zapco ST-2X SQ, ST-4X SQ, ST-6X SQ Owner's Manual
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ST-2X/4X/6X SQ
Owner’s Manual
Before operating the unit, please read this manual throughly and retain it for future reference.
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.
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Table of Contents
A new level of Sound Quality ......................................................................... 2
History of the Studio Series .................................................................... 2
The Studio-X SQ amplifiers ..................................................................... 3
Main features of the Studio-X SQ amplifiers .......................................... 3
Before you start your installation ................................................................... 4
Upgrading a Factory Stereo .................................................................... 4
Planning your power connections .................................................................. 5
Wire size ................................................................................................. 6
Mounting your Studio-X SQ amplifier ............................................................. 7
Inputs and Controls ......................................................................................... 8
ST-2X SQ Input Ends ................................................................................ 8
ST-4X SQ Input Ends ................................................................................ 9
ST-6X SQ Input Ends ................................................................................ 10
Speaker Wiring of the Studio-X SQ Amplifiers ................................................ 11
ST-2X SQ Speaker Wiring ........................................................................ 11
ST-4X SQ Speaker Wiring ........................................................................ 13
ST-6X SQ Speaker Wiring ........................................................................ 15
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A new level of Sound Quality
Zapco has a reputation for sound quality that is unsurpassed. It is our dedication
to sonic purity and out passion for performance that built that reputation.
With all the new amplifiers coming into the market, none has been any threat
to Zapco's standing as the premiere amp and processor company for pure
sound quality.
Just check out the audio competition scene. The pros know what to use to win.
Competition amps however, do not come cheap, and not everyone wants to
compete. The challenge then, was to put Zapco's 40 plus years of experience
to use in the development of an amplifier that would bring Zapco sound a line
of products for every-day use and that everyone could afford. And the studio
line is just that amplifier. In the time it has been out it has built a reputation as
the best sounding amp in the class.
Of course, not everyone buys strictly by sound (although they should). Maybe
it's the wrong color, maybe it's too big... or too small. But one thing is constant.
Everyone who hears the studio amps agrees; it sounds better than any other
product in the class.
History of the Studio Series
Perfection cannot be achieved. But that does not make its pursuit less valuable.
Zapco is committed to making every product we make better than the last.
We introduced the ST-X amps in 2013. In 2015 we improved the PCB design
and upgraded components to make the sonically improved ST-X II.
Last year we began development of the Studio X SQ amplifier to take affordable
sound quality to a new level. We added the proprietary RCA connectors from
the Z-LX amplifiers, changed the capacitors to a higher end audio cap, and
made a few other small changes. All this takes take the Studio sound to a new
level of sonic performance for an affordable amplifier.
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The Studio-X SQ Amplifiers
With the new Studio X SQ you get the sound quality that other companies
offer only in their big competition amps (and better than many of them) in a
compact chassis with 65W RMS/Channel @ 4Ω and 95W RMS/channel @ 2Ω
(100W/Ch. @ 4Ω and 150W/Ch. @ 2Ω for the ST-6X SQ). You also get plenty of
features, like 12dB/octave multi-function crossovers, bass boost, variable gain
and even pass-through RCA outputs so you can daisy chain amps.
As for performance, the Studio X SQ give you more than power. These amps
have 0.2% THD+noise, over 90dB signal to noise, over 60dB separation, and
produce power from 15Hz to 30kHz.
Main features of the Studio-X SQ amplifiers
Tiffany style Panel Mount RCA
SQ Upgrades: Op-amps, Caps, Etc.
• Full Range, Class A/B
• SQ Upgrades: Op-amps, Caps, Etc.
• Tiffany style Panel Mount RCA
• RCA and Speaker Level Inputs
• Variable input gain control
• Variable electronic crossover
• Auto-on with Speaker level inputs
• Variable bass boost control
• THD @ Rated Power < 0.5%
• Signal to Noise Ratio > 90dB
• Channel Separation > 60dB
• 65 watts/Ch. 4Ω (100 watts, ST-6X SQ)
• 95 watts/Ch. 2Ω (150 watts, ST-6X SQ)
• Frequency Response 15Hz to 30KHz ±1dB
• ST-2X SQ Dimensions:
Chassis 160(W) x 52(H) x 154(L)
Overall 160(W) x 52(H) x 180(L)
• ST-4X SQ Dimensions:
Chassis 160(W) x 52(H) x 282(L)
Overall 160(W) x 52(H) x 320(L)
• ST-6X SQ Dimensions:
Chassis 160(W) x 52(H) x 452(L)
Overall 160(W) x 52(H) x 488(L)
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Before you start your installation
ZAPCO highly recommends that a fuse or circuit breaker be placed within 18"
of the battery. Although you will add a fuse or fuse block near the amplifier it
is still a possibility that a pinched power wire between the component fuse
and the battery could result in a short, or even a fire. The protection device
should be placed where it can be accessed easily and all wiring should be
routed safely and correctly according to the following guidelines:
Do not run wiring close to hot or spinning objects.
Always use wire grommets when routing wire through the firewall or any
other metal panels.
Make sure that the potential for pinched wiring is avoided by routing all wires
away from moving hinges and seats. This also includes brake, gas and clutch
pedals, hood and trunk hinges, etc.
Continuous exposure to excessive sound pressure levels may cause permanent
hearing loss. ZAPCO strongly advises that you use common sense when setting
volume levels. If you experience ringing in the ears, it could cause permanent
hearing damage!
When connecting our amplifiers to pre-wired stock speakers, care must be
taken that there are no common connections between left and right speaker
wires, i.e. two or more speakers using the same ground connection (very
common in pre-85 cars), as this will cause the amplifier to go into immediate
protection or may cause damage to the amplifier. Output connections are not
common chassis ground. Please follow the hookup instructions in this owner's
manual. Any questions should be directed to your local ZAPCO dealer.
Upgrading a Factory Stereo
If you are upgrading a factory stereo the ST-X SQ amps have a separate speaker
level input plug that senses current, so you do not need to run a turn-on wire.
However, auto-on is not useful in all cars as the amplifier can come on when
you do not want it on, because of the car's electrical system. The ST-X SQ amps
have a switch that allows you to defeat the auto-on if you find you do not
want to use that function.
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