Owner’s Manual SSP-800/CT-SSP Surround Sound Processor
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. 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 manufacturing consistency and consumer safety.
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 amplifiers) that produce heat. 9.
Contents Introduction......................................................................................................6 Exceptional Design Features.............................................................................7 custom theater............................................................................................7 versatile connectivity..................................................................................7 superior performance...............................................
name.............................................................................. 42 audio................................................................................................ 43 configuration.................................................................................... 43 in use................................................................................................ 44 video.................................................................................................
Introduction Welcome to the Classé family! Congratulations on your purchase of the Classé SSP-800/CT-SSP Surround Sound Processor, a next generation processor with reference-quality performance. We are sure that you will enjoy it for many years to come. Classé values the relationships with our customers and intend on supplying the highest level of support along with our product.
Exceptional Design Features The SSP-800 is a next-generation surround sound preamp/processor, conceived with pure performance as its raison d’être. It seamlessly unites a multitude of disparate audio and video signal formats to faithfully reproduce your music and movies as the artist intended. custom theater The SSP-800 is also available in a Custom Theater chassis (CT-SSP), specially designed to facilitate rack mount installations.
room equalization All home theater sound systems are affected by room characteristics. Sound and speaker control reflections and sound absorption can create dramatic variations in the performance of your system, particularly in the lower frequencies. The SSP-800/CT-SSP features a system of filters which, in the hands of an experienced acoustician, can help optimize the performance of your system.
Unpacking and Placement We have taken all precautions, and made every effort to make the SSP simple and straightforward to install and use. Still, we recommend that you take a few minutes to review this manual. Even if you are having the processor professionally installed, you will want to know how to efficiently operate it to its potential. The SSP menu system includes features that provide you with a great deal of fine-tuning.
• Allow at least three inches (7.5 cm) of clearance above and to each side of the processor for ventilation. Do not obstruct the area around the processor so that excess heat can dissipate through normal air circulation. Avoid placing the processor on a soft surface, such as plush carpeting, that may restrict airflow. Important! Obey all placement considerations. Not obeying the placement considerations may result in damage that is not covered under the warranty.
1b. Install (4) accessory feet (FC90895) and secure with (8) 6-32 X3/4 screws. Tighten to 8.5 in-lbs (0.96 N-m) Important! Install (2) securing brackets when using the CT-SSP in a standalone (non-rack-mount) installation. Important! For stand-alone CT-SSP installations, follow the same placement considerations as outlined for the SSP-800. 2. Install left and right faceplate securing brackets (L7326 for CT-SSP and CT-AMPS, and L7907 for CT-5300) secure with (4) 8-32 X 3/8 philips pan head screws.
warm-up/break-in period Your new Classé processor delivers outstanding performance immediately. However, you can expect to hear subtle improvements as it reaches normal operating temperatures and breaks-in. In our experience, you can expect the greatest changes within the first 300 hours. After initial break-in, you’ll enjoy consistent performance levels for years to come. The only exception is if the unit is unplugged for an extended period of time, during which the processor will cool down.
voltage protection The SSP-800/CT-SSP Surround Sound Processor contains protection features that prevent the processor from operating at dangerously high or low voltages. These features are incorporated to help protect the processor from dangerous power surges and other power irregularities that could cause extensive damage to the processor. This circuitry guards against the following irregular supplied power conditions.
MUTE MENU SSP-800 1 2 3 5 4 MENU 6 MUTE Front Panels The front panels of the SSP-800 and CT-SSP are shown above. The numbers in the drawing refer to the descriptions that follow.
• LED flashes (at power-up) – the SSP is in the process of powerup initialization. • LED Off – the SSP is powered on, fully operational, and the display active. • LED flashes rapidly (after power-up) – the AC mains voltage is out of range. 2 Menu On/Off Button Press once to call up the main page of the menu system, which replaces the normal front page or Home page of the Touchscreen and OSD (On-Screen Display). Press the Menu button again to revert to the Home page.
6 Volume Control Knob The large rotary knob on the right side of the front panel controls the system volume level. The volume knob increases and decreases volume in precise 0.5dB increments throughout most of the volume range. At extremely low volume, the step size is increased somewhat to facilitate moving between extremely low and normal listening levels. The volume range is from –99.0dB to +14.0dB. You can also change the volume control display to suit your preferences.
