Blaze PowerZone Connect: Setup Guide
Before You Begin
Three defaults to know before first power-on:
- Firmware < 1.82 — amp ships with a static IP of 192.168.64.100 on LAN. Firmware 1.82+ ships in DHCP mode. Update firmware before commissioning.
- Zone volumes ship at -40 dB. If an external matrix or preamp controls volume, raise all zones to a working level. Sonance recommends starting at -5 dB to leave headroom.
- Analog inputs ship mono, 1-to-1 routed — input 1 → output 1, input 2 → output 2. Adjust routing and mono/stereo mode during setup.
Connecting to the Amplifier
Wired connection:
Access the amplifier web UI by typing the IP address into a browser, or use the PowerZone Control Center software (free download from sonance.com — scans the local network and finds all Blaze amps automatically). On firmware 1.82+, the amp takes a DHCP address from the router. On older firmware, connect a laptop set to 192.168.4.10 (gateway 192.168.4.1) to reach the static IP at 192.168.64.100. Once in, change the IP under Settings > LAN.
Wireless connection (no network available):
The amp ships with its own Wi-Fi access point enabled. Connect to the SSID Blaze PZCXXXXXXX (X = model and partial serial). Default password: password. Default IP: 192.168.4.1. Configure the amp, then disable or secure the access point.
Commissioning Steps
1. Identify the unit. Dashboard shows amp status. If multiple amps are on the network, go to Settings > Device and press Find Me — the front-panel LEDs cycle on the connected unit.
2. Name the device. Go to Settings > System Information and set a descriptive name.
3. Set a static IP or DHCP reservation (third-party control systems). Go to Settings > LAN. Assign a static address or note the DHCP-assigned address and create a reservation in the router. Required for reliable IP control.
4. Configure inputs. In the Inputs tab, all inputs default to mono. Click Mono to switch a source to stereo — the amp groups the first two input channels into a stereo pair and renames the input Stereo. Rename inputs for easy identification. Configure analog, digital, Dante, and mix inputs as needed.
5. Set input sensitivity and gain. Default sensitivity is +4 dBu — suits most sources. For very loud signals, move to +14 dBu; for quiet or mic-level signals, use -10 dBu or MIC. Use the five-band parametric EQ for advanced source tuning.
6. Configure zones. In the Zones tab, all zones default to mono. Click Mono to switch to stereo — the amp groups the first two output channels (e.g. A+B) into a stereo zone. Name zones for easy identification.
7. Adjust output routing. In the Output > Routing tab, adjust which channels belong to each zone. Default: each mono zone maps to its paired channel. For stereo zones, the first two channels route as left and right. Use this tab to build large speaker groups across multiple channels.
8. Set zone volumes. All zones ship at -40 dB. If using the amp as the primary volume control (e.g. Blaze M1 wall control or third-party system), leave this and adjust via the control system. If an external preamp or Sonos player drives the inputs, raise zone volumes here — start at -5 dB.
9. Set per-channel gain balance. In Output, adjust individual channel gain to balance stereo pairs or blend a subwoofer in a group. Add or remove gain slowly while listening.
10. Add speaker delays (if needed). In Output, enter delays in feet or metres per channel to time-align speakers across a room or on a sloped ceiling. Measure distance from each speaker to the primary listening position.
11. Load speaker EQ presets. In Output > Speaker Preset Setting, select From Library and apply the appropriate Sonance or James speaker preset to each channel. Download the full EQ preset library from the product page on sonance.com if presets are not already loaded.
12. Room EQ. In Output > Equaliser, use the ten-band parametric EQ per channel for room calibration. Compatible with Room EQ Wizard. Additional guidance at sonance.com/firmware.
Power Management
The amp ships in Audio Sense mode — wakes on any audio signal. Change the wake method under Settings > Power Management:
- Audio Sense (default) — recommended for most installs.
- Voltage trigger — uses pin 6 on the GPIO connector.
- Network only — amp responds to IP commands only; no audio-sense wake.
Important: ECO modes put the amp into a very low-power state that disables both LAN and Wi-Fi. Do not use ECO modes on IP-controlled installs.
This article was adapted from Sonance's original guidance — Source PDF Habitech-edited for UK trade installer context. Original © Sonance LLC.