Classe Audio CA-2100 User Manual
Owner’s Manual
CA-2100
Power Amplifier
WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK,
DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO
NOT REMOVE COVER. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.
NOTICE
All of us at Classé take extreme care to ensure that your purchase will remain a prized investment. We are proud to inform you that all
Classé components have been offi cially approved for the European Community (CE) mark.
is means that your Classé product was subjected to the most rigorous manufacturing and safety tests in the world. e CE mark certifi es
that your purchase meets or exceeds all European Community requirements for unit-to-unit consistency and consumer safety.
is equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
ese limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. is equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this
equipment does cause interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment on and off , the user
is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna;
• Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver;
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit diff erent from that to which the receiver is connected;
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
CAUTION: Changes or modifi cations to this equipment not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user’s authority to
operate the equipment.
is product incorporates copyright protection technology that is protected by U.S. patents ad other intellectual property rights. Use of this
copyright protection technology must be authorized by Macrovision, and is intended for home and other limited viewing uses otherwise
authorized by Macrovision. Reverse engineering or disassembly is prohibited.
e information contained in the manual is subject to change without notice. e most current version of this manual will be posted on
our web site at http://www.classeaudio.com.
Marking by the “CE” symbol (shown left) indicates compliance of this device with the EMC
(Electromagnetic Compatibility) and LVD (Low Voltage Directive) standards of the European
Community.
Classé products are designed to comply with international directives on the Restriction of Hazardous
Substances (RoHS) in electrical and electronic equipment and the disposal of Waste Electrical and
Electronic Equipment (WEEE). e crossed wheelie bin symbol indicates compliance and that the
products must be appropriately recycled or processed in accordance with these directives.
is device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) is device may not cause
harmful interference, and (2) is device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Please record the serial number for your new Classé component here for future reference.
Serial #: ____________________________________________
2
Important Safety Instructions
1. Read these instructions.
2. Keep these instructions.
3. Heed all warnings.
4. Follow all instructions.
5. Do not use this apparatus near water.
6. Clean only with dry cloth.
7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifi ers)
that produce heat.
9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one
wider than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. e wide blade or the
third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fi t into your outlet, consult an electrician for
replacement of the obsolete outlet.
10. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point
where they exit from the apparatus.
11. Only use attachments/accessories specifi ed by the manufacturer.
12. Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specifi ed by the manufacturer, or sold with the
apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury
from tip-over.
13. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
14. Refer all servicing to qualifi ed service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any
way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the
apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
15. Do not expose this apparatus to dripping or splashing and ensure that no objects fi lled with liquids, such as vases, are
placed on the apparatus.
16. To completely disconnect this apparatus from the AC Mains, disconnect the power supply cord plug from the AC
receptacle.
17. e mains plug of the power supply cord shall remain readily operable.
18. Do not expose batteries to excessive heat such as sunshine, fi re or the like.
e lightning fl ash with arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the
presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage “ within the product’s enclosure that may be of suffi cient magnitude
to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
e exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important
operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the product.
WARNING : To reduce the risk of fi re or electric shock , do not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture.
3
Contents
Welcome to the Classé family ........................................................................... 5
a word about installation ............................................................................ 5
Unpacking and Placement ................................................................................ 6
unpacking your amplifier ...........................................................................6
placement .................................................................................................. 6
ventilation .................................................................................................. 6
custom installations .................................................................................... 7
serial number .............................................................................................7
register your purchase! ............................................................................... 7
operating voltage ........................................................................................ 7
warm up/break-in period ............................................................................ 8
please read this manual .............................................................................. 8
Special Design Features .................................................................................... 9
highly refined circuit design… .................................................................... 9
extensive listening tests ............................................................................... 9
extraordinary longevity ............................................................................. 10
robust protection ...................................................................................... 10
Front Panel ...................................................................................................... 11
Rear Panel ....................................................................................................... 13
Initial Setup ..................................................................................................... 17
configuring balanced/single-ended operation ........................................... 17
configuring amplifier turn-on delay/amp no ............................................. 18
CAN-Bus ...................................................................................................... 19
features ..................................................................................................... 19
hardware setup ......................................................................................... 19
using CAN-Bus ......................................................................................... 21
CAN-Bus shared features .............................................................................22
configuration ............................................................................................ 22
operate ..................................................................................................... 22
AC status ..................................................................................................22
status ........................................................................................................ 22
name ........................................................................................................ 22
global brightness ......................................................................................23
global standby .......................................................................................... 23
CAN-Bus model specific features ................................................................. 23
PlayLink ................................................................................................... 23
amp info ................................................................................................... 24
event log ..................................................................................................24
Care and Maintenance .................................................................................... 25
Troubleshooting .............................................................................................. 26
Specifications .................................................................................................. 28
Dimensions ..................................................................................................... 29
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Welcome to the Classé family
Congratulations on your purchase of a Classé product. It is the result of many
years of continuous refi nement, and we are sure that you will enjoy it for many
years to come.
