Classe Audio Sigma Series User manual

Owner’s Manual
Sigma Series
AMP5
Five-Channel Amplifier

2
Classé marks the “CE” symbol indicating compliance of this device with the EMC (Electromagnetic
Compatibility) and LVD (Low Voltage Directive) standards of the European Community.
Classé complies with the European Parliament and Council Directive 2002/96/EC concerning Waste Electrical
and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). is product must be appropriately recycled or processed in accordance with
these directives. Consult your local waste disposal authority for guidance.
Classé products are designed and manufactured to comply with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS)
as stated in the European Parliament and Council Directive 2002/95/EC.
NOTICE
All of us at Classé take extreme care to ensure that your purchase will remain a prized investment. We are proud to inform you
that all Classé components have been ocially approved for the European Community (CE) mark.
is means that your Classé product was subjected to the most rigorous manufacturing and safety tests in the world. e CE
mark certies that your purchase meets or exceeds all European Community requirements for manufacturing consistency and
consumer safety.
is equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) is device may not cause harmful interference, and (2)
is device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. ese limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. is equipment generates,
uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation. If this equipment does cause interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the
equipment on and o, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
• Reorientorrelocatethereceivingantenna;
• Increasetheseparationbetweentheequipmentandthereceiver;
• Connecttheequipmentintoanoutletonacircuitdierentfromthattowhichthereceiverisconnected;
• Consultthedealeroranexperiencedradio/TVtechnicianforhelp.
CAUTION:Changesormodicationstothisequipmentnotexpresslyapprovedbythemanufacturercouldvoidtheuser’s
authority to operate the equipment.
e information contained in the manual is subject to change without notice. e most current version of this manual will be
posted on our web site at http://www.classeaudio.com.

3
Important Safety Instructions
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. Donotblockanyventilationopenings.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. 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. e
wide blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not t into your outlet,
consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
10. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and
the point where they exit from the apparatus.
11. Only use attachments/accessories specied by the manufacturer.
12. Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specied 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.
13. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
14. Refer all servicing to qualied 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.
15. Do not expose this apparatus to dripping or splashing and ensure that no objects lled with liquids, such as
vases, are placed on the apparatus.
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
CAUTION:TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT
REMOVE COVER. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER
SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.
WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK,
DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
e lightning ash with 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suf-
cient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
e exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of im-
portant operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the product.

4
Contents
Welcome to the Classé family.......................................................................... 5
a word about installation .......................................................................................5
Unpacking and Placement............................................................................... 6
unpacking your amplifier.......................................................................................6
placement..............................................................................................................6
ventilation..............................................................................................................6
custom installations ............................................................................................... 6
rack-mounting .......................................................................................................7
serial number.........................................................................................................8
operating voltage ...................................................................................................8
warm up/break-in period .......................................................................................8
please read this manual…......................................................................................8
Special Design Features ................................................................................... 9
highly refined circuit design................................................................................... 9
extensive listening tests .......................................................................................... 9
extraordinary longevity ..........................................................................................9
robust protection....................................................................................................9
Front Panel..................................................................................................... 10
Rear Panel...................................................................................................... 11
Installation ..................................................................................................... 15
CAN-Bus..............................................................................................................16
features ..............................................................................................................16
hardware setup ..................................................................................................17
using CAN-Bus.....................................................................................................18
CAN-Bus shared features ....................................................................................19
configuration........................................................................................................19
operate.................................................................................................................19
AC status..............................................................................................................19
status....................................................................................................................19
name.................................................................................................................... 20
global brightness..................................................................................................20
global standby .....................................................................................................20
CAN-Bus model-specific features........................................................................ 20
PlayLink........................................................................................................20
amp info .......................................................................................................21
event log.......................................................................................................21
Care and Maintenance...................................................................................22
Troubleshooting .............................................................................................23
Specifications.................................................................................................25
Dimensions....................................................................................................26

