Classe Audio CA-5100 User Manual

Owner’s Manual

CA-5100

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 .................................................................................... 6

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 ......................................................................................... 20

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

4

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-5100 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-5100. 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-5100 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).

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.

6

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-5100 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-5100 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.

 e CA-5100 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.

7

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.

9

extraordinary longevity Another benefi t of having worked with highly refi ned circuit designs so

extensively over many years is that we have vast experience in what works well
over the long term.

By using only the highest quality parts to begin with, and then using them in an
informed way as a result of both accelerated aging experiments and actual long­term experience, we are able to design and manufacture products which we are
confi dent will stand the test of time.

We are confi dent that your new Classé product will give you many years of
trouble-free reliability and musical enjoyment, just as previous Classé products
have given their owners.

robust protection Finally, your new Classé amplifi er incorporates a variety of protection circuits, all

designed to protect both the amplifi er and your loudspeakers against dangerous
fault conditions. Signifi cantly, these protection circuits do not intrude upon
or limit the normal performance of the amplifi er; rather, they simply put the
amplifi er into protection mode when confronted with abnormal conditions.
 ese conditions include:

• output overload

• DC off set

• AC mains voltage (outside of normal tolerances)

• excessive operating temperatures

If any of the fi rst three conditions occurs on either channel (any of which
might harm either your amplifi er or possibly your loudspeakers), the amplifi er will
immediately go into protection mode. In such a case, a Channel LED indicator
will blink red, indicating the channel with the fault, and the sound will be
muted until the fault can be righted.

If the fault is not channel-related, e.g. AC mains voltage out of range, the
Standby LED will blink. In all cases, the unit will need to be re-started once the
cause of the fault condition has been rectifi ed.

10

BALANCED

12345

SELECT

SINGLE-ENDED

#!

MODE

Front Panel

1 Standby button & LED indicator

 e front panel Standby button will toggle the amplifi er between operate,
its fully operational state, and a standby mode that leaves the amplifi er off ,
yet ready to respond to system commands via any of the supported control
options (e.g. IR input, DC trigger, CAN-Bus, or RS-232).

 e current state of the amplifi er is indicated by the LED indicator in the
center of the Standby button.  e state of this LED indicates the
following:

• on = standby

• fl ashing (on power-up) = initialization

• off + Channel LED on = operate

• fl ashing (after power-up) = AC mains voltage out of range

When in standby, the amplifi er’s gain stages are powered down. Only a
small power supply and control circuit remain on, consuming relatively
little power. Fortunately, since the output stages by their nature conduct a
great deal of current, they warm up and sound their best very quickly.

If you are not going to use the amplifi er for an extended period of time,
perhaps while traveling for a vacation, we suggest you disconnect it from
the AC mains. Please be certain that the amplifi er is in standby prior to
disconnecting it from the AC mains.

Also, it is a good practice to physically disconnect any and all valuable
electronics from the AC mains during electrical storms, as a lightning
strike anywhere near your home can put a tremendous surge on the AC

mains that can easily damage any piece of electronics, no matter how well
designed and protected.  e best protection in the case of severe electrical
storms is to simply remove the electronics from any connection with the
power grid.

11

2 Select button

 e Select button is used (along with the Mode button) when confi guring
the amplifi er for either balanced or single-ended operation. It is also used
when confi guring the turn-on delay or amplifi er number for an amplifi er
connected to a Classé preamplifi er by the DC Trigger or CAN-Bus control
systems.

3 Channel status LED indicators

Each amplifi er channel has two Channel LED indicators.  ey are used to
indicate the use of either balanced (XLR) or single-ended (RCA) inputs for
that channel.

 ese indicators are also used to indicate fault conditions in your amplifi er,
should any ever arise. If a channel’s LED indicators blink red, there is a
problem in that particular channel. If all the Channel LEDs are blinking
red, there may be a systemic problem that is not specifi c to a particular
channel.

Caution! If you see any Channel LED Indicator blinking red, please

disconnect the amplifier from the AC mains immediately
and check that all external connections are cleanly made
and secure. If the AC mains are not easily accessible, you
can press and hold the Standby button for three seconds
to reset the amplifier. If no fault is immediately obvious,
please call your authorized Classé dealer for assistance.

