OWNER’S MANUAL SSP-60 Pre-amplifier/Surround Sound Processor 1
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) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) Do not attempt to service the SSP-60 yourself. Do not open the SSP-60 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.
Thank You From Everyone At Classé Thank you for purchasing the Classé Audio SSP-60 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.
The Classé SSP-60 Preamplifier/Surround Sound Processor is a beautiful sounding high-end twochannel Preamplifier which also performs the complex task of decoding and processing multi channel Surround Sound , while remaining simple and intuitive enough for anyone to use. The SSP-60 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.
Contents IMPORTANT: SAFETY INFORMATION ...................................................................................................................2 CE NOTICE ...................................................................................................................................................2 THANK YOU FROM EVERYONE AT CLASSÉ............................................................................................................3 CLASSÉ DESIGN PHILOSOPHY............................
Section 1.0 - Getting Started 1.1 Unpacking the SSP-60 Your Classé SSP-60 is packed in high-density foam inside a special cardboard container. Take the unit out of the heavy plastic bag and place the SSP-60 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).
A few notes about the SSP-60 and the Set-up The SSP-60 offers Dolby Digital EX©, DTS-ES Matrix© Dolby Pro Logic II © and THX ULTRA2© decoding and has several modes that may be used to enhance a normal stereo signal. It also functions as a high quality stereo preamplifier. The 7.1 channel input is equipped with comprehensive volume control facilities and ensures that the SSP-60 may remain compatible with new multi-channel formats as they appear.
SSP-60 REAR PANEL 8
Section 2.0 - Connecting the SSP-60 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 or 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.
2.2 OUTPUTS: Video outputs for Component, Composite and S-Video formats are provided. Both the Composite and S-Video formats have outputs with On Screen Display (OSD) and without On Screen Display (NO OSD). The OSD can be turned off and on. There is a Composite video output for the remote Zone and both S-Video and Composite video outputs for recording. The S-Video inputs also deliver Composite video output signals. (S-Video In to S-Video Out will deliver higher quality video).
Section 3.0 - Front Panel Controls SSP-60 FRONT VIEW The SSP-60 operates intuitively. The seven controls on the face of the processor give you all the options you need to turn it on and use it successfully day after day. 3.1 The “STANDBY” button toggles the SSP-60 from standby to operate and vice versa. There is an on/off switch on the rear of the unit, which turns the AC on and off. When in “Standby” the LED above the button glows green, when in “Operate” mode the LED is out and the display is lit.
Section 4.0 - The SSP-60 Remote Control The keys on the SSP-60 remote control are laid out in an easy to use pattern. The keys have been grouped according to their use. The first three rows, DIM through TRIM /\, are a set of ten buttons with a variety of relatively unrelated tasks. The second section is made up of three rows beginning with EXIT and ending with the single key \/. These seven keys are used during the Setup of the surround processor.
TRIM Press this key to cycle through a list of options which will allow you to adjust the loudness of the Subwoofer, Center, or Surround speakers, or to temporarily alter the spectral balance of the sound in all speakers by adjusting the treble or the bass content. Use the TRIM /\ or \/ keys to adjust the selected parameter.
AV1 - AV6 These six keys each directly access one of the AV Sources consisting of a Video Input and a hard-wired Analog Audio input plus any associated Digital Audio input selected during setup. These keys can also be used to select Zone Sources. AUD1 - AUD4 These four keys each directly access one of the Audio Sources consisting of a hard-wired Analog Audio input plus any associated Digital Audio input selected during setup. These keys can also be used to select Zone Sources. EX 7.
Dolby/DTS setup SSP-60 Menu flow chart Audio setup Dolby/DTS setup Preset setup Main Menu Audio setup Speaker setup Source setup Display setup Trigger setup THX Audio setup Exit Treble ---ll--- 0dB Bass ---ll--- 0dB LFE level 0dB Exit PLll Panorama PLll Center Width PLll Dimension Off 3 0 Neo:6 Center Image 2 Exit Preset Setup Preset Treble ----+---Bass ----+---Center ----+---Surround ----+---Subw ----+---- Speaker setup Level setup Distance setup Size setup 1 0dB 0dB 0dB 0dB 0dB Exit Level aut
Section 5.0 - Setting Up the SSP-60 The SSP-60 has a complete and well-thought-out configuration system, flexible enough for even a complex audio and home theater system. You will find setup to be quite intuitive, and that once set up, operation of the SSP-60 will prove to be simple and straightforward. Setup requires use of the supplied Classé remote control. You may use either the On-Screen (TV) menu or the illuminated front panel display. The two methods are equally easy to use and understand.
