Cloud Electronics Z4ii - Manual (Page 10)

Z4 II & Z8 II Installation and User Manual v1.0 10 10
Hardware Considerations
The Z4 II and Z8 II Zone Mixers are built in 3U-high 19” rack
mount enclosures. It is recommended that the Zone Mixer
is installed in a 19” rack wherever possible. The units are
approx. 160 mm deep, but 250 mm of rack depth should be
available to allow for rear connectors and cabling.
The Z4
II and Z8 II have low power consumption and there
are no thermal considerations other than ensuring that
the ventilation grilles are not obstructed once the mixer
is installed installed. The ventilation grilles are at the rear
(immediately above the AC input connector); in the bottom
panel (behind the AC mains switch), and in the side panels.
Other equipment may be installed above or below the Z4
II /
Z8 II within this constraint.
The choice of location will be dictated by the specifics of the
system and building layout. It is recommended that wherever
possible, the Z4 II /Z8 II should be mounted in an equipment
rack along with as many of the music sources (CD players,
music servers, TV receiver boxes, etc.) and audio power
amplifiers (driving the zone loudspeakers) as practical.
When deciding the Zone Mixer’s location, bear in mind
that access to it will probably be required even if a full
complement of remote controls is being fitted as part of the
system, as some adjustments can only be made on the mixer
itself.
Power Supply
The European versions of the Z4 II and Z8 II operate on
standard 230 V AC mains; alternative versions are available
which operate on 115 V AC. An IEC mains cable with a plug
appropriate for each country is supplied with the European
unit. The unit’s power consumption is 20 VA (Z4
II ) or 28 VA
(Z8 II )
Fuses and ratings
The only user-accessible fuse is an AC mains fuse in the
IEC connector housing.
Only replace a fuse with one of
exactly the same type. The table below gives the correct
fuse types.
VERSION RATING FUSE TYPE
230 V 125 mA 20 mm x 5 mm
slo-blo T125mA
115 V 250 mA 20 mm x 5 mm
slo-blo T250mA
The fuseholder may be accessed by prising the slide below
the connector open, using a small screwdriver. The holder
has an extra cavity for storing a spare fuse; note that the
“active” fuse is that in the inner cavity.
System Connections
Music Sources
Connect the system’s various music sources to LINE 1
to LINE 6. All line inputs offer unbalanced connection for
stereo sources on a pair of standard RCA jacks (phono
sockets). The sensitivity range available should allow most
standard items of audio equipment such as CD players,
PC-based music servers, TV tuners, etc., to operate at a
satisfactory level. Most equipment of this type will have
stereo unbalanced outputs, and as long as the source
equipment is adjacent to the Zone Mixer, normal phono-
phono leads can be used. Always avoid using pre-made leads
of an unnecessary length.
Mono and stereo sources
The Z4 II and Z8 II are mono mixers; the stereo line inputs
are summed internally to mono. Stereo sources should be
connected in a normal stereo configuration, using both L
and R inputs. If connecting a mono source with only a single
output, it may be connected to either the left or the right
input.
Balanced sources
If it is necessary to connect an item of source equipment
with a balanced output to the Zone Mixer, a balancing
transformer should ideally be connected between the source
and the unbalanced input. Suitable audio transformers, which
should have a ratio of 1:1, are readily available from major
audio component suppliers. The transformer(s) should
be mounted as close to the Zone Mixer as practical, and
housed in a screened enclosure if they are not individually
screened. The preferred connection method is shown in
fig.10.
LEFT
+
-
SCN
Unbalanced
inputs SCN
LEFT
+
-
SCN
Audio balancing transformers
RIGHT
+
-
SCN
Unbalanced
inputs SCN
RIGHT
+
-
SCN
pin 1 ground
pin 2 hot
pin 3 cold
Balanced outputs (XLRs):
1 2
3
1 2
3
fig.10: Balanced - Unbalanced wiring using transformer
If transformers are not available, a balanced source may
feed an unbalanced input directly as long as care is taken
over how the connections are made. A variety of design
techniques are in use to implement balanced outputs in
audio equipment, and some designs require different wiring
protocols to others. Installers are advised to check the
Installation