2 1 3 7 6 8 10 9 4 11 5 12 13 14 15 16 THIS DEVICE COMPLIES WITH PART 15 OF THE FCC RULES. OPERATION IS SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING TWO CONDITIONS: (1) THIS DEVICE MAY NOT CAUSE HARMFUL INTERFERENCE, AND (2) THIS DEVICE MUST ACCEPT ANY INTERFERENCE RECEIVED, INCLUDING INTERFERENCE THAT MAY CAUSE UNDESIRED OPERATION. MOD SSP-800 ~ 120 V 1 1 Pr 2 Pb COMPONENT IN Y Pr 2 HDMI IN Pb Pr OPT1 COAX2 DIGITAL OUTPUT DIGITAL INPUT COAX3 OPT2 OPT3 OPT4 COAX COAX4 FL 2 7.
2 Component Video Inputs The SSP supports two component video inputs, each with three RCA connectors labeled 1 and 2 – the component video format requires three separate cables labeled Pr, Pb, and Y. Use these inputs when the output of your source is component. Although still analog, a component video signal provides a much sharper image than S-Video or composite formats. The component video delivers color video signals by maintaining the three YUV signal segments in three separate channels.
4 HDMI Outputs The SSP supports two HDMI outputs, labeled 1 and 2. The SSP HDMI outputs support HDMI v1.4a featuring 2D and standard 3D video formats at resolutions up to 1080p @ 24/50/60 fps, Audio Return Channel (ARC), HDMI Ethernet Channel (HEC), Deep Colour, x.v.Color(xvYCC) and provides a 2-channel SPDIF downmix of the source material. Non-HDMI source material is encoded for an HDMI display at the source’s native video rate.
8 Digital Audio Output - Coaxial The SSP supports one digital audio coaxial output, with SPDIF connector labeled COAX. This output can pass PCM data streams up to 24-bits long and up to 96 kHz sampling frequency. 9 Digital Audio Output - Optical These digital outputs carry only digital audio data, excluding any subcode information which some recorders might use to extract CD track information. 10 7.
13 IR Input Use the IR input when the front panel IR window does not have a clear line-of-sight with the remote control, for instance, when the SSP is installed in a cabinet or closet. Attach this input to an infrared repeater system to route signals from the remote control to the SSP via a mono mini-jack (3.5mm phono). The list of available IR command codes can also be used in macros for sophisticated remote control systems, facilitating the control of the SSP in the larger context of the complete system.
18 CAN-Bus Input and Output CAN-Bus (Controller Area Network) allows several Classé components to be connected together for simultaneous operation, such as switching from On to Standby. Using the CAN-Bus Input and Output connectors, the Classé components can be daisy chained together and controlled via the CAN-Bus interface. NOTE: The final component in the daisy chain MUST have a termination plug inserted into the CAN-Bus output.
20 Main Power On/Off Switch This switch connects and disconnects the SSP from AC. NOTE: Changes to settings are stored whenever the SSP is put into Standby. Turning off power to the unit before first entering Standby mode erases any setting changes that have been made since the unit was last placed in Standby mode.
The Remote Control 1 LIPSYNC 2 1 3 4 5 Your SSP-800/CT-SSP Surround Sound Processor includes a versatile remote control for both the processor itself and several aspects of the rest of a Classébased system. The buttons are arranged in logical groups according to their functions. The remote control of the SSP is shown on the left. The numbers in the drawing refer to the descriptions that follow.
4 Preset Config (Configuration) Button This button steps through the configurations set to “in use”. If there is already a configuration active (due to being a default) for a particular input it will be overridden until the input is selected again, or the user selects that default configuration. 5 Volume Control & Mute Buttons The Volume Up and Down arrow buttons increase or reduce the overall volume level of the audio output. The Mute button controls the system volume level.
Initial Setup Your SSP-800/CT-SSP Surround Sound Processor is delivered with default factory settings to facilitate initial setup. But we highly recommend that you work with your Classé dealer for the final setup of the processor. Your dealer’s knowledge and experience with Classé products will ensure that your surround system is optimized for your listening space. However, if you can’t wait to get started, this section is designed to assist you in setting up and becoming familiar with the SSP hardware.
Step 3 Connect all source components to the SSP rear panel. Source devices that you may want to integrate into your surround system might include audio and video devices, such as CD and DVD players, and your main display, such as a flat-panel display or projection system. If necessary, refer to the Rear Panel section in this manual for a detailed description of each connector found on the rear panel.
Connect the Main Analog Audio Outputs, either RCA or XLR, from the rear panel of the SSP to the corresponding inputs on your amplifier(s) as follows: • Connect the SSP Front Left and Front Right outputs to the inputs of the amplifier(s) designated for the Front Left and Front Right speakers, respectively. • Connect the SSP center output to the input of the amplifier designated for the center channel speaker.