4 Mode button

 e Mode button is used (along with the Select button) when confi guring
the amplifi er for either balanced or single-ended operation. It is also used
when confi guring the turn-on delay and amplifi er number of the amplifi er
when it is connected to a Classé preamplifi er by the CAN-Bus
communications or Trigger systems.

12



Rear Panel

 e following descriptions are intended as a quick reference, should you have
any questions about your new product. Please see the next section (entitled
Initial Setup) for specifi c advice on incorporating your new amplifi er into your
system.

1 Balanced (XLR) Input

Balanced audio interconnections were originally developed in the
professional audio world, for preserving the delicate nuances of extremely
small microphone-level signals. For many years now, they have also been
used by performance-oriented consumer companies like Classé to preserve
every nuance of the fi nest audio performances in your collection.

Technically, balanced audio interconnections provide two distinct benefi ts:
they double the signal’s strength as it travels from one component to the
next, increasing the potential signal to noise ratio by 6 dB; they also do an
excellent job of rejecting noise and interference that might otherwise be
picked up between the components, due to either EMI (electromagnetic
interference) or RFI (radio frequency interference). In the world of wireless
telecommunications, there is more potential interference around than ever
before—it makes sense to keep it out of music and movie soundtracks.

For this reason, we strongly recommend using the balanced analog
interconnections between your Classé components wherever possible.

13

 e pin assignments of these XLR input connectors are:

Pin 1: Signal ground
Pin 2: Signal + (non-inverting)
Pin 3: Signal – (inverting)
Connector ground lug: chassis ground

 ese pin assignments are consistent with the standard adopted by the
Audio Engineering Society (AES14-1992).

If you are using your Classé power amplifi er with a Classé preamplifi er,
you’re all set – just take standard balanced interconnect cables and plug
them in. en engage that input on the power amplifi er by confi guring it as
described in Initial Setup.

If you are using another brand of preamplifi er, please refer to the operating
manual of your balanced-output preamplifi er to verify that the pin
assignments of its output connectors correspond to your amplifi er. If not,
have your dealer wire the cables so that the appropriate output pin
connects to the equivalent input pin.

2 Single-Ended (RCA) Input

Single-ended cables using RCA connectors are the most common form of
analog connection used in consumer electronics. When implemented
carefully and with use of high quality interconnecting cables, this standard
can provide excellent performance. Classé has gone to extraordinary eff ort
to ensure that the single-ended (RCA) inputs of your power amplifi er are
as good as possible. However, this connection standard cannot off er the
immunity from interference that balanced interconnection does—hence
our recommendation to use the balanced inputs when possible.

If you elect to use the single-ended inputs of your Classé power amplifi er,
you need to engage them by confi guring the amplifi er as described in
Initial Setup.

3 Speaker Outputs

A pair of high quality fi ve-way binding posts is provided for each channel
of the amplifi er.

Although the binding posts on your Classé amplifi er will accept bare wire
connections, we strongly recommend the use of high quality spade or hook
lugs, crimped and soldered onto the ends of your speaker wires. Using high
quality connectors will ensure that your speaker connections do not
gradually deteriorate from fraying and oxidizing bare wires. It also helps
prevent accidental short-circuits from poorly-terminated connections.

14

4 Classé CAN-Bus Control Ports

 ese RJ-45 connectors are reserved for future control and communication
applications using Classé Audio’s implementation of the Controller Area
Network (CAN) Bus specifi cation.

5 IR Input and Output

Your Classé amplifi er includes two

1/8th

-inch mini mono-jacks in order to

support the IR remote controls that are ubiquitous today. IR commands
exist for toggling the amplifi er between operate and standby, as well as
discrete command codes for either operate or standby.  ese codes may be
used in “macros” for sophisticated remote control systems, facilitating the
control of the amplifi er in the larger context of a complete system.

Actually, this IR Input and Output description is a bit of a misnomer: the
input supplied to these plugs is electrical in nature, not IR. It is obtained by
using standard IR receivers, distribution amplifi ers, and emitters (available
from your dealer) to translate the remote’s fl ashes of infrared light into
corresponding pulses of electricity.  e big advantages here include being
able to easily route the signals anywhere they might need to go, and the
reliability of a solid electrical connection.

