Chord CPA3000 User manual

CPA3000 Preamplifier

2
CONTENTS
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 3
INVENTORY 3
WHEN SETTING UP 4
SAFETY WARNINGS 5
AC POWER CONNECTION 6
CONNECTING YOUR EQUIPMENT 7
INPUT CONNECTIONS 8
OUTPUT CONNECTIONS 9
RECORDING 10
AV BYPASS 11
EVERYDAY USE OF YOUR CPA3000 12
USING THE REMOTE CONTROL 14
MAINTENANCE 16
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 16
TRIGGER OUTPUTS 17
PRODUCT SPECIFICATION 18

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CPA3000 Preamplifier
Thank you for buying a Chord Electronics product.
Before you start to enjoy your preamplifier, please take a couple of minutes to read how to connect your audio equipment
and how to maximise your listening experience.
Product Description
Using similar technology as the highly successful CPA5000 reference preamplifier the CPA3000 features a high
frequency switch mode power supply and ultra low noise circuitry to give the very best noise floor performance.
Four pairs of balanced style XLR inputs allows for great flexibility with two additional RCA inputs for unbalanced
sources. A single tape loop is available for playback and also to record from any of the connected sources.
Front panel controls allow for easy input and output selection if required but changes can also be made via the supplied
remote control. Cleverly situated under the main display, signal detection indicators have been replaced with highly
accurate VU meters. These give both clear signal detection and accurate input level. Naturally via the front panel control,
these may be selected or disabled as required. Two polished and nickel plated aluminium controls feature prominently to
manually adjust the volume and the balance and give easy visual reference of the settings. Using the precision motorised
Alps potentiometers levels can also be adjusted by remote control. All settings are clearly visible via the large easy to
read vacuum fluorescent display and are retained even when power is removed.
Inventory
As well as your CPA3000 and this user manual, you should also have received the following items.
1. System Remote Control including user manual
2. Power cord
3. Chord guarantee registration card

4
When setting up
To ensure that your CPA3000 works efficiently and safely, please pay particular attention to the following issues.
ventilation
Your CPA3000 should have at least 5cm of clear space all around it to ensure a free flow of air at all times. We do not
recommend that you place CPA3000 directly on a carpet. If you have the optional integra leg system fitted it is
recommended that the power amplifiers sit above the CPA3000.
AC lead and plug
All Chord equipment comes supplied with the correct power 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 CPA3000 is connected to mains sockets that do not have an earth. If
this is the case please ensure that:
1. Your transport 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. We recommend that an earthing method for your building be implemented.
3. Use the connecting points on your Chord unit and connect to an available earth point.

5
Safety Warnings
It is important that your CPA3000 is earthed at all times via its own mains lead. Failure to do this may be hazardous. The
power supply components within the CPA3000 are designed to operate at lethal voltages and energy levels. Circuit
designs that embody these components conform to applicable safety requirements. Precautions must be taken to prevent
accidental contact with power-line potentials. Do not connect grounded test equipment.
There are no user serviceable parts within the CPA3000 Reference Preamplifier. Unauthorised
tampering or dismantling of this product will invalidate the warranty and could cause injury.

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AC Power connection
The AC power connector of CPA3000 is at the back of the unit. Plug the female end (socket) of the power cord into the
power connector of the transport, and the male end(plug) of the power cord into AC wall socket or AC extension socket.
The CPA3000 features a universal voltage high frequency power supply and will operate automatically from 65V to
260V AC, 50 or 60Hz.
For optimum operation it is recommended that the CPA3000 is connected directly to the wall socket via the power
cord provided.
AC connector and switch
Powering up
Press the rear panel switch marked power. The display and internal illumination will light up. The display will show the
selected input.
Powering down
Press the rear panel switch marked power. The CPA3000 utilises soft start circuitry so the power can switched on and off
as often as required. There is no need to leave the CPA3000 permanently switched on.
Live
Neutral
Earth
Mains Switch
AC
Connector

7
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 Electronics and other manufacturer’s equipment.
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.
Basic system diagram
1
2
3
outputs
inputs
CD Transport
Turntable
outputs
inputs
outputs
inputs
outputs
inputs
DAC 64
SYMPHONIC
phono stage
power amplifier
pre-amplifier
speakers
-Amplfication
-Switching and
level control
-Data and
analogue
conversion
-Signal
Source
Red Reference
CD Player
CD Player

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Input Connections
You can connect up to 7 items of source equipment. Included is a tape loop for recording purposes. All input connections
are on the rear panel and are marked with the corresponding Line number. Lines 1 to 4 are balanced inputs, Line 5, 6 and
TAPE are RCA phono style inputs. Left channel connections are at the top, right channel connections are at the bottom.
It does not matter which input you choose just select the same type of connection that your source has.
Note: Moving coil turntables without an internal amplifier will require an external phono stage amplifier such as the
Chord Symphonic before connecting to the CPA3000.
IN
R
5
6
TAPE
R
L
L
1
2
3
4
5
6
TAPE
1
2
3
4

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Output Connections
You need to connect the outputs on the back of the CPA3000 to a power amplifier in order to drive your loudspeakers.
There is one pair of balanced XLR outputs or one pair of RCA phono outputs each of which will drive a 68 ohm load.
Choose either depending on the appropriate input connection on your power amplifier. Left channel connections are at
the top, right channel connections are at the bottom.
Note: For optimum performance it is recommended that the balanced outputs are used where possible.
If you wish to bi-amp then ask your interconnect manufacturer to provide you with a balanced or RCA cable splitter. This
will split the single output from the CPA3000 into two signals one for each amplifier.
R
L
L
R
O/P
O/P

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Recording
You can record an input from any of the connected audio sources to the tape output. If you’ve been using a tape recorder
as an input source, it will already be connected to the TAPE IN socket. Connect the tape recorder input to the TAPE OUT
RCA connection to record the selected audio source.
connecting to a Tape recorder to tape an audio source
Use RCA connectors to the left and right pairs marked OUT TAPE.
Note: In these examples we have used a tape recorder but you can use any recording device with a phono input. Minidisc,
CD/DVD recorders and PC soundcards are all normally compatible.
R
R
TAPE
L
L
TAPE
OUT