Classe Audio 6 User manual

CLASSÉ AUDIO
6/6L
PREAMPLIFIER
6/6L
OWNER'S MANUAL

CLASSÉ DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
1. REPEATED LISTENING DESIGN SESSIONS:
Fine tuning of sound by exchanging and mixing of parts (transistors, capacitors, wiring, PCB boards
etc.), and adjusting many specific operating voltages within proper engineering ranges, producing an
overall sonic recipe giving the most natural harmonic realism of music typical of instruments in a
live performance.
2. UPGRADABLE SINGLE CIRCUIT DESIGNS:
All Classé products (all preamps and all amps) share exactly the same circuit design philosophy
(excluding moving coil and moving magnet phono circuits). This means all amplifiers and all high
level circuits of the preamps benefit from the same design goals. Similar circuits are then tailored to
different power levels etc. Differences between less expensive models and more expensive models
are parts quality and compliment, power supply extravagance and the amount of filtering etc., as
well as features and packaging.
This means that for years Classé has been constantly sonically fine tuning and technically upgrading
this circuit design and its application, thus reaching a very high level of natural musical enjoyment,
as well as excellent reliability which benefits all models - least expensive, most expensive, preamps
and amplifiers alike.
3. EXTREME LONG LIFE IN REAL WORLD CONDITIONS:
Choosing the best attainable quality parts and materials combined with the advantages of the two
above-mentioned areas provides Classé owners with years of proven trouble free reliability and
musical enjoyment.

6/6L
OWNER'S MANUAL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
UNPACKING & SET-UP................................................... 4
A.C. LINE POWER............................................................. 5
INPUTS................................................................................ 6
OUTPUTS ........................................................................... 8
FRONT PANEL CONTROLS............................................. 9
WARRANTY ......................................................................13
FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS ..............................15
WARRANTY REGISTRATION ........................................16

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UNPACKING & SET-UP
Your new preamplifier has been carefully wrapped in heavy gauge plastic, packed in semi-rigid
foam and contained in a special box. To remove the unit, open and spread the top flaps of the box. By
its sides, lift out the entire unit with the foam pieces intact. Remove each foam side by pulling straight
out. Remove the plastic wrap and inspect the unit for any concealed damage. Apart from this owner's
manual, please ensure the following has also been included:
1) Detachable linecord
2) 5/64 in. Allen key for top cover
3) (PHONO MODEL) Resistor kit for Moving Coil gain adjustment
4) (REMOTE CONTROL OPT. ONLY) Control unit (Allen key and Batteries AAA X 3
included).
Please report any damage or missing parts to your dealer promptly.
This preamplifier, being capable of very high gain, must be located in a position free of any
hum-inducing magnetic fields. (This also applies to turntables and interconnect cables.) Positions
adjacent to power amplifiers, A.C. line filters, or regulation devices should be avoided. Ideally, a few
feet should separate the preamplifier from the power amplifier. As well, keep low-level interconnect
cables away from the power amp and separate from A.C. line cords.
Heat generated by the preamplifier is negligible. Air space around the unit need not be a
concern.
Check the Serial Number sticker on the back of the unit for the correct operating voltage.
Regardless of voltage, the fuse rating should be 1 AMP SLO-BLO.

