Hi, I am Fabio Zacarias. My passion have always been electronics and speakers, my first amplifier I did at the age of 11 and my first speaker at 12.Since them I have been developing a number of speakers and transducers for many different applications.

After I graduate on Electronic engineer on 1992, I started FZ audio as a response for the demands on high SPL and the perfect reproduction of human voice on compact systems. This have been our goal so far. After that, on another step on this direction we develop a line of self powered speakers, were I used on my expertise of more than 25 years on the area to accomplish an unmatched size and weight x SPL ratio. Please check out the weight of our models and compare with our competitors.

To reproduce clear vocals we use Mathcad algorithm to achieve the best summing considering the vertical and horizontal polar planes. Most recently I started studies on DSP Algorithms, the idea was to increase the accuracy of the sound reproduction having a better transfer function. The transfer function we are talking about is the sum of the responses from the Amplifier + Speaker + DSP.

Those three time, phase and frequency responses shall complement each order to achieve a ideal sound reproduction. Of course all this technology is useless without the intensive use of training gold ears. All our speakers are tested on a studio with controlled acoustics for hundreds of hours to make sure that we deliver only the best.

Here at FZ audio we believe that the speakers does not have to be big and heavy in order to have a great sound, and the voice and singing must be clear and transparent.

In the market since 1992, FZ Audio is a pioneer in the manufacturing of professional audio equipment. Our mission is to offer the best solution and quality standards to our customers, combining experience and technical expertise with exclusive equipment.

FZ Audio products deliver superior technology and performance, obtained by means of continuous investment in engineering and development, and by using selected materials from the best suppliers in the world. The result is a product line of world class quality and considerable added value.

The frequent participation in events and projects that require audio solutions has enabled FZ Audio to acquire an unmatched level of expertise. As a result of that expertise, today our customers have trust in our service and technical support, and in solutions for multiple applications.

• 1992/95
• - The company was founded.
• - First FZ AUDIO loudspeaker box.
• - First FZ 218 SUBWOOFER.
• - First loudspeaker box manufactured in Brazil with Fly Hardware Aeroquip system.
• - FZ 212, designed by Mark Engenreston.

• 1999
• - New plant installed in Diadema.
• - Introduction of CNC System for wood machining.

• 2001/02
• - First line array manufactures in Brazil, the FZ 125.
• - First loudspeaker box manufactured in Brazil with neodymium loudspeaker, the FZ 108/102.
• - Compact speaker boxes.

• 2004
• - First speaker box manufactured in Brazil with digital amplifier, the FZ 102A.

• 2005/06
• - First amplified line array manufactured in Brazil, the FZ J08A.

FZ audio equipment is designed for abuse, and made to last. Please be our guest to drive our speakers to the limit for hours and hours. Internally all our connections are gold plated to ensure higher longevity under extreme conditions of moisture and temperature, ordinary connectors are tin plated.

Keep in mind that your speaker gets hot during operation and cold after being turned off, this repeated process day after day tends to accumulate moisture that results on bad connections and failure after some time.

Our processor board is gold plated and our touring line use aluminum and stainless steel on fly hardware instead of standard steel that oxidize in a few years.

The wood used is custom made for FZ audio and it is CNC machined at our factory, during the construction of the wood cabinet we use screws instead of pregos e grampos, this ensure a better stability and strength of cabinets, even after some bumps o the road!

All our fly hardware have test certification available and are safe under 7:1 safety factor.

A lot it has been said about innovation. Surfing on the net I see some of my competitors with the same marketing campaign – they all say they innovate, but what is real innovation? According to dictionary Innovation is something that has never been done before. On the other day a costumer send me a message saying: "look this new product from XYZ, they are using coaxial speakers witch is a fantastic innovation…"

Well coaxial speakers are not exactly innovation. They have been around for 60 years ! The first ones appear on the 604 Duplex see below:
http://www.alteclansingunofficial.nlenet.net/Duplex.html

At that time this certainly was a innovation. At present time we could not say for sure that our brain really prefer a coaxial than a non coaxial design. To me as Audio deal with a mostly subjective sense and this opens space to a lot of nonsense. My advice is when you buy your next speaker listen to it, check the after sales is good and if the features please you , if so – just buy it.

Fábio Zacarias

A lot has been said of loudspeaker boxes. There is no right or wrong in this industry. Each human being has their own hearing perception, therefore each person is bound to have their own unique audio experience. The only thing we know is that we are usually more sensitive to medium frequencies.

That poses an obstacle in finding adequate frequency tuning for a speaker box system.

Perhaps that is the reason why so much existing equipment reproduces sound at excessive levels (too much bass and too much treble) and any audition will make it too obvious that voice channels have been recorded in background.

That has become a painful issue in mixing sessions for a band. That kind of system does not produce consistent equalizer levels, so it was very difficult for sound engineers to put all the instruments and voices together and make them sound crystal clear.

Reaching a high level of quality for voice channels is very difficult, our hearing is trained to detect any loss of linearity in relation to distortions, phasing errors, etc.

