Chord Electronics CPA-4000-E Owners manual

CHORD

Pre-amplifiers and integrated amplifiers

welcome

Thank you for buying a Chord product.

Before you start to enjoy using to your Chord product, please take a couple of

minutes to read how to connect your audio equipment and loudspeakers to your

pre-amplifier or integrated amplifier and how to maximise your listening experience.

user guide for

pre-amplifiers CPA 2200 CPA 3200E CPA 4000E

integrated amplifiers CPM 2600 CPM 3300

pre-amplifiers

CPA 2200, CPA 3200E, CPA 4000E

The pre-amplifier is the control centre of your system. By connecting your audio

sources to it you can choose the source you want at any particular time and

control it.

You can also adjust the balance and volume before the signal is sent to a power

amplifier. Your pre-amplifiers can be operated manually or via the Chord remote

control.

integrated amplifiers

CPM 2600, CPM 3300

Chord’s integrated amplifiers are based on a combination of our highly

successful pre-amplifiers and power amplifiers together with a few features of

their own.

The power amplifier is based on Chord’s tried and tested technology of ultra high

frequency ESR power supply which has the ability to store more energy far more

efficiently than conventional designs.

A variety of outputs means that you can choose to drive up to two sets of

loudspeakers, use your integrated amplifier as a pre-amplifier or use it in conjunction

with another power amplifier for bi-amping.

background

We want you to be confident using your new Chord amplifier.

You’re probably an audiophile with extensive knowledge of audio equipment.

However, you may not be!

So in the following section we explain a few basics to help you get started, or get you

back up to speed if you’re a little rusty.

connecting your equipment

Chord amplifiers are supplied with and designed to be connected using balanced

inputs. The interconnecting cables you use will depend on the available input and

output sockets on your other equipment. We have installed unbalanced inputs on all

Chord equipment, thus enabling you to mix Chord and other manufacturer’s

equipment.

Balanced inputs carry twice the strength of signal of unbalanced inputs and are able

to be fed down long lengths of cable with less deterioration of signal. They are also

less prone to interference than unbalanced inputs. Balanced inputs have three pins

and use Neutric XLR style connectors. Pin 1 is earth, pin 2 is positive and pin 3 is

negative.

Unbalanced inputs use RCA phono connectors which are gold plated with teflon

high performance dielectric insulators for optimum performance.

outputs

speakers

power amplifier

pre-amplifier

integrated

amplifier

audio source

inputs

outputs

inputs

CD player tuner

PUSH

when setting up

To ensure that your Chord integrated amplifier works efficiently and safely, please pay particular attention to the

following issues.

ventilation

Your Chord integrated amplifier should have at least 5cm of clear space all around it to ensure a free flow of air at

all times. When driven continuously at well above average levels, the temperature at the back of the unit may exceed

50ºC. This is normal and no cause for concern, although it does highlight the need for adequate ventilation around

the unit. We recommend that you do not place your integrated amplifier directly on a carpet.

mains lead and plug

All Chord equipment comes supplied with the correct mains lead and plug. This should be used at all times.

if you need to fit a plug for UK/Europe

Connect the blue wire to the neutral terminal

Connect the brown wire to the live terminal

Connect the yellow/green wire to the earth terminal

if you need to fit a plug for US/Canada

Connect the white wire to the neutral terminal

Connect the black wire to the live terminal

Connect the green to the earth terminal

earthing issues in Europe

In some European countries a hum may occur if your integrated/pre-amplifier is connected to mains sockets that do

not have an earth. If this is the case please ensure that:

1. Your integrated/pre-amplifier is connected via a multi-way mains block which contains an earth point at each

socket outlet. This is to ensure that the chassis metalwork of each item is connected together.

2. Use the connecting points on your Chord unit and connect to an available earth point.

3. We recommend that an earthing method for your building is implemented.

safety warnings

It is important that your integrated/pre-amplifier is earthed at all times via its own mains lead. Failure to do this may

be hazardous. The power supply components within the amplifier are designed to be operated at lethal voltages and

energy levels. Circuit designs that embody these components conform with applicable safety requirements. Precautions

must be taken to prevent accidental contact with power-line potentials. Do not connect grounded test equipment.

These units comply with EN 50081-1 and IEC 801/2

outputs on the CPA 2200

You need to connect the outputs on the back of your pre-amplifier to a power

amplifier in order to drive your loudspeakers. There are three pairs of outputs, each

of which will drive a 68 load. You can connect to either the XLR or RCA outputs

numbered 1, but not to both types at the same time.

connecting to your power amplifier if it has balanced XLR style inputs

1. Use XLR style connectors to connect Right O/P 1 to Right IN on your power

amplifier, and connect Left O/P 1 to Left IN on your power amplifier.

2. On your remote control press PRE and then O/P 1 to select output 1.

connecting to your power amp if it has unbalanced RCA style inputs

1. Use RCA style connectors to connect Right O/P 1 to Right IN on your power

amplifier, and connect Left O/P 1 to Left IN on your power amplifier.

2. On your remote control press PRE and then O/P 1 to select output 1.

if you want to bi-amp

Bi-amping is a technique where you use one amplifier to drive the loudspeakers’

woofers (low frequencies) and another to drive the tweeters (mid and high

frequencies).

1. Use XLR style connectors to connect Right and Left O/P 1 to your first power

amplifier.

2. Use XLR style connectors to connect Right and Left O/P 2 to your second

power amplifier.

3. Connect the outputs of your first power amplifier to your loudspeaker’s low

frequency inputs.

4. Connect the outputs of your second power amplifier to your loudspeaker’s high

frequency inputs.

Remove any shorting links in the speaker binding posts.

5. On your remote control press PRE and then OP 1/2 to select both outputs 1 and 2.

See Figure 1 on page 19 for wiring details.

outputs on the CPA 3200E

CPA 4000E

You need to connect the outputs on the back of your pre-amplifier to a power

amplifier in order to drive your loudspeakers. There are three pairs of outputs, each

of which will drive a 68 load. You can connect to either the XLR or RCA

outputs numbered 1, but not to both types at the same time.

connecting to your power amplifier if it has balanced XLR style inputs

1. Use XLR style connectors to connect Right O/P 1 to Right IN on your power

amp, and connect Left O/P 1 to Left IN on your power amplifier.

2. On your remote control press PRE and then O/P 1 to select output 1.

connecting to your power amplifier if it has unbalanced RCA style inputs

1. Use RCA style connectors to connect Right O/P 1 to Right IN on your power

amplifier, and connect Left O/P 1 to Left IN on your power amplifier.

2. On your remote control press PRE and then O/P 1 to select output 1.

if you want to bi-amp

Bi-amping is a technique where you use one amplifier to drive the loudspeakers’

woofers (low frequencies) and another to drive the tweeters (mid and high

frequencies).

1. Use XLR style connectors to connect Right and Left O/P 1 to your first power

amplifier.

2. Use XLR style connectors to connect Right and Left O/P 2 to your second

power amplifier.

3. Connect the outputs of your first power amplifier to your loudspeaker’s low

frequency inputs.

4. Connect the outputs of your second power amplifier to your loudspeaker’s high

frequency inputs.

Remove any shorting links in the binding posts.

5. On your remote control press PRE and then OP 1/2 to select both outputs 1 and 2.

See figure 1 on page 19 for wiring details.

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