5
Welcome to the Classé family
Congratulations on your purchase of a Classé amplier. It is the result of many
years of design experience, and we are sure that you will enjoy it for many years
to come.
We value our relationship with our customers. Please allow us to stay in touch
with you by returning your warranty card now, before you pack up the shipping
carton of your new product and forget all about it. Doing so will enable us to
let you know about any possible future upgrades or updates that might become
available for your Classé component.
You can register online at www.classeaudio.com or complete and mail the
registration card located in the separate warranty booklet.
Please take a few moments now to register your new
Classé amplifier and record your serial number for future
reference
a word about installation Every eort has been made to make the Classé Sigma AMP5 simple and
straightforward to install and use.
It may be placed on a shelf, in a cabinet or on the oor near the speaker(s).
Although the AMP5 is an extremely ecient design, as with all ampliers, some
heat is generated and care should be taken to allow adequate ventilation.
e size and shape of your room, its acoustics, and the associated equipment
you have chosen to use with your amplier all inuence the performance of your
system.
For this reason, we strongly encourage you to have your
system installed and calibrated by your dealer, whose
experience, training, and specialized equipment can
make a profound difference in the final performance of
the system.

6
Unpacking and Placement
unpacking your amplifier Carefully unpack your power amplier according to the supplied instructions,
and remove all accessories from the carton. Please take care when lifting the
amplier, as it is heavier than it may appear.
Important! Keep all packing materials for future transport of your
Classé amplifier. Shipping your new component in
anything other than its purpose-designed packing material
may result in damage that is not covered by the warranty.
placement Many installations will utilize an equipment rack, although a shelf, a cabinet or
the oor near the speaker(s) are acceptable alternatives. In any case, take care to
position it well away from source components and preamp/processors, which
maybesensitivetotheamplier’selectromagneticelds.
Note that adequate clearance for the AC cord and connecting cables
must be left behind the amplier. We suggest leaving six inches (15 cm)
of free space behind your power amplier to allow all cables sucient
room to bend without crimping or undue strain.
ventilation Your Classé power amplier generates a certain amount of heat in the course of
normal operation. Avoid placement on soft surfaces that would restrict airow
around the unit (such as plush carpeting).
custom installations Drawings are included in this manual to facilitate special installations and
custom cabinetry (see the section Dimensions). Contact your Classé dealer for
more information.

7
rack-mounting Sigma series chassis are designed to accommodate rack-mount installation.
Professional installation by an authorized Classé dealer is recommended.
TorackmounttheAMP5,removethetwoside-panelscrews,invertandrotate
the side panel to position the rack ear along the front of the AMP5 and re-install
the side-panel screws. Repeat for the side panel on the opposite side. Remove the
feet from the bottom of the AMP5.
Carefully install the AMP5 into the equipment rack using the appropriate screws
for the type of rack. It is easiest if two people perform the installation to avoid
the possibility of dropping the AMP5 or otherwise causing damage. Please allow
for adequate ventilation, usually two rack spaces above the AMP5 will suce.
Magnetically secured rack ear covers, provided in the accessory pack, may be
used to cover the screws and nish o the appearance.

8
serial number e serial number for your power amplier is found on the rear of the unit.
Please note and record this number on the page entitled Important Safety
Instructions for your future reference.
operating voltage e operating voltage of your AMP5 is 100-240 V, 50/60 Hz.
Warning: There are no user-serviceable parts within the unit. Please
refer any problems to an authorized Classé service center.
e amplier can easily be powered by a normal 15 or 20-ampere AC mains
line. If other devices are also powered from the same AC line, their additional
power consumption should be taken into account.
warm up/break-in period Your new Classé power amplier will deliver outstanding performance
immediately. However, you should expect to hear it improve somewhat as
it reaches its normal operating temperatures and its various components
“break-in.” It has been our experience that the greatest changes occur within the
rst 72 hours, as the amplier reaches thermal equilibrium and the capacitors
fully form. After this initial break-in period, the performance of your new
amplier should remain quite consistent for years to come.
please read this manual… Please take a few minutes to review this manual, and to familiarize yourself with
your new amplier. We understand that you are anxious to plug everything in
and get started. However, reading this manual and following the advice it gives
will ensure that you get all the benets you deserve from having purchased such
a ne piece of equipment.

