Chord CPA 2500 User manual

welcome
Thank you for buying a Chord product.
Before you start to enjoy using to your Chord product, please take a couple of minutes to read how to connect your audio
equipment and loudspeakers to your pre-amplifier or integrated amplifier and how to maximise your listening experience.
user guide for CPA 2500 pre-amplifier
The pre-amplifier is the control centre of your system. By connecting your audio sources to it you can choose the source you
want at any particular time and control it.
You can also adjust the balance and volume before the signal is sent to a power amplifier. Your pre-amplifier can be
operated manually or via the Chord remote control.

background
We want you to be confident using your new Chord amplifier.
You’re probably an audiophile with extensive knowledge of audio equipment. However, you may not be!
So in the following section we explain a few basics to help you get started, or get you back up to speed if you’re a little rusty.
connecting your equipment
Chord amplifiers are supplied with and designed to be connected using balanced inputs. The interconnecting cables you use will
depend on the available input and output sockets on your other equipment. We have installed unbalanced inputs on all Chord
equipment, thus enabling you to mix Chord and other manufacturer’s equipment. Whichever cable you choose it is important
to make sure it is fully screened to avoid any noise problems.
Balanced inputs carry twice the strength of signal of unbalanced inputs and are able to be fed down long lengths
of cable with less deterioration of signal. They are also less prone to interference than unbalanced inputs.
Balanced inputs have three pins and use Neutric XLR style connectors. Pin 1 is earth, pin 2 is positive and pin 3
is negative.
Unbalanced inputs use RCA phono connectors which are gold plated with teflon high performance
dielectric insulators for optimum performance.
Speakers
Power Amplifier
or integrated
amplifier
Pre-amplifier
Audio Source

when setting up
To ensure that your Chord integrated amplifier works efficiently and safely, please pay particular attention to the following
issues.
ventilation
Your Chord integrated amplifier should have at least 5cm of clear space all around it to ensure a free flow of air at all times.
When driven continuously at well above average levels, the temperature at the back of the unit may exceed 50ºC. This is
normal and no cause for concern, although it does highlight the need for adequate ventilation around the unit. We recommend
that you do not place your integrated amplifier directly on a carpet.
mains lead and plug
All Chord equipment comes supplied with the correct mains lead and plug. This should be used at all times.
if you need to fit a plug for UK/Europe
Connect the blue wire to the neutral terminal Connect the
brown wire to the live terminal Connect the yellow/green
wire to the earth terminal
if you need to fit a plug for US/Canada
Connect the white wire to the neutral terminal
Connect the black wire to the live terminal Connect
the green to the earth terminal
earthing issues in Europe
In some European countries a hum may occur if your integrated/pre-amplifier is connected to mains sockets that do not have an
earth. If this is the case please ensure that:
1. Your integrated/pre-amplifier is connected via a multi-way mains block which contains an earth point at each socket outlet.
This is to ensure that the chassis metalwork of each item is connected together.
2. Use the connecting points on your Chord unit and connect to an available earth point.
3. We recommend that an earthing method for your building is implemented.
safety warnings
It is important that your integrated/pre-amplifier is earthed at all times via its own mains lead. Failure to do this may be
hazardous. The power supply components within the amplifier are designed to be operated at lethal voltages and energy levels.
Circuit designs that embody these components conform with applicable safety requirements. Precautions must be taken to
prevent accidental contact with power-line potentials. Do not connect grounded test equipment.
These units comply with EN 50081-1 and IEC 801/2

Outputs on the CPA 2500
You need to connect the outputs on the back of your pre-amplifier to a power amplifier in order to drive your loudspeakers.
There are three pairs of outputs, each of which will drive a 68 load. You can connect to either the XLR or RCA outputs
numbered 1, but not to both types at the same time.
connecting to your power amplifier if it has balanced XLR style inputs
1. Use XLR style connectors to connect Right O/P 1 to Right IN on your power amplifier, and connect Left O/P 1 to Left IN on
your power amplifier.
2. On your remote control press PRE and then O/P 1 to select output 1.
connecting to your power amp if it has unbalanced RCA style inputs
1. Use RCA style connectors to connect Right O/P 1 to Right IN on your power amplifier, and connect Left O/P 1 to Left IN on
your power amplifier.
2. On your remote control press PRE and then O/P 1 to select output 1.
if you want to bi-amp
Bi-amping is a technique where you use one amplifier to drive the loudspeakers’ woofers (low frequencies) and another to
drive the tweeters (mid and high frequencies).
1. Use XLR style connectors to connect Right and Left O/P 1 to your first power amplifier.
2. Use XLR style connectors to connect Right and Left O/P 2 to your second power amplifier.
3. Connect the outputs of your first power amplifier to your loudspeaker’s low frequency inputs.
4. Connect the outputs of your second power amplifier to your loudspeaker’s high frequency inputs. Remove any shorting links
in the speaker binding posts.
5. On your remote control press PRE and then OP 1/2 to select both outputs 1 and 2.

Inputs on the CPA 2500
You can connect up to six items of source input equipment, such as CD player, Video, Tuner etc. to the inputs on your amplifier.
The inputs have left and right sockets and use RCA phono connectors.
connecting to a CD or record player unit
O
Use RCA connectors to the LEFT and RIGHT pairs marked Disc 1 or Disc 2.
connecting to a Video, DVD, or other products
Use RCA connectors to the left and right pairs marked V.
connecting to a Tuner/Radio or Satellite receiver
connecting to a Tape recorder
Connect the outputs of your tape recorder to the RCA connectors marked IN T1 or T2. The tape recorder input should be
connected to the inputs marked OUT T1 or T2.

