zapco DSP-Z8 IV II Owner's Manual
Before operating the unit, please read this manual throughly and retain it for future reference.
DSP-IV II SERIES
Owner’s Manual
MISSION STATEMENT
Committed to Excellence
ZAPCO is dedicated to the pursuit of audio fidelity. Our prime objectives are to design and
manufacture 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.
Experience
(Knowledge from doing)
There is absolutely no substitute for experience; that is a simple fact of life.
Another simple fact is that ZAPCO has, for over forty years, 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.
The resulting products set the criteria by which all others in the industry are judged.
The Zapco DSP-Z8 IV II Series
DSP-Z8 IV II Digital Signal Processor and ADSP-Z8 IV-8 Amplifier/Processor
Congratulations on your purchase of this new Zapco DSP-Z8 IV II series product. It has been
designed and built to give you many years of reliable, industry leading performance and true
audiophile level sound quality.
Zapco Introduced the world to full function in-car digital processing in 2004 with the Zapco
DSP-6 and the Zapco Digital Processing Network. This was the first full function DSP for the
car and included a full line of amplifiers with full function digital processing build right in.
In 2016 we brought out our fourth generation of processing in the Zapco DSP-Z8 IV. The Z8
IV was a mid-priced unit designed to bring audiophile processing in an affordable package,
and it did just that. The Zapco DSP-Z8IV met rave reviews, out performing DSPs costing twice
as much, with a straightforward, easy to navigate interface so tuning would be a breeze, and
an analog signal to noise of -106dB (-110dB Digital).
The new DSP-Z8 IV II series processing takes the IV to a whole new level. Sonically the DSPZ8 IV II has all the qualities of the original IV with an even lower noise floor. For advanced
tuning possibilities the VI II has a much-improved GUI with many important upgrades.
In addition, for all those who need everything in a very small package, the DSP-Z8 IV II series
bring all this great processing to the ADSP-Z8 IV-8, an eight-channel full range Class D
amplifier with 80 Watts RMS per channel, at 4 ohms. That puts the Z8 IV II processing and an
8-Channel amplifier in a single convenient one-box installation.
Reality Check
The automobile is a difficult environment for listening to music. There are reflective surfaces
that distort the sound, absorptive surfaces that impede it, and you are never in the ideal
listening position. The Z8 IV II processing will allow you to compensate for the shortfalls of the
auto environment to create the live listening experience. However, we highly recommend
that you engage the services of a professional installer experienced in system tuning as a
final step. A professional tuner will have many hours of experience in system tuning and the
necessary tools, like a Real Time Analyzer and distortion analyzer to see how the sound waves
are acting in your vehicle. With the proper tools and experience a professional can tell what
frequencies to boost, which to cut, and what other minor tweaks are needed to get the best
live musical experience from your car.
Installation
The basics of car audio installation apply to both the DSP-Z8 IV II and the ADSP-Z8 IV-8.
Getting Started
: The very first thing you want to do when installing any electronic device into
the car is to disconnect the negative battery terminal to prevent any accidents (dropping a
live hot wire on a component that has been mounted to the metal of the car can destroy
that expensive piece of gear you just bought).
Choose a secure mounting location for the DSP-Z8 IV II unit. You need to avoid sources of
heat and moisture and provide adequate ventilation for cooling. Check around and under
the location for any wires, hoses, etc. before drilling holes. Also avoid mounting the unit too
close to any main electronic control modules as they can be bad noise sources. Plan out the
power and signal wiring to the DSP, and then out to the amps (or speakers if you have the
ADSP-Z8 IV-8). The Dash Remote wire needs to be run to the mounting location also, as well
as any optical or auxiliary input cables. Depending on your installation, you will probably
want to run all the wires and cables to the unit’s mounting location before mounting. Once
the area is prepared, mount the unit securely using the proper hardware.
Power
: Main +12V power to the amp must come directly from the Battery + terminal and
should be 4-Gage or larger depending on the length needed. The yellow B+ power for the
DSP should come from a power source that is constant hot. Whether it is a processor or a
processor/amplifier, the single biggest cause of system noise is a weak or insufficient ground
connection. This is especially critical for the amplifier as a weak ground will also prevent the
amplifier from reaching its full power. The ground connection should be directly the vehicle
chassis/frame (or a heavy chassis panel directly connected to the frame). The gage of the
ground wire should be at least as large as the gage of battery power wire.
