Classe Audio OMEGA - V1.1, Omega Monoblock Owner's Manual

Owner’s Manual

Omega Series

Omega Monoblock

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.

WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK,
DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.

The lightning flash 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 sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock.

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
appliance.

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.

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 under CE Certificate Number
C401CLA1.MGS granted on 18 July 1996.

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.

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

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.

Important Safety Instructions

CAUTION:
Please read and observe all warnings and instructions in this owner’s manual and all those
marked on the unit. Retain this owner’s manual for future reference.

1. Do not attempt to service this product yourself. Do not open the cover for any rea­son. There are no user-serviceable parts inside. An open unit, particularly if it is still con­nected to an AC source, presents a potentially lethal shock hazard. Refer all questions to au­thorized service personnel only.

2. To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose the unit to water or moisture. 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.

3. Do not place your component near any heat-producing device such as a radiator,
stove, etc. Keep it away from direct sunlight.

4. Connect your component only to an AC source of the proper voltage. The ship­ping case 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.

5. AC cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on or
pinched by items placed upon or against them. 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 check-up and proper repair or replacement.

6. If your component will be out of use for an extended period of time (vacation,
etc.), you may wish to unplug the power cord from the AC source to prevent any chance

of problems from a voltage surge or lightning strike.

7. NEVER wet the inside of this product with any liquid.

8. NEVER pour or spill liquids directly onto this unit.

9. NEVER block air flow through ventilation slots or heatsinks.

10. NEVER bypass any fuse.

11. NEVER replace any fuse with a value or type other than that specified.

12. NEVER attempt to repair this product. If a problem occurs, contact your Classé dealer.

13. NEVER expose this product to extremely high or low temperatures.

14. NEVER operate this product in an explosive atmosphere.

15. ALWAYS unplug sensitive electronic equipment during lightning storms.

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

Serial #: __________________

4

Contents

Welcome to the Classé family ........................................................................ 5

Unpacking and Placement ............................................................................. 6

unpacking your amplifier ..................................................................................... 6

placement ............................................................................................................ 6

ventilation ............................................................................................................ 7

custom installations .............................................................................................. 7

serial number ....................................................................................................... 7

register your purchase! ......................................................................................... 7

please read this manual… .................................................................................... 7

Operating Voltage .......................................................................................... 8

warm up/break-in period ..................................................................................... 9

A Word About Installation ............................................................................ 10

Special Design Features ............................................................................... 11

design team philosophy ..................................................................................... 11

highly refined circuit design ............................................................................... 11

extensive listening tests ...................................................................................... 12

extraordinary longevity ...................................................................................... 12

robust protection ................................................................................................ 13

Front Panel .................................................................................................. 15

Rear Panel ................................................................................................... 16

Initial Setup.................................................................................................. 22

configuring channels .................................................................................. 22

configuring amplifier turn-on sequences .................................................... 23

Troubleshooting ........................................................................................... 25

Care and Maintenance ................................................................................. 27

Specifications............................................................................................... 28

Dimensions .................................................................................................. 29

5

Welcome to the Classé family

Congratulations on your purchase of a Classé Omega product. It is the
result of many years of continuous refinement, and we are confident 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 put
away the shipping case 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.

You will find the warranty registration card at the end of the enclosed
warranty policy booklet.

Please, take a few minutes to fill out the warranty
registration card, and drop it in the mail.

6

Unpacking and Placement

unpacking your amplifier Carefully unpack your Omega Mono power amplifier according to the

supplied instructions, and remove all accessories from the case. Please
take proper precautions when lifting the Omega Mono, as it is ex­tremely heavy.

Important! The unpacking and placement of the Omega Mono

power amplifier requires two people. Please refer to the
separate instruction sheet provided for instructions on
how to do this safely and easily. . .

We recommend keeping the shipping case for future
transport of your Classé product. Shipping your
component in anything other than its purpose-designed
shipping case may result in damage that is not covered
by the warranty.

placement There are two options when placing your Omega Mono power ampli-

fier: 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, meaning 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
enclosure, along with your other components, we suggest placing it at
the bottom of the enclosure, well away from your source components
and preamplifier.

