Classe Audio CAP-2100 User Manual
Owner’s Manual
CAP-210 0
Integrated 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 ..........................................................................6
a word about installation ...........................................................................6
Unpacking and Placement ...............................................................................7
unpacking your integrated amplifier ..........................................................7
placement ..................................................................................................7
ventilation ..................................................................................................7
custom installations....................................................................................7
serial number .............................................................................................7
register your purchase! ...............................................................................8
operating voltage .......................................................................................8
warm up/break-in period ...........................................................................9
please read this manual .............................................................................9
Special Design Features ..................................................................................10
flexible graphical user interface ...............................................................10
customizable volume control ...................................................................10
highly refined circuit design .....................................................................10
extensive listening tests ............................................................................ 11
extraordinary longevity ............................................................................11
Front Panel .....................................................................................................12
Rear Panel ......................................................................................................15
optional phono preamp .....................................................................16
The Remote Control .......................................................................................20
The Menu System ...........................................................................................22
operational menu .....................................................................................22
input selection ...................................................................................22
tape loop ...........................................................................................22
main menu system ...................................................................................23
system setup .............................................................................................23
rotary .................................................................................................24
input ..................................................................................................26
phono gain ...............................................................................................28
triggers .....................................................................................................28
max volume .............................................................................................28
teach IR ....................................................................................................29
display setup ............................................................................................29
brightness ..........................................................................................30
timeout ..............................................................................................30
language ............................................................................................30
main balance ...........................................................................................30
remote Fkeys ............................................................................................31
cautionary note on Fkey use ..............................................................31
status ....................................................................................................... 32
version info ....................................................................................... 32
sensors .............................................................................................. 32
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CAN-Bus .................................................................................................. 32
features .............................................................................................. 32
hardware setup .................................................................................. 33
using CAN-Bus................................................................................... 34
CAN-Bus shared features .......................................................................... 35
configuration...................................................................................... 35
operate ............................................................................................... 35
AC status ............................................................................................ 35
status .................................................................................................. 35
name .................................................................................................. 35
global brightness ................................................................................ 36
global standby ...................................................................................36
CAN-Bus model specific features .............................................................36
PlayLink ............................................................................................. 36
amp info ............................................................................................37
event log ............................................................................................ 37
Troubleshooting ..............................................................................................38
Care & Maintenance ....................................................................................... 42
cleaning the cabinet .................................................................................42
cleaning the LCD touchscreen .................................................................. 42
installing the remote control batteries ....................................................... 42
Specifications .................................................................................................. 43
Dimensions ..................................................................................................... 44
5
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 CAP-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.
6
Unpacking and Placement
unpacking your
integrated amplifier
Important! Keep all packing materials for future transport of your
placement As with any integrated amplifi er, it is best to place the CAP-2100 centrally
Carefully unpack your integrated amplifi er according to the supplied
instructions, and remove all accessories from the carton.
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.
within your system, since it is the hub to which all other components are
connected. It should also be located at a convenient height for both visibility and
use, since you generally interact with your integrated amplifi er more than any
other component (changing inputs, adjusting volume, etc.).
Note that adequate clearance for the AC cord and connecting cables
must be left behind the CAP-2100. We suggest leaving eight inches
(20 cm) of free space behind your integrated amplifi er to allow all cables
suffi cient room to bend without crimping or undue strain.
Classé recommends that the unit not be placed directly on the top surface of a
power amplifi er (or any other heat source).
ventilation Your Classé integrated 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. 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.
serial number e serial number for your integrated 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.
7
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 CAP-2100 integrated amplifi er is set at the factory 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.
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 integrated amplifi er is incorrect,
please contact your local, authorized Classé dealer or distributor.
e CAP-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.
e CAP-2100 includes protection circuitry that will prevent the integrated
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.
8
warm up/break-in period Your new Classé integrated 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 integrated 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 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 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 integrated 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.
9
Special Design Features
flexible graphical
user interface
customizable
volume control
e LCD touchscreen on the front panel of your new component supports an
extremely fl exible and versatile graphical user interface (GUI) while maintaining
a clean, uncluttered appearance. e CAP-2100 provides a range of controls
that might otherwise require dozens of buttons and knobs on the front panel.
Despite this power and fl exibility, it remains simple to operate in day-to-day use.
In fact, in some ways it is even simpler to operate than a more conventional
design might be. For example, if you are not using one or more of the inputs on
your CAP-2100, you can delete the unnecessary buttons from the operational
menu. Doing so prevents anyone from trying to select a non-existent source
component, with the resulting confusion stemming from the lack of any sound.