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A.C. LINE POWER
The preamplifier has no power switch. Its low power consumption and improved sonics from
always being ON led to the omission of an ON/OFF switch. In fact, while thoroughly musical shortly
after turn-on, this preamplifier will exhibit "sonic growth" for 300 hours as it is used.
For optimum sonic performance, you should consider use of the optional CLASSE
REFERENCE A.C. LINECORD. Consult your dealer regarding this accessory.
CAUTION: There is no auto-muting circuit. If connections to the power amplifier have
already been made when connecting the preamp to the A.C. line, make sure the MUTE switch is in the
ON (down) position. This will prevent any turn-on surges from reaching the power amplifier and
possibly the loudspeakers. Similarly, make sure the MUTE switch is ON again when removing A.C.
line power.
SAFETY FEATURE: (With optional remote control) The preamplifier is designed with an
Auto-Muting Circuit which engages and is indicated by a FLASHING GREEN LED when the unit is
first connected, or after an A.C. power failure. After 15 seconds the STEADY GREEN LED signals that
the unit is in STANDBY mode (Note: Mute is ON during STANDBY mode).
CAUTION: "FLOATING THE GROUND” OR DEFEATING THE GROUND ON A 3-
PRONG LINECORD MAY CREATE A SHOCK HAZARD. CONNECT ALL INTERCONNECT
CABLES BETWEEN THE ELECTRONICS BEFORE CONNECTING THE A.C. LINECORDS TO
THE WALL OUTLETS. THIS WILL REDUCE THE POTENTIAL SHOCK HAZARD.
There are two A.C. OUTLETS on the back of the external power supply. These are both unswitched and
unfused and are best suited for auxiliary components. Power amplifiers are best plugged directly into a
wall outlet.

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INPUTS
The input jacks are clearly marked on the back of the 6/6L. The following inputs are provided:
PHONO (PHONO MODEL ONLY), BALANCED, CD, TUNER, AUXILIARY, AUXILIARY 2
(LINE MODEL ONLY), and TAPE.
PHONO (PHONO MODEL ONLY)
The PHONO input can accommodate both magnetic and moving coil cartridges of varying
output. Set the toggle switch (located in between the left and right input jacks) to MM for magnetic or
MC for a moving coil cartridge. In the MC position, gain of the Moving Coil stage is factory preset at
22dB which matches perfectly with most typical MC cartridges. With the resistor kit (included), the gain
can be adjusted from 20 to 40db, in order to optimize system gain, and low noise while using other less
typical MC cartridges. (Note: The MC gain is in addition to the standard MM gain of 35dB.) To change
the MC gain, proceed as follows:
1) Make sure the MUTE switch is ON (down position or steady GREEN LED in optional
remote control unit).
2) Disconnect the A.C. linecord from the wall outlet.
3) Remove the top cover with the Allen key supplied.
4) Locate R15 and R16, which are the MC GAIN setting resistors for the left and right channels
respectively. ("MC GAIN" is marked above each resistor on the circuit board.) Remove the resistors and
replace them with newly selected ones, according to the following chart:
GAIN COLOR CODED RESISTOR (or) NUMERICAL RESISTOR
20 dB (Brown,Black,Black,Black,Brown) 1000F
22 dB(standard) (Brown,Red,Purple,Black,Brown) 1270F
24 dB (Brown,Blue,Green,Black,Brown) 1650F
26 dB (Red,Brown,Green,Black,Brown) 2150F
28 dB (Red,Gray,Purple,Black,Brown) 2870F

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30 dB (Orange,Gray,Orange,Black,Brown) 3830F
32 dB (Green,Brown,Brown,Black,Brown) 5110F
34 dB (Purple,Blue,Gray,Black,Brown) 7680F
36 dB (Brown,Brown,Green,Brown,Brown) 1151F
38 dB (Brown,White,Blue,Brown,Brown) 1961F
40 dB (Yellow,Red,Red,Brown,Brown) 4221F
Silver solder is provided in the kit for this purpose. THE RESISTOR KIT IS FOR SETTING THE MC
GAIN WHICH WILL OPTIMIZE LEVELS, NOISE, AND EFFICIENCIES OF LESS TYPICAL MC
CARTRIDGES.
5) Having completed the resistor changes, replace the top cover.
BALANCED, TAPE, HIGH LEVEL INPUT INFORMATION
The BALANCED INPUT is a true differential high level input, wired as follows:
PIN 1: GROUND
PIN 2: POSITIVE (NON-INVERTED) SIGNAL
PIN 3: NEGATIVE (INVERTED) SIGNAL
It may be used with CD players that have a balance output, or any other high level, balanced
source. The TAPE IN of the 6/6L should be connected to the LINE OUT or TAPE OUT of the tape
deck. The TAPE input does not appear on the selector switch. It is activated by the TAPE switch. (See
FRONT PANEL CONTROLS: TAPE SWITCH.)

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OUTPUTS
The 6/6L has both regular (single-ended) and balanced outputs. Both are working at all times,
and may be used separately, or simultaneously.
TAPE OUTPUT
Whatever input is selected by the INPUT SELECTOR will be fed to the TAPE OUTPUT jacks.
This should be connected to the TAPE IN or LINE IN of the tape deck.
REGULAR OUTPUTS
Simply connect your regular interconnects to the RCA output jacks marked REGULAR MAIN
OUT on the back of the 6/6L.
BALANCED OUTPUTS
A balanced power amplifier and balanced interconnects are also required. For use with balanced
power amplifiers other than Classé, the wiring of the 3-pin XLR connectors must be wired as follows:
PIN 1: GROUND
PIN 2: POSITIVE (NON-INVERTED) SIGNAL
PIN 3: NEGATIVE (INVERTED) SIGNAL
If the pin configuration of the power amplifier differs from above, the balanced interconnects
must be modified to accommodate the different power amp.
Having confirmed the correct connections, plug the XLR connectors of the balanced
interconnects into the locking XLR connectors on the rear panel of the 6/6L marked BALANCED
MAIN OUT. (To remove the connectors, press the tab above the connector.)

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FRONT PANEL CONTROLS
INPUT SELECTOR
This selects one of the five inputs connected to the preamp, except TAPE IN (see Tape Switch
below). The switch is silent and will prevent pulses when switching positions. However, it remains
good practice to reduce the volume control level or put the MUTE switch ON when changing the input
selection.
TAPE SWITCH
In the SOURCE position, the preamp will process the signal as chosen by the INPUT
SELECTOR. In the MONITOR position, the preamp will process the TAPE INPUT signal, overriding
the INPUT SELECTOR.
MODE SWITCH
Normally used in the STEREO position, this switch is excellent for checking channel
information, noise, and troubleshooting. The LT position will send left channel only information to both
outputs. The RT position will send right channel only information to both outputs. The REV position
swaps the left and right channel information. MONO combines both left and right channel information
and sends identical mono signals to both outputs.
BYPASS SWITCH
For optimum sonic performance, the BYPASS ON position eliminates the INPUT SELECTOR,
TAPE, and MODE switches from the signal path. (Hint: if other inputs appear not to be working, check
the BYPASS switch!). The BYPASS switch works in conjunction with the BYPASS MODE switch,
below.
BYPASS MODE SWITCH
This switch selects which input will be bypassed. On the PHONO MODEL ONLY, select
between PHONO or BALANCED. On the LINE MODEL ONLY, select between CD or BALANCED.

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BYPASS OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS
1. Turn "Selector Switch" to the desired input function position.
2. Move "Bypass Mode Switch" also to the desired input function position.
3. Turn "Bypass On/Off Switch" to the "On" position.
Possible bypass choices are:
PHONO Model: "Phono" or "BAL" inputs;
LINE Model: "Balanced In" or "CD" inputs.
NOTES: The input "Selector Switch" must be turned to the desired input bypass function, as all
other positions not chosen are shorted to ground for superior sonic and grounding reasons. (However,
the "Signal Path" does not travel through the selector switch; you are just choosing which input does not
get shorted to ground.)
Bypass operation removes "Signal Path" from Selector, Tape, and Mode Switches.
BALANCE CONTROL
The custom BALANCE control permits equal output of each channel in the centre (detented)
position without additional loading to the signal. When shifted to the left or right, it merely attenuates
the opposite channel. With optional remote control feature the BALANCE control can be operated from
remote using the hand held remote control unit (See fig.1, 2 page 12) or manually turning the control
knob at the prea
VOLUME CONTROL
The VOLUME control varies the level of both channels simultaneously. With optional remote
control feature the VOLUME control can be operated from remote using the hand held remote control
unit (See fig.1, 2 page 12) or manually turning the control knob at the prea