zapco DAII-SL, Owner'S Manual

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Zapco Signal Processing
What makes Zapco processors different from any other? Better
electronic design, combined with higher quality components inside,
accounts for much of the added clarity and the “openness” of sound with
Zapco processors. This also accounts for the superior imaging and the more
accurate sound stage with our processors.
Some have tried to duplicate the Zapco sound by modifying Hi-End
home gear for car use, but have met with limited success.
Why has Zapco succeeded? Because, right from the start, Zapco
recognized the two major problems of in-vehicle processing, and solved
them.
First: Power supply noise. Because a signal processor works with
such a low level of signal, any noise it creates can be easily induced into the
signal path. All power supplies create noise, even ours. Ours are just quieter
than the others. To make sure our processors don’t have power supply
noise, we took the power supply out. Starting with the PX, in the early 80’s,
every Zapco processor uses “phantom power”. If you are using a Zapco
amplifier, the processor will simply pull its power right from the amp. If not,
you can use the PSI-HPSL remote power supply. In either case, your Zapco
processor will have
±
15 volts of clean, noise free power.
Why 15 volts, instead of 12 volts? Well, with 15 volts to work with, a
Zapco processor can put out as much as 16 volts RMS of signal. More than
any other preamp/processor. More signal means less noise.
Second: Signal loss and induced noise. An extremely important part
of the processing is the signal transmission system. The low level, non-
amplified, signal is always subject to induced noise and signal loss. It is
most vulnerable when being transferred between components; this is an
especially grave problem in the automotive environment because the
components are so far apart. In 1992 Zapco adopted the SymbiLink™
Balanced Line system for use in all its amplifiers and processors; this gives
Zapco the cleanest, quietest signal possible, while providing less distortion
and less signal loss.
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