We value our relationship with our customers. Please allow us to stay in touch
with you by returning your warranty card now, before you pack up the shipping
carton of your new product and forget all about it. Doing so will enable us to
let you know about any possible future upgrades or updates that might become
available for your Classé component.
Sending in your warranty card also registers your product with us so that
warranty service can be obtained easily and quickly, even if you have mislaid
your original sales slip.
Please, take a few minutes to fill out the warranty
registration card, and drop it in the mail.
You will fi nd the warranty registration card at the end of the separate warranty
policy booklet, enclosed.
a word about installation Every eff ort has been made to make the Classé CA-2100 simple and
straightforward to install and use.
Still, we have no way to evaluate many other variables such as the size and shape
of your room, its acoustics, and the associated equipment you have chosen to use
with your amplifi er. All of these factors infl uence the ultimate performance of
your system.
For this reason, we strongly encourage you to have your
system installed and calibrated by your dealer, whose
experience, training, and specialized equipment can
make a profound difference in the final performance of
the system.
5
Unpacking and Placement
unpacking your amplifier Carefully unpack your power amplifi er according to the supplied instructions,
and remove all accessories from the carton. Please take care when lifting the
amplifi er, as it is quite heavy.
Important! Keep all packing materials for future transport of your
Classé product. Shipping your new component in anything
other than its purpose-designed packing material may
result in damage that is not covered by the warranty.
placement ere are two options when placing your power amplifi er: you may place it close
to the speakers, requiring longer interconnecting cables from the preamplifi er; or
place it close to the preamplifi er, requiring longer speaker cables.
Although either approach will yield excellent performance, you might consider
the fi rst option for two reasons. First, signal quality degrades more easily when
transmitted as a combination of both high voltage and high current, suggesting
that speaker cables should be kept as short as practical. Second, high quality
amplifi ers use massive power supplies which inevitably radiate some degree of
magnetic fi elds. Ideally, one would separate these fi elds from sensitive source
components by a reasonable distance.
If it is more convenient for you to place the amplifi er in an equipment rack,
along with your other components, we suggest placing it at the bottom of the
rack, well away from your source components and preamplifi er. is location
will also be more stable than placing such a heavy component near the top of a
rack, which might make it top-heavy.
Note that adequate clearance for the AC cord and connecting cables
must be left behind the CA-2100. We suggest leaving eight inches
(20 cm) of free space behind your power amplifi er to allow all cables
suffi cient room to bend without crimping or undue strain.
ventilation Your Classé power amplifi er generates a certain amount of heat in the course
of normal operation. Be sure to allow six inches of clearance above it and
three inches to each side to allow heat dissipation through air circulation. e
vents on both the bottom and the top of the CA-2100 must be kept free from
any obstruction which would reduce the fl ow of air through the unit. Avoid
placement on soft surfaces that would restrict airfl ow (such as plush carpeting).
6
custom installations Drawings are included in this manual to facilitate special installations and
custom cabinetry (see the section Dimensions). An optional, purpose-designed
rack mount kit is available for this product. Contact your Classé dealer for more
information.
serial number e serial number for your power amplifi er is found on the rear of the unit.
Please note and record this number on the page entitled Important Safety
Instructions for your future reference.
register your purchase! Having found the serial number, now would be a good time to fi ll out the
registration card. Please register your purchase so we can advise you of updates
and other items of interest.
It will take only a minute or so. Please complete the card now, before you forget.
operating voltage e CA-2100 power amplifi er is set at the factory (internally) for 100V, 120V,
220V, 230V, or 240V AC mains operation, as appropriate for the country in
which it is to be sold (230V only in European Union countries, in compliance with
CE regulations). e voltage setting may not be changed by the user or dealer.
