The little amplifier that CAN!
Written: Mar 27 '01 (Updated Mar 27 '01)
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Pros: Small size, clean power, low price, warranty
Cons: Mounting system
The Bottom Line: The Z200 is a great little amp for a "small" stereo system or perfect for running a subwoofer
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| cspu's Full Review: HiFonics 50W x 2 Amplifier Zeus Z200 |
The Z200 is the smallest amp in the HiFonics Zeus line, both in physical size and power output. It is a great amp for someone that just wants to add a little "umph" to their system or it can be used to drive subs in a competition type system (of course it would take a lot of them).
I use the Z200 to drive a single 10" Kicker CompVR in my truck. I have both channels of the Z200 bridged into one, sending my sub ~220 watts.
Z200 Specifications
RMS Power: 50 watts X 2 channels
RMS Power (Bridged): 200 watts X 1 channel
Distortion: .03%
Bass Boost: 0 - 12dB
Frequency Response: 10hz - 30Khz
Fuse: 20amp
Warranty: 3 years
Dimensions: 7.75 L x 10.16 W x 2.24 H
Like all the Zeus amps, the Z200 has the nice "modern" polished chrome heat sink. The edges are rounded and smooth, making the amp look very "high tech". It has two RCA type inputs, 8 gauge power and ground connectors, variable crossovers and bass boost, and a set of RCA outputs (for multiple amp systems). The gain, bass boost, and crossover controls are labeled very well and easily adjusted with a standard screwdriver. There are two small lights on the side of the amp, the green power indicator and the red fault indicator.
The downfall of the Zeus amps is the mounting feet. They don't come pre attached and they aren't very secure. The Z200's feet didn't have the same issues as my Z440, but they still don't seem mount to the amp securely. Installation is very simple and straight forward. Since the Z200 is only 2 channels, adjusting the gains and crossovers takes almost no time!
Sound Quality
The Z200 moves my 10" sub very nicely. The sound it tight and the little amp will get loud! HiFonics amps typically produce about 10% more than they are rated and do so cleanly. The crossover points are steep enough that there is no noticeable sound above the crossover point coming from the sub.
Final Thoughts
The Z200 alone is not going to win you any loud system competitions, but it will do very nicely for people that simply want more headroom in their cars. The sound quality is on par with amps that are more expensive and the 3 year warranty is hard to beat! It has very good looks and solid construction, I have no doubts that my little amp "can" for a long time.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 175
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Epinions.com ID:
cspu
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 in Electronics |
 - Top 500 |
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Location: The Island of Misfit Toys (Alabama)
Reviews written: 116
Trusted by: 98 members
About Me:
Sarcastic car audio enthusiast, motorcycle rider, and hunter... and I make NO apologies for it!
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