Parasound ZoneMaster 250 Owner's Manual

TM

®

ZoneMaster
Model 250

Universal Two Channel & Sub Amplifier

Owner’s Manual

Important Safety Instructions

The lightning flash with the arrowhead symbol w ithin an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the
presence of ‘‘ dangerous voltage’’ inside the product that may constitute a risk of electric shock.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating
and maintenance instructions in the literature accompanying the product.

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.

REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL

1. Read Instructions ------ Read all the safety and operating instructions before operating this product.

2. Retain Instructions ------ Retain safety and operating instructions for future reference.

3. Heed Warnings ------ Adhere to all warnings on the product and in the operating instructions.

4. Follow Instructions ------ Follow all operating and use instructions.

5. Cleaning ------ Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Use a damp cloth for cleaning. Clean the
outside of the product only.

6. Attachments ------ Do not use attachments that are not recommended by the product manufacturer; they may be
hazardous.

7. Water and Moisture ------ Do not use this product near water.

8. Accessories ------ Do not place this product on an unstable cart or stand. The product may fall, causing bodily injury
and damage to the product. A product and cart combination should be moved with care. Quick stops, excessive
force, and uneven surfaces may cause the product and cart to overturn.

9. Ventilation ------ Slots and openings in the cabinet are provided for ventilation to ensure reliable operation of the
product and to protect it from overheating. These openings must not be blocked or covered. This product should not
be placed in a built-in installation such as a bookcase or rack unless proper ventilation is provided.

10. Power Sources ------ Operate this product only from the type of pow er source indicated on the label. If you are not
sure of the type of power supply to your home, consult your dealer or local power company. This product is
equipped with a three-prong grounding plug. This plug will only fit into a grounding power outlet. If you are unable to
insert the plug into the outlet, contact your electrician to replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the safety
purpose of the grounding plug.

11. 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.

12. Lightning ------ Unplug the unit from the wall outlet for added protection during a lightning storm and when it is left
unattended and unused for long periods of time. This will prevent damage to the product due to lightning and power
line surges.

13. Overloading ------ Do not overload wall outlets or extension cords. This can result in a fire or electric shock.

14. Inserting Objects into Unit ------ Never push objects of any kind into this product through any openings; they may touch
dangerous voltage points or short out parts that could result in fire or electric shock.

15. Servicing ------ Do not attempt to repair or service this product yourself. Opening or removing covers may expose you to
dangerous voltage and other hazards. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.

16. Damage Requiring Service ------ Unplug this product from the w all outlet and refer servicing to qualified
service personnel under the following conditions: a) If the power-supply cord or plug is damaged.
b) If liquid has been spilled into the product. c) If the product has been exposed to rain or water. d) If the product
does not operate normally by following the operating instructions. e) If the product has been dropped or damaged in
any way. f) If the product exhibits a distinct change in performance.

17. Replacement Parts ------ When replacement parts are required, be sure the service technician has used replacement
parts specified by the manufacturer. Unauthorized substitutions may result in fire, electric shock, and other hazards.

18. Safety Check ------ Upon completion of any service or repairs to this product, ask the service technician to perform
safety checks to determine that the product is in proper operating condition.

19. Wall or Ceiling Mounting ------ Mount the product to a wall or ceiling only as recommended.

20. Heat ------ The product should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, and other

products (including amplifiers) that produce heat.

Parasound® ZoneMaster

™

250 Owner’s Manual Page 2

Parasound® ZoneMaster

™

250 Owner’s Manual Page 3

INTRODUCTION

Congratulations on your purchase of this precision audio product and thank you for selecting
Parasound. We are proud to offer you this versatile amplifier, knowing that it will bring you many years
of enjoyment and dependable operation. Please take a few moments to read the following instructions
so you can enjoy all the benefits of your new ZoneMaster 250’s advanced performance capabilities.

You can find details of the ZoneMaster 250’ s specif icat ions and advanced technology at
www.parasound.com.

Enjoy.

The Parasound Staff

www.parasound.com

 Keep your Purchase Receipt/Dealer Invoice for future reference
 Keep the carton in the event it is needed in the future

Record the 5 digit serial number located on the bottom side of your ZoneMaster 250 in the space below.
Also note your Parasound dealer’s name and telephone number. Your purchase receipt-dealer invoice is
required to determine if your ZoneMaster 250 is eligible for Parasound warranty service. We recommend that
you make an extra copy of your original purchase receipt-dealer invoice and store it inside the ZoneMaster
250’s carton. If the ZoneMaster 250 should require warranty repair you will need its original carton and foam
packing inserts to ship it.