Since an IR distribution system such as your dealer may design for you
usually must control many products, your amplifi er includes both an IR
input (for the control of this product) and an IR output (so as to pass
along the same signal to the next product).  is allows you to “daisy chain”
your control wires from one product to the next.

 e amplifi er is designed to respond to IR commands of 5 Volts DC, with
the tip of the mini mono-plugs defi ned to be “positive” relative to the
shank of the plug.

6 DC Trigger Input and Output

Many audio/video preamplifi ers can supply a DC control voltage to
associated equipment in order to induce desired behavior. Your Classé
amplifi er can take advantage of these capabilities in order to be switched
between operate and standby automatically, perhaps in concert with the
A/V preamp itself.

1/8th

Two

-inch mini mono-jacks provide this remote-controlled turn-on

(that is, toggling between operate and standby) of the amplifi er.  ese jacks
provide a simple pass-through of the control voltage from one to the other,
allowing you to “daisy-chain” a series of amplifi ers quite easily.

 e remote trigger will be operated by the presence of 5–12 Volts DC,
with tip polarity as shown below:

15

7 RS-232 Control Port

 is DB-9 connector has two purposes:

• downloading new operating software into your amplifi er (should

new features ever be added, for example)

• for external control of your amplifi er by systems such as

i-Command

™

, AMX® and Crestron

™

For more information, please contact your dealer and ask about home
automation systems.

8 AC Mains Input

An IEC standard power cord is used with the CA-5100. Plug the cord into
the IEC receptacle on the rear panel, and the other end into a suitable wall
outlet.

9 AC Mains Fuse

Your Classé power amplifi er has an AC mains fuse, accessible on the rear
panel. If you suspect that your AC fuse has blown, disconnect your
amplifi er from the AC mains, as well as from its input connections and
speaker connections, and refer to the appropriate item of the section
entitled Troubleshooting.

Do not open your amplifi er.  ere are no user-serviceable parts within
this product.

Danger! Potentially dangerous voltages and current capabilities

exist within your power amplifier, even when disconnected
from AC mains. Do not attempt to open any portion of
the amplifier’s cabinet. There are no user-serviceable
parts inside your power amplifier. All service of this
product must be referred to a qualified Classé dealer or
distributor.

16

Initial Setup

Your new Classé amplifi er is quite simple to set up and enjoy. Please follow the
steps outlined below in order to safely set up and use your new amplifi er.

Important: The AC mains connection should be the last connection you

make on your new power amplifier. In addition, it is always
a good idea to power up your power amplifier(s) last, after
everything else has been powered up and has stabilized.

Conversely, it is good practice to power the amplifier(s)
down first when shutting down the system, as this prevents
any transients from other components from getting through
to your loudspeakers.

1. Unpack everything according to the included instructions.

Be careful when doing so, as this amplifi er is quite heavy.

2. Place your amplifier (be sure to read “Unpacking and
Placement”) and connect it to the AC mains.

 is includes deciding on the location, making sure you have adequate
ventilation, and adequate clearance for all the wires behind the amplifi er.
Once accomplished, connect the amplifi er directly to the AC mains. Do
not use extension cords, as most are not suitable for the current sometimes
required by your amplifi er.

.

configuring balanced/

single-ended operation

3. Configure your amplifier.

 e Select and Mode buttons are used when confi guring your amplifi er
for how you would like it to operate.

While in standby, pressing the Select button will cause the Channel LEDs
to light up, indicating how the amplifi er is currently confi gured (either
balanced or single-ended) for each channel.

One of the Channel LED indicators will be blinking, indicating that you
may select either balanced or single-ended operation for that channel. Press
the Mode button to toggle between either the balanced mode or the single­ended mode of operation, as indicated by which of the two channel LEDs
for that channel is blinking.

Press the Select button again to select the next channel, and repeat the pro­cess until the amplifi er is confi gured as you desire. To fi nish, continue to
press and release the Select button until all the Channel LEDs are off .

Make sure you confi gure the amplifi er to use the type of input connection
you will be using for each channel. You may safely use any combination of
single-ended and balanced input connections your system requires.