9
Special Design Features
highly refined
circuit design is Classé amplier benets from the use of high quality component parts,
application of advanced class D amplier design principles and exhaustive
testing.ToconqueroneofthemostchallengingproblemsinclassDdesign,a
dead-band time minimization algorithm is initiated at turn-on to ensure the
lowestpossibledistortion;consequently,lessoverallnegativefeedbackisrequired
for optimum performance. is unusual accomplishment showcases both the
innovation of the design and the persistence of the Classé Design team.
extensive listening tests Excellent measured performance is to be expected in world-class products, and
Classé products deliver that performance. However, experience has shown that
technical excellence alone is insucient to guarantee subjectively musical results.
For this reason, all Classé products are laboriously ne-tuned during the
development process by carefully controlled listening tests. Our ears are still
some of the nest test instruments available, and nicely complement more
traditional engineering test equipment. We rely on careful listening tests, which
we view as a necessary complement to the solid engineering you should rightly
expect from Classé.
extraordinary longevity e Classé Design team has accumulated vast experience in what works well over
the long term.
By using only the highest quality parts to begin with, and then using them in
an informed way as a result of both accelerated aging tests and actual long-
term experience, we are able to design and manufacture products which we are
condent will stand the test of time.
We are condent that your new Classé amplier will give you many years of
trouble-free reliability and musical enjoyment, just as previous Classé products
have given their owners.
robust protection Finally, your new Classé amplier incorporates a variety of protection circuits, all
designed to protect both the amplier and your loudspeakers against dangerous
fault conditions. Signicantly, these protection circuits do not intrude upon
orlimitthenormalperformanceoftheamplier;rather,theysimplyputthe
amplier into protection mode when confronted with abnormal conditions.
ese conditions include:
• outputoverloadandshortcircuitprotection
• DCoset
• excessiveoperatingtemperatures
Some conditions, such as DC oset, are corrected automatically in the amplier
while others will result in either the amplier temporarily reducing its output
or, in extreme cases, switching itself o. In such a case, the Standby LED status
indicator will blink red until the fault can be righted and the amplier is reset by
pressing and holding the standby button for at least three seconds.

10
Front Panel
1 Standby button & LED status indicator
e front panel Standby button will toggle the amplier between operate,
its fully operational state, and a standby mode that leaves the amplier o,
yet ready to respond to system commands via any of the supported control
options(e.g.IRinput,DCtrigger,CAN-Bus,orRS-232).
e current state of the amplier is indicated by the LED status indicator
in the Standby button. e state of this LED indicates the following:
• on(red) =standby
• ashing(blue) =initialization
• on(blue) = operate
• slow ashing (red) = protection circuit(s) engaged
When in standby,theamplier’sgainstagesarepowereddown.Onlya
small power supply and control circuit remain on, consuming relatively
little power. Fortunately, since the output stages by their nature conduct a
great deal of current, they warm up and sound their best very quickly.
If you are not going to use the amplier for an extended period of time, we
suggest you disconnect it from the AC mains.
Also, it is a good practice to physically disconnect any and all valuable
electronics from the AC mains during electrical storms, as a lightning
strike anywhere near your home can put a tremendous surge on the AC
mains that can easily damage any piece of electronics, no matter how well
designed and protected. e best protection in the case of severe electrical
storms is to simply remove the electronics from any connection with the
power grid.
Caution! If you see the Standby LED indicator blinking red, please
check that all external connections are cleanly made
and secure. If no fault is immediately obvious, try to
reset the amplifier by pressing and holding the standby
button. If the unit does not reset or continues to enter
protection mode, please call your authorized Classé
dealer for assistance.
SIGMA AMP5

