Classe Audio CA-5100: инструкция

Owner’s Manual

CA-5100 

Power Amplifier

ENGLISH

Manuel d’utilisation

CA-5100

Amplificateur de Puissance

FRANÇAIS

Bedienungsanleitung

CA-5100

Endstufe

DEUTSCH

Manuale di  Istruzioni

CA-5100

Amplificatore finale di potenza

IT

ALIANO

Manual de Instrucciones

CA-5100

Etapa de Potencia

ESP

AÑOL

Gebruiksaanwijzing

CA-5100

Vijf Kanaals Eindversterker

NEDERLANDS

Инструкция пользователя 

Classe CA-5100

Усилитель мощности

РУ

С

СКИЙ

PO

RT

U

G

U

ÊS

Manual de Instruções

CA-5100

Amplificador de potência 

2

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.

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 officially approved for the European Community (CE) mark.

This means that your Classé product was subjected to the most rigorous manufacturing and safety tests in the world. The CE mark certifies 

that your purchase meets or exceeds all European Community requirements for unit-to-unit consistency and consumer safety.

This 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. 

These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment gener-

ates, 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 off, 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 different from that to which the receiver is connected;

•  Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

CAUTION: Changes or modifications to this equipment not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user’s authority to 

operate the equipment.

The information contained in the manual is subject to change without notice. The most current version of this manual will be posted on 

our web site at http://www.classeaudio.com.

The lightning flash 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 

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 

appliance.

Marking by the “CE” symbol (shown left) indicates compliance of this device with the EMC 

(Electromagnetic Compatibility) and LVD (Low Voltage Directive) standards of the European 

Community.

Classe products are designed to comply with international directives on the Restriction of Hazardous 

Substances (RoHS) in electrical and electronic equipment and the disposal of Waste Electrical and  

Electronic Equipment (WEEE). The crossed wheelie bin symbol indicates compliance and that the  

products must be appropriately recycled or processed in accordance with these directives.

ENGLISH

3

Important Safety Instructions

Caution:  

Please read and observe all warnings and instructions in this owner’s manual and all those 

marked on the unit. Retain this owner’s manual for future reference.

  1.  Do not attempt to service this product yourself.

 Do not open the cover for any reason. There are no 

user-serviceable parts inside. An open unit, particularly if it is still connected to an AC source, presents 

a potentially lethal shock hazard. Refer all questions to authorized service personnel only.

  2.  To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose the unit to water or moisture.

 If a liquid does enter 

your component, immediately disconnect it from the AC mains and take it to your Classé dealer for a 

thorough check-up.

  3.  Do not place your component near any heat-producing device

 such as a radiator, stove, etc., Keep 

it away from direct sunlight.

  4.  Connect your component only to an AC source of the proper voltage.

 The shipping container and 

the rear panel serial number tag will indicate the proper voltage. Use of any other voltage may damage 

the unit and void the warranty.

  5.  AC cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on or pinched by items 

placed upon or against them.

 Do not stress the AC cord by stretching it to reach a plug. If damage 

does occur to the AC cord, take it to your Classé dealer for a thorough check-up and proper repair or 

replacement.

  6.  If your component will be out of use for an extended period of time

 (vacation, etc. ), you may wish 

to unplug the power cord from the AC source to prevent any chance of problems from a voltage surge 

or lightning strike.

  7.  NEVER

 wet the inside of this product with any liquid.

  8.  NEVER

 pour or spill liquids directly onto this unit.

  9.  NEVER

 block air flow through ventilation slots or heatsinks.

 10.  NEVER

 bypass any fuse.

 11.  NEVER

 replace any fuse with a value or type other than that specified.

 12.  NEVER

 attempt to repair this product. If a problem occurs, contact your Classé dealer.

 13.  NEVER

 expose this product to extremely high or low temperatures.

 14.  NEVER

 operate this product in an explosive atmosphere.

 15.  ALWAYS

 unplug sensitive electronic equipment during lightning storms.

Please record the serial number of your new Classé component here for future 

reference.

Serial #: __________________

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4

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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 .................................................................................. 7

serial number ........................................................................................... 7

register your purchase! ............................................................................. 7

operating voltage ...................................................................................... 7

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 .......................................................................... 10

robust protection .................................................................................... 10

Front Panel .....................................................................................................11

Rear Panel .....................................................................................................13

Initial Setup ...................................................................................................18

configuring balanced/single-ended operation .................................. 18

configuring amplifier turn-on delay/amp no. .................................... 19

Care and Maintenance ...................................................................................20

Troubleshooting .............................................................................................21

Specifications ................................................................................................23

Dimensions .................................................................................................178

5

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Welcome to the Classé family

Congratulations on your purchase of a Classé product. It is the result of many 

years of continuous refinement, 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.

Sending in your warranty card also registers your product with us so that 

warranty service can be obtained easily and quickly, even if you have mislaid 

your original sales slip.  

Please, take a few minutes to fill out the warranty registration 

card, and drop it in the mail.

You will find the warranty registration card at the end of the separate warranty 

policy booklet, enclosed. 

a word about installation

Every effort has been made to make the Classé CA-5100 simple and 

straightforward to install and use.

Still, we have no way to evaluate many other variables such as the size and shape 

of your room, its acoustics, and the associated equipment you have chosen to use 

with your amplifier. All of these factors influence the ultimate 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.

