Avantone Pro CLA-200 User manual

CLA-200
Studio Reference Amplifier
Class A/B 200 Watts per channel, 500W mono

Greetings from Chris Lord-Alge!
Welcome to the CLA-200 Studio Reference Amplifier. I have mixed 20,000
songs on my classic studio monitors and they have become my companions
and part of what I do! They are truly the sound of hits! Every good pair of
monitors needs a power house of an amplifier to give you clear results.
So now thanks to Avantone Pro and the ears of CLA we make available to you
for the first time the return of a classically designed amplifer for your studio.
No longer do you need to take a chance on something used and old and
unreliable. The CLA-200 is here!!!!
All the best,
Chris Lord-Alge
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. 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 that produce heat.
9. This appliance has a protective earth terminal which must be connected to a mains outlet with a protective earth
connection.
10. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one
wider than the other. A grounding-type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or third is
provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the
obsolete outlet.
11. Caution: The power cordset used in the apparatus is rated 125VAC for use in the USA and Canada only. If the
apparatus will be used in another country, with different mains voltage, or is connected to a higher input voltage, the
power cordset must be changed to one with a suitable rating and fully compliant with local regulations.
12. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point
where they exit from the apparatus.
13. Use only attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer
14. Use only with a cart, stand, tripod, bracket or table specified by the manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus. When a
cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over.
15. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
16. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any
way, such as power supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus,
the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.

17. To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture.
18. This apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing, and no object filled with liquids, such as vases, shall be
placed on the apparatus.
19. Not that this apparatus is not completely disconnected from the AC mains service when the power switch is in the OFF
position.
20. The mains plug or an appliance coupler is used as the disconnect device, so the disconnect device shall remain readily
operable.
21. Any changes or modifications not expressly approved in this manual could void your authority to operate this
apparatus.
22. Minimum distance of 5 cm around the apparatus for sufficient ventilation.
23. Ventilation should not be impeded by covering the ventilation openings with items such as newspaper, table-cloths,
curtains etc.
24. No naked flame sources such as lighted candles should be placed on the apparatus.
25. Use of apparatus in tropical climes is discouraged please use in moderate or controlled climates.
26. Exposure to extremely high noise levels may cause permanent hearing loss. Individuals vary considerable in
susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss, but nearly everyone will lose some hearing if exposed to sufficiently intense
noise for a period of time. The U.S. Government’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have
specified the permissible noise level exposures shown in the following chart.
According to OSHA, any exposure in excess of these permissible limits could result in some hearing loss. To ensure
against potentially dangerous exposure to high sound pressure levels, it is recommended that all persons exposed to
equipment capable of producing high sound pressure levels use hearing protectors while the equipment is in operation.
Ear plugs or protectors in the ear canals or over the ears must be worn when operating the equipment in order to
prevent permanent hearing loss if exposure is in excess of the limits set forth here.
Duration, per day in hours
Sound Level dBA, slow response
Typical example
8
90
Duo in small club
6
92
4
95
Subway train
3
97
2
100
Very loud classical music
1.5
102
1
105
That couple screaming at each other
0.5
110
<0.25
115
Loudest parts at a rock concert
IMPORTANT !
Be sure to select the proper operating voltage (and install the correct fuse) on the rear panel before
plugging in the power cord. Improper selection can result in damage to the unit that will not be
covered under the warranty.
The lightning flash with an 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 to persons.
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 product.
RTFM!
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC
SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK). NO
USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING
TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONEL.
W
arning: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not
expose this unit to rain or moisture.

