Audio Amplifier Pro V2.2.1
Golda Barocio
Introducing ZoneMaster, Parasound's new line of high-performance amplifiers for custom installation. ZoneMaster amps combine legendary Parasound Class AB sound quality with the most reliable Class D power modules in the industry. Every model in the line is unconditionally stable at two ohms, with bridged power up to 200 watts and unprecedented versatility. ZoneMaster is the new standard in residential and commercial amplification.
In the complicated landscape of audio, many companies put stratospheric price tags on great performance. Our mission couldn't be more different. Simply put, we offer the most performance for the money by finding the sweetest spot between price and diminishing returns. We've all been on the consumer side: music lovers, musicians, and audio enthusiasts looking for top-tier sound without breaking the bank.
When we develop a new product we take the carpenter's adage "measure twice, cut once" to the extreme. Each new model is tested, improved and re-tested under worst-case conditions. It comes to market only when it is a finished product that's ready to stand the test of time. In fact, we don't really know how long our amplifiers last because people write to thank us because the Parasound amp they purchased in the mid-'80s still works perfectly 30 years later.
We use DPD Local 'Next Day Service' for most UK deliveries. Orders sent via 'DPD Local - Next Day Service' will be fully tracked with a 1-hour delivery timeslot on the day of delivery. Standard delivery is Monday to Friday.
Occasionally, due to stock demand, we can sell out. If this occurs when you make a purchase, we will inform you quickly. Most out of stock items are available for dispatch within 3 working days. If your purchase is urgent, please contact us to check availability.
Channels: How the sound is directed is designated by the encoding used by the source and decoding or processing used by an integrated home theater system, home receiver, av/preamp processor, or soundbar. Once decoded or processed, the surround sound information is divided and assigned to one of several channels and sent through an amplifier to a set of speakers.
Speakers: This is how the channel information is reproduced so it can be heard. In most surround sound formats, each speaker is assigned to a specific channel. This means that the left front speaker is assigned to the left front channel, with other speakers assigned to the other channels accordingly.
The 2, 5, and 7 represent the number of channels where the speakers are laid out in a horizontal plane preferably placed at approximately ear level, while the .1 represents the subwoofer which is placed on the floor.
TIP: Some home theater systems allow the connection of a 2nd subwoofer in a 5 or 7 channel system. In this case, the system may be referred to as a 5.2 or 7.2 channel system. Both subwoofers typically contain the same low-frequency sound information but 2 or more subwoofers are sometimes used to compensate for acoustical deficiencies in a specific room.
A 2.1 channel setup consists of one left channel, one right channel, and a subwoofer channel. A 2.1 channel setup is the same as the familiar setup for stereo (2.0) but with a subwoofer added to the mix.
Another common application of 2.1 is with soundbars. The soundbar houses the left and right channel speakers, while an external subwoofer is many times provided (or can be added on as an optional purchase) to provide the lower frequencies.
Although specific sounds are assigned to either the left or right channel, vocals and dialog are placed into both channels. The result is that the voice or vocal appears to come from the empty center space between the left and right channel speakers.
TIP: Sometimes a soundbar may include a built-in center channel speaker (in addition to the built-in left and right speakers) that allows independent control of dialog and voice. Soundbars using this type of configuration in combination with a subwoofer are usually referred to as 3.1 channel systems.
The Center Channel is designated for dialogue or music vocals. The center channel is important because unlike a 2.1 system, the center vocals and dialog levels can be adjusted independently of the other channels in the system.
The Left/Right Front Channels serve the same role as they do in a 2.1 channel system for directing the main part of the soundtrack to the listener. The main difference is that the center channel information is not placed in these channels if a center channel speaker is in use.
The Left and Right Surround Channels project sound effects and ambient sounds that may be present in select movie scenes and musical performances. In some cases, sound effects may move from the front channel speakers to the surround channels or vice versa. 5.1 is well suited for movie and select TV content as the surround channels add more depth and immersion, but there is also select music content mixed in 5.1 and most home theater systems provide the ability to upmix stereo music sources to surround sound.