11
Rear Panel
e following descriptions are intended as a quick reference, should you have
any questions about your new product. Please see the next section (entitled
Initial Setup) for specic advice on incorporating your new amplier into your
system.
1 Balanced (XLR) Input
TwochannelsoftheAMP5supportbalancedinterconnection.When
used in a 5.1 channel system, these are intended for use with the L & R
Front channel outputs of the Sigma series SSP or those of other preamp/
processors that are equipped with balanced outputs.
Balanced audio interconnections were originally developed for the
telephone and more recently have been used in the professional audio
world for preserving the delicate nuances of extremely small microphone-
level signals. For many years now, they have also been used by
performance-oriented companies such as Classé to preserve every nuance
of the nest audio recordings in your collection.
Technically,balancedaudiointerconnectionsprovidetwodistinctbenets:
theydoublethesignal’sstrengthasittravelsfromonecomponenttothe
next,increasingthepotentialSignal-to-Noiseratioby6dB;theyalsodo
an excellent job of rejecting noise and interference that might otherwise
be picked up between the components. If executed with a high degree of
symmetry between the inverting and non-inverting signal paths, balanced
connections can oer the best performance. For this reason, we strongly
recommend using the balanced analog interconnections between your
Classé components wherever possible.
OUTPUTS
INPUTS
IN OUTIN OUT
CAN BUSRS 232
UPDATE
HOST
IN OUT
100-120~ T6.3AH 250V
220-240~ T3.15AH 250V
RISQUE DE CHOC ÉLECTRIQUE-NE PAS OUVRIR
SHOCK HAZARD - DO NOT OPEN
THIS DEVICE COMPLIES WITH PART 15 OF THEFCC RULES.
OPERATION IS SUBJECT TOTHE FOLLOWING TWO CONDITIONS:
(1) THIS DEVICE MAY NOTCAUSE HARMFUL INTERFERENCE, AND
(2) THIS DEVICE MUST ACCEPTANY INTERFERENCE RECEIVED,
INCLUDING INTERFERENCE THAT MAYCAUSE UNDESIRED OPERATION.
CH1
CH1
CH2
CH3
CH4
CH5
CH2
CLASS 2 WIRING
CH5
CAUTION! TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, GROUNDING
OF THE CENTER PIN OF THIS PLUG MUST BE MAINTAINED
AVIS! POUR RÉDUIRE LE RISQUE DE CHOC ÉLECTRIQUE
LA FICHE CENTRALE DE LA PRISE DOITÊTRE
BRANCHÉE POUR MAINTENIR LA MISE À LATERRE
CH4CH3CH2CH1
2 314 5 678 10 9

12
e pin assignments of these XLR input connectors are:
Pin 1: Signal ground
Pin 2: Signal + (non-inverting)
Pin 3: Signal – (inverting)
Connector ground lug: chassis ground
ese pin assignments are consistent with the standard adopted by the
Audio Engineering Society (AES14-1992).
If you are using your Classé power amplier with a Classé preamplier/
processor,you’reallset–justremovethesuppliedshortingpins(between
Pins1and3)fromtheamplier’sXLRconnector(s),takestandard
balanced interconnect cables and plug them in.
If you are using another brand of preamplier or processor, please refer to its
operating manual to verify that the pin assignments of its output connectors
correspond to those of your amplier. If not, have your dealer obtain cables
with the appropriate output pin connecting to the equivalent input pin.
2 Single-Ended (RCA) Input
All ve channels support single-ended inputs for use with the widest range
of preamp/processors.
Single-ended cables using RCA connectors are the most common form
of analog connection used in consumer electronics. When implemented
carefully and with use of high quality interconnecting cables, this standard
can provide excellent performance. Classé has gone to extraordinary eort
to ensure that the single-ended (RCA) inputs of your power amplier
perform exceptionally well.
3 Speaker Outputs
One pair of high-quality ve-way binding posts are provided for each
amplier channel. ey are positioned in such a way as to allow the best
access for tting high-quality speaker cables.
Although the binding posts on your Classé amplier will accept bare wire
connections, we strongly recommend the use of high quality spade or hook
lugs, crimped onto the ends of your speaker wires. Using high quality
connectors will ensure that your speaker connections do not gradually
deteriorate from fraying and oxidizing bare wires. It also helps prevent
accidental short-circuits from poorly-terminated connections.
4 Classé CAN-Bus Control Ports
ese RJ-45 connectors are reserved for control and communication
applications using a Classé implementation of the Controller Area
Network(CAN)Busspecication.RefertotheCAN-Bus section located
later in this manual for more information.
5 IR Input and Output
Your Classé amplier includes two 1/8th-inch mini mono-jacks in order to
support the IR remote controls that are ubiquitous today. IR commands
exist for toggling the amplier between operate and standby, as well as
discrete command codes for either operate or standby. ese codes may be
used in “macros” for sophisticated remote control systems, facilitating the
control of the amplier in the larger context of a complete system.

13
Actually, this IR Input and Output description is a bit of a misnomer: the
input supplied to these plugs is electrical in nature, not IR. It is obtained by
using standard IR receivers, distribution ampliers, and emitters (available
fromyourdealer)totranslatetheremote’sashesofinfraredlightinto
corresponding pulses of electricity. e big advantages here include being
able to easily route the signals anywhere they might need to go, and the
reliability of a solid electrical connection.
Since an IR distribution system such as your dealer may design for you
usually must control many products, your amplier includes both an IR
input (for the control of this product) and an IR output (so as to pass
along the same signal to the next product). is allows you to “daisy chain”
your control wires from one product to the next.
e amplier is designed to respond to IR commands of 5 Volts DC, with
the tip of the mini-plugs dened to be “positive” relative to the shank of
the plug.
6 DC Trigger Input and Output
Many audio/video preampliers can supply a DC control voltage to
associated equipment in order to induce desired behavior. Your Classé
amplier can take advantage of these capabilities in order to be switched
between operate and standby automatically, perhaps in concert with the
preamp/processor itself.
Two1/8th-inch mini mono-jacks provide this remote-controlled turn-on
(that is, toggling between operate and standby) of the amplier. ese jacks
provide a simple pass-through of the control voltage from one to the other,
allowing you to “daisy-chain” a series of ampliers quite easily.
e remote trigger will be operated by the presence of 5–12 Volts DC,
with tip polarity as shown below:
7 RS-232 Control Port
is RJ-45 connector is used for external RS-232 control of your amplier
bysystemssuchasAMX®, Crestron™ and Control 4™.
For more information, please contact your dealer and ask about home
automation systems.

14
RJ-45 - DB9 female adaptor
If your RS-232 control system uses a cable with a male DB9 connector,
you will need to buy or build an adaptor to convert the RJ-45 female to a
DB9 female. Standard RJ45-to-DB9 female connectors come with RJ-45
pins and colors as below. Wire the DB9 adaptor according to this diagram
and table.
RJ-45 DB9
Pin-1 = Blue Pin-1 = Brown
Pin-2 = Orange Pin-2 = Green
Pin-3 = Black Pin-3 = Yellow
Pin-4 = Red Pin-4 = Orange
Pin-5 = Green Pin-5 = Red
Pin-6 = Yellow Pin-6 = Blue
Pin-7 = Brown Pin-7=NC
Pin-8 = White Pin-8 = Black
Pin-9 = White
Remarks: e Cat 5 cable and connector that is used for the adaptor and
plugs into the rear panel RJ-45 port must use pin-to-pin wiring.
8 USB Port
e USB connector is used to host a USB stick for updating amplier
rmware, should that become necessary.
9 AC Mains Input
An IEC standard power cord (supplied) is used with the AMP5. Plug the
cord into the IEC receptacle on the rear panel, and the other end into a
suitable wall outlet.
10 AC Mains Fuse
Your Classé power amplier has an AC mains fuse, accessible on the
rear panel. If you suspect that your AC fuse has blown, disconnect your
amplier from the AC mains, as well as from its input connections and
speaker connections, and refer to the appropriate item of the section
enitled Troubleshooting.
Do not open your amplier. ere are no user-serviceable parts within
this product.
Danger! Potentially dangerous voltages and current capabilities
exist within your power amplifier, even when disconnected
from AC mains. Do not attempt to open any portion of the
amplifier’s cabinet. There are no user-serviceable parts
inside your power amplifier. All service of this product
must be referred to a qualified Classé dealer or distributor.

15
Installation
Your new Classé amplier is quite simple to set up and enjoy. Please follow the
steps outlined below in order to safely set up and use your new amplier.
Important: The AC mains connection should be the last connection you
make on your new power amplifier. In addition, it is always
a good idea to power up your power amplifier(s) last, after
everything else has been powered up and has stabilized. .
Conversely, it is good practice to power the amplifier(s)
down first when shutting down the system, as this
prevents any transients from other components from
getting through to your loudspeakers.
1. Unpack everything according to the included instructions.
Be careful when doing so, as this amplier is heavier than it appears.
2. Place your amplifier (be sure to read “Unpacking and Placement”)
and connect it to the AC mains. is includes deciding on the location,
making sure you have adequate ventilation, and adequate clearance for all the
wires behind the amplier. Once accomplished, connect the amplier directly to
the AC mains. Do not use extension cords, as most are not suitable for the current
sometimes required by your amplier.
3. Configure your amplifier turn-on delay/amp number.
In a system that contains multiple Classé ampliers, you may set the
number of seconds of turn-on delay for each amplier, allowing each
to turn on in the order you have specied, rather than all at once. is
number also acts as an ID when using the CAN-Bus. (Having several powerful
ampliers all turning on at the same time can sometimes stress the AC mains in
your home, potentially leading to nuisance tripping of circuit breakers).
e amplier sequence number (turn-on delay) may be programmed by
your Classé dealer using a PC utility.
4. Make your preamp/processor connections.
With the amplier in standby (or disconnected from the AC mains), using
high quality interconnecting cables, make the appropriate connections
with the balanced or single-ended connectors.
Make sure all the connections are snug, even if it means gently squeezing
the outer shell of the RCA with pliers and reinserting it to tighten the
connection.

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5. Make your speaker connections.
Make the connection between the output terminals of the amplier and
your loudspeakers, using high quality speaker wires.
Connect the black (–) terminals on the amplier to the black (–) terminals
on your speaker, and the red (+) terminals on the amplier to the red (+)
terminals on your speaker. If bi-wiring, run a total of four conductors
between each amplier channel and its corresponding loudspeaker: two
separate +/– leads, one for the bass and the other for the mids and treble.
Make sure that no wires cross between the red (+) and black (–) terminals,
at either end.
Make sure all the connections are snug and cannot be easily wiggled free,
but do not overtighten them. If you can give the speaker wires a reasonable
tug without movement, they are snug. Further tightening will not make a
better connection, and (taken to the extreme) may damage the connectors.
6. Double-check all your connections.
We understand that this step sounds redundant, but it is worth the extra
minute or two it might take just to ensure that all connections are correct
and secure before plugging the power cables to the AC outlets.
7. Turn on all the other components in your system, and then
turn on your amplifier.
It is always good practice to turn any power amplier on last, and to turn
it o rst. Doing so prevents any turn-on/turn-o transients that might
originate in other components from damaging your loudspeakers.
CAN-Bus Classé’sControllerAreaNetwork,orCAN-Bus,opensthewaytoanewlevelof
interaction between similarly featured Classé components. When the amplier
isconnectedwithotherCAN-Bus-equippedClass é components, the dierent
elements in the system are in constant communication, creating a “global”
network that delivers system wide status information and shared operational
features,allthroughthepreamp/processor’stouchscreendisplay.
Note that some components will require a software update to recognize the
AMP5 on the CAN-Bus. Check the Classé website periodically for updates.
features CAN-Buswillallowa Class é touchscreen to:
• Displaystatusinformationforeveryconnectedunit,including
ampliers which do not have a touchscreen display.
• Createa“PlayLink”thatallowsanSSPorPreamptoautomatically
switch to the correct input when a Delta series source component
starts playback.
• Adjusttheglobalsystembrightness.
• Conguretheentiresystemtogoinandoutofstandbyatthe
touch of a button and also bring individual components in and
out of standby.
• Muteanyconnectedunit.

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hardware setup 1 Classé CAN-Bus Equipped Products
TwoormoreClasséCAN-Busequippedproductsarerequired,atleastoneof
which must have a touchscreen display.
2 Category 5 Network Cables
ese are ordinary network cables, commonly used for broadband Internet
connections. ey should be typical “straight through” cables not the “crossed
over” type, and the total required will be one less than the total number of
CAN-Busequippedcomponentsinyoursystem.
3 CAN-Bus Terminator
AsingleCAN-BusTerminatormayberequired.Itisinsertedintothe
CAN-BusOUTconnectorofthelastcomponentintheCAN-Bus
daisy chain. One is includedintheboxwithyouramplier.T hey are also
available free of charge from your nearest Classé Customer Support Centre.
http://www.Classeaudio.com/support/service.htm
4 SSP-300 & 600 CAN-Bus Interface Box
Systems that include an SSP-600 or SSP-300 will also require an
SSP-300/600CAN-BusInterfaceBox.eseareincludedwiththeproductsor
available free of charge from your nearest Classé Customer Support Centre.
http://www.Classeaudio.com/support/service.htm

