Info on Zapco's?

[Kyle! 10+ year member]

I am tossing around the idea of getting a Zapco 1000.4. I read somewhere that Zapco's need a special type of wireing. Can someone give me some information on this (as far as where to buy, how much it costs, if its hooked up any differently) as well as any feed back on this amp. Also, where should I buy Zapco from? woofersetc?

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[donpisto 5,000+ posts]

It requires Symbilink cables which can be costly. But you do have options, well one other one. You know the PS/2 cables on your keyboard or mouse (if you're not using USB or wireless), you can use that. You can find 25 ft. lengths on eBay for about 10 bucks shipped and it will be the same as using the Symbilink.

Only thing with the Symbilink is that it looks nicers. To solve this, get some techflex and heat shrink and use it with the PS/2 cable. it will look quite nice. You can even paint the tip of the connector black or any color you wish.

Zapco amplifiers, well Zapco in general is a great company making excellent products. If you want to buy their products, either buy used or buy from an authorized dealer. Woofersetc is NOT an authorized dealer. Zapco has a list of authorized dealers on their webpage. Call up several shops around you, even though they might be a little far and just get a price quote and have closer shops price match or even beat the price.

I'd recommend checking the Zapco forum and DIYMA forum classifieds. You will occasionally find Zapco products on this forum, but not too often.

 

[atsaubrey 10+ year member]

Zapco's use Symbilink which is a balanced and up to 16volt signal cable. There are alot of advantages of using Symiblink but the reference series do accept the standard RCA connections like most amps as well. Symbinlik cables are about $50 for each run of say $18ft. Now, I really admire your desire for the finest amplifiers on the planet. Now, buying Zapco unauthorized is just asking for trouble. Zapco will refuse to even open the box you mail to them for warranty if they find out it was bought unauthorized. Zapco places the traditional seriel numbers on the amps as well INSIDE the amplifier, if someone like woofersect gets one of these amps they have to remove these numbers to protect the good for nothing dealer that sold it to them. I for one would not want an amp the was taken apart for serial number removal only to be put back together by who knows who. Keep in mind they are not just slapping a serial number inside the amp easily removed but it is hidden and requires board removal. Do you want to risk all that when you are still paying $700 for an amp thru woofers?

 

[donpisto 5,000+ posts]

Zapco's use Symbilink which is a balanced and up to 16volt signal cable. There are alot of advantages of using Symiblink but the reference series do accept the standard RCA connections like most amps as well. Symbinlik cables are about $50 for each run of say $18ft. Now, I really admire your desire for the finest amplifiers on the planet. Now, buying Zapco unauthorized is just asking for trouble. Zapco will refuse to even open the box you mail to them for warranty if they find out it was bought unauthorized. Zapco places the traditional seriel numbers on the amps as well INSIDE the amplifier, if someone like woofersect gets one of these amps they have to remove these numbers to protect the good for nothing dealer that sold it to them. I for one would not want an amp the was taken apart for serial number removal only to be put back together by who knows who. Keep in mind they are not just slapping a serial number inside the amp easily removed but it is hidden and requires board removal. Do you want to risk all that when you are still paying $700 for an amp thru woofers?

Wow, I did not know that. I wouldn't want a tampered product...at least since I realized it's best to pay the extra few bucks or few hundred and get the future service that will come with it.

 

[Kyle! 10+ year member]

I want to bump this with another question. I see that the 1000.4 has software. Does this mean you can tune only through a computer meaning I have to take my laptop to my car and tune it that way? What type of cable is used to connect it to a computer?

 

[Grinder1989 5,000+ posts]

Or if you have a problem you could just send it to an amp shop to get fixed. I've seen amps get damaged more by stupid people than factory defects. I'd rather buy it from woofers and save money.

 

[ragnaroksq 10+ year member]

I want to bump this with another question. I see that the 1000.4 has software. Does this mean you can tune only through a computer meaning I have to take my laptop to my car and tune it that way? What type of cable is used to connect it to a computer?

the dc1000.4 has the tuning software, the "1000.4" does not. As a former member of team z, I used the 1000.4, and it was a good amp until i received 3, yes 3, amps with bad power supply issues. I would call zapco and find an authorized dealer. woofersetc is definitely not the way to go if you want product support. as stated before, zapco won't even look at the amp if purchased through them.

hell, I used the old I-force series of amps, and they kicked ***. if you don't want to use the tuning software, I would do more research on the i-force series. they have decent power,cheaper and use balanced signal.

in closing, 2 places that "I" would not purchase zapco equipment from, any unauthorized dealer and Jeff Smith of Audio designs of atl

 

[Kyle! 10+ year member]

the dc1000.4 has the tuning software, the "1000.4" does not. As a former member of team z, I used the 1000.4, and it was a good amp until i received 3, yes 3, amps with bad power supply issues. I would call zapco and find an authorized dealer. woofersetc is definitely not the way to go if you want product support. as stated before, zapco won't even look at the amp if purchased through them.
hell, I used the old I-force series of amps, and they kicked ***. if you don't want to use the tuning software, I would do more research on the i-force series. they have decent power,cheaper and use balanced signal.

in closing, 2 places that "I" would not purchase zapco equipment from, any unauthorized dealer and Jeff Smith of Audio designs of atl

I don't plan on buying from woofers. I found a nicely priced used 1000.4 that I am considering.

And sorry for the confusion, I am talking about the DC 1000.4, which I believe does include software