A 7.1 channel system splits surround and rear channel information into four channels. Side sound effects and ambiance are directed to the left and right surround channels. The rear sound effects and ambiance are directed to two rear or back channels.
Within a 7.1 channel framework, the Dolby Atmos surround sound format requires the addition of two height speakers. To accommodate this, Dolby Atmos-enabled home theater receivers or integrated home theater systems allow you to reassign the surround back channels as height or overhead channels.
When the surround back channels are reassigned to overhead channels for Dolby Atmos, the 7.1 channel setup becomes a 5.1.2 channel setup. The 5.1 represents the 5.1 channel portion of the setup but the .2 placed after the .1 subwoofer channel represents the 2 height channels.
If Bi-amping is supported on your receiver and speaker, you can reassign the surround back left and right channel amplifiers to the front speakers. This means that four amplifier channels are used with the front left and right speakers instead of just two and no surround back speakers are used.
Bi-amping doubles the power to the front left and right channel speakers. The mid-range/tweeters run off of the main L/R channels, while the woofers in the front speakers run off the Bi-amp channels (or vice versa).
Most 7.1 channel home theater receivers offer a capability referred to as a powered Zone 2. This allows users to set up 5.1 channels in one room and reassign the surround back channels to power a wired stereo speaker pair in another room using the same receiver.
The powered Zone 2 allows you to listen to a home theater source connected to the receiver in one room using 5.1 channels, and another 2 channel stereo source connected to the same receiver, such as a CD player, FM radio, on the Zone 2 speakers at the same time.
The Loudspeaker position guidelines above work best for closed, windowless square or slightly rectangular rooms. For other room shapes and/or additional acoustical factors you may need to consider different placement options.
Although a subwoofer is commonly placed in the front of the room, this may not always be the best spot. The subwoofer should be placed where the bass response is best. You might find that the subwoofer sounds best when placed in a spot on one of the side walls or in the back of the room along a wall or in a corner.
Select Blu-ray/Ultra HD Blu-ray soundtracks may contain 5.1 or 7.1 channel uncompressed PCM, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, or DTS-HD Master Audio, as well as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X immersive surround sound encoding (select streaming sources may also provide Dolby Atmos audio).
2 channel PCM and 5.1 channel Dolby Digital and DTS can be transferred via Digital Optical/Coaxial or HDMI. However, Digital Optical/Coaxial can't transfer Dolby Digital Plus/Dolby TrueHD/DTS-HD Master 5.1, 7.1 (or higher) audio, only HDMI can. Most TVs, home theater receivers, wired and wireless integrated home theater systems, and select soundbars provide HDMI-ARC or HDMI-eARC for audio connection flexibility.
For 7.1 channel systems, Dolby Digital/DTS 5.1 soundtracks can be expanded to 7.1 channels via Dolby Pro Logic IIx or other DSP (Digital Sound Processing) modes. These modes can also extract 7.1 channel surround source from two-channel source material, such as CDs and other stereo sources.
DTS Virtual:X audio processing is available on select soundbars and home theater receivers. This feature uses audio processing techniques that trick your ears into perceiving that sound is coming from overhead, but is not as accurate as Dolby Atmos or DTS:X used in combination with physical speakers. This can be applied to any stereo or surround sound audio source, without the need for physical up-firing or ceiling mounted speakers.
5.1 is the most common option for getting a home theater audio experience. Although you can use 5.1 setups for music listening, the addition of a dedicated center channel for dialog and surround channels for sound effects and ambiance provides a great option for watching movies and select TV shows. 5.1 does require the use of more speakers than 2.1, but there are both wired and wireless solutions available.
7.1 is for the person that wants access to more surround sound formats (primarily from physical media sources) and speaker setup flexibility. With two additional channels and speakers to work with, users may be able to take advantage of placing two speakers behind the listening position or reassigning those channels for other purposes, such as height channel, bi-amping, or Zone 2 speakers.
7fc3f7cf58