Step 6 Power up the system! Now you are ready to power up your SSP and your surround system. • Turn the rear panel power switch of the SSP to ON. • The initial power-up cycle of the SSP takes approximately 90 seconds. During this time, the blue LED on the standby button flashes. (For the CT-SSP, the standby button itself will flash blue.) • When the power-up cycle is complete, the SSP enters Standby mode.
Understanding Surround Sound Today’s sophisticated surround sound systems have spawned a bewildering array of technologies and acronyms. In this section, we’ll give you a basic understanding of what all that jargon means. As a result, you’ll be better equipped to take advantage of the best that home entertainment has to offer. how many channels? Today’s home entertainment systems reproduce soundtracks that include anything from one to eight separate channels of information.
By contrast, modern soundtracks use discrete channels of information. That is, each speaker has a distinct signal that is completely independent of every other channel. This approach is clearly more desirable, since it gives the movie-makers more creative control over the quality of your experience. Musicians also prefer discrete formats, since it allows them to place their instruments and voices with greater precision, to create the musical effects they desire.
Dolby Digital Plus 1.0 - 7.1+ Discrete Audio codec which allows for higher bitrates, 7.1 channels or more (currently limited by HD DVD, Blu-ray disc™ standards), while still remaining compatible with older 5.1 systems. The codec was designed based on Dolby Digital but provides the necessary versatility going into the future. Dolby TrueHD 1.0 - 7.1+ Discrete This is a true next-generation surround mode where the audio is bit-for-bit identical to the highresolution studio master audio.
Using the SSP-800/CT-SSP Your SSP’s versatile touchscreen LCD supports most of your day-to-day operations and provides access to a flexible menu system for setup functions that aren’t accessed as often as others. Although using the touchscreen is quite intuitive, the menu system is extensive. This section of the owner’s manual outlines the use of this touchscreen in day-to-day operation of the system.
mode selection While you can specify default surround processing modes for each input, there are times when you may wish to select a different mode for a particular recording. For example, when watching a classic movie from the 1940s, you may prefer to hear it in mono using only the center channel speaker. Touch the Mode option on the Home page to open the Mode Select menu, which displays a complete list of processing modes. Modes that are grayed out cannot be applied to the current audio source.
Dolby PLIIx Matrix Dolby PLIIx Game DTS Neo:6 DTS Neo:6 Cinema DTS Neo:6 Music Discrete DTS Neo:6 Cinema ES DTS Neo:6 Music ES Dolby Surround EX Dolby Digital EX The Matrix mode provides a sound field similar to the Music mode, but does not have the additional adjustment options. The Game mode also routes the special effects signals to the surround channels. Expands existing stereo or 5.1-channel audio signals for playback with 6.1- or 7.1-channel systems.
controls Touching the Controls option opens a new page, as shown below. The Controls page allows you to adjust a variety of processor functions, such as audio levels and delays, as well as selecting listening/speaker configurations. These adjustments are temporary; when a new input is selected, the adjustments are deleted and replaced with the saved values. If you want to recalibrate the audio levels because of an equipment change, use the Speaker Setup menu, not the Controls menu.
• Dolby late night - this mode offers intelligent moderation of the dynamic range in Dolby Digital recordings. This is especially useful when you want to watch a movie in the evening, but are concerned about disturbing the neighbors or others in the household who might prefer to be sleeping during your action movie. This feature is specific to Dolby Digital soundtracks and is grayed out, or unavailable, when listening to other surround formats.
The Menu System The comprehensive menu system provides setup and configuration controls for the Surround Sound Processor. These installation-specific features let you customize how the SSP works within the context of your particular system. Pressing the Menu button on the front panel opens the main Menu page, which is divided into six sections as shown below. The menu screens are always shown on the front panel touchscreen and can also be viewed as an OSD (On Screen Display) on the main video display.
system setup Touching the System Setup option from the main Menu page opens the System Setup page, which contains six setup options as shown below.
max volume The Max Volume page allows you to establish a maximum volume setting for your system. This scale runs from 0 to 100, with 100 indicating that you do not want any artificial limit placed on the maximum gain your Surround Sound Processor can provide. This setting is interactive. You can set the value to something less than 100, and then adjust the volume to see whether it is appropriate.
automation Touching the Automation option displays the Automation volume speed setup page, shown below. This volume control is specifically for use with automation control systems. Such control systems can vary in how quickly they repeat ramped volume commands. By first selecting a suitable volume control speed on the SSP-800/CT-SSP Surround Sound Processor, the programming required to tailor the speed from the control interface is simplified.
input setup Each of the 20 inputs supported by your Surround Sound Processor can be customized in several ways to enhance system performance or to simplify controls. The Input Setup menu always opens to the setup page for Input 1. The menu contains six buttons that completely define each input – Name, Audio, Configuration, In use, Video, and Next input, as shown below.
