Owner's Manual

Parasound
®
ZoneMaster
™
2 Owner’s Manual Page 8
Audio Output Connections
Loop Out Jacks
These jacks enable the audio source to pass along or “daisy chain” to additional amplifier. Audio from the
Speaker Level Input connector is also converted to line level and routed to the Loop Out jacks.
Mono Out Jack (Full range)
This is a full range output that combines the Left and Right channel inputs into a summed L + R mono
signal. This could be useful for connecting a powered subwoofer that has its own built in crossover. It
could also be used for connecting an additional amplifier in mono applications.
Sub Out Jack (80 Hz Low Pass)
This subwoofer output could be useful for connecting a passive in-wall subwoofer without the need for an
external crossover. This output that combines the left and right inputs into a summed L + R mono signal.
The low pass crossover is 80 Hz with an 18 dB per octave slope. This jack is always active regardless of
the setting of the Crossover switch or level controls. If you are using this output with a powered sub then
you must turn off the crossover built into the sub.
Connecting Speaker Wires
Detach the green speaker output connecting blocks by pulling them away from the ZoneMaster 2 rear
panel. This makes attaching speaker wires far more convenient. Connect the connecting block’s + and –
terminals to the corresponding + and – speaker wires. Never combine the – of two channels together. The
ends of the wires should be twisted tightly and/or lightly tinned with solder to prevent stray wire strands from
short circuiting the amplifier.
Speaker A and B Outputs
The ZoneMaster 2 is equipped with connections for two speakers on each channel (labeled A and B). This
unique feature gives system designers greater flexibility and can usually avoid the added expense,
complexity, heat and power consumption of additional amplifiers. The ability of the ZoneMaster 2 to drive
two pair of speakers is credited to Parasound’s 2 ohm stable high current design.
Typical applications for using both Speaker A and B outputs might include a large living room with four
ceiling speakers. Another use for the B speakers could be in a subzone like a bathroom or hallway adjacent
to the room where the A speakers are installed. This adjacent subzone might also use a passive in-wall
volume control to adjust its listening level separately.
Total Speaker Impedance (A + B): The Right and Left channels are each capable of driving speaker
loads as low as 2 ohms. An example of a 2 ohm load is one 4 ohm speaker connected to a channel’s
speaker output A while another 4 ohm speaker is connected to the same channel’s speaker output B.
When driving 2 ohm loads ensure the amplifier has adequate ventilation.
CONNECTION WARNING:
Never combine the Speaker L & R channel negative (−) outputs together.
Some speaker selectors combine the negative connections and are not compatible with the ZoneMaster 2.
Combining the negatives of any two channels would cause the amplifier to engage its protection circuit and
could seriously damage the amplifier. L and R channel speakers cannot be wired where they share a single
negative (−) wire.