17

configuring amplifier

turn-on delay/amp no.

In a system that contains multiple Classé amplifi ers, you may set the
number of seconds of turn-on delay for each amplifi er, allowing each to
turn on in the order you have specifi ed, rather than all at once. (Having

several powerful amplifi ers all turning on at the same time can sometimes stress
the AC mains in your home, potentially leading to nuisance tripping of circuit
breakers).  is number also acts as an ID when using the CAN-Bus.

For example, to set the delay for two seconds (and to designate a particular
amplifi er as #2):

• Place the amplifi er in standby (Standby LED on)

• Press and hold the Mode button until the Channel LEDs are lit.
When released, the LEDs will blink to indicate the turn-on delay
and current number of the amplifi er (e.g. once to indicate a one
second delay and amplifi er #1).

• If you want to change the current amplifi er number setting, press
and hold the Mode button again until the Channel LEDs are
on.

• While continuing to hold the Mode button, press the Select
button two times (the same number as the desired delay in
seconds and the amplifi er number);

• Release the Mode button.  e amplifi er will confi rm your choice
by blinking the Channel LEDs twice.

4. Make your preamp connections.

With the amplifi er in standby (or disconnected from the AC mains), and
using high quality interconnecting cables, make the appropriate
connections with the balanced or single-ended connectors (as confi gured in
Step 3).

Make sure all the connections are snug, even if it means gently squeezing
the outer shell of the RCA with pliers and reinserting it to tighten the
connection.

5. Make your speaker connections.

Make the connection between the output terminals of the amplifi er and
your loudspeakers, using high quality speaker wires.

Connect the black (–) terminals on the amplifi er to the black (–) terminals
on your speaker, and the red (+) terminals on the amplifi er to the red (+)
terminals on your speaker.

If bi-wiring, run a total of four conductors between each amplifi er channel
and its corresponding loudspeaker: two separate +/– leads, one for the bass
and the other for the mids and treble. Make sure that no wires cross
between the red (+) and black (–) terminals, at either end.

18

Make sure all the connections are snug and cannot be easily wiggled free,
but do not overtighten them. If you can give the speaker wires a reasonable
tug without movement, they are snug. Further tightening will not make a
better connection, and (taken to the extreme) may damage the connectors.

6. Double-check all your connections.

We understand that this step sounds redundant, but it is worth the extra
minute or two it might take just to ensure that all connections are correct
and secure before plugging the power cables to the AC outlets.

7. Turn on all the other components in your system, and then
turn on your amplifier.

It is always good practice to turn any power amplifi er on last, and to turn it
off fi rst. Doing so prevents any turn-on/turn-off transients that might
originate in other components from damaging your loudspeakers.

CAN-Bus Classé’s Controller Area Network, or CAN-Bus, opens the way to a new level

of interaction between our Delta range of amplifi ers, preamps, processors and
source components. When the CA-5100 is connected with CAN-Bus, the
diff erent elements of a Delta series system are in constant communication,
creating a “global” network that delivers system wide status information and
shared operational features, all through the touchscreen display.

features CAN-Bus will allow a single Delta series touchscreen to:

• Display status information for every connected unit, including
amplifi ers which do not have a touchscreen display.

• Create a “PlayLink” that allows an SSP or Preamp to automatically
switch to the correct input when a Delta series source component
starts playback.

• Adjust the global system brightness.

• Confi gure the entire system to go in and out of standby at the
touch of a button and also bring individual components in and
out of standby.

• Mute any connected unit.

19

hardware setup 1 Classé Delta Series Products

Two or more Classé Delta series products are required, at least one of which
must have a touchscreen display.

2 Category 5 Network Cables

 ese are ordinary network cables, commonly used for broadband Internet
connections.  ey should be typical “straight through” cables not the “crossed
over” type, and the total required will be one less than the total number of
Delta series components in your system.

