Classe Audio CA-2200 User Manual

Owner’s Manual

CA-2200

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 ofﬁcially approved for the European Community (CE) mark.

This means that your Classé product was subjected to the most rigorous manufacturing and safety tests in the world. The CE mark certiﬁes that your purchase meets or exceeds all European Community requirements for unit-to-unit consistency and consumer safety.

This 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. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment gener ates, 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 different from that to which the receiver is connected;

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

CAUTION: Changes or modiﬁcations to this equipment not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

This 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.

The information contained in the manual is subject to change without notice. The 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). The crossed wheelie bin symbol indicates compliance and that the products must be appropriately recycled or processed in accordance with these directives.

Please record the serial number for your new Classé component here for future reference.

Serial #: __________________

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. If a liquid does enter your component, immediately disconnect it from the AC mains and take it to your Classé dealer for a thorough checkup

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 ampliﬁers) that produce heat. NEVER expose this product to extremely high or low temperatures. NEVER operate this product in an explosive atmosphere.

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. The wide blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not ﬁt into your outlet, consult an electrician for replace ment of the obsolete outlet. Connect your component only to an AC source of the proper voltage. The shipping container and the rear panel serial number tag will indicate the proper voltage. Use of any other voltage may damage the unit and void the warranty.

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. Do not stress the AC cord by stretching it to a plug. If damage does occur to the AC cord, take it to your Classé dealer for a thorough checkup and proper repair or replacement.

11. Only use attachments/accessories speciﬁed by the manufacturer.

12. Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table speciﬁed 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 qualiﬁed 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. An open unit, particularly if it is still connected to an AC source, presents a potentially lethal shock hazard. NEVER bypass any fuse. NEVER replace any fuse with a value or type other than that speciﬁed.

15. Do not expose this apparatus to dripping or splashing and ensure that no objects ﬁlled 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 re ceptacle.

17. The mains plug of the power supply cord shall remain readily operable.

18. Do not expose batteries to excessive heat such as sunshine, ﬁre or the like.

The lightning ﬂash with arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the pres ence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage “ within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufﬁcient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.

The 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 ﬁre or electric shock, do not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture .

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

operating voltage ...................................................................................... 7

warm up/break-in period .......................................................................... 8

please read this manual… ........................................................................ 8

highly reﬁned circuit design ..................................................................... 9

extensive listening tests ............................................................................ 9

extraordinary longevity .......................................................................... 10

robust protection .................................................................................... 10

Front Panel .....................................................................................................11

Rear Panel .....................................................................................................13

Initial Setup ...................................................................................................18

conﬁguring balanced/single-ended operation .................................. 18

conﬁguring ampliﬁer turn-on delay/amp no. .................................... 19

Care and Maintenance ...................................................................................20

Troubleshooting .............................................................................................21

Speciﬁcations ................................................................................................23

Dimensions ..................................................................................................24

Welcome to the Classé family

Congratulations on your purchase of a Classé product. It is the result of many years of continuous reﬁnement, 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 ﬁnd the warranty registration card at the end of the separate warranty policy booklet, enclosed.

a word about installation Every effort has been made to make the Classé CA-2200 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 ampliﬁer. All of these factors inﬂuence 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.

Unpacking and Placement

unpacking your ampliﬁer Carefully unpack your power ampliﬁer according to the supplied instructions,

and remove all accessories from the carton. Please take care when lifting the ampliﬁer, 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 There are two options when placing your power ampliﬁer: you may place it close

to the speakers, requiring longer interconnecting cables from the preampliﬁer; or place it close to the preampliﬁer, requiring longer speaker cables.

Although either approach will yield excellent performance, you might consider the ﬁrst 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 ampliﬁers use massive power supplies which inevitably radiate some degree of magnetic ﬁelds. Ideally, one would separate these ﬁelds from sensitive source components by a reasonable distance.

If it is more convenient for you to place the ampliﬁer 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 preampliﬁer. This 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-2200. We suggest leaving eight inches (20 cm) of free space behind your power ampliﬁer to allow all cables sufﬁcient room to bend without crimping or undue strain.

ventilation Your Classé power ampliﬁer 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. The vents on both the bottom and the top of the CA-2200 must be kept free from any obstruction which would reduce the ﬂow of air through the unit. Avoid placement on soft surfaces that would restrict airﬂow (such as plush carpeting).

custom installations Drawings are included in this manual to facilitate special installations and

custom cabinetry (see the section rack mount kit is available for this product. Contact your Classé dealer for more information.

serial number The serial number for your power ampliﬁer 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.

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 The CA-2200 power ampliﬁer is set at the factory (internally) for 100V, 120V,

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). The voltage setting may not be changed by the user or dealer.

Dimensions). An optional, purpose-designed

Make sure that the label on the rear panel of your power ampliﬁer indicates the correct AC operating voltage for your location. Attempting to operate your power ampliﬁer 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 ampliﬁer is incorrect, please contact your local, authorized Classé dealer or distributor.

The CA-2200 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.

The CA-2200 includes protection circuitry that will prevent the ampliﬁer 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 ampliﬁer 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 ampliﬁer will enter protection mode and shut down. The Standby LED will ﬂash to indicate the protection mode has been engaged.

• Under-voltage during operation: if the AC mains voltage sags by 15% or more, the ampliﬁer will continue to play (since this does not present a particular danger to the ampliﬁer), but note that it may not be able to achieve its usual standard of performance under these compromised conditions. The Standby LED ﬂash to indicate the condition.

warm up/break-in period Your new Classé power ampliﬁer 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 ﬁrst 300 hours, as the ampliﬁer 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.

will

The only exception to this rule is if the unit is placed in standby 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 ampliﬁer’s sound quality is at its best. Unless your ampliﬁer 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 ampliﬁer. 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 beneﬁts you deserve from having purchased such a ﬁne piece of equipment.

or unplugged

+ 18 hidden pages

Classe Audio CA-2200 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual