Classe Audio P-203 Owners manual

P-203 ISSUE 1 APR. ‘99

CLASSÉ AUDIO

P-203

POWER AMPLIFIER

P-203

OWNER'S MANUAL

P-203 ISSUE 1 APR. ‘99

CLASSÉ DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

1. REPEATED LISTENING DESIGN SESSIONS:
Fine tuning of sound by exchanging and mixing of parts (transistors, capacitors, wiring, PCB
boards etc.), and adjusting many specific operating voltages within proper engineering ranges,
producing an overall sonic recipe giving the most natural harmonic realism of music typical of
instruments in a live performance.

2. UPGRADABLE SINGLE CIRCUIT DESIGNS:
All Classé products (all preamps and all amps) share exactly the same circuit (excluding moving
coil and moving magnet phono circuits). This means all amplifiers and all high level circuits of
the preamps are the same. The same circuit is tailored to different power levels etc. Differences
between less expensive models and more expensive models are parts quality and compliment,
power supply extravagance and the amount of filtering etc., as well as features and packaging.
This means that for years Classé has been constantly fine tuning and upgrading this circuit and
its application, thus reaching a very high level of understanding and musical achievement which
benefits all models - least expensive, most expensive, preamps and amplifiers alike.

3. EXTREME LONG LIFE IN REAL WORLD CONDITIONS:
Choosing the best attainable quality parts and materials combined with the advantages of the two
above-mentioned areas provides Classé owners with years of proven trouble free reliability and
musical enjoyment.

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P-203 ISSUE 1 APR. ‘99

P-203

OWNER'S MANUAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS

UNPACKING & SET-UP.................................................................. 4

GENERAL CONNECTIONS............................................................ 5

CONNECTIONS FOR REGULAR OR BALANCED INPUTS..... 8

PROTECTION CIRCUIT................................................................. 10

P-203 BACK VIEW.......................................................................... 11

P-203 TOP VIEW.............................................................................. 12

SPECIFICATIONS …...................................................................... 14

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P-203 ISSUE 1 APR. ‘99

4

UNPACKING & SET-UP

Your CLASSÉ P-203 power amplifier is packed in high density, semi-rigid foam placed in a
special cardboard box. To remove the unit, open and spread all the top flaps of the box and by its
sides, lift out the entire unit and put it on a large flat surface. Take it out of the plastic bag and
inspect the unit for any concealed damage. Apart from this owner's manual, please ensure the
following has also been included:

1) Detachable A.C. linecord

2) Allen key for top plate

3) Nut driver for output connectors

Please report any damage or missing parts to your dealer immediately.

Place the P-203 at or near its final set-up position, allowing 8 inches at the rear for tightening
the speaker output connectors. For optimum sonic performance, we recommend the optional CLASSÉ

REFERENCE A.C. LINECORD

. Consult your dealer regarding this accessory.

The power transformer in the P-203 is located at the front-center of the unit. Ideally, a few
feet should separate this area from components which potentially could pick up hum. These include
preamplifiers, turntables, and interconnect cables. In terms of providing adequate airspace for
cooling, a good rule of thumb is to allow 6 inches above and 3 inches on each side of the unit.
Check the Serial Number sticker on the back of the unit for the correct operating voltage.
The P-203 has one external AC fuse, the rating of which should be as follows:

LINE VOLTAGE FUSE RATING
100 or 120 V.A.C. 10 AMP SLOW BLOW 125 or 250 volts
220 or 240 V.A.C 8 AMP SLOW BLOW 250 volts

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P-203 ISSUE 1 APR. ‘99

5

GENERAL CONNECTIONS

A.C. LINE
Insert the linecord into the A.C. receptacle on the rear of the unit. PLEASE MAKE SURE

YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY HOOKED UP THE SPEAKERS AND PREAMPLIFIER TO
YOUR AMPLIFIER BEFORE CONNECTING THE AC POWER CORD TO THE
AMPLIFIER.

CAUTION: SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
DISCONNECT AC LINE CABLE WHILE MAKING ALL CONNECTIONS. "FLOATING THE

GROUND” OR DEFEATING THE GROUND ON A 3-PRONG LINECORD MAY CREATE
A SHOCK HAZARD. CONNECT ALL INTERCONNECT CABLES BETWEEN THE

ELECTRONICS BEFORE CONNECTING THE A.C. LINECORDS TO THE WALL
OUTLETS. THIS WILL REDUCE THE POTENTIAL SHOCK HAZARD.

STEREO
Input and output connectors are clearly marked on the back of the amplifier. Left/Right
connections are oriented from the front of the unit. Stereo output connections are marked above the
connectors. Switch stereo/mono switch to STEREO position. (The P-203 is preset at the factory for
STEREO.)
Use only high quality interconnect and loudspeaker cables, and make all connections tight. If
the RCA input plugs are loose, remove them and pinch down the ground leaves slightly with pliers.
Observe correct phasing of the loudspeaker connections, and tighten. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN
the output connectors as this can result to damage your unit.

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