3 CAN-Bus Terminator

A single CAN-Bus Terminator may be required. It is inserted into the
CAN-Bus OUT connector of the last component in the CAN-Bus
daisy chain. One is
available free of charge from your nearest Classé Customer Support Centre
http://www.Classeaudio.com/support/service.htm

4 SSP-300 & 600 CAN-Bus Interface Box

Systems that include an SSP-600 or SSP-300 will also require an
SSP-300/600 CAN-Bus Interface Box.  ese are included with the products or
available free of charge
http://www.Classeaudio.com/support/service.htm

included in the box with your CA-5100. T

from your nearest Classé Customer Support Centre

hey are also

20

 e diagrams below illustrate how to connect the CAN-Bus hardware.

Any combination of models in any order without SSP-300 or SSP-600.

CAN- BUS

OUT

IN

CAN- BUS

OUT

IN

CAN- BUS

OUT

IN

CAN- BUS

OUT

IN

Any combination of models in any order with SSP-300 or SSP-600.

CAN- BUS

OUT

IN

CAN- BUS

OUT

IN

CAN- BUS

OUT

IN

CAN- BUS

OUT

IN

NOTE: Daisy chain may need to be terminated with CAN-Bus Terminator.

using CAN-Bus CAN-Bus is controlled via the touchscreen of any Delta series component.  ere

is no master component, so Delta series systems where two or more units have
a touchscreen can be controlled through any of the touchscreens. However, it is
probably easiest to start using CAN-Bus through just one.

CAN-Bus is accessed by pressing the menu button on the face of the unit or
remote, then the status button, followed by the more button.

21

 e touchscreen will then display the CAN-Bus devices screen, which lists
connected Delta series components by model & serial number.

Highlighting a unit on the CAN-Bus devices screen identifi es it as the target
unit.  e front panel LEDs of the target unit will start fl ashing (unless you
highlight the unit that you are using to access CAN-Bus).

Once you have chosen the target unit press select.  e target unit’s LEDs will
stop fl ashing and the touch screen will list the CAN-Bus features available to it.
Some CAN-Bus features are shared by all models, some are specifi c to individual
models.

CAN-Bus shared features  e following CAN-Bus features are shared by all models.

configuration Selecting confi guration will present the CAN-Bus confi guration screen

allowing access to name, global brightness, and global standby features.

operate  e operate settings allow you to bring the target unit in and out of standby, or

mute.  is key will be disabled for the unit whose touchscreen you are using to
access CAN-Bus.

AC status  e AC status screen displays information from the target unit’s electrical supply

sensors. Two screens are available, with the second accessed by selecting more.

status  e status screen is the simplest way to access essential information about

the target unit. It displays the target unit’s model number, software version,
operational status and serial number.

name Allows you to set the name that this component will be listed under in the

CAN-Bus devices screen.  e name will appear next to the unit model and serial
number, and facilitate the identifi cation of units in large systems.

22

global brightness By setting all your components to global brightness you can adjust the

touchscreen and LED brightness for your entire system by changing the
brightness of a single touchscreen. All CAN-Bus software updates automatically
set the updated unit to Global Brightness. If you want a particular unit to be
excluded from Global Brightness, deselect Global Brightness for that unit.

global standby By setting all your components to global standby you can bring your entire

system in and out of standby by pressing the standby button of any unit or
remote. All CAN-Bus software updates automatically set the updated unit to
global standby. If you want a particular unit to be excluded from global standby,
deselect global standby for that unit.

CAN-Bus model
specific features

PlayLink  is feature is exclusive to Delta series disc players and will only function if

 e following CAN-Bus features are model specifi c.

the disc player is connected to a CAN-Bus enabled preamp or surround sound
processor.

When PlayLink is active, pressing play on the disc player will also automatically
switch the preamp/processor to a specifi ed input.  is means that you can listen
to a CD or watch a DVD literally at the touch of a button.

 e fi rst step in using PlayLink is to choose the input you wish to be selected
when play is pressed on the disc player. Press the PlayLink icon, then select the
correct input from the list.

Once you have selected the input press back, then select confi guration.
PlayLink is activated and disabled through the PlayLink icon on the CAN-Bus
confi guration screen.

23

PlayLink is automatically active after a software update, and the PlayLink icon
will only appear on the CAN-Bus confi guration screen of a Delta series disc
player.

PlayLink can only select a single input per disc player. It is therefore
not designed for users who regularly play both CDs and DVDs
through diff erent inputs from a single disc player. When PlayLink is
active the disc player will default to the same input every time play is
pressed, regardless of whether it is playing CD or DVD.

amp info Available for amplifi ers only, this screen displays the data provided by the

heatsink and AC Module temperature sensors.

NOTE:  is feature is only accessible when the target amplifi er is on.

event log Reserved for amplifi ers, this feature is a protection circuitry event log which can

only be accessed when the target amplifi er is in standby.  e protection circuit
shuts down the amplifi er or channel if it overheats or if its output could damage
your speakers.  e event log details the circumstances surrounding the amp
going into protection and should be referred to in situations that require the
intervention of your dealer or Classé customer support.

 e log can report the following events interpreted as follows:

• +ve slow blo trip & -ve slow blo trip —  e average current has
reached the safe operating limit.

• +ve fast blo trip & -ve fast blo trip —  e peak current has
reached the safe operating limit.

• over temperature trip —  e unit temperature has reached the
safe operating limit.

• DC protection trip —
operating limit.

• Communication failure —  ere has been a loss of
communication between the amp’s system monitoring sensors.

• AC line trip —  e power supply has reached the limits of the
amp’s safe operating range.

 ese events are rare and generally occur due to issues that are external to the
amp.  ey should be interpreted positively.  e amp is doing what it’s designed
to do.

 e DC output level has reached the safe

24

Care and Maintenance

To remove dust from the cabinet of your amplifi er, use a feather duster or a lint­free soft cloth. To remove dirt and fi ngerprints, we recommend isopropyl alcohol
and a soft cloth. Dampen the cloth with alcohol fi rst and then lightly clean the
surface of the amplifi er with the cloth. Do not use excessive amounts of alcohol
that might drip off the cloth and into the amplifi er.

Caution! At no time should liquid cleaners be applied directly to

the amplifier, as direct application of liquids may result
in damage to electronic components within the unit.

25

Troubleshooting

In general, you should refer any service problems to your Classé dealer. Before
contacting your dealer, however, please check to see if the problem is listed here.

1. No sound, and no Channel LED is lit.

•  e amplifi er is not plugged into the AC mains, or the AC mains
are down (circuit breaker, fuse).

• A brown-out or short-term loss of power might require the
internal microprocessor to be reset. Unplug the unit for at least
30 seconds and then plug it in again and try powering it up.

•  e AC mains fuse is blown. See Troubleshooting #4, below (or
contact your Classé dealer).

•  e AC mains is out of range. Check the voltage specifi ed on the
rear panel.

2. No sound, and one or more Channel LEDs is blinking red.

• Your protection circuitry may have been engaged. To reset the
amplifi er, press and hold the Standby button for 3 seconds
to power down the amplifi er.  en disconnect all inputs and
outputs.

•  en try powering up the amplifi er by pressing the Standby
button. If the LED continues to blink, there is a fault condition
in the amplifi er itself. It should be powered down, disconnected
from the AC mains and taken to your Classe dealer for service.

• If it powers up without any diffi culty, power it back down and
reconnect only the inputs.  en restart the amplifi er. If it goes
into its blinking protection mode, something is wrong with a
component “upstream” of the amplifi er—probably a DC off set
or similar problem. Your amplifi er is trying to protect your
loudspeakers (even small amounts of DC can damage woofers in
relatively little time). Try diff erent source components to discover
whether the problem is limited to a single source, or exists all the
time (which would indicate a problem with the preamplifi er).
Contact your dealer for help with the appropriate component.

26

3. The amplifier keeps shutting off.

• Make sure you are providing adequate ventilation to the
amplifi er, and that the ambient room temperature is below 105°F
(40°C).

• Run through the troubleshooting sequence outlined above
(assuming the amplifi er is going into its protection mode).

4. The AC mains fuse is blown.

 ere is a specifi c troubleshooting procedure for a blown AC mains fuse,
since this rare occurrence sometimes indicates a signifi cant problem. Please
follow the following steps, in order:

a. Disconnect your amplifi er from the AC mains, as well as from its

input connections and speaker connections, and remove the fuse
cover on the rear of the unit.

b. If the fuse appears to be blown, replace it only with a fuse of

the same type and rating (specifi ed below). Using any other type

of fuse, particularly a larger-value fuse, can result in permanent
damage to your amplifi er. If you are uncomfortable replacing the

fuse yourself, contact your Classé dealer for assistance.

