zapco Z-150.4 II, Z-150.2 II, Z-150.6 II Owner's Manual
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Z-II SERIES
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
The new Zapco Z-Series Amplifiers ................................................................. 2
The re-birth of the Z-Series .................................................................... 2
Improved Circuit Board and Functionality Class AB .................................. 3
Improved Circuit Board and Functionality Class D .................................... 4
Before you start your Installation ................................................................... 5
Planning your Power Connections ................................................................. 6
Wire size ................................................................................................. 7
Mounting your Z-II Series Amplifier ................................................................ 8
The Z-II Class AB SQ Competition Amplifiers .................................................. 9
Z-150.2 II Input and Controls ................................................................... 9
Z-150.4 II Input and Controls ................................................................... 10
Z-150.6 II Input and Controls ................................................................... 11
Z-150.2 II Speaker Wiring ........................................................................ 12
Z-150.4 II Speaker Wiring ........................................................................ 14
Z-150.6 II Speaker Wiring ........................................................................ 17
The Z-II Class D SQ Competition Bass Amplifiers ............................................ 20
Z-KD II Input and Controls ....................................................................... 20
Z-KD II Speaker Wiring ............................................................................ 22
Technical Specifications ................................................................................... 24
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The New Zapco Z-Series Amplifier
Congratulations, on the purchase of your new Zapco Z-Series amplifier. We
believe you now have the finest sound available in a car sound amplifier, and we
think you should know a little bit about what makes this amp unique in a world
of so many so-so products.
The re-birth of the Z-Series
In 2012 Zapco introduced the new Z-Series of SQ amps. These amps were not
conceived so much by our engineers, as by input from audiophiles and car sound
fanatics around the world. Starting about 2004, at Zapco training seminars in
Asia and in the EU, we began running into audiophiles who were changing
certain internal components in our amplifiers to achieve what they felt was
better quality sound.
With that in our minds, we developed the Z-Series amps with less measuring
and more listening. So for the Z-Series of Zapco amplifiers, we experimented
with internal components and new circuits to see if we could take our amps to
the next level of sound quality by investing in different internal components
and circuit designs, and the resulting Z-Series amps were the results of this
unique development method.
Over the last years we have developed two specialized amplifiers to take auto
sound to a different level. The Z-Series LX amp, the ultimate SQ amp. No controls
except gain. A pure SQ amp. We also brought out the ZSP-Series amps for the
fanatics that want to play full-volume full-time but still get audiophile sound.
This year we stepped back and took a look at the amp that started it all. The
Z-Series amplifier. We knew we could bring the price down, because over the
last few years. This allowed us to build the Z-series LX and amps cost only a
little more than the original Z-Series so the prices weren't that far apart. Now
we have brought the Z-Series into the same plant as the newer models. This
saves money!
That lowers the price, but what could we do the make it better? We saw that a
lot of the non-critical parts from the LX and amps could used in the new Z-Series
as well. Even with some of the SQ parts we save by buying more so we can use
those in the Z-series also.
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Bottom line, we have improved the amplifier at the same time we brought the
price down. Who ever does that!
Of course, that's just talk, but here's the beef.
For the Class AB full range Competition Amps:
• A new TI op-amp that give the Z considerably better signal to noise ratio,
with a lower floor noise
• We used the same audiophile grade caps that we use in the LX and amps
• We beefed up the power supply with more storage and less internal
resistance and lower inductance for higher efficiency
• We added more MOSFETS to the power supply for efficiency and current
handling
About functionality:
• The end plates are now recessed like the LX amps for a cleaner look
• The plastic controls have been replaced by new metal pots and switches.
The new pots also have detents (like the amps) at 40ea so you can accurately
set crossovers gains identical for right and left channels
• The new Z-II AB amps have band pass crossovers on all models so you
won't need any outboard devices to make a band pass
• x-10 the multiplier switches from the amps are on the New Z to extend
the crossover ranges. This means Z-150.2 II can have higher frequency
crossover for a dedicated tweeter amp and the Z-150.6 II can do tweeter,
midrange, and bass all with internal crossovers
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• The new Z-Series amps have the same panel mount RCA connectors as
the LX amps. Even the tightest RCA connector can't hurt them
For the Class D Competition Bass Amps:
The Z-II bass amps also get a number of improvements.
