Fryette ZMACS Impedance Matching Amp and Cab Selector

Product Description

The Fryette ZMACS is the world’s first and only selectable and programmable impedance matching amp and cab selector. Multiple amplifier and speaker cabinet selector systems have been around for decades and offer a wide variety of features and functions. Yet, in all that time, not one of these products has been designed to address the single most important application question surrounding mixing and matching tube amps and speakers: "It is safe to mismatch the impedance of my prized vintage amps and cabs?"

Most vacuum tube guitar amplifiers require that the user manually set the amplifier output impedance to match the impedance of the speaker cabinet. Moreover, tube amplifiers require connection to a specific impedance load to operate properly, maintain tone and avoid damage to the output tubes and transformer.

Today's users own a wide variety of vintage and modern vacuum tube amplifiers, all of which exhibit lesser or greater degrees of sensitivity to their applied external loads. This is an esoteric operating condition not well understood by producers of amp switchers, let alone the average user, and raises the possibility of damage to expensive, and possibly irreplaceable vintage gear, as well as expensive to service modern tube amplifiers. Even when running at conservative volumes, an impedance mismatch will at the very least cause highly apparent tonal alterations.

In order to safely use any of the currently available amplifier/cabinet switching systems, the user must either manually set each amplifier to operate correctly into the desired load, or operate a given amplifier or speaker cabinet (load) at a relatively benign mismatch and hopefully avoid any potential consequences. If the selected alternate cabinet is not the same impedance as the amplifier connected to it, the user may be unable to select the correct impedance to maintain optimum safety and tonal quality for that cab.

Furthermore, in a complex system involving many amplifiers and cabs/loads, the wiring and electrical connections are all in the rear of the units and are often difficult to access, especially when one wants to change quickly to an otherwise incompatible combination. Thus, to avoid user interruption during play and/or performances, the user may choose to overlook the resulting impedance mismatch, rather than stop to make the necessary settings changes for optimum tonal response.

Players who have complex home, studio, and/or live performance systems need a simple, reliable and safe solution that eliminates the shortcomings and inconvenience of currently available switching systems.

Enter the ZMACS. A patent pending high quality, simple to operate and enormously flexible solution. Once you hear the ZMACS difference, you’ll never want to go back.