Please do not throw away the carton or foam packing inserts.

Parasound ZoneMaster 250 Serial # ____________________
Parasound Dealer: ___________________________________
Parasound Dealer Phone Number: _______________________
Date of Purchase: ____________________________________

Important Warranty information

There is no Parasound warranty for this unit if it was not purchased from an Authorized
Parasound Dealer. Investigate warranty coverage statements made by unauthorized dealers very carefully,

as Parasound will not provide service under our warranty and you will need to depend entirely upon the
unauthorized dealer for warranty service. A list of Authorized Parasound Dealers and detailed warranty
information is available at www.parasound.com or you can call Parasound at [phone] between 8:30
am and 4 pm Pacific time.

A missing or altered serial number could indicate that this unit was re-sold by an unauthorized
dealer or is stolen merchandise. If this unit is missing its serial number or the serial number has
been altered, you should return it to your dealer immediately for a full refund.

Parasound® ZoneMaster

™

250 Owner’s Manual Page 4

Table of Contents

Introduction .................................................. 4

Placement and Ventilation Guidelines .............................. 6

115V / 230V AC Mains Voltage ................................... 7

Audio Input Connections ........................................ 8

Speaker Level Input Connector ................................... 8

Audio Output Connections ...................................... 9

Mono and Sub RCA Output Jacks ................................. 9

A and B Speaker Connections and Impedance ....................... 9

Bridged Output Switch ........................................ 10

Mode Switch ................................................ 10

Speaker Connections in Bridged Mode ............................ 11

Channel Level Controls and Uses ................................ 12

Turn On Options (Audio Trigger or 12V Trigger) ..................... 13

Front Panel Power Buttons and Display ........................... 14

Frequently Asked Questions and Troubleshooting ................... 15

If You Require Assistance or Warranty Repair ...................... 16

Specifications and Details ...................................... 17

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™

250 Owner’s Manual Page 5

Unpacking your ZoneMaster 250 & Placement Guidelines

Unpacking Your ZoneMaster 250

Carefully remove your ZoneMaster 250 from its shipping carton and locate its AC power cord and these
included accessories:

 One 12V trigger wire with mono 3.5mm to 3.5mm mini plugs at both ends.
 Two different size screwdrivers, the larger one is for the speaker output connectors

and the smaller one is for the speaker level input connector.

While you are unpacking your ZoneMaster 250, inspect it thoroughly for evidence of possible shipping
damage and tell your Parasound dealer immediately if you find any. If possible, save and store both the
inner and outer cartons and–most especially–the foam packing inserts, to protect the ZoneMaster 250 if you
have to move it or ship it. This would be a good time to make a copy of your sales receipt for storage with
the ZoneMaster 250’s original packing. Again: Do not throw away the carton or foam packing inserts.

Placement Guidelines

Install your ZoneMaster 250 away from heat sources such as heating ducts, radiators, or other
heat-producing components. Always position the ZoneMaster 250 horizontally. Observe the following
ventilation guidelines when installing the ZoneMaster 250 in an equipment rack or any other enclosed space:

You should never install the ZoneMaster 250 in an unventilated equipment cabinet or compartment because
hot air will not exhaust adequately to prevent overheating. Even a cabinet or enclosure whose front and back
sides are open doesn’t guarantee that air will circulate adequately pockets of intense heat can still develop
around any heat-producing equipment. Allow a few inches of empty space on each side and above the unit
and try to avoid crowding or stacking the ZoneMaster 250 tightly between other components. A ventilation fan
is also recommended where other heat-producing equipment must be mounted close to the ZoneMaster 250.

! Safety Caution ! The ZoneMaster 250, as with any other high powered amplifier, could overheat

if it is installed in a confined space without adequate ventilation. Continuous overheating can damage an
amplifier and could ultimately pose a risk of fire.

If you are installing the ZoneMaster 250 yourself, use input and output cables that are long enough to leave
at least two feet of slack; that will enable you to pull the ZoneMaster 250 out of a cabinet to check or to
change connections without inadvertently disconnecting cables.

Rack Mounting Your Parasound ZoneMaster 250

A rack mount adapter is available for purchase separately. This kit allows two half sized ZoneMaster units or Z
Custom units to be installed in a rack side by side. Included in the kit is also a panel extender to rack mount a
single 250.

Parasound® ZoneMaster

™

250 Owner’s Manual Page 6