Physical Connections
: The two units of the Z8IV II series share most of the same processor
connections but with slightly different layouts. Of course, the ADSP-Z8 IV-8 requires much
more input power and has speaker outputs.
DSP-Z8 IV II
1.
8 channels of RCA outputs
2.
Switch for high level/low level inputs
3.
6 channels of RCA inputs for the MAIN source
4.
2 channels of RCA inputs for an Auxiliary source
5.
On/Off switch for the auto-on function
6.
High level OEM input connector
7.
Dash remote port
8.
USB connector for PC control
9.
Optical port for digital input
10.
Main power connector for +12V Power (yellow), Ground (black), Turn-on from head unit
(red), and +12v for amplifier turn-on (blue)
11.
Bluetooth antenna for Digital streaming and control
12.
BT indicator-blinks while looking for a Bluetooth device, then goes solid when it is paired
1 2 3 4 5 6
7
8910
11
12
ADSP-Z8 IV-8
1.
6 channels of RCA inputs for the main source
2.
2 channels of RCA inputs for an Auxiliary source
3.
Optical port for digital input
4.
Dash remote port
5.
USB connector for PC control. The indicator lights when the USB is connected
6.
High level OEM input connector
7.
On/Off switch for the auto-on function
8.
Switch for high level/low level inputs
9.
BT indicator blinks while looking for a Bluetooth device, then goes solid when it is paired
10.
Speaker output connectors for Ch 5~8
11.
Speaker output connectors for Ch 1~4 [Note 1: the Left Ch (odd) positive terminal and the
Right Ch (even) negative terminal are used for bridging the speaker outputs. Note 2: the amp is
stable at 2 ohms stereo or 4 ohms mono. The amp should not be run at 2 ohms mono]
12.
Main +12V connector, +12 trigger from head unit when the Auto-on is turned off, Main
Ground connector
1 2 3 4 5 68
7
10
11
12
9
The DSP-Z8 IV Control Systems
The new Z8 IV II DSPs can be controlled by your PC or by iOS and Android smart devices.
Because of the restrictions of screen size, there are a few things that are easier using the PC
GUI, so we will cover that first. We recommend the first setup be done by PC. In addition to
the PC and Mobile controls that allow a complete system setup, the DSP-Z8 IV II units also
come with an included Dash Remote.
1.
Unlike many remotes, the remote of the DSP-Z8 IV series is an integral part of the device.
First it is a volume control, which is a must when you are using a full gain digital input. Secondly,
the volume control is also a control for the bass output. If you are using Channels 7/8 for the
bass, as most users do, you can push the volume control in one time and the bass level will
begin to flash and it becomes an output level control for channels 7/8.
2.
The readout normally gives you the volume level. If you push the Volume knob one time it
gives you the bass level. If you don’t make any adjustments for about 15 seconds, it will return
to reading volume.
3.
If you push the Volume knob 2 times you will see only MODE and the mode number flashing.
Mode is the memory preset. In mode function, the volume knob cycles through the presets
that have been stored.
Dial to the preset you want the push the volume knob once to get input source selection or
twice to return. Any preset positions not used will not show up in the MODE choices.
4.
If you press the volume knob three times you will enter Source Selection and you can
choose Main, BT (Bluetooth Streaming), Aux, or Opt (Optical) by turning the volume knob to
the input you want.
1
2 3 4
The Zapco DSP-Z8 IV II Graphical User Interface (GUI)
You have downloaded this preliminary manual from the web site along with the control
program. If you haven’t installed the program on your computer, you should do that now.
You open the compressed file and click on the installation .exe file. You will see the usual
installation prompts as the program is installed. After the program installation you will see the
driver installation. After the drivers are installed the PC will restart to finish the GUI installation.
Installation process
Below are the screens you will see during the program installation
1.
Click YES to allow the program to install
2.
You can choose to use either
English or Chinese
3.
Close any open programs then click
4.
Click next to create a folder for DSP
NEXT Zapco
5.
Click n
ext for a full in
stallation
6.
Click NE
XT to in
stall th
e men
u icon
7.
Cli
ck INST
ALL to p
roceed
8.
Cli
ck NEXT to install desktop icons and
the installation will begin
9.
After you click Next in step 8 the program
Installs
. After the installation the drivers must
be i
ns
talled. When you get the prompt at the
left, computers differ. The driver installation
may be automatic, or you may need to click
the INSTALL box. Then drivers will install, and
the computer will restart. After the restart you
can open the GUI from the desktop icon shown.
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