Note that adequate clearance for the AC cord and connecting cables must be left
behind the Omega Mono. We suggest leaving eight inches (20 cm) of free space
to allow all cables sufficient room to bend without crimping or undue strain.

7

ventilation

Your Classé Omega Mono 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 the bottom, front and back of the Omega
Mono 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 cabinets (see the section Dimensions).

serial number The serial number for your Omega Mono 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.

register your purchase! Having found the serial number, now would be a good time to fill 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.

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.

8

Operating Voltage

The Omega Mono 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.

Make sure that the label on the rear panel 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 the Omega Mono power amplifier

may not be changed by the user and there are no user­serviceable 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 authorized Classé dealer or distributor.

The Omega Mono power amplifier can be powered by a normal 15­ampere AC mains line. For peak performance, we suggest that you con­sider dedicating an outlet exclusively for the Omega Mono.

The Omega Mono power amplifier 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

ΩΩ

ΩΩ

Ω

indicator color will alternate between red and blue to in­dicate that 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 op­erate (since this does not present a particular danger to the
amplifier), but note that it will not be able to achieve its
usual standard of performance under these compromised
conditions. The

Ω Ω

Ω Ω

Ω indicator will alternate between red

and blue to indicate this condition.

9

warm up/break-in period

Your new Classé Omega Mono power amplifier will deliver outstanding
performance immediately. However, you should expect to hear it im­prove somewhat as it reaches its normal operating temperature 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.

The 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 Omega Mono’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.

10

A Word About Installation

Every effort has been made to make the Classé Omega Mono 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.

11

Special Design Features

design team

philosophy

All of our components benefit from the same rigorous design goal:

All Classé products must reproduce music with the harmonic and spatial integ­rity typical of fine instruments heard in a live, unamplified performance.

To this end, we make extensive use of carefully optimized versions of
the same basic circuit precisely matched to specific power require­ments. This means that all Classé line level components and power am­plifiers benefit from years of refinement. However, our efforts do not
stop here.

Once we determine general circuit values for a particular application,
we listen carefully while exchanging and mixing different parts (transis­tors, capacitors, wiring, printed circuit boards, etc.) and adjusting specific
operating voltages within proper engineering ranges.

Every Classé component, even the most affordable, benefits from our
painstaking approach to design parameters. The result is an optimum
balance between the often-conflicting demands of exceptional perfor­mance and long-term reliability. Our Omega components benefit from
even tighter tolerance parts and highly segmented and exceptionally ro­bust power supplies with large reserve-current capabilities.

We build all of our components to the highest possible standards. From
multilayer glass-epoxy circuit boards, the full sized power-supplies, and
the massive faceplates, every Classé product is a tribute to both the sci­ence and art of sound reproduction. We hope that you derive as much
pleasure and satisfaction in using your Classé as we did in producing it.

highly refined

circuit design

All Classé analog amplification stages are based on circuits that have
been extensively optimized over many years of continuous develop­ment.

The unique Omega design utilizes 64 output devices in a special ar­rangement designed to maintain internal rail voltage under the most
adverse conditions. The 64 output devices are divided evenly, with 32
being utilized to maintain rail voltage, and the other 32 utilized as out­put power devices. The result of this unique design is an amplifier that
offers uncompromised performance.

By starting with excellent circuit designs and working with them over
the years, we were able to discover the many small refinements that add
up to superlative performance, in a variety of applications. Altering a

12

voltage here, or using a slightly different part there, may make all the
difference between solid and absolutely outstanding performance.

This level of refinement only comes with a great deal of experience, and
is not available to those who flit 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.

extensive listening tests Excellent measured performance is to be expected in world-class prod-

ucts, and Classé products deliver that performance. However, experi­ence has shown that technical excellence alone is insufficient to guaran­tee subjectively musical results.

For this reason, all Classé products are laboriously fine-tuned during the
development process by carefully controlled listening tests. Our ears are
still some of the finest 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 film resis­tor components of the same value, from several different 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 finalized
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 benefit of having worked with highly refined 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 long-term experience, we are able to design and
manufacture products which we are confident will stand the test of
time.

