Parasound has introduced a 12-channel, 2-ohm power amplifier aimed at commercial and residential audio systems installers with power options for stereo audio in six rooms (zones) and 24 individual speakers. The Parasound ZoneMaster ZM 12 drives two channels at 120 watts each, 8 ohms, with the remaining 10 channels at 60 watts each. With 4-ohm speakers typical of architectural audio, the ratings are 150 and 100 watts, respectively. There are also A and B speaker outputs for each channel.

The ZM 12 includes higher-power Zone 1 (channels 1 & 2) with an upgrade to 120 watts per channel into 8 ohms and 150 watts per channel into 4 ohms or 2 ohms. Each zone includes a Parasound-designed AB stereo input stage driving six new Danish ICE power stereo amplifier modules that are 2-ohm stable.

Each channel has an individual line-level input jack, level control and two detachable Phoenix-connector speaker outputs. Each zone can connect to one of two line-level buses or a speaker-level input bus. Buffered loop outputs facilitate daisy-chaining amplifiers.

Parasound also includes multiple turn-on options:

• Global (all zones) auto turn-on with a switch to select either a single 12VDC trigger input jack or audio sensing.
• For individual zones auto turn-on, the ZM 12 has six switches and six 12VDC input jacks so each zone can be turned on by 12V DC or audio sensing.

In other words, users can control some zones by audio sensing and other channels by 12VDC.