5.1 AUDIO SETUP: Audio setup > Dolby/DTS setup Preset setup Treble ---ll--Bass ---ll--LFE level Exit 0dB 0dB 0dB These displays show that you have accessed the Audio setup sub-menu and chosen the Dolby/DTS setup. You can scan through the available choices by pressing the \/ and /\ buttons on the remote. When the feature you wish to adjust is highlighted press the < or > key to decrease or increase the level. To leave the menu and save the settings scroll down to Exit and press the ENTER key.
5.2 SPEAKER SETUP: Although this manual is following the setup sub-menus in the order they appear on the Main menu screen, you will need to set up the speakers first in the “Size setup” - Section 5.2.4. It will make it easier to properly set the speaker output levels if you have configured the SSP-60 so it “knows” what speakers you have in the system as well as the speaker sizes.
5.2.2 Distance setup: This menu is used to synchronize the sound coming from several speakers so it arrives to the listeners’ ears at the same time. Proper synchronization makes it possible for the listener to localize the apparent source of a sound in the surround environment. Setup of the delay time to be applied to the Center and Surround speakers is a simple matter of measuring the relative distances from the listener to the speakers.
5.2.3 Size setup (Continued): You can set the subwoofer crossover frequency from 40 Hz to 140 Hz in 10 Hz steps (the slope is 24dB per octave). The crossover frequency is the frequency below which the bass signal does not go to small speakers, but is redirected to the large speakers or subwoofer. • Enhanced Bass duplicates the subwoofer information to both the large speakers and the subwoofer. You may desire this in some cases to get more bass from your system.
process, increase it a bit to make the signal more audible. Try raising the crossover frequency of the subwoofer (in the “Audio Setup” menu) or turning the subwoofer filter off (which will make the selected crossover frequency irrelevant). If all these measures fail, you will have to enter the subwoofer distance manually through the “Distance Setup” menu. Once you have finished with distance calibration of all the speakers in your home theatre system, you can then go to the level calibration.
5.3 SOURCE SETUP: Source setup is an easy task and should go quickly. In the “Source setup” menu you assign the digital audio inputs to the AV1 through AV6 video inputs (up to the number of Video inputs you will be using) and to the AUD1 through AUD4 inputs (up to the number of Audio only inputs you will be using). The analog inputs are not assignable; VID1 through VID6 have AV1 through AV6 individually permanently assigned.
5.3.4 Balanced source: This sub menu permits you to assign the analog balanced input to any of the sources, (AV1- AV6 and AUD1- AUD4). Use the > or the < keys to scroll through the choices. In the “Off” setting, the balanced input is disabled. 5.3.5 Balanced routing: This sub menu gives you the choice to route the balanced input through the DSP or to use it in “BYPASS” mode.
5.5 TRIGGER SETUP: There are three Voltage Triggers on the SSP-60. They are used to turn associated equipment on and off. Trigger setup Trigger 1 sense Power On - polarity Posit. - delay No - duration Infin. Trigger 2 sense Power On - polarity Posit. - delay No - duration Infin. Exit These displays show that you have accessed the Trigger setup sub-menu and highlighted Trig1 sense. You can scan through the available choices by pressing the \/ and /\ buttons on the remote.
5.6 THX AUDIO SETUP These settings will permit you to access the various THX parameters of the SSP-60. The SSP-60 features THX ULTRA2 processing which incorporates BGC (Boundary Gain Compression) and ASA (Advanced Speaker Array). The directional characteristics of the new THX ULTRA2’s left, right, center and rear surround speakers have been revised to minimize any changes in the perceived timbral balance over the widest possible listening area.
Section 6.0 – Using the Tape Inputs and Outputs RECORDING AUDIO/VIDEO, AUDIO ONLY AND DIGITAL AUDIO/VIDEO The SSP-60 does NOT send decoded digital information to the record outputs. You must connect a two-channel analog feed from a source to AV1-AV6 or AUD1-AUD4 in order to be able to record it. The Source being played in the Main area appears at the three Record Outputs. There is one TOSlink digital audio output. It does not matter which style of Digital input is selected.