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ediagramsbelowillustratehowtoconnecttheCAN-Bushardware.
Any combination of models in any order.
OUT
CAN-BUS
IN
OUT
CAN-BUS
IN
OUT
CAN-BUS
IN
OUT
CAN-BUS
IN
For any system with SSP-300 or SSP-600.
OUT
CAN-BUS
IN
OUT
CAN-BUS
IN
OUT
CAN-BUS
IN
OUT
CAN-BUS
IN
NOTE:DaisychainmayneedtobeterminatedwithCAN-BusTerminator.
using CAN-Bus CAN-Busiscontrolledviathetouchscreenofany Classé component that is
so equipped. ere is no master component, so Classé series systems where
two or more units have a touchscreen can be controlled through any of the
touchscreens.However,itisprobablyeasiesttostartusingCAN-Busthrough
just one.
CAN-Busisaccessedbypressingthemenu button on the face of the unit or
remote, then the status button, followed by the more button.

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e touchscreen will then display the CAN-Bus devices screen, which lists
connected components by model & serial number.
Highlighting aunitontheCAN-Busdevicesscreenidentiesitasthetarget
unit. e front panel LEDs of the target unit will start ashing (unless you
highlighttheunitthatyouareusingtoaccessCAN-Bus).
Once you have chosen the target unit press select.etargetunit’sLEDswill
stopashingandthetouchscreenwilllisttheCAN-Busfeaturesavailabletoit.
SomeCAN-Busfeaturesaresharedbyallmodels,somearespecictoindividual
models.
CAN-Bus shared features efollowingCAN-Busfeaturesaresharedbyallmodels.
configuration Selecting conguration will present the CAN-Bus conguration screen
allowing access to name, global brightness, and global standby features.
operate e operate settings allow you to bring the target unit in and out of standby, or
mute. is key will be disabled for the unit whose touchscreen you are using to
accessCAN-Bus.
AC status e AC status screendisplaysinformationfromthetargetunit’selectricalsupply
sensors(ifavailable).Twoscreensareavailable,thesecondcanbeaccessedby
selecting more.
status e status screen is the simplest way to access essential information about
thetargetunit.Itdisplaysthetargetunit’smodelnumber,softwareversion,
operational status and serial number.

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name You can set the name thatthiscomponentwillbelistedunderintheCAN-Bus
devices screen. e name will appear next to the unit model and serial number,
and facilitate the identication of units in large systems.
global brightness By setting all your components to global brightness you can adjust the
touchscreen and LED brightness for your entire system by changing the
brightnessofasingletouchscreen.AllCAN-Bussoftwareupdatesautomatically
set the updated unit to Global Brightness. If you want a particular unit to be
excluded from Global Brightness, deselect Global Brightness for that unit.
global standby By setting all your components to global standby you can bring your entire
system in and out of standby by pressing the standby button of any unit or
remote.AllCAN-Bussoftwareupdatesautomaticallysettheupdatedunitto
global standby. If you want a particular unit to be excluded from global standby,
deselect global standby for that unit.
CAN-Bus model-
specific features
efollowingCAN-Busfeaturesaremodelspecic.
PlayLink is feature is exclusive to Delta series disc players and will only function if
thediscplayerisconnectedtoaCAN-Busenabledpreamporsurroundsound
processor.
When PlayLink is active, pressing play on the disc player will also automatically
switch the preamp/processor to a specied input. is means that you can listen
to a CD or watch a DVD literally at the touch of a button.
e rst step in using PlayLink is to choose the input you wish to be selected
when play is pressed on the disc player. Press the PlayLink icon, then select the
correct input from the list.
Once you have selected the input, press back, then select conguration.
PlayLinkisactivatedanddisabledthroughthePlayLinkiconontheCAN-Bus
conguration screen.