Classe Audio SSP-30 MKII User Manual

Classé Audio, Inc.

SSP-30 MKII

Preamplifier/Surround Sound Processor

SSP-30 MKII

Owner’s Manual

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IMPORTANT: SAFETY INFORMATION

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 open the SSP-30 MKII 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. Do not attempt to service the SSP-30 MKII yourself.

2) To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose the SSP-30 MKII to water or moisture. If a liquid other than
clear water or pure alcohol does enter SSP-30 MKII take it to your Classé dealer for a thorough check-up.

3) Do not place the SSP-30 MKII close to any heat-producing device such as your audio amplifier(s), and also
keep it away from direct sunlight, or a radiator, stove, etc.

4) Connect the SSP-30 MKII only to an AC source of the proper voltage. The shipping container and the rear
panel serial number tag will stipulate the proper voltage. Use of any other voltage will almost certainly
damage the unit and will 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 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.

6) If the SSP-30 MKII 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.

CE Notice

All of us at Classé take extreme care to insure that your purchase will remain a prized investment. We are proud to
inform you that all Classé Audio 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.

The SSP-30 MKII is manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. It is additionally
licensed under one or more of the following patents: U.S. number 3,959,950, Canadian numbers 1,004,603 and
1,037,877.

Manufactured under license from Lucasfilm Ltd. U.S. patent numbers 5,043,970; 5,189,703; and 5,222,059.
European patent 0 323 830. Other patents pending.

Additionally, the SSP-30 MKII is manufactured under license from Digital Theater Systems, Inc.

Dolby® Pro Logic®, and Dolby Digital® are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation.

DTS® is a registered trademark of Digital Theater Systems, Inc.

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Thank You From Everyone At Classé

Thank you for purchasing the Classé Audio SSP-30 MKII Preamplifier/Surround Sound Processor.

We take great pride in offering components that combine exceptional sonic performance and long-term reliability.
To do that, we have invested in extraordinary design and manufacturing facilities. We trust that you will enjoy your
purchase for many years to come.

Classé Design 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 as heard in a live performance or in the recording studio.

Single Circuit Design

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.

Listening: The Critical Design Element

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

Extended Real-World Lifespan

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 most expensive components gain from even tighter tolerance parts and highly segmented and
exceptionally robust power supplies with large reserve-current capabilities.

Our Pride in Manufacturing, Your Pride in Ownership.

We build all of our components to the highest possible standards. From multi-layer 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 unit as we did in producing it.

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The Classé SSP-30 MKII Preamplifier/Surround Sound Processor is a beautiful sounding high end

two channel Preamplifier which also does the complex Surround Sound tasks of making multi-channel
movies out of data, while remaining simple and intuitive enough for anyone to use. The SSP-30 MKII is
the high quality center of any audio and home theater installation. It will sound and work best in your
system when used with other high end products, such as those from Classé. Classé has a powerful
selection of single, dual and multi channel power amplifiers, and also builds wonderful CD/DVD players
and CD players.

This owners manual will make it possible for you to set up the SSP-30 MKII and begin using it only
a very few minutes after you take it out of the box. The Section 1 quickly details getting it out of the box
and suggests a few precautions. Section 2 explains how to plug in all the wires from all the associated
equipment. Section 3, 4, 5, and 6 include instructions on setting up and using the SSP-30 MKII stereo
and surround sound capabilities correctly.

The most difficult part of the set-up will be attaching all the wires. Classé recommends labeling
each and every input or output wire in your system, including the AC cables. When you’ve done this you
will know what equipment is connected at each end. Labeling is a simple task which takes a few extra
minutes, but which can save hours of effort if you ever want to change anything, even a single cable or
wire.

It is also a good idea to make a chart of all the associated equipment and how you want to attach
everything together. Even a simple penciled flow chart will make your tasks go faster with fewer hookup
errors. You can keep the chart for later reference when you want to add to or subtract equipment from
the system.

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Contents

IMPORTANT: SAFETY INFORMATION ................................................................................................................. 3

CE NOTICE ............................................................................................................................................................... 3

THANK YOU FROM EVERYONE AT CLASSÉ ....................................................................................................... 4

CLASSÉ DESIGN PHILOSOPHY............................................................................................................................. 4

SINGLE CIRCUIT DESIGN....................................................................................................................................... 4

LISTENING: THE CRITICAL DESIGN ELEMENT.................................................................................................. 4

EXTENDED REAL-WORLD LIFESPAN................................................................................................................... 4

OUR PRIDE IN MANUFACTURING, YOUR PRIDE IN OWNERSHIP. ................................................................... 4

SECTION 1.0 - GETTING STARTED ....................................................................................................................... 7

1.1 UNPACKING THE SSP-30 MKII.................................................................................................................. 7

1.2 OPTIMAL PLACEMENT.............................................................................................................................. 7

1.3 VENTILATION.............................................................................................................................................. 7

A FEW NOTES ABOUT THE SSP-30 MKII AND THE SET-UP .............................................................................. 8

SECTION 2.0 - CONNECTING THE SSP-30 MKII................................................................................................. 10

