Audio Input Connections; Speaker Level Input Connector - Parasound ZoneMaster 250 Owner's Manual

Rear Panel Audio Connections
Always disconnect the AC cord to your ZoneMaster 250 before plugging in or unplugging any
connections. Inserting or removing an interconnect cable's plug while this power amp is turned on can
result in a burst of sound that can damage your loudspeakers. Make sure there is no strain or tension on
any input cables, speaker wires, DC trigger wires or the AC cord that could cause them to pull loose.

Audio Input Connections

The Speaker Level Input Connector
The speaker level input enables the ZoneMaster 250 to connect to any audio receiver or stereo system even
if it lacks preamp output jacks. This is a high impedance input and the ZoneMaster 250's Speaker Level
input can connect to the speaker terminals on any receiver or amplifier. This will not reduce the output
power or degrade the sound quality of the speakers that are already connected directly to the "host" receiver
or amplifier. Speaker level audio is converted to line level and routed to the Loop Out jacks which provide a
line level output to drive additional amplifiers.
Polarity Is Important!
You must be careful to maintain polarity between the "host" receiver (or amplifier) and the Model 250.
Connect the + terminals of the receiver to the + terminals of the Model 250's Speaker Level Input. Connect
the – terminals of the receiver to the – terminals of the Model 250's Speaker Level Input. If you do not
maintain polarity then the Speaker Level Input will not function correctly and there could be no sound.
Note: You should connect only the RCA connections or the Speaker Level inputs, but not both
or you could hear both sources at the same time.
Note: You can detach the speaker input connector block from the 250 to make it easier to
attach and secure the 4 speaker wires. It accepts bare wires up to AWG 16. Each
wire should be twisted tightly and/or tinned with solder to prevent stray strands that
could short circuit the amplifier. Since the Speaker Level input consumes a small
fraction of a watt of your receiver's power output using large gauge speaker wire
provides absolutely no performance advantage.
Line Input Jacks for Left and Right (channels 1 and 2)
These are standard line level audio Inputs for each channel. Connect these jacks to the Left and Right
output jacks on your preamp, whole-house audio controller or the zone outputs of your AV receiver.
™ 250 Owner's Manual
®
Parasound ZoneMaster Page 8