerful, great sounding
amplifiers. While this picture is true enough, it misses one big piece of the Zapco legend.
Signal Processing!
Zapco virtually created the concept of high sound quality processing in the late 70's
when we created the PEQ. This was a high voltage preamp/EQ with and audiophile input
stage and 9 bands of equalization for each channel. It brought a whole new level of
performance to car sound. In the 90's the name was changed to SEQ and the unit is still
in production today.
In the 80's we took processing to another new level with the PX. This was the first
audiophile quality preamp EQ with a multi-order crossover. In addition, all four EQ bands
were parametric, so now you could customize the EQ parameters to you car. The result:
By the late 80's even non-Zapco dealers had to have a source of PX's for all their
competition cars.
The next leap was in the 90's, when Zapco introduced the SX, (later to become the
SX-SL). This unit expanded the Parametric EQ to 5 bands, added dual high pass and three
way band pass crossovers, added variable crossover slopes, bass-to-highs balance, and
SymbiLink™ Balanced inputs.
In 2004 Zapco Introduced the DSP-6, stand-alone, PC controlled Digital Signal
Processor. We also introduced the DC Reference line of Amplifiers. These were the first
ever PC controlled amplifiers with on-board DSP's for each and every channel. The DC
Reference amps were controlled by the revolutionary Zapco DPN control network that
allowed a single CP screen ar DRC controller to control each amplifier in the system
separately and to apply memory settings globally to the network.
-5-
Welcome to the World of Zapco Digital - 2012
For 2012: Zapco takes you to the next level with the new Zapco DC-Series amps, with
more control more features and speaker level inputs the make integration of the DC amps
with a factory stereo a breeze
What's New for 2012
First, of course, the DSP-Z8 has 2 more output channels than its predecessor. This allows
an active 4-way system to be set up, or an active 3-way main system with a rear fill.
The crossover of the DSP-Z8 has been improved by allowing up to 36dB/Octave slopes
for a sharper cut-off and better speaker protection.
The Signal delay function of the DSP-Z8 has more resolution, allowing adjustments down
to 3mm
Direct Muting has been added and can be used by individual channels or by channel pairs
The new DSP-Z8 accepts speaker level inputs through its balanced RCA input connectors.
You can just attach RCA connectors directly to the speaker outputs of a factory stereo
(up to 22 Volts) and plug them right into the DSP-Z8.
A voltage sensitive EQ filter lets you activate an EQ filter at a predetermined input level
to compensate for active factory equalization when integrating the processor and/or
amplifiers into your factory stereo system.
In this manual we will take you through the programming and control functions of the
Zapco DSP-Z8 and the on-board DSP in the Zapco DC Series of DSP controlled amplifiers
as well networking operations of Zapco's DPN system.
-6-
begin with the DSP-Z8 and how the programming works.
Then we will review the DC Series amplifiers.
DSP-Z8 : Six In / Eight Out Channel Digital Signal Processor
Specifications
THD:
Analog < 0.0015 Digital < 0.0008 Sensitivity 0.5V to 22V
S/N Ratio:
Digital > 100dB Analog > 99dB Control Input Mini USB
Dimensions 220mm(L) x 55mm(H) x 180mm(W)
Since the programming of the DSP-Z8 and the DC Series amplifiers are the same we will
-9-
Front Panel Connections
1) RCA Inputs- Six channels of input are available through RCA connectors*.
2) RCA Outputs-4 sets of RCA Connectors provide eight channels of output.
3) DIP Switch-Six position DIP switch is used to address the unit and assign a
node on the Zapco Digital Programming Network.
4) USB Port- Like all Zapco DC products, the DSP-Z8 has a USB port to interface
with a PC for all DSP programming functions.
5) Auxiliary Input
Digital Input- Optical connector for SPDIF input
Analog- RCA connector for analog Aux-in
6) Data Connectors- Two RG connectors provide Data in/out for network cables
(and DRC control input)
7) Power Connector- Provides Power, Ground, Turn On, and Aux +12 volt out **
* Note: To use speaker level inputs from a factory stereo, simply attach RCA
connectors to the factory speaker wires(up to a 22v signal). Assure that the DSP or
amplifier is in High Level input mode and plug the speaker wires directly into the RCA
inputs.
you use speaker level inputs from a factory stereo the DC product will turn on
automatically and also provide +12v trigger output to turn on other components.
** Note: The Zapco DC Series also has DC-offset sensing for automatic turn-on. If
-10-
5 1 2 3 6 4 7
DSP-Z8 Connection Panel
This manual suits for next models
6
Table of contents
Other zapco Amplifier manuals
zapco
zapco AG360 User manual
zapco
zapco Z-PS Series User manual
zapco
zapco ST-X III Series User manual
zapco
zapco C2K User manual
zapco
zapco AG650 User manual
zapco
zapco Z250C4-SL SymbiLink User manual
zapco
zapco ST-X DSP User manual
zapco
zapco ST-X III Series User manual
zapco
zapco ST series D User manual
zapco
zapco Z-series User manual
zapco
zapco STUDIO 100 User manual
zapco
zapco ZX-series User manual
zapco
zapco ST-2X SQ User manual
zapco
zapco DSP-Z8 IV II User manual
zapco
zapco AG350 User manual
zapco
zapco DSP-Z8 IV AT User manual
zapco
zapco Z-150.2 SP User manual
zapco
zapco DSP-IV Series User manual
zapco
zapco Z-150.2 AP User manual
zapco
zapco Symbilink Z100C2-SL User manual
