About the Clarion Z3
Clarion Full Digital Sound processor and tweeters
Z3 tweeter
Clarion Full Digital Sound processor and tweeters
The dream of reproducing musical signals that are pure and free from interference by keeping them in the digital realm from source to speaker has finally come true. No longer will your music's strength and clarity depend on electrically-resistant, noise-prone speaker wiring, and hot, inefficient amplification. Clarion's Full Digital Sound system plays music with unprecedented efficiency and control, so you can enjoy your tunes with the best quality sound possible.
How it works
Z3 processor
Clarion's Z3 Full Digital Sound processor accepts either analog output from a standard aftermarket receiver or digital information from a receiver like Clarion's NX706, then transforms the signals for audio processing. The Z3 then sends both the processed digital signal and 12-volt electrical current to a pair (or two) of Clarion's Full Digital Sound Z7 6-3/4" speakers and the Z25W 10" subwoofer.
Important note: Z7 speakers and Z25W subs are sold separately, or come included in the Clarion FDS and Clarion FDSX Full Digital Sound system packages.
Package includes two 1" tweeters
A large scale integration (LSI) chip on each speaker uses the digital signal to modulate the power supply voltage, which drives the speakers — adding the music and power together. In effect, DC voltage travels with the digital information along the same wires. The digital signal is combined directly with the voltage by the LSI chip. Because the tweeters in this package are so small, their LSI chips are onboard the Z3 processor and they receive analog signals for their voice coils via the included wiring.
Sounds good, too
All this cutting edge technology wouldn't be worth it if it didn't sound good, right? Well, it sounds great — we checked out the system here in our Crutchfield Labs. The system worked great straight out of the box, but Clarion's Z-Tune digital tuning app helps customize the sound, via smartphone or tablet, to fit your car and musical preferences perfectly. Z-Tune features extensive tunable crossover filtering, 31-band equalization, and time alignment so every speaker, tweeter, and sub in the setup will sound their best individually and together.
Z-Tune home page
Product highlights:
- Clarion Z3 Full Digital Sound processor and tweeters (speakers and subs sold separately)
- analog (RCA) and digital (coax and optical) inputs
- preamp and speaker-level inputs
- preamp outputs
- Commander wired remote control included
- Z-Tune app allows tuning via smartphone or tablet
- Z-Tune app features variable crossover filters, time alignment, and 31-band EQ for every channel
- two 1" soft dome tweeters (proprietary wiring included)
- rated power output (CEA-2006 compliant): 8 watts RMS x 2 for tweeters
- module dimensions: 4-5/8"W x 1-1/2"H x 7-1/8"D
- warranty: 1 year
- MFR # Z3
What's in the box:
- Z3 Sound Processor
- Commander (with 8' cable attached)
- 2 Tweeters (with 12" cable attached)
- Two 106" tweeter extension cables
- 2 Flush mount tweeter housings
- 2 Flush mount clamps
- 2 Angled surface mount teeter housings
- 2 Adhesive backed tweeter mounting cushions
- Processor wire cover
- Processor mounting bracket
- 12" Z3 tweeter output cord
- 8' Power harness (ground wire is 6.5')
- 15-amp glass tube type fuse (installed in power wire)
- 6.5' Speaker level input wire harness
- 18" USB input cable
- 6" USB adapter cable
- Two M3x14mm Machine screws
- Two M2.6x6mm Machine screws
- Four 5/8" Screws
- Two 1/2" Screws
- 2 Adhesive backed Velcro strips
- Owner's manual (English/ French/ Spanish/ German/ Italian/ Dutch/ Swedish/ Polish/ Russian/ Czech/ Greek/ Chinese)
- Tweeter mounting instructions
Customer reviews for Clarion Z3
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More details on the Clarion Z3
Features & specs
General | ||
---|---|---|
Speaker Size | 1 | |
Design | 1-way | |
Tweeter Design | Dome | |
Impedance (Ohms) | 6 | |
Tweeter Composition | Soft | |
Woofer Composition | --- | |
Woofer Surround | --- | |
Parts Warranty | 1 Year | |
Labor Warranty | 1 Year | |
Specifications | ||
Sensitivity (1W at 1 meter) | N/A | |
Sensitivity at 2.83 volts | N/A | |
Frequency Response | 1500 - 40k Hz | |
Minimum RMS Wattage | --- | |
Maximum RMS Wattage | 6 | |
Peak Power Handling (Watts) | 9 | |
Top-mount Depth (Inches) | 0 7/8 | |
Bottom-mount Depth (Inches) | N/A | |
Cutout Diameter or Length (inches) | 1 3/4 | |
Mounting Height (Inches) | 0.47 | |
Frame Width | 2.182 | |
Frame Length | 2.182 |
Product Research
Processor
Processor: The Z3 processor is designed to control the two included tweeters, two or four Z7 full-range speakers (front/rear), and one or two Z25W subwoofers. Because the processor also has a pair of RCA analog line outputs, it can also integrate standard speakers or subwoofers. (The RCA output is adjusted as one set of speakers, rear full-range or subwoofer.)
