Blaze PowerZone: Dante Channel Grouping
Overview
Use Dante networked audio to group speakers across multiple Blaze PowerZone Connect amplifiers. Useful when a single space has more speakers than one amp can drive, or when adding a subwoofer on a separate high-power amp to a zone controlled by a smaller amp.
Prerequisites
- Blaze PowerZone Connect amplifiers with Dante (D-suffix models)
- PowerZone Control Center — free download
- Dante Controller — free download
Configure Amplifier 1 (source amp)
- Commission Amplifier 1 as normal — set up zones, outputs, sources, and DSP.
- Go to Settings > Output Routing.
- Under Dante, assign a Dante output channel (1–4). Set the source to a zone output (not a source input). Selecting a zone passes the zone's current volume level downstream to Amplifier 2 — correct volume tracking across the group.
- Select Left, Right, or Sum for the channel mode. For a subwoofer group, use Sum to send both channels mixed to the subwoofer amp.
- Set gain to 0 dB as a starting point. Adjust after the group is confirmed working.
Configure Amplifier 2 (subscriber amp)
- Commission Amplifier 2 normally — zones and outputs only. Note which Dante output channels are used on Amplifier 1.
- In the Inputs section, label the Dante channels to match Amplifier 1.
- Go to Zone > Source. Select the zone to group, then set its source to the Dante channel coming from Amplifier 1.
- Set that zone's volume to 0 dB (full). The zone inherits volume from Amplifier 1's zone via the Dante subscription — local volume must be at maximum for the group to track correctly.
- Go to Settings > Power Management. Set Auto On to Audio (Digital). This allows Amplifier 2 to wake on Dante signals from Amplifier 1.
Create the Dante Subscription
- Open Dante Controller.
- Locate Amplifier 1's transmit channels and Amplifier 2's receive channels in the routing matrix.
- Click the intersection boxes to create routes (e.g. Amp 1 Dante TX channels 1–4 → Amp 2 Dante RX channels 1–4).
- Verify audio is passing. Consult www.getdante.com for Dante troubleshooting resources.
- Once audio is confirmed, adjust per-channel gain and EQ on each amp to tune the group to taste.
This article was adapted from Sonance's original guidance — Source PDF Habitech-edited for UK trade installer context. Original © Sonance LLC.