Zapco is preparing a comeback after keeping a low profile since its heyday in the mid 90’s to mid 2000’s as a car audio amplifier and signal processor brand.
The company has brought back John Borges as Director of Sales & Marketing. (He had served at AudioControl in recent years).
Four new Zapco amp lines will be ship in the next 2 months and the company is rebuilding its rep and dealer network.
“We’re ready to grow. The owner is investing not only more money but time and interest in the company,” said Borges.
A new D-Series is the company’s first compact, affordable, full range Class D line. Prices for the line will range from about $300 to $500. The amps are roughly a third of the size of the models they replace. Pictured here is the model D5 rated 4 x 100 plus 1 x 400 which measures 6.7 inches by 10.5 inches.
A new Z series tops out at about $1,800 and a new ZX series brings you up to a 20,000 watt amp for $10,000. The ZX line begins at $1,300.
Zapco’s DC series with onboard control amplifiers has been improved with better control and speaker level inputs.
Also new is a $500 outboard 8-channel digital signal processor that ships in 45 days.
Zapco has also added reps in about 6 territories and is still hiring for the remainder of the U.S.
Eventually it expects to offer new DSP models and to offer car speakers.
Source: CEoutlook
Turn out the lights, the party is over. Zapco, like plenty other old “heyday” brands need to realize the business has changed and ITS NOT COMING BACK..
Why all of a sudden did the owner decided to put money into the company? I was a huge fan of Zapco for many years and a dealer for several years as well. But when ESB (the Italian company that owns Zapco) terminated Bob and Robert Rugani I lost a lot of respect for the company. I have not purchased any product since the day the father son team were let go.
I briefly talked to John at SBN in Daytona and he seems to be a pretty good guy but he’s not the Rugani’s. Bob Rugani made Zapco the leader in amplifiers that it was in he late 90s to mid 2000’s and Robert Rugani was following in his fathers footsteps.
I hope John can salvage what is left from the destruction ESB has caused. Because like the company owner or not, Zapco is great product and it would be devestating to the industry to see another manufacturer go under. Especially one as well known as Zapco.
I might also add, as I stated earlier, I have not purchased ANY Zapco product since the release of the Ruganis. NOONE from Zapco has bothered to call and see why I’m not placing orders. And when I introduced myself to John at SBN he never asked why I wasn’t buying and what he could do to get back in my shop. I guess they don’t care.