audio The Audio Input menu allows you to select the offset, delay, and favorite processing settings, affecting how the audio from this input source is handled. • offset is used to ensure that all analog source playback is at comparable levels. There can be significant differences in output levels among analog sources (this is not a problem with digital sources), which can lead to unexpected changes in volume when switching among multiple sources.
in use This button identifies active inputs. If the In Use button is highlighted, then the Input is active. If the In Use button is NOT highlighted, then the input is considered inactive and is removed from the source selection list. Deselecting the In Use button for unused inputs is a good way to simplify source selection. The Source menu on the Home page only lists active inputs so, if the In Use button is NOT highlighted in the input setup menu, that input does NOT appear in the Source menu.
profiles A Profile allows you to create a number of shortcuts to various functions of your Surround Sound Processor. Two separate profiles can be customized with up to six commands each. Any defined profile has a named button available on the home page, as shown above. NOTE: By default both profiles are inactive, therefore the profiles button does not appear on the home screen. • To modify a profile name touch the Name button. A profile name can be up to 14 characters long.
room EQ The SSP-800/CT-SSP Room EQ capability allows you to build very precise digital audio filters to help compensate for fixed sonic irregularities in your room. These filters should be constructed based upon audio measurements made by a well-qualified acoustical engineer. These powerful filters are made available in a completely manual fashion to help your professional installer give you the best listening experience possible.
name The Name button provides a way to customize the names of the speaker configurations. Each name can be up to 14 characters long. To change a configuration name to something more specific to your system, use the four buttons along the bottom of the Configuration Name menu. The buttons provide the following functions: • The left arrow button acts like the backspace key on a computer keyboard. Touch this button to delete characters by moving the cursor to the left.
levels The Levels menu allows you to adjust the output levels of the speakers. An SPL meter should be used from the primary seating position to ensure that each speaker delivers the same sound pressure from a given test noise audio signal. Touch the Noise Seq button to activate the noise generator; the top of the menu now states “Levels Noise: L” – indicating that the test noise is being generated on the front left speaker.
Each speaker opens the same menu with two buttons – size and crossover. To modify the crossover for the selected speaker, touch the Crossover button and then adjust the setting using the increase and decrease buttons. The crossover setting applies a high pass filter to the speakers set on crossed over, and a low pass filter to route bass information to the sub (if enabled).
auxiliary channels Now that the main speakers have been configured, we’ll discuss the Auxiliary Channel configurations. On the Speaker setup page, touch the Aux Channels button to open the Auxiliary Channels menu. The SSP has two auxiliary channels that can be utilized as additional subwoofers, assigned as a 2-channel down-mix of a selected multichannel signal, or configured to bi-amped left and right audio. Alternatively, touch the None option to disable the auxiliary channels and leave them unused.
black level The more button on the System Setup screen accesses the Black Level setting. The “video setup” in North America assumes that black is reproduced at a video level of 7.5 IRE units, while most of the rest of the world assumes that video black is represented by a video level of 0 IRE units. The SSP can operate either way; you should pick the standard common to your area for compatibility with the rest of your video sources.
brightness The Brightness setting of the SSP front panel touchscreen has three possible values: low, medium, and high. Select the appropriate setting based on the level of ambient light typically found in your listening room while using the system. A high brightness setting usually works best in brightly-lit rooms; you may find that a lower setting is less visually intrusive under more subdued lighting conditions.
If using an extra wide aspect ratio screen, you may find the need to raise the position of the OSD. Press the osd shift button to move the display upward. Each press moves the display upward 25 pixels. After six steps up the OSD location will revert to its bottom position. It is possible to walk the display up beyond this level by making six upward steps, saving the location, then making additional upward steps.
Dolby Pro Logic IIx Dolby Pro Logic IIx Music mode has three user-adjustable parameters: • Panorama presents a wider, deeper front soundstage. The effect is somewhat signal-dependant, meaning that it is more pronounced with some recordings and less so with others. With a good recording, however, the effect can be quite dramatic. Panorama is active when the button is highlighted. • Center Width determines how much of the center-channel information is allowed to remain in the left and right speakers.
remote Fkeys The remote control supplied with the SSP-800/CT-SSP has four function keys (Fkeys), each of which gives you instant access to a specific system function that might otherwise be buried in the menu system. For example, if you use the balance control frequently, you may want to consider programming one of the Fkeys to directly access the balance control.
status The Status screen provides several items of information on the currently playing disc, as well as access to information on the software used in and the internal sensors of the SSP. While on this page, pressing the more key will access the CAN-Bus features. version info The version info button on the status screen takes you to the Version Information screen, which displays information on various pieces of software used by your SSP.