(Of course, you can easily restore the button if you subsequently add another source
component and need that input.)
e volume control on your new Classé integrated amplifi er is controlled by
sophisticated software that allows you to fi ne-tune its response to suit your
preferences.
Ideally, a volume control would allow you to reach the volume you desire
quickly, and would also provide extremely fi ne control once you are close to the
“perfect” volume. Of course, these characteristics are in confl ict with each other:
one requires the volume to change by quite a lot for a given amount of turning
of the knob, while the other requires small, incremental changes for the same
turn of the knob.
highly refined
circuit design
e volume control system on your CAP-2100 solves this problem by
responding diff erently based on the specifi c circumstances (e.g., how quickly you
are turning the knob and where in the volume range you are). After extensive
testing, we feel we have created factory default settings that most people will fi nd
intuitive and a real pleasure to use. However, if you feel you would like to fi netune its performance further in order to suit your particular preference, you may
easily do so.
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 these products receive from owners and reviewers
alike.
10
extensive listening tests Excellent measured performance is to be expected in world-class products, and
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% tolerance fi lm resistor
components 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.
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 integrated amplifi er will give you many
years of trouble-free reliability and musical enjoyment, just as previous Classé
products have given their owners.
11
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Front Panel
1 Standby button & LED indicator
e front panel Standby button will toggle the integrated amplifi er
between operate, its fully operational state, and a standby mode that leaves
the integrated 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 integrated amplifi er is indicated by the LED on
the standby button on the front panel. When the unit is powered and
switched on, the state of this LED indicates the following:
• on = standby
• fl ashing (on power-up) = initialization
• off = operate
• on (dim) = display timeout
• fl ashing (after power-up) = AC mains voltage out of range
If you are planning not to use the integrated amplifi er for an extended
period of time, e.g. vacation or other travel, we suggest you disconnect it
from the AC mains. Please be certain that the integrated amplifi er is in
standby prior to disconnecting it from the AC mains.
12
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 damage any piece of electronics, no matter how well designed
and protected. e best protection in the case of severe electrical storms is
simply to remove the electronics from any connection with the power grid.
2 Menu button
Pressing the front panel Menu button will call up the main menu system,
replacing the normal operational menu and status display in the LCD
touchscreen.
3 LCD touchscreen
Much of your interaction with the CAP-2100 will be with the LCD
touchscreen (and the CAP-2100’s supplied remote control). It will usually
display the various input selection buttons you would use in day-to-day
operation, along with access to the tape button.
By pressing the Menu button, you can also call up the main menu system
of the CAP-2100, which gives you control over many of the operational
details of the integrated amplifi er, including system setup options, various
display options (including the language in which the menu system itself
displays), and several custom-installation capabilities that allow superior
integration of the CAP-2100 into complex systems.
For more information, see the section e Menu System later in this
manual.
4 Mute button
e front panel Mute button reduces the volume of the integrated
amplifi er to zero at the touch of a button. Pressing the button a second
time restores the volume to its previous setting.
However, if you increase the volume manually (using either the volume
knob or the remote control) while the Mute button is engaged, the mute
control will disengage and the volume will be set to zero. is approach
is a safety measure, to avoid situations in which the volume might be
adjusted up while muted, only to then have the system un-muted to an
unexpectedly high volume.
5 IR window
e infrared (IR) receiver and transmitter are located behind this
window. Ordinarily, your Classé CAP-2100 must be able to “see” the
remote control from this window in order to respond to remote control
commands.
If your integrated amplifi er will be located behind closed doors, or for any
other reason will not be able to “see” the remote control during normal
operation, you may use the rear panel IR input and output mini-jacks and
an IR repeater system to solve the problem. For more information about
using an infrared repeater system to route signals to and from the
CAP-2100, refer to the section Rear Panel later in this manual, or contact
your local Classé dealer.
13
In addition to receiving IR commands, the CAP-2100 can also transmit IR
commands so they may be learned by third-party learning remote controls.
e CAP-2100 includes a comprehensive list of discrete IR commands
to facilitate the creation of reliable macros. Specifi cally, there are discrete
codes for all commands that normally operate as “toggle” functions
(e.g. separate operate and standby commands in addition to the normal
command that toggles between the two states).
6 Volume Knob
e large knob on the right side of the front panel of the CAP-2100 is
used to control the volume of the system.
e volume is raised or lowered in precise 0.5dB increments throughout
the range of the control most likely to be used while listening to music.
At extremely low volumes, the step size is increased somewhat to make it
easier to move quickly between extremely low and normal listening levels.
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