We are confident 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.

13

robust protection

Finally, your new Classé amplifier incorporates a variety of protection
circuits, all designed to protect both the amplifier and your loudspeakers
against dangerous fault conditions. Significantly, these protection circuits
do not intrude upon or limit the normal performance of the amplifier;
rather, they simply shut the amplifier down when confronted with dan­gerous conditions. These conditions include:

• output overload

• clipping

• DC offset

• excessive operating temperatures

• AC mains voltage above normal tolerance

If any of the above conditions should occur (any of which might harm ei-
ther your amplifier or possibly your loudspeakers), the amplifier will shut itself
down. If the fault is not amplifier-related (AC mains voltage out of
range, for example), the

ΩΩ

ΩΩ

Ω indicator color will alternate between red

and blue. In all other cases, the

ΩΩ

ΩΩ

Ω indicator will blink red until the

fault can be righted and the amplifier is restarted.

Caution! If you see the

ΩΩ

ΩΩ

Ω

indicator blinking as described above,
please disconnect the amplifier from the AC mains
immediately and check that all external connections are
cleanly made and secure. If no fault is immediately
obvious, please call your local, authorized Classé dealer
for assistance.

14

a

b

15

Front Panel

1 Standby button

The Standby button, situated near the top of the side panel, will
toggle the Omega Mono between its fully functional operate mode
and a standby mode that leaves the amplifier off yet ready to re­spond to system commands via any of the supported control op­tions (e.g. IR In, Trigger In, CAN Bus, or RS-232).

2

Ω Ω

Ω Ω

Ω indicator

The amplifier state is indicated by the

ΩΩ

ΩΩ

Ω indicator on the front

panel. This light, in the shape of the Greek letter Ω, indicates the
operating state during normal operation, as follows:

• dark = standby

• blue (slow blink) = initialization/mute

• blue (continuous) = operate

Various fault conditions are indicated as follows:

• red/blue = line voltage out of range

• red (slow blink) = protection mode (DC, current or temp.)

• red (fast blink) = internal communication error

Caution! If the

Ω Ω

Ω Ω

Ω indicator is blinking red, please disconnect the

amplifier from the AC mains immediately and check that
all external connections are cleanly made and secure. If
no fault is immediately obvious, please call your
authorized Classé dealer for assistance.

When in standby, the amplifier’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 amplifier 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 amplifier is in
standby prior to disconnecting it from the AC mains.

It is a good practice to 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 will easily jump across a simple power switch.

16

Rear Panel

The 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 specific advice on incorporating your new am-

plifier into your system.

1 SE Button

The SE button is used to configure the amplifier for single-ended
operation. It is also used when configuring the turn-on delay and
sequence number of the amplifier (for future Classé CAN Bus ap­plications).

2 BAL Button

The BAL button is used to configure the amplifier for balanced op­eration. It is also used when configuring the turn-on delay and se­quence number of the amplifier (for future Classé CAN Bus appli­cations).

3 Status LED indicators

There are two LED indicators located just below the SE and BAL
buttons, indicating the use of either the balanced (XLR) or the
single-ended (RCA) input connector.

These indicators are also used to indicate certain fault conditions
in your amplifier, should any ever arise.

4 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 finest audio per­formances in your collection.

Essentially, balanced audio interconnections provide two distinct
benefits: 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 interconnection between your Classé components
wherever possible.

17

e

l

k

i

j

h

g

f

d

c

a

b

18

The pin assignments of this XLR input connector are:

PUSH

21

3

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

These pin assignments are consistent with the standards adopted by
the Audio Engineering Society.

If you are using your Classé amplifier with a Classé preamplifier,
you’re all set. Just buy a standard balanced interconnect and plug it
in. Then engage that input on the power amplifier by configuring
it as described in the section Initial Setup.

If you are using another brand of preamplifier, please refer to the
operating manual of your balanced-output preamplifier to ascertain
that the pin assignments of its output connectors correspond to
those of your amplifier. If this is not the case, have your dealer wire
the cables so that the appropriate output pin connects to the
equivalent input pin.