Inputs: The processor has digital and analog inputs:
- USB: for smart phone or tablet
- Optical: Toslink optical digital
- Coaxial: RCA coaxial digital
- Line input: stereo RCA analog line-level inputs
- Speaker Level input: 6.5' speaker-level input harness included
Outputs: The processor also has digital and analog outputs:
- Tweeters: connects to the included tweeters using the included wire
- Front Speakers (Digital): connects to Clarion Z7 speakers (sold separately) using wire included with the Z7s
- Rear Speakers (Digital): connects to Clarion Z7 speakers (sold separately) using wire included with the Z7s
- Subwoofer 1 (Digital): connects to Clarion S25W subwoofer (sold separately) using wire included with the Z25W
- Subwoofer 2 (Digital): connects to Clarion S25W subwoofer (sold separately) using wire included with the Z25W
- Preamp Output: one pair of analog stereo RCA outputs to integrate a standard amp and speakers
Processor Dimensions:
- Width: 4.56" (5.6" including wiring)
- Height: 1.47"
- Length: 7.16"
Commander
Commander: The commander (wired remote) is designed to give you easy access to often used adjustments, and seldom used adjustments not covered by the Z-Tune App. The commander has a display panel, mode button, set button and rotary dial, and offers access to these features:
- Main Volume: adjust master volume; -99 dB to 00 dB in 1 dB steps
- Subwoofer Volume: adjust the subwoofer volume (relative to the master volume); -10 to +10 in 0.5 steps
- Memory Select: switch between the four custom memory settings in the Z-Tune App
- Intelligent Tune: on/off
- Intelligent Tune Detail:
- Sound Restorer: restores compressed audio sources; Off/Low/Mid/High
- Virtual Bass: intensifies bass output when there's no subwoofer in the system; Off/Low/Mid/High
- Tone Filter: adjusts attack and reverb tone; Off/Vivid+1/Vivid+2/Vintage+1/Vintage+2
- Reverb Control: Adjusts the reverb on the signal source; Off/Low/Mid/High
- Balance: Left/Right
- Fader: Front/Rear
- Source: Optical/Coaxial/Analog/USB
- Audio Sense: adjusts the input gain of the analog input; Low/Mid/High
- Brightness: adjusts display brightness; 11 settings
- Beep: on/off
Z-Tune: The APP has four custom memory positions, and offers these adjustments:
- Speaker Setting: what channels in use, digital and analog
- Crossover: individual settings for each speaker; high pass frequency, low pass frequency, slope, gain level, phase
- Time Alignment: set distance to each speaker component; up to 206.7" (525cm)
- Equalizer: dedicated EQ for each channel,
31 band, can sync left and right
- Level: -12 dB to +12 dB in 0.5 dB steps
- Bands: 20 Hz, 25 Hz, 31.5 Hz, 40 Hz, 50 Hz, 63 Hz, 80 Hz, 100 Hz, 125 Hz, 160 Hz, 200 Hz, 250 Hz, 315 Hz, 400 Hz, 500 Hz, 630 Hz, 800 Hz, 1 kHz, 1.25 kHz, 1.6 kHz, 2 kHz, 2.5 kHz, 3.15 kHz, 4 kHz, 5 kHz, 6.3 kHz, 8 kHz, 10 kHz, 12.5 kHz, 16 kHz, 20 kHz
Commander Dimensions:
- Width: 3.95"
- Height: 1.82"
- Depth: 0.7" (1.1" including knob)
Tweeters
Mounting Options: The tweeters include flush mount and angled surface mount housings.
Tweeter Mounting Dimensions:
Flush Mount | Angled Surface Mount | |
---|---|---|
Mounting Height | 0.47" | 1.9" |
Mounting Depth | 0.825" | screw depth |
Frame Diameter | 2.182" | N/A |
Cutout Diameter | 1.722" | N/A |
Housing Width | N/A | 1.886" |
Surface Depth | N/A | 2.1" |
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