Make sure that the label on the rear panel of your power amplifi er indicates
the correct AC operating voltage for your location. Attempting to operate your
power amplifi er at an incorrect voltage may damage the unit.
Warning: The voltage setting of your power amplifier may not be
changed by the user. There are no user-serviceable parts
within the unit. Please refer any problems to an authorized
Classé service center.
If the AC mains voltage indicated on your power amplifi er is incorrect, please
contact your local, authorized Classé dealer or distributor.
e CA-2100 can easily be powered by a normal 15-ampere AC mains line. If
other devices are also powered from the same AC line, their additional power
consumption should be taken into account.
7
e CA-2100 includes protection circuitry that will prevent the amplifi er from
operating at dangerously high or low voltages.
• At startup: the AC mains voltage must be within a range of
approximately -15% to +10% of its nominal value at startup, or
the amplifi er will not turn on. For example, a 120V unit requires
the AC mains to be between approximately 95V–135V in order to
turn on.
• Over-voltage during operation: if the AC mains voltage surges
by roughly 10% or more during operation, the amplifi er will enter
protection mode and shut down. e Standby LED will fl ash to
indicate the protection mode has been engaged.
• Under-voltage during operation: if the AC mains voltage sags by
15% or more, the amplifi er will continue to play (since this does
not present a particular danger to the amplifi er), but note that
it may not be able to achieve its usual standard of performance
under these compromised conditions. e Standby LED will fl ash
to indicate the condition.
warm up/break-in period Your new Classé power amplifi er will deliver outstanding performance
immediately. However, you should expect to hear it improve somewhat as
it reaches its normal operating temperatures and its various components
“break-in.” It has been our experience that the greatest changes occur within the
fi rst 300 hours, as the amplifi er reaches thermal equilibrium and the capacitors
fully form. After this initial break-in period, the performance of your new
product should remain quite consistent for years to come.
e only exception to this rule is if the unit is placed in standby or unplugged
for an extended period of time, allowing it to cool down. Depending on the
degree of cooling involved, you should expect a brief warm-up period before the
power amplifi er’s sound quality is at its best. Unless your amplifi er was allowed
to become quite chilled, subsequent thermal re-stabilization should not take
long. Fortunately, you should never have to repeat the initial 300 hour break-in
period.
please read this manual… Please take a few minutes to review this manual, and to familiarize yourself with
your new amplifi er. We understand that you are anxious to plug everything in
and get started. However, reading this manual and following the advice it gives
will ensure that you get all the benefi ts you deserve from having purchased such
a fi ne piece of equipment.
8
Special Design Features
highly refined
circuit design
extensive listening tests Excellent measured performance is to be expected in world-class products, and
All Classé analog amplifi cation stages are based on circuits that have been
extensively optimized over many years of continuous development.
By starting with excellent circuit designs and working with them over the years,
we are able to discover the many small refi nements that add up to superlative
performance, in a variety of applications. Altering a voltage here, or using a
slightly diff erent part there, may make all the diff erence between solid and
absolutely outstanding performance.
is level of refi nement only comes with a great deal of experience, and is not
available to those who fl it from one trendy notion to the next. It accounts
in no small measure for both the consistency of sonic performance among
Classé products (as they are all based on similar analog gain stages), and for the
consistently excellent reviews those products receive by owners and reviewers
alike.
Classé products deliver that performance. However, experience has shown that
technical excellence alone is insuffi cient to guarantee subjectively musical results.
For this reason, all Classé products are laboriously fi ne-tuned during the
development process by carefully controlled listening tests. Our ears are still
some of the fi nest laboratory test instruments available, and nicely complement
more traditional engineering test equipment. In the course of optimizing the
circuitry for a product, hundreds of decisions are made based on the subjective
impression given by substituting one high quality part for another.
As an example, we may listen to half a dozen 0.1% fi lm resistors of the same
value, from several diff erent companies. Standard tests may show them all to
provide identical results in terms of noise, distortion, and so forth. Yet, almost
invariably, one selection yields some small improvement in the subjective
reaction to the performance of the product under development. Less often, even
a single such change can result in a surprisingly large improvement.
Multiply those various improvements by the dozens or even hundreds of such
decisions that must be made before the product can be fi nalized for production,
and you have a remarkable improvement, indeed—all based on careful listening
tests, which we view as a necessary complement to the solid engineering you
might rightly expect from Classé.
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