Tape recording
You can tape record an input from another audio source or two sources at the same time. If you’ve been using a tape
recorder as an input source, it will already be connected to the T1 or T2 IN sockets. If you haven’t, first connect the tape’s
output to the T1 or T2 IN sockets.
connecting to a Tape recorder to tape an audio source
Use RCA connectors to the left and right pairs marked OUT T1 or T2, or both.
selecting the bus
Your amplifier has two input selection buses. The default bus is bus A and this is the one you would use to choose your inputs
in everyday operation. The advantage of having two buses is that it allows for two tape recorders to tape (different inputs)
simultaneously.
Bus A is permanently connected to the Tape 2 (T2) output and Bus B is permanently connected to Tape 1 (T1) output which
prevents you from accidentally taping to and from the same machine.
You can tape from any source to either of the tape recorder outputs and both outputs can be monitored. For example you can play
a CD on Disc 1 on Bus A and connect your tape recorder to the Tape 2 output while you play a record on Disc 2 on Bus B and
connect another tape recorder to the Tape 1 output. Simply switch between Bus A and Bus B to monitor either of the sources.

Everyday use
turning on CPA2500
When you plug your pre-amplifier into the mains using the supplied mains lead the display will light and the unit is ready for
use.
select your input source
Your pre-amplifier uses input Bus A by default and the display will read.
D
To scroll through the other input sources press button A. Press button B to select Bus B. It is indicated by a dot displaying
between each letter
adjusting the volume
Use the volume knob to adjust the volume manually.
changing the balance
Use the balance knob to shift the balance between the left and right loudspeaker.

Using the remote control
For optimum use hold your remote control flat and point it directly at your pre-amplifier.
selecting your input source
1. 1. Press Bus-A.
2. 2. Press one of: Disc 1, Disc 2, Tape 2, Video or Radio.
adjusting the volume
1. Press the volume button marked to increase the volume.
2. Press to decrease the volume. The volume chosen will be displayed on the digital display with figures from 0 to 98.
choosing your output
1. 1. Press O/P 1 if your output is connected to O/P 1 on the back of your integrated amplifier.
2. 2. Press O/P 2 if you are using the line output from O/P 2 on the back of your integrated amplifier.
3. 3. Press OP 1/2 if you are bi-amping.
changing the balance
1. Press the balance button marked to move the balance towards the left.
2. Press to move the balance to the right. The direction you are moving the balance towards will be displayed on the
digital display.
mute
1. Press Mute twice to mute the amplifier.
to unmute
1. 1. Press Mute twice again to unmute or
2. 2. Press the volume buttons up or down or
3. 3. Turn the volume knob on your amplifier up or down.

maintenance
adjusting the settings
Always remember to make any changes to settings with the volume set low or an instant burst of sound could damage
your loudspeakers
cleaning
To clean finger marks and other blemishes from your amplifier spray clear glass cleaner onto a soft lint free cloth and then use
the cloth to gently clean your amplifier.
changing the batteries in the remote control
Simply undo the four small cross head screws on the side of your remote control. You may need to run a sharp knife along the
join to remove the battery casing, then replace with four new AAA batteries as shown inside the battery compartment.
servicing
There are no user serviceable parts in your Chord amplifier, and it should only be serviced by Chord Electronics Limited or
their expressly approved Service Agents.

frequently asked questions
why aren’t any of the remote control buttons working?
Press Pre to set up the remote control for pre-amplifier functions.
I’ve connected all the wires up but I can’t hear any sound?
Ensure that you’ve selected the correct bus (typically Bus A), the correct input (eg Disc 1) and the correct output (eg
Output 1.
why is there humming coming from the loudspeakers?
Check that you’ve earthed the unit. The interconnects need to be properly screened and placed away from mains cables.
Interference can be reduced by using balanced inputs and outputs instead of RCA phono types.
the sound coming from the loudspeakers is distorted
Check that the speakers are connected properly. It may be that the volume is turned up too loud for your speakers or that you
have set the gain for the input device too high.
the amplifier was in standby mode and has turned itself off
Changing connections while the amplifier is on, for example, dropping the stylus onto a record can cause the unit to shutdown.
Check that the speaker cables have no stray inner core wires touching each other as this can cause a short circuit.

CPA2500 Technical Information
Harmonic Distortion 10Hz -90dB
1kHz -91dB
10kHz -89dB
20kHz -87dB
Intermodulation Distortion -100dB
Signal to Noise Ratio -93dB
Channel Separation 10Hz 110dB
1kHz 100dB
10kHz 91dB
20kHz 89dB
Channel Balance 0.01dB
Potentiometer Performance 0dB -20dB -60dB
0.5dB 0.2dB 0.24dB
17 secs +/-3 secs for full travel
Unbalanced Inputs 6 RCA type.
Outputs
Balanced XLR O/P1 & 2 2 pairs
Unbalanced RCA 1 pair
Unbalanced RCA 2 pairs for tape
Frequency Range 2.5Hz-200kHz (-3dB)
Maximum Input Voltage 3.6V rms
Nominal Gain 1V AC in 1.3V AC out ( 1:1.3)
Input Impedance 47k ohms
Maximum Output Voltage 15.6V rms balanced, 7.8V rms unbalanced
Output Impedance 470 ohms
Power Consumption 50W
Dimensions & Weight 420 x 88 x 355. 13kg

Chord Electronics Limited
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Web: www.chordelectronics.co.uk