Mains voltage: 100/120VAC
Fuse type: MDA slo-blow
Rating: 12A

Mains voltage: 230/240VAC
Fuse type: MDA slo-blow
Rating: 10A

c. After replacing the fuse and fuse cover, reconnect the amplifi er to

the AC mains only and turn it on without reconnecting either the
inputs or the speaker wires. If the fuse blows again, disconnect it
from the AC mains and contact your Classé dealer for assistance.

d. If everything seems fi ne, place the amplifi er back into standby

and carefully reconnect the input cable and power the amplifi er
up. If the fuse then blows (or the amplifi er goes into protection),
you may have a serious fault with your preamplifi er/processor.
Contact your Classé dealer.

e. Finally, if everything is still fi ne, place the amplifi er in standby

and carefully reconnect the speaker wires. Check both ends of
the speaker wires for possible short circuits.  en power up the
amplifi er again. If the amplifi er remains functional (the fuse
does not blow), then the original fuse probably blew in order to
protect the amplifi er from a large AC mains surge. If it blows
again, contact your Classé dealer for assistance.

5. The Standby LED is flashing quickly, and a Channel LED is
flashing red.

• Try resetting the unit by disconnecting it from the AC mains
power, waiting a few seconds, and reconnecting the amplifi er to
power. If this does not solve the problem, contact your Classé
dealer for assistance.

27

Specifications

All specifi cations are accurate at the time of printing. Classé reserves the right to
adjust specifi cations without notice.

 Power output 100W/ch continuous rms @ 8Ω

(all channels driven) 190W/ch continuous rms @ 4Ω

 Frequency response 10Hz – 22kHz (+0/-0.1dB)
10Hz – 155kHz (+0/-3.0dB)

 Phase better than -10° @ 22kHz
 Signal-to-noise ratio 105dB

(ref. full ouput, 10Hz – 80kHz)

 Channel separation better than 80dB @ 20kHz
 Noise floor (FFT) all peaks less than -95dBV

(10Hz – 80kHz)

 Distortion (THD + noise) 0.003% @ 8Ω

(unweighted, 0.8Vrms/1kHz input, 10Hz – 500kHz)

 Voltage gain 29.1dB
 Sensitivity 1.0Vrms for rated output @ 8Ω
 Input Impedance 100kΩ
 Rated power consumption (as per IEC60065 para. 2.3.10) 575W
 Idle power consumption 204W
 Mains voltage specifi ed on rear panel

(cannot be changed by dealer or user).

 Dimensions (not incl. controls or connectors) Width: 17.5” (445mm)

Height: 6.75” (171mm)

Depth: 18.5” (470mm)

 Shipping weight 88 lbs (40kg)
 Net weight 75 lbs (34kg)

28

For more information, see your Classé dealer, or contact:

Classé Audio

5070 François Cusson
Lachine, Quebec
Canada H8T 1B3
Telephone [phone]
FAX [phone]
Internet: http://www.classeaudio.com
email: [e-mail]

Classé and the Classé logo are trademarks of Classé Audio Inc. of Lachine, Canada. All rights reserved

i-Command™ is a trademark of Equity International, Inc. All rights reserved.

®

is a registered trademark of AMX Corporation of Richardson, TX. All rights reserved.

AMX

Crestron™ is a trademark of Crestron Electronics, Inc. of Rockleigh, NJ. All rights reserved.

.

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29

Classé Audio

5070 François Cusson

Lachine, Quebec

Canada H8T 1B3

[phone]

[phone] (fax)

http://www.classeaudio.com

email: [e-mail]

North America: 1 800 370 3740

email: [e-mail]

Europe: 44 (0) 1903 221 700

email: [e-mail]

Asia: (852) 2790 8903

email: [e-mail]

All Others: [phone]

email: [e-mail]

Copyright © 2007 Classé Audio, Inc. Printed in Canada.

V 1.5 100107