6.2 RECORDING ANALOG AUDIO ONLY Setup for recording Audio to an analog two-channel tape machine is described below. When the primary source is digital, you must be sure you connect the analog output from the digital source to the same SOURCE the digital audio is assigned to. 6.2.1 SSP _ TAPE. Use a two-channel analog audio cable to connect the analog REC, REC1 or REC2 outputs of the SSP-60 to the record input of the Tape Machine or other analog recording component. 6.2.2 TAPE _ SSP.
Section 7.0 - Remote Zone Use One of the strengths of the SSP-60 is its ability to send a separate program to a remote Zone. It can send a Composite picture (from a Composite input) and an analog two-channel audio signal to another room or a whole house if you wish. You can send the same movie or program you are watching or an audio program or music from another source if you wish.
APPENDIX A RC5 Codes for Classé SSP-60 Below are the codes for programing programable remote controls. The code sequence must include all of the information, including defining the code as RC5. For example: RC5 System 25 Code 13 = MUTE. CODE SSP-60 (SYS 25) 12 13 15 16 17 20 21 22 3 24 26 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 60 61 62 63 STANDBY MUTE toggle DIM VOLUME /\ (UP) VOLUME \/ (DOWN) AUD1 AUD2 AUD3 AUD4 Ext7.
APPENDIX B SSP-60 Mode Chart Below are the available modes (subject to change) and the active speakers in each case. The subwoofer is not included in the table since it is active if selected in the speaker setup and if any of the active speakers are set as “small”. MODE Mono Stereo Stereo 96 Direct Dolby Pro Logic / Pro Logic II Movie & Pro Logic II Music Signal Type Dolby Digital EX Dolby Digital 5.1 Dolby Digital 2/0 DTS-ES Discrete DTS-ES Matrix DTS 3/2 PCM Analog Dolby Digital EX Dolby Digital 5.
Continued from previous page MODE Surround 6.1 Dolby Digital EX DTS-ES Matrix DTS Neo:6, Neo:6 Cinema & Neo :6 Music Music Modes: Natural & Party Subject to change Signal Type Dolby Digital EX Dolby Digital 5.1 Dolby Digital 2/0 DTS-ES Discrete DTS-ES Matrix DTS 3/2 PCM Analog Dolby Digital EX Dolby Digital 5.1 Dolby Digital 2/0 DTS-ES Discrete DTS-ES Matrix DTS 3/2 PCM Analog Dolby Digital EX Dolby Digital 5.
APPENDIX C SSP-60 MODE DESCRIPTIONS Mono: This mode will down-mix all available channels to Mono and play the result through the center speaker. Stereo: Normal stereo mode for left and right front channels. For multi-channel formats like Dolby Digital and DTS, this mode will down-mix all available channels to stereo and play the result through the front Left and Right speakers.
APPENDIX D SSP-60 THX Mode Chart Speaker configuration > Signal type Processing Mode All applicable Mono 5.1 6.1 7.1 THX THX THX EX THX THX Ultra2 THX Music THX EX Cinema Cinema Cinema Cinema ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü PL II Music - - Stereo signal* Neo:6 Cinema ü ü Stereo signal* Neo:6 Music Stereo signal* Natural/Party - - - Dolby Digital Direct ü ü ü Dolby Digital Dolby EX - - DTS 3/2.1 Direct ü DTS 3/2.
SSP-60 SPECIFICATIONS Video inputs and outputs Composite video Input impedance: Output impedance: 75 ohms 75 ohms S-Video Input impedance: Output impedance: 75 ohms 75 ohms Component video Input impedance: Output impedance: 75 ohms 75 ohms Analog audio outputs 7.1 channel analog output Maximum output level: Output impedance: 8 Vrms 56 ohms Total harmonic distortion Analog source: Digital source: 7.1 channel input: 0.002% 0.002% 0.002% Signal to noise ratio Analog source: Digital source: 7.
SSP-60 weight and dimensions Net weight: 27.75 lbs 12.62 Kg Gross weight (with box and packing): 42 lbs 19.09 Kg Net dimensions: 16” D x 19” W x 6.15” H 40.6 x 48.2 x 5.7 cm Gross dimensions (box): 25.5” D x 25.5” W x 13.5” H 60.8 x 60.8 x 34.
Classé Audio, Inc. 5070 François-Cusson Lachine, Québec Canada H8T 1B3 (514) 636-6384 (514) 636-1428 (FAX) email: cservice@classeaudio.com Copyright © 2003 by Classé Audio, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in Canada.