SECTION 3.0 - FRONT PANEL CONTROLS ........................................................................................................ 13

SECTION 4.0 - THE SSP-30 MKII REMOTE CONTROL....................................................................................... 14

SECTION 5.0 - SETTING UP THE SSP-30 MKII ................................................................................................... 17

5.1 AUDIO SETUP: ............................................................................................................................................ 18

5.2 SPEAKER SETUP:....................................................................................................................................... 19

5.3 SOURCE SETUP: ........................................................................................................................................ 21

5.4 DISPLAY SETUP: ........................................................................................................................................ 23

5.5 TRIGGER SETUP: ....................................................................................................................................... 24

SECTION 6.0 - USING THE TAPE INPUTS AND OUTPUTS................................................................................ 25

6.1 RECORDING AUDIO/VIDEO, ANALOG: .................................................................................................... 25

6.2 RECORDING ANALOG AUDIO ONLY........................................................................................................ 26

6.3 RECORDING DIGITAL AUDIO/VIDEO........................................................................................................ 26

6.4 RECORDING DIGITAL AUDIO ONLY......................................................................................................... 27

SECTION 7.0 - REMOTE ZONE USE..................................................................................................................... 27

APPENDIX A RC5 CODES FOR CLASSÉ SURROUND PROCESSORS AND CD/DVD-1................................ 28

APPENDIX B MODE CHART ............................................................................................................................. 30

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Section 1.0 - Getting Started

1.1 Unpacking the SSP-30 MKII

Your Classé SSP-30 MKII is packed in high-density foam inside a special cardboard container. To remove
the unit, carefully open and spread the Top box flaps. (There are heavy-duty staples under each end of the
lengthwise tape.) Remove the top foam piece(s) and then carefully remove the SSP-30 MKII itself. Be
Careful with it while it is still covered in the protective plastic, insuring that you do not rest it on its front or
rear, as possible damage to knobs and connectors can occur. Put it down carefully on a flat, soft surface.
Take it out of the heavy plastic bag and place the SSP-30 MKII on a sturdy surface. Carefully inspect it and
report any concealed damage to your dealer immediately.

In addition, look for the following accessories:

1) The Owner’s Manual (This one)

2) One detachable AC power cord.

3) One remote control handset (with two AAA batteries).

We strongly recommend that you save the shipping carton and foam inserts. The REQUIRED Replacements
are expensive to purchase. The packaging was designed to protect the SSP-30 MKII under almost all
circumstances and will be very useful in protecting the valuable electronic instrument if you move or need to
ship the unit for any reason.

1.2 Optimal Placement

Carefully locate the SSP-30 MKII. Follow the safety precautions in this manual regarding exposure to heat
and moisture.

Stable, high-strength shelving or equipment racks specifically designed for audio/video components are
best.

Place the SSP-30 MKII close enough to other components to allow convenient connection. This is especially
true for source components (CD player, DVD player…) where shorter cable runs are best. However, we do
not recommend closely stacking the SSP-30 MKII with other components, especially tuners, as they may be
affected by radio-frequency emissions from the SSP-30 MKII’s microprocessor.

Allow at least four inches of free space behind the SSP-30 MKII to accommodate interconnect cables, power
cords, etc. Four inches of unobstructed free space above the SSP-30 MKII’s chassis cover will allow
sufficient air circulation to dissipate the small amount of heat.

Isolate power amplifiers as much as possible to avoid the magnetic fields often generated by their large
power-supply transformers. The SSP-30 MKII’s high current output stage is virtually immune to problems
sometimes encountered when the power amplifiers are far away at the end of long cable runs.

We do not recommend placing the processor near power amplifiers since they produce heat.

1.3 Ventilation

CAUTION: Ventilation is very important. We do not recommend attempting to operate the SSP-30 MKII if
the ambient temperature exceeds 40°C (100°F). There are components inside which produce heat. If there
is insufficient ventilation around the chassis the processors will overheat and may act erratically until allowed
to cool. Any cabinet should have adequate airflow to allow warm air to leave and cooler room air to enter.
Positive Ventilation is required in some installations due to the heat generated by the associated electronics.

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A few notes about the SSP-30 MKII and the Set-up

The SSP-30 MKII decodes Dolby Digital EX©, DTS-ES Matrix© and Dolby Pro Logic II
stereo preamplifier. The 7.1 channel input is equipped with comprehensive volume control facilities and ensures that the
SSP-30 MKII will remain compatible with new multi-channel formats as they appear. The SSP-30 MKII also has several
music modes that may be used to enhance a normal stereo signal.

The SSP-30 MKII accepts up to seven digital input sources, eight line-level input sources, plus a tape loop and two
additional record outputs. It has six composite and S-Video inputs, composite and S-Video monitor outputs, composite
and S-video record outputs and an S-Video monitor output without On Screen Display (OSD) for highest quality video
performance.

The SSP-30 MKII has two main modes of operation. In the normal operation mode the SSP-30 MKII automatically senses
the type of the incoming signal and selects the best mode for that signal. The user can over-ride the automatic selection
and select different post-processing modes for the incoming signals. These modes feature a mono down-mix, stereo,
Stereo96, Dolby Pro Logic and four Music modes: Natural, Party, PLII Music and Neo6: Music. The user can bypass the
digital section of the SSP-30 MKII, if desired, and connect, for example, a high quality stereo source to the Left and Right
channels of the 7.1 channel input.

The SSP-30 MKII is supplied with a comprehensive IR remote control.

Options for system integration are provided by RC5 jacks to interface with other Classé products, by the three I2VDC
trigger outputs to control external equipment and can communication with a PC or home automation system via the RS
232 interface.

Installation note

This preamplifier generates a modest amount of heat and thus requires ventilation. Do not place it on a rug or other soft
surface into which it could sink. The SSP-30 MKII should not be placed in a built-in installation such as a bookcase or
rack unless proper ventilation is provided. . Do not place another unit on top of the SSP-30 MKII. Do not place the SSP­30 MKII above a unit that generates heat.

CAUTION: To prevent a fire or shock hazard, do not permit this product to become wet. If liquid is accidentally spilled
on it, unplug the AC cord it from the wall. Allow sufficient time for then SSP-30 MKII to completely dry out before
attempting to operate it again. If the spilled liquid is anything but clear water and/or alcohol, a qualified service
technician should examine the processor before it is used again.

Do not remove the cover, or attempt to modify or repair the processor yourself. Refer all servicing to a qualified
technician.

This product is manufactured under license from DTS
double-D symbol, “Dolby Digital©” and “Pro Logic” are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation.

©

, and Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. “Dolby”, the

©.

It also functions as a high quality

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SSP-30 MKII REAR PANEL

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Section 2.0 - Connecting the SSP-30 MKII

Use the diagram on the previous page to follow the discussion regarding input and output connections.

SAFETY NOTE: Before you begin work we very strongly advise that all electronic equipment be unplugged from the AC
outlets. They should at least be switched off with the AC switch (NOT in Standby). Failure to follow the above advice can
result in damage to speakers and to electronics and perhaps to you.

RCA-style cables should be rotated (twisted) slightly as you insert them into (or remove

The SSP-30 MKII has a complete and well-thought-out panel of connections available, enough for even a complex audio
and theater system.

2.1 VIDEO INPUTS: The six Video Inputs (S-Video and Composite) are assigned to the like numbered analog (AV)

inputs: VID1 is associated with AV1, VID2 with AV2, etc.

2.1.1 DIGITAL INPUTS: The seven Digital inputs may be assigned to any Audio source, (AV1 – AV6 and AUD1 –

AUD4). Any Digital input may be assigned to more than one source.
NOTE: When a 24/96 PCM digital signal is fed to one of the digital inputs of the SSP-30 MKII, the
Signal will not go through the DSP, therefore only the Stereo and Mono modes will be
available under this condition.

2.1.2 AUDIO INPUTS: When an audio source is selected for listening, the analog (if any) signal assigned to that input
will also appear at the record, record1, record2, and (if selected) at the remote zone outputs. Any Digital input
assigned to the same source will be heard at the Main 7.1 outputs only. When you have both a digital and an
analog input assigned to an audio source the analog signal will appear only at the three record outputs and (if
selected) at the remote zone output. The Digital signal will be processed and routed at the main outputs and
also appear unprocessed at the digital output. The analog signal going to the record-outs does not go through
the A to D and D to A processors. The two signals are handled separately. There is no way to send the
processed digital information to any of the record or remote outputs.

2.1.3 TAPE INPUTS: The PLAY input functions as part of a tape loop. It is designed to accept the output from a two
channel tape machine. Pressing the TAPE button on the front panel routes the analog audio signal on the PLAY
input through the digital processor. You can change the output mode (Stereo, Natural, etc.), while listening to
Tape. Because Mode is assigned to the input Source, the selected mode for PLAY will remain set when you exit
and return. When you return to listening to the Source being taped the mode selected for the Source will return.
See Section 6, on Taping.

2.1.4 7.1 INPUTS: These are analog audio only inputs, designed to make it possible to listen to new multi-channel
formats which are not currently available as a digital signal, such as SACD and DVD-Audio. These inputs are
analog only, as the input goes only to a volume control and directly to the 7.1 Outputs.

2.1.5 VIDEO INPUTS: The two styles of Video inputs are also separate from each other. S-Video does not convert to
Composite video and Composite does not convert to S. If you want to have Video sent to the remote zone
output you have to send the SSP-30 MKII a Composite video signal. Thus an S-Video signal can be sent to your
television and to a recording VCR, while only Composite video can be sent to the remote zone. (S-Video should
be sent only over a short length of cable).

2.1.6 IR INPUTS: There are two IR inputs. They allow you to make a connection from the remote Zone area as well as
from the Main listening/viewing area. The two IR can not accept simultaneous input, though each will allow you
to fully control the SSP-30 MKII; the Zone can be controlled from either the Main area or Zone and the Main
area can be controlled from either the Main or the Zone area. Neither of the IR inputs can be reconfigured as
outputs, thus the SSP-30 MKII should be the last piece in the IR chain.

them from) the SSP-30’s jacks.