5 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 effort to ensure that the single-ended
(RCA) input of your power amplifier is as good as possible. How­ever, this connection standard cannot offer 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 input of your Classé power
amplifier, you need to engage it by configuring the amplifier as de­scribed in the section Initial Setup.

6 Speaker Outputs

Two pairs of high-quality five-way binding posts are provided
on the amplifier, in order to facilitate bi-wiring.

In practice, bi-wiring involves connecting two (preferably identi­cal) sets of speaker cables between the amplifier and its loudspeaker.
In many cases, the benefit is a subjectively improved level of clarity
and detail from the speaker, as a result of being able to feed the two
separate sections of its crossover and driver complement with iden­tical yet separate signals.

19

(Many high quality loudspeakers also offer two sets of connections on their
speakers. Generally, one set of the connections on the loudspeaker feeds the
portion of the speaker’s crossover network that supplies the woofer with its
signal; the other set of connections connects to the portion of the crossover
that supplies the rest of the speaker with the midrange and high frequen­cies.)

Although the binding posts on your Classé amplifier 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.

7 RS-232 Control Port

This DB-9 connector has several uses:

• downloading new operating software into your amplifier
(should new features ever be added, for example)

• external control by systems such as i-Command™,
AMX™ and Crestron

™

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

8 Classé CAN Bus Control Ports

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

9 DC Trigger Input and Output

Many audio/video preamplifiers can supply a DC control voltage
to associated equipment in order to induce desired behavior. Your
Classé amplifier 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.

Tw o 1/8th-inch mini-jacks provide this remote-controlled turn-on
(that is, toggling between operate and standby) of the amplifier.
These jacks provide a simple pass-through of the control voltage
from one to the other, allowing you to “daisy-chain” a series of
components quite easily.

The remote trigger will be operated by the presence of 5–12 VDC,
with tip polarity as shown below:

3-12 volts @
less than 100 mA

20

10 IR Input and Output

Your Classé amplifier includes two 1/8th-inch mini-jacks in order
to support the IR(infrared) remote controls that are ubiquitous
today. IR commands exist for toggling the amplifier between oper-
ate and standby, as well as discrete command codes for either oper­ate or standby. These codes may be used in macros for sophisticated
remote control systems, facilitating the control of the amplifier 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 amplifiers,
and emitters (available from your dealer) to translate the remote’s
flashes of infrared light into corresponding pulses of electricity. The
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 amplifier 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). This
allows you to “daisy chain” your control wires from one product
to the next.

The amplifier is designed to respond to IR commands of 5 VDC,
with the tip of the mini-plugs defined to be positive relative to the
shank of the plug.

3-12 volts @
less than 100 mA

11 AC Mains Fuse

Your Classé Omega Mono power amplifier has an AC mains
fuse, accessible on the rear panel. If you suspect that your AC fuse

has blown, disconnect your amplifier 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.

If the fuse appears to be blown, replace it only with the same type
and rating of fuse. Using any other type of fuse, particularly a larger-
value fuse, can result in permanent damage to your amplifier. If you are
uncomfortable replacing the fuse yourself, contact your dealer for
assistance.

After replacing the fuse and fuse cover, reconnect the amplifier to
the AC mains and turn it on without reconnecting either the in­puts or the speaker wires. If the fuse blows again, contact your
Classé dealer for assistance.

21

If everything seems fine, place the amplifier back into standby and
carefully reconnect the input cable and power the amplifier up. If
the fuse then blows (or the amplifier goes into protection), you
may have a serious fault with your preamplifier/processor. Contact
your authorized Classé dealer.

Finally, if everything is still fine, place the amplifier in standby and
carefully reconnect the speaker wires. Check both ends of the
speaker wires for possible short circuits. Then power up the ampli­fier again. If the amplifier remains functional (the fuse does not
blow), then the original fuse probably blew in order to protect the
amplifier from a large AC mains surge. If it blows again, contact
your dealer for assistance.

12 AC Mains Input

A high-current IEC standard power cord (supplied) is used with
the Omega Mono. Plug the cord into the high-current IEC re-

ceptacle provided, and the other end into a suitable wall outlet.

