Changing the ZX450v.2

dBincognito · Post by **dBincognito** » Thu May 21, 2009 8:30 pm

I've been slowly changing this amp since I got it......I'm going to start a thread to show it off as I go along.....I've already replace the LED's and the fan. I believe I will do the heatsink in a different color next. I will also be doing a full burr brown upgrade, replacing the caps, and a few other things as well.

1moreamp · Post by **1moreamp** » Thu May 21, 2009 8:32 pm

What are you looking to change

Post by **mr tibbs** » Thu May 21, 2009 8:32 pm

Good hell that's bright!! I hope you don't plan on driving with that thing on!!

1moreamp · Post by **1moreamp** » Thu May 21, 2009 8:34 pm

It looks radioactive ...don't you think ?

dBincognito · Post by **dBincognito** » Thu May 21, 2009 8:41 pm

1moreamp wrote:What are you looking to change

The color, op amps, caps, anything I can really....I will make this my special ZX450

Good hell that's bright!! I hope you don't plan on driving with that thing on!!

You don't see it in the trunk.....you only see it when you want to show it

....no FJ here....I can hide the light

It looks radioactive ...don't you think ?

2 match the dangerous sound

Post by **mr tibbs** » Thu May 21, 2009 8:45 pm

Yeah, sometimes I forget not everyone has an SUV, even though my good system is in my car!

Post by **stipud** » Thu May 21, 2009 9:19 pm

You should replace the grill with a big pot leaf and paint it green

Mean green machine.

dBincognito · Post by **dBincognito** » Thu May 21, 2009 9:26 pm

stipud wrote:You should replace the grill with a big pot leaf and paint it green

Mean green machine.

I haven't decided on a color scheme yet......black on green...yellow on green.

Post by **Bfowler** » Thu May 21, 2009 9:29 pm

the alien green is badass!

Misfire · Post by **Misfire** » Thu May 21, 2009 9:48 pm

How are you going to repaint the graphics/info on the case? Mainly cause I am repainting my ZX450, so any help as to do that would be greatly appreciated.

Post by **Wakeup** » Thu May 21, 2009 9:50 pm

Looking nice Bandy.

dBincognito · Post by **dBincognito** » Thu May 21, 2009 10:14 pm

Misfire wrote:How are you going to repaint the graphics/info on the case? Mainly cause I am repainting my ZX450, so any help as to do that would be greatly appreciated.

I spoke with a local silk screen printing shop who said they could scan it and re-silk screen the words back on there when I was ready....in any color I want....it will not be cheap....but that's ok...this is a project amp now

First I will speak with matt

dBincognito · Post by **dBincognito** » Thu May 21, 2009 10:16 pm

Bfowler wrote:the alien green is badass!

I also have a blue fan that matches this

freshkryp69 · Post by **freshkryp69** » Fri May 22, 2009 1:22 am

well I guess you can mount it upside down under the rear deck and you'd have a green light in the trunk..that led is SUPER bright!!!!!!!!!

I agree you should cut out the old grill,grind the hole out smooth,paint it incredible hulk green,re silk screen and get a radioactive symbol style grill on fleabay for like 3 bucks...

dBincognito · Post by **dBincognito** » Fri May 22, 2009 5:59 am

freshkryp69 wrote:

well I guess you can mount it upside down under the rear deck and you'd have a green light in the trunk..that led is SUPER bright!!!!!!!!!

I agree you should cut out the old grill,grind the hole out smooth,paint it incredible hulk green,re silk screen and get a radioactive symbol style grill on fleabay for like 3 bucks...

I'm thinking the Incredible Hulk....Radioactive fan grill.....and I need some special artwork

Post by **Eric D** » Fri May 22, 2009 6:15 am

If you are doing everything else, you might as well redo the power supply as well. Better more powerful MOSFETs, and better rectifiers. Bigger rail caps, as the amp has physical space for much longer than stock units.

dBincognito · Post by **dBincognito** » Fri May 22, 2009 6:19 am

Eric D wrote:If you are doing everything else, you might as well redo the power supply as well. Better more powerful MOSFETs, and better rectifiers. Bigger rail caps, as the amp has physical space for much longer than stock units.

I was already planning the MOSFETS, what can I do with the rectifiers ?

These are the caps I was planning on using

http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSea ... e=P6678-ND

http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSea ... 93-1546-ND

Post by **Eric D** » Fri May 22, 2009 7:05 am

Take the ZX apart first. They may not be snap in. It has been a long time since I pulled a rail cap on a ZX, so I cannot remember.

dBincognito · Post by **dBincognito** » Fri May 22, 2009 7:08 am

Eric D wrote:Take the ZX apart first. They may not be snap in. It has been a long time since I pulled a rail cap on a ZX, so I cannot remember.

It soldered to a daughter board sideways.

dBincognito · Post by **dBincognito** » Fri May 22, 2009 7:10 am

Like this

Post by **Eric D** » Fri May 22, 2009 7:14 am

Pull the card and then the caps. I think they are snap in on the card.

Take your time, I think the vias on the main board for the card to insert into are fragile.

Misfire · Post by **Misfire** » Fri May 22, 2009 7:16 am

Squeezing the boards out of that case is real fun. I just finished cleaning mine out. Its amazing what finds its way into your amps! Great thread... considering my amp is apart too and these are some great ideas!

dBincognito · Post by **dBincognito** » Fri May 22, 2009 7:16 am

Eric D wrote:Pull the card and then the caps. I think they are snap in on the card.

Take your time, I think the vias on the main board for the card to insert into are fragile.

Is it possible to raise the card at all....so I could go with bigger caps....22 is such a odd measurement

Post by **Eric D** » Fri May 22, 2009 7:17 am

If you want to make this some sort of "hard core" no limits amp, there are a ton of parts you might as well replace.

I am interested in what you do with this, as the ZX450 is probably my favorite amp. I think I have owned around 10 of them if you count those in Reactors and ZX950s as well.

Post by **Eric D** » Fri May 22, 2009 7:18 am

dBincognito wrote:
Eric D wrote:Pull the card and then the caps. I think they are snap in on the card.

Take your time, I think the vias on the main board for the card to insert into are fragile.
Is it possible to raise the card at all....so I could go with bigger caps....22 is such a odd measurement

Keep in mind the crossover board would be in the way. You could dump the signal processing and make the amp just a simple gain only like with a MS. I personally like the ZX450 so much because of its x-over options.