• A beefed up power supply
• Increased power
• New high end audio caps like the SQ amps
• New TI low noise op-amps like the SQ amps
• Improved tiffany style panel mount RCA connectors
• The end plates are now recessed like the LX amps for a cleaner look
• The plastic controls have been replaced by the new metal pots and
switches. The new pots also have detents (like the SP amps) at 40ea so you
can accurately set crossovers and gains identical with multiple amplifiers
So there you are! Functionality improvements to make the amps more useful and
sound quality improvements you'd never expect from a Class D bass amp.
Z-KD II; more useful, better looking and even better sounding.
Class A/B amps for full range use and Class D amps for bass. Whatever your
needs, the new Zapco Z-II Competition series amplifiers bring you better features,
better power, and better sound.
As we promised when we started: We will never re-paint an amp and call it a new
model. Every run of amplifiers must be better than the last or we won't make it.
We sincerely hope you enjoy your new Z-II Series amplifier as much as we
enjoyed the time we spent developing it.
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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.
Caution: 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!
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Planning your power connections
The power end plates of the Zapco Z-series amplifiers carry the power connections
and the Speaker connections and vary somewhat by the number of channels.
For example, the power end of the Z-150.6 II has (of course) Speaker connections
for six channels. One model, the Z-150.2 II has on-board fuses, while all other
models will require and in-line fuse. Please follow the rating guidelines as in the
Specifications page at the end of this manual.
That said, the main 12-volt power input, the 12-volt turn-on wire, and the main
Ground connections are common to all models.
• The connection at the interior of the end plate is the main power input.
This must be connected the vehicle battery's positive (+) terminal, and a
main system fuse should be placed close to the battery
• The connection at the outside of the end plate is the main ground or negative
connection. This must be securely attached to bare metal at the vehicle frame,
or other heavy chassis component with a direct connection to the frame
Note: Seat bolts and seat belt bolts are NOT good ground points
• The small terminal between the main power and ground is the +12 turn-on
input and can be connected to the head unit turn-on output wire. If none
is available it can be connected to an accessory (ACC) terminal. You should
avoid using any ignition-on (IGN) wire, as they can be noisy
Note: The Z-Series amplifiers have terminals that do not require connectors. You simply insert
a bare portion of wire and tighten the connection with the supplied Hex tool. As the wire
conforms to the connector the connection can loosen. You should re-tighten the connection
after about a week.
Turn-on trigger wire
+12 volt at Baery posive terminal Ground to chassis
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Some words about Power and Ground
Note: The second most common cause of underperforming amplifiers is insufficient power
current or a pour power connection. The most common cause of underperforming amplifiers is
insufficient ground current or a bad ground connection.
12-volt current: Battery Power works only if it travels in a complete circuit from
the battery positive terminal to the battery negative terminal. Main power
input, of course, is attached to the battery positive terminal. Ground current is
returned to the battery through the chassis to the point where the battery is
grounded.
The current available for your amplifier to use to produce power will be
restricted by the smallest gauge of wire in the circuit and by the weakest physical
connection in the circuit.
Wire Size
It's often surprising how many people will obsess about signal wire but routinely
provide the amplifier with only a fraction of the current it needs to do its job.
The most common wire gauge used in car audio is 10-gauge, and the most
common location for amplifiers is in the trunk.
Wire Sizing Chart
4 ft 7 ft 10 ft 13 ft 16 ft 19 ft 22 ft 28 ft
0-20 amps 14 12 12 10 10 888
20-35 amps 12 10 886664
35-50 amps 10 8866444
50-60 amps 88644442
65-85 amps 66442220
85 -105amps 66422220
105-125 amps 44422000
125-150 amps 22220000
Let's look at a fairly small system. If you use a 50 watt/ch amp (25 amps)
for the highs and a 100 watt/ch amp (40 amps) for the woofers, you need at
least a 4-gauge and maybe a 2-Guage wire to provide 65 amps at the trunk.
Anything less and your car won't go boom. It'll just go Blap!
Length of Run
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