Do not open your amplifier. There are no user-serviceable
parts within this product.

Danger! Potentially dangerous voltages and current capabilities

exist within your power amplifier, even when it is
disconnected from the 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 an authorized
Classé dealer or distributor.

22

Initial Setup

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

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 amplifiers
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 amplifier is extremely heavy. Two
people in good physical shape are required for this task.

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

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

3. Configure your amplifier.

The SE/select and BAL/mode buttons on the rear panel are
used when configuring your amplifier for how you would like it to
operate.

configuring channels

While in standby, pressing the SE/select button will cause the SE
LED to flash three times, indicating that the amplifier is configured
for single-ended operation once the unit is taken out of standby.

Similarly, pressing the BAL/mode button will cause the BAL
LED to flash three times, indicating that the amplifier is configured
for balanced operation once the unit is taken out of standby.

Make sure you configure the amplifier to use the type of input
connection you will be using.

23

configuring amplifier

turn-on sequences

In a system that contains multiple Classé amplifiers, you may set
the number of seconds of turn-on delay for each amplifier, allow­ing them to turn on in the order you specified, rather than all at
once. This number also acts as an ID when using the CAN Bus.

(Having several powerful amplifiers all turning on at the same time can
sometimes stress the AC mains in your home, potentially leading to nui­sance tripping of circuit breakers.)

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

• place the amplifier in standby (

ΩΩ

ΩΩ

Ω indicator off)

• press and hold the BAL/mode button until both LEDs
are lit. When released, both LEDs will blink to indicate
the current number of the amplifier (i.e. twice to indicate
amplifier #2).

• if you want to change the current amplifier number set­ting, press and hold the BAL/mode button again until
the LEDs are on.

• while continuing to hold the BAL/mode button, click
the SE/select button the same number of times as the
desired amplifier number.

• release the BAL/mode button. The amplifier will con­firm your choice by blinking the LEDs the same number
of times.

4. Make your preamplifier connections.

With the amplifier in standby or disconnected from the AC mains,
and using the appropriate balanced or single-ended connections as
chosen in Step 3, make the appropriate connections using high
quality interconnect cables.

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 ampli­fier and your loudspeakers, using high quality speaker wires.

Connect the black (–) terminals on the amplifier to the black (–)
terminals on your speaker, and the red (+) terminals on the ampli­fier to the red (+) terminals on your speaker. If bi-wiring, run a to­tal of four conductors between each amplifier and its correspond­ing loudspeaker: two separate +/– leads, one pair for the bass and
the other for the midrange and treble. Make sure that no wires
cross between the red (+) and black (–) terminals at either end.

24

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 there being any 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.

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 amplifier on last, and
to turn it off first. Doing so prevents any turn-on/turn-off tran­sients that might originate in other components from damaging
your loudspeakers.

25

Troubleshooting

In general, refer any service problems to your authorized Classé dealer.
Before contacting your dealer, however, please check to see if the prob­lem is listed below. If it is, try the suggested solutions. If none of these
solves the problem, contact your Classé dealer.

1. No sound, and the

ΩΩ

ΩΩ

Ω indicator is not lit.

• The amplifier is not plugged into the AC mains, or the
AC mains are down (check the circuit breaker or fuse).

• A brownout 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.

• The AC mains fuse is blown. See Troubleshooting #4, be-
low (or contact your Classé dealer).

• The AC mains is out of range. Check the voltage speci­fied on the rear panel.

2. No sound, and the

Ω Ω

Ω Ω

Ω indicator is blinking blue.

• The amplifier has not completed its initialization and/or
turn-on delay.

• The mute circuitry may have been turned on, using a re­mote control. Press the Mute key to toggle it.

3. No sound, and the

Ω Ω

Ω Ω

Ω indicator is blinking red.

• Your protection circuitry may have been engaged. Dis­connect the amplifier from the AC mains, and disconnect
all inputs and outputs.

• Then try to power up the amplifier again, connecting it
only to AC power. If the indicator continues to blink,
there is a fault condition in the amplifier itself, and it
should be disconnected and taken to your Classé dealer
for service.