INTRODUCTION
The Avantone Pro CLA Studio Reference Amplifier is a classically designed
Class A/B amplifier. We took particular care to create an amplifier in the
traditional studio style, with generous VU meters, high quality Japanese
components and a serious toroidal transformer linear power supply. In a
standard 2U rack mount chassis, this amplifier can generate over 200 watts per
channel into an 8 ohm load, making it perfect for medium to large speakers in a
studio environment. The CLA200 is convection cooled – no fan noise, so it can
be used in the same room as the monitors.
The CLA200 Studio Reference Amplifier is designed to be used in a studio
environment requiring high power output with no fan noise. Under testing, it
delivers a powerful 208 watts into 8 ohms and can run at one third power
without thermal fault.
The CLA200 was designed to be paired with the CLA-10 studio monitors, but it
can be used with just about any demanding speaker load. Very low distortion,
steady performance under harsh conditions, and an open and transparent
sound make this an obvious choice for discerning studios.
ENGINEERING OBJECTIVES
The AVANTONE PRO CLA-200 Studio Reference Amplifier is a dynamic,
high output, high resolution, full-range system built the old school way. We
included no-compromise components in a 2U convection cooled chassis to
complement our CLA-10 Studio Reference Monitors. Of course, it can be used
with any passive studio monitor requiring serious dynamic range.
QUICK START GUIDE
•Select the operating voltage. If you are changing voltages, please be
sure to change fuse values as specified on the rear panel
•Select operating mode: either two independent channels or mono
bridged mode.
•Place volume controls to minimum
•Connect audio input, speaker cables and power cord with power switch
in OFF position
•Plug power into AC source
•Turn on all upstream equipment; run outputs at minimum
•Turn on power switch
•Adjust volume to appropriate level at source and speaker
•Enjoy
REAR PANEL CONTROLS / CONNECTIONS
•BALANCED INPUT: The XLR and phone plug inputs accept a BALANCED
male XLR plug as well as a 3-conductor BALANCED TRS ¼” or a 2
conductor UNBALANCED TS ¼” male plug. For unbalanced operation with

a TS connector the minus signal is automatically grounded. A pass-through
connection is provided for convenience when running multiple amplifiers on
the same signal chain.
XLR
TRS
RCA or TS
HOT (+)
Pin 2
Tip
Tip
COLD (-)
Pin 3
Ring
--
SHIELD
(ground)
Pin 1
Sleeve (shield)
Sleeve (shield)
•VOLTAGE SELECT and AC MAINS INPUT: There is a switch on the rear
panel for selecting the proper AC/MAINS operating voltage for your
location. Please be sure to use the correct specified fuse value for your
location. Fuse tray is incorporated into the IEC320 receptacle on the rear
panel.
•GROUND LIFT Switch: By engaging this switch the pin 1 shield is lifted at
the input jack and routed through two opposing diodes. This can be used to
aid in ground loop control of the incoming analog line signal. The diode
signal path still provides a safety ground in the event of very high voltage
ground loops. The earth ground from the AC input is always connected. If
the ground lift switch doesn’t help, it may be necessary to evaluate your
power/ground scheme to eliminate noise issues.
•SPEAKER OUTPUTS: both SPEAKON™ and binding posts are provided.
In mono/bridge operation mode, the two positive terminals are driven anti-
phase. DO NOT GROUND any of the speaker terminals in bridge mode.
•MODE SWITCH: DO NOT ADJUST THIS SWITCH WITH POWER ON.
This switch allows the user to operate the amplifier in three modes:
oSTEREO: both channels driven separately
oDUAL MONO: the input is sent to both outputs; volume controls
are still enabled for each channel
oBRIDGED MONO: both channels operate together as a single
amplifier. Channel A is the input, and Channel A output is in phase,
channel B output is out of phase.
CONNECTING YOUR CLA-200
Before plugging in and powering up your CLA-200 please take a moment
to be certain that the proper AC MAINS operating voltage setting has been
selected on the rear panel.