hardware setup 1 Classé Delta Series Products Two or more Classé Delta and/or CT series products are required, at least one of which must have a touchscreen display. 2 Category 5 Network Cables These are ordinary network cables, commonly used for broadband Internet connections. They should be typical “straight through” cables not the “crossed over” type, and the total required will be one less than the total number of Delta and/or CT series components in your system.
using CAN-Bus CAN-Bus is controlled via the touchscreen of any Delta or CT series component. There is no master component, so Delta/CT series systems where two or more units have a touchscreen can be controlled through any of the touchscreens. However, it is probably easiest to start using CAN-Bus through just one. CAN-Bus is accessed by pressing the menu button on the face of the unit or remote, then the status button, followed by the more button.
configuration Selecting configuration will present the CAN-Bus configuration screen allowing access to name, global brightness, and global standby features.. • name enables you to set the name that this component will be listed under in the CAN-Bus devices screen. The name will appear next to the unit model and serial number, and facilitate the identification of units in large systems.
CAN-Bus model The following CAN-Bus features are model specific. specific features PlayLink This feature is exclusive to Delta series disc players and will only function if the disc player is connected to a CAN-Bus enabled preamp or surround sound processor. When PlayLink is active, pressing play on the disc player will also automatically switch the preamp/processor to a specified input. This means that you can listen to a CD or watch a DVD literally at the touch of a button.
event log Reserved for amplifiers, this feature is a protection circuitry event log which can only be accessed when the target amplifier is in standby. The protection circuit shuts down the amplifier or channel if it overheats or if its output could damage your speakers. The event log details the circumstances surrounding the amp going into protection and should be referred to in situations that require the intervention of your dealer or Classé customer support.
Troubleshooting Always refer any service problems to your Classé dealer. However, if you run into a problem, we recommend referring to this section first as sometimes an error is not a malfunctioning product, but simply an oversight in the proper setup of the component. This section provides suggested solutions to potential problems. If none of these solutions work, please consult your Classé dealer for assistance. There are no user-serviceable parts inside the Surround Sound Processor.
3 Only one speaker seems to be playing. P If the problem occurs with all inputs, check the interconnecting cables between the preamp and the power amp. Also check the speaker wires for secure connections.
P If there is no output on component video from an HDMI source, the signal is likely HDCP encrypted. Try setting the source up with an analog cable and select an analog video input path. P If there is a preview image but no output image, check the display connection. Ensure the YPrPb cables are properly connected if using a component video TV.
Care & Maintenance To remove dust from the cabinet of your Surround Sound Processor, use a feather duster or a lint-free soft 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 Surround Sound Processor with the cloth. Do not use excessive amounts of alcohol that might drip off the cloth and into the Surround Sound Processor.
Specifications All specifications are accurate at the time of printing. Classé reserves the right to make improvements without notice. n Frequency response n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n 20Hz - 200kHz < 0.1dB, stereo analog bypass 20Hz - 20kHz < 0.2dB, all other sources Distortion (THD+noise) 0.001%, digital source/bypassed analog source .
SSP-800 Dimensions 17.50" [ 444.5mm ] 6.00" [ 152.4mm ] 6.78" [ 172.1mm ] MENU MUTE SSP-800 .78" [ 19.7mm ] 2.42" [ 61.5mm ] 12.66" [ 321.6mm ] 2.42" [ 61.5mm ] 16.48" [ 418.5mm ] 12.40" [ 315.1mm ] 17.30" [ 439.3mm ] 1.65" [ 41.9mm ] 2.20" [ 55.9mm ] 13.09" [ 332.6mm ] 17.50" [ 444.
CT-SSP Dimensions 19.00" [ 483mm ] MENU 6.97" [ 177mm ] MUTE 16.39" [ 416mm ] 14.91" [ 379mm ] 17.
Installation Worksheet Source:.______________________________________________________________ Audio Connector:______________________________________________________ Video Connector:______________________________________________________ Input:_______________________________________________________________ Source:.
B&W Group Ltd. 5070 François Cusson Lachine, Quebec Canada H8T 1B3 +1 (514) 636-6384 +1 (514) 636-1428 (fax) http://www.classeaudio.com email: cservice@classeaudio.com North America: +1 (514) 636-6384 email: cservice@classeaudio.com Europe: 44 (0) 1903 221 700 email: classe@bwgroup.com Asia: (852) 2790 8903 email: classe@bwgroup.hk All Others: +1 514 636 6384 email: cservice@classeaudio.com Copyright © 2012 B&W Group Ltd. V 2.