Trying to obtain clear voice output in two or three-way speakers, many sound engineers have to align the two components, frequency and phase response in order to achieve good results. So, the next time you purchase a speaker box, keep in mind that good bass and extreme treble frequencies are not as relevant, pay attention to the voice channels.

Cabinet construction is the soul of a decent speaker. You may have the best project of a speaker but if the cabinet is fragile it will compromise performance especially when demanding high SPL. Vibration, noise contamination of the program material, peaks and dips on the frequency response are the most common symptoms.

It is very expensive and time consuming to manufacture a heavy duty cabinet, for example using screws takes much more time on a assembly line than grampus, I do not have to say that the strength of the 2“ screw is substantially higher than the grampo. Internal bracing also helps to prevent resonances but again it is more time consuming.

The plywood used is custom made for FZ audio and it is CNC machined at our factory, during the construction of the wood cabinet we use screws instead of pregos e grampos, this ensure a better stability and strength of cabinets, even after some bumps o the road! After that all cabinets are hand sand to assure the best finishing. Each detail is double checked and finally we apply a Urethane based coating. All our fly hardware have test certification available and are safe under 7:1 safety factor.

Some customers often wonder, what would the best loudspeaker box be like? The answer is simple: Use the best raw materials form the best supply only. Of course, the sky is the limit, but here at FZ, we use nothing but the best there is available, not only the raw materials, but also what really makes a difference: the manufacturing.

Each FZ amplified speaker box has its own digital processor. It comprises a digital board with the latest technology currently available for audio equipment. This board provides equalization, crossover, phase correction, delay and two ways for compression and limiter. The choice of digital technology is obvious, we have tested many digital processors and decided to use the line of DSPs by Analog Devices – Sharc.

This digital audio processor has countless features that improve the end result sound and has extremely low noise levels. Sharc processors will be found in the best digital boards available in the market, as well as in the most advanced digital crossovers such as XTA, etc. All that expertise is intended to achieve restoration of the sound image and, most of all, clear vocal sounds. It’s what we call Clear Vocals technology.

• What does FZ mean?

  Those are the initials of the founder: Electronics Engineer Fabio Zacarias.

• Is it an entirely Brazilian-owned company?

  Yes, 100% privately owned and Brazilian only.

• When did FZ start its activities?

  As the only licensed distributor of foreign manufacturers of loudspeakers boxes such as EAW, Celestion, QSC, to name a few.

• When was the company started?

  In 1993.

• Why manufacture loudspeaker boxes in Brazil?

  We realized that purchasing imported equipment was too costly an option due to the high costs of shipment and taxes. Some of the items were in fact not a viable choice. Another problem was obtaining spare parts. Foreign companies typically sell those parts at extremely high prices, while some of them will not even provide them directly, equipment would have to be shipped to the manufaturer in the USA, for example.

• How did FZ acquire the technology to manufacture cutting edge equipment?

  Engineer Fábio Zacarias has visited and undergone training in many of the best manufacturers in the world such as EAW, L’acoustics, Eminence, Lab Gruppen, etc. He has been designing speaker boxes for 20 years, designed the first line array in Latin America (Planeta Atlântida, 2001) and designed the first amplified line array in Brazil. FZ also has a team of engineers that includes Ph.Ds in acoustics and DSP experts to develop technology that is very modern and equivalent to the best available in the rest of the world.

  
  
• Does FZ enjoy international recognition then?

  Yes. Since 2006, we have been present at many international trade shows in the USA, Germany, Mexico, Argentina and Chile. FZ exports products to many countries and our quality is held in high esteem.

• How many international artists have used and approved systems made by FZ?

  • ZZ Top, on tour in the USA

  • Peter Frampton, on tour in the USA

  • Spyro Gyra, performing at the Rio das Ostras international jazz festival

  • Living Color, performing at the Circo Voador

  • DJ Tiësto, performing in Recife

• Does FZ provide equipment for live performances only?

  FZ operates in 5 lines of business and has accomplished high-profile projects in each one of them:

  a) Live performances – Planeta Atlântida

  b) Electric trio - Trio da Claudia Leitte (Axé & Cia)

  c) Churches - Catedral de Aparecida

  d) Business installations - São Paulo subway, Linha 4

  e) DJ's and night clubs - Playwright (USA), Cafe de La Musique (BRA)

• What are the key differentiators of FZ?

  On the product, the Clear Vocal technology, which employs a highly sophisticated internal DSP system that reproduces crystal clear voice texture

  On the business, the extremely effective technical support and cost of spare parts at reasonable prices (also, they are always available).

• Is there an FZ showroom? Is there any store where we can actually hear the systems?

  No. A store is not the best place for sampling the systems. The best place for that are the live performances or events that employ FZ equipment. Give us a call and ask about the nearest place or venue where you can hear the quality of FZ equipment in a real life situation.

• How can I purchase FZ products?

  Call us at: +55 (11) 4071-2355 or send e-mail to: vendas@fzaudio.com.br