Installation and Mounting
All power amplifiers are 2-rack space units that can mount in a standard 19-
inch rack. Four front panel mounting holes are provided. Rear mounting
ears give additional support, they are especially important in mobile sound
system. Because of the cables and connectors on the rear panel, a right-
angle of offset screwdriver or hex key will make it easier to fasten the rear
mounting ears to the rails.
Thermal Protection
If the heat sink temperature reaches an abnormally high
temperature, the amplifier will protect itself by disconnecting
loudspeakers and shutting down until sufficiently cooled.
Short Circuit
If an output is shorted ( i, e.. defective speakers or crossed speaker wires)
the ZSP and thermal protection circuits will automatically protect the
amplifier. The ZSP circuit senses the short circuit as an extremely stressful
load condition and attenuates the signal, protecting the channel’s output
transistors from over current stress. If the short circuit remains, the load will
be disconnected by the thermal protection circuit.
DC Voltage Protection
If an amplifier channel detects DC voltage at its output terminals, the output
relay will immediately open to prevent loudspeaker damage.
Connecting Power/Circuit Size Requirements
Damage caused by connecting the amplifier to improper AC voltage is not
covered by any warranty. Note: Always turn off and disconnect the amplifier
from main voltage before making audio connections, and as an extra
precaution, have the volume controls turned down during power-up.
Cooling Requirements
The power amplifiers use a convection cooling system to maintain an even
operating temperature. Air enters through the vents on each side and the
bottom of the amplifier chassis and exits through the sides and top of the
chassis. Make sure that there is enough space around the sides of
the amp to allow the heated air to exit. If the amp is rack-mounted, do not
use doors unless you have forced air cooling. Note: Whatever type of rack
you are using, make sure that the heated air can escape freely, and that
there is no resistance to the intake of cool air through the chassis.

SPECIFICATIONS
8Ω Stereo Power (1KHz): 200W
4Ω Stereo Power (1KHz): 300W
8Ω Bridge Power (1KHz): 500W
Slew rate (at 1KHz): 28V/us
Input Sensitivity (1KHz): 0.775V (0dBU)
Total Harmonic Distortion (1KHz): ＜0.1%
Intermodulation distortion (at 10% rated power 1KHz): ＜0.1%
Crosstalk: -70dB
Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz +/-0.5dB
Input Impedance: (Balanced) 20KΩ (Unbalanced) 10kΩ
Damping Factor(100Hz, 8Ω): 250
Signal to Noise Ratio (A Weighted): >103dB
AMPLIFIER: Class AB
CABINET DIMENSIONS: 270Wx360Hx385D (10.6”x14.2”x15.2”)
WEIGHT: 20kg (44lb)
The AVANTONE ABBEY Monitors comply with all applicable / RoHS/
WEEE European Union directives.
Do not attempt to service this unit yourself, as it will void your warranty.
Please check your unit carefully upon receipt and return to place of
purchase immediately if there are any problems with the product. After
that, the standard AVANTONE 5 YEAR warranty will apply to defects in
materials and workmanship.
(U.S.A.) Should your AVANTONE product require service, please contact the
AVANTONE PRO Service Department. [phone]-or- e-mail
[e-mail]. You must obtain an RA # (Return Authorization
number) from us before shipping a unit back to us. This RA # must be
clearly written on the outside of the box.
Please safely pack the units…It is best to use the original packing
materials. AVANTONE PRO cannot be responsible for any damages
incurred in shipping to us due to poor packaging. PLEASE PACK
CAREFULLY and FULLY INSURE THE SHIPMENT.
(INTERNATIONAL) For service or warranty assistance, please contact the
AVANTONE PRO distributor in your country through the dealer from whom you
purchased this product.

LIMITED 5 YEAR WARRANTY
Avantone Pro products are warranted by Avantone Pro Electronics to be
free from defects in materials and workmanship for the period of 5 YEARS
to the original purchaser. In the event of such defects, the Avantone Pro
product will be repaired without charge or, at our option, replaced with a
new one if delivered to Avantone Pro prepaid, together with a copy of the
sales slip or other proof of purchase date. The warranty excludes
problems due to normal wear, abuse, shipping damage or failure to use
the product in accordance with the specifications.
Avantone Pro shall not be liable for damages based upon inconvenience,
loss of use of the product, loss of time, interrupted operation or
commercial loss or any other damages, whether incidental, consequential
or otherwise. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may
have other rights, which will vary from state to state.
This warranty is not transferable.
Another fine product from…
www.avantonepro.com
Avantone Pro
Po Box 748
Tallman NY 10918
[phone]