• If it powers up without any difficulty, power it back down
and reconnect only the inputs. Then restart the amplifier.
If it goes into its blinking protection mode, something is
wrong with a component “upstream” from the amplifier ­probably a DC offset or similar problem. Your amplifier is
trying to protect your loudspeakers (even small amounts
of DC can damage woofers in a relatively short time). Try
different 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 preamplifier).
Contact your dealer for help with the appropriate compo­nent.

26

4. The amplifier keeps shutting off.

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

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

5. The AC mains fuse is blown.

There is a specific troubleshooting procedure for a blown AC
mains fuse, since this rare occurrence sometimes indicates a signifi­cant problem. Please use the following steps, in order:

a. Disconnect your amplifier from the AC mains, as well as

from its input connections and speaker connections. Re­move the fuse cover at 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 (specified below). Using any

other type of fuse, particularly a larger-value fuse, can result in
permanent damage to your amplifier. If you are uncomfort-

able replacing the fuse yourself, contact your Classé dealer
for assistance.

Mains voltage: 100/120VAC
Fuse type: MDA slow-blow
Rating: 15A

Mains voltage: 230/240VAC
Fuse type: MDA slow-blow
Rating: 12A

c. After replacing the fuse and fuse cover, reconnect the am-

plifier to the AC mains only and turn it on without recon-
necting 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 fine, place the amplifier back into

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

e. Finally, if everything is still fine, place the amplifier in

standby and carefully reconnect the speaker wires. Check
both ends of the speaker wires for possible short circuits.

Then power up the amplifier again. If the amplifier re­mains functional (the fuse does not blow), then the origi­nal fuse probably blew in order to protect the amplifier
from a large AC mains surge. If it blows again, contact
your Classé dealer for assistance.

27

Care and Maintenance

To remove dust from the cabinet of your amplifier, use a feather duster
or a soft, lint-free cloth. To remove dirt and fingerprints, we recommend
isopropyl alcohol and a soft cloth. Dampen the cloth with alcohol first
and then lightly clean the surface of the amplifier with the cloth. Do
not use excessive amounts of alcohol that might drip off the cloth and
into the amplifier.

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.

28

Specifications

Classé Audio reserves the right to make improvements without notice.

 Power output 600W continuous rms @ 8Ω

1200W continuous rms @ 4Ω

 Frequency response 10Hz – 22kHz (+0/-0.1dB)

10Hz – 155kHz (+0/-3.0dB)

 Phase less than -10° @ 22kHz
 Signal-to-noise ratio better than 106dB

(ref. full output, 10Hz – 80kHz)

 Noise floor (FFT) all peaks under 95dBV

(10Hz – 80kHz)

 Distortion (THD + noise) 0.004% @ 8Ω

(unweighted, 1.0Vrms/1kHz input, 10Hz – 500kHz)

 Voltage gain 29.1dB
 Sensitivity 2.25Vrms for rated output @ 8Ω
 Input Impedance 75kΩ
 Output Impedance 50mΩ
 Rated power consumption (as per IEC60065 para. 2.3.10) 708W
 Idle power consumption 240W
 Mains voltage specified on rear panel

(cannot be changed by user or dealer) .

 Overall Dimensions Width: 11.5”(292mm)

Height: 19.5”(495mm)

Depth: 23.75”(603mm)

 Shipping case dimensions Width: 17.0”(432mm)

Height: 24.5”(622mm)

Depth: 29.5”(749mm)

 Shipping weight 224lbs (102kg)
 Net weight 192lbs (87kg)

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

Classé Audio
5070 François Cusson
Lachine, Quebec
Canada H8T 1B3
Telephone [phone]
FAX [phone]

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.

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

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

29

Dimensions

(all dimensions are in inches)

Classé Audio

5070 François Cusson

Lachine, Quebec

Canada H8T 1B3

[phone]

[phone] (fax)

http://www.classeaudio.com

email: [e-mail]

Copyright © 2004 Classé Audio, Inc. Printed in Canada.

v1.1