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Unpacking and Placement

unpacking your amplifier

Carefully unpack your power amplifier according to the supplied instructions, 

and remove all accessories from the carton. Please take care when lifting the 

amplifier, as it is quite heavy.

Important! 

Keep all packing materials for future transport of your Classé 

product. 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

There are two options when placing your power amplifier: you may place it close 

to the speakers, requiring longer interconnecting cables from the preamplifier; or 

place it close to the preamplifier, requiring longer speaker cables. 

Although either approach will yield excellent performance, you might consider 

the first option for two reasons. First, signal quality degrades more easily when 

transmitted as a combination of both high voltage and high current, suggesting 

that speaker cables should be kept as short as practical. Second, high quality 

amplifiers use massive power supplies which inevitably radiate some degree of 

magnetic fields. Ideally, one would separate these fields from sensitive source 

components by a reasonable distance.

If it is more convenient for you to place the amplifier in an equipment rack, 

along with your other components, we suggest placing it at the bottom of the 

rack, well away from your source components and preamplifier. This location 

will also be more stable than placing such a heavy component near the top of a 

rack, which might make it top-heavy.

Note  that  adequate  clearance  for  the  AC  cord  and  connecting  cables 

must  be  left  behind  the  CA-5100.  We  suggest  leaving  eight  inches 

(20 cm) of free space behind your power amplifier to allow all cables 

sufficient room to bend without crimping or undue strain.

ventilation

Your Classé power amplifier generates a certain amount of heat in the course 

of normal operation. Be sure to allow six inches of clearance above it and 

three inches to each side to allow heat dissipation through air circulation. The 

vents on both the bottom and the top of the CA-5100 must be kept free from 

any obstruction which would reduce the flow of air through the unit. Avoid 

placement on soft surfaces that would restrict airflow (such as plush carpeting).

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custom installations

Drawings are included in this manual to facilitate special installations and 

custom cabinetry (see the section 

Dimensions

). An optional, purpose-designed 

rack mount kit is available for this product. Contact your Classé dealer for more 

information.

serial number

The serial number for your power amplifier 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.

register your purchase!

Having found the serial number, now would be a good time to fill out the 

registration card. Please register your purchase so we can advise you of updates 

and other items of interest.

It will take only a minute or so. Please complete the card now, before you forget.

operating voltage

The CA-5100 power amplifier is set at the factory (internally) for 100V, 120V, 

230V, or 240V AC mains operation, as appropriate for the country in which 

it is to be sold 

(230V only in European Union countries, in compliance with CE 

regulations)

. The voltage setting may not be changed by the user or dealer.

Make sure that the label on the rear panel of your power amplifier indicates 

the correct AC operating voltage for your location. Attempting to operate your 

power amplifier at an incorrect voltage may damage the unit.

Warning: 

The voltage setting of your power amplifier may not be changed 

by  the  user. There  are  no  user-serviceable  parts  within  the 

unit. Please refer any problems to an authorized Classé service 

center.

If the AC mains voltage indicated on your power amplifier is incorrect, please 

contact your local, authorized Classé dealer or distributor.

The CA-5100 can easily be powered by a normal 15-ampere AC mains line. If 

other devices are also powered from the same AC line, their additional power 

consumption should be taken into account.

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The CA-5100 includes protection circuitry that will prevent the amplifier from 

operating at dangerously high or low voltages. 

• 

At startup: 

the AC mains voltage must be within a range of 

approximately -15% to +10% of its nominal value at startup, or 

the amplifier will not turn on. For example, a 120V unit requires 

the AC mains to be between approximately 95V–135V in order to 

turn on.

• 

Over-voltage during operation: 

if the AC mains voltage surges 

by roughly 10% or more during operation, the amplifier will enter 

protection mode and shut down. The 

Standby LED 

will flash to 

indicate the protection mode has been engaged.

• 

Under-voltage during operation: 

if the AC mains voltage sags by 

15% or more, the amplifier will continue to play (since this does 

not present a particular danger to the amplifier), but note that 

it may not be able to achieve its usual standard of performance 

under these compromised conditions. The 

Standby LED

 will 

flash to indicate the condition.

warm up/break-in period

Your new Classé power amplifier 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 

first 300 hours, as the amplifier reaches thermal equilibrium and the capacitors 

fully form. After this initial break-in period, the performance of your new 

product should remain quite consistent for years to come.

The only exception to this rule is if the unit is placed in 

standby

 or unplugged 

for an extended period of time, allowing it to cool down. Depending on the 

degree of cooling involved, you should expect a brief warm-up period before the 

power amplifier’s sound quality is at its best. Unless your amplifier was allowed 

to become quite chilled, subsequent thermal re-stabilization should not take 

long. Fortunately, you should never have to repeat the initial 300 hour break-in 

period.

please read this manual…

Please take a few minutes to review this manual, and to familiarize yourself with 

your new amplifier. 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 benefits you deserve from having purchased such 

a fine piece of equipment.

9

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Special Design Features

highly refined  

circuit design

All Classé analog amplification stages are based on circuits that have been 

extensively optimized over many years of continuous development. 

By starting with excellent circuit designs and working with them over the years, 

we are able to discover the many small refinements that add up to superlative 

performance, in a variety of applications. Altering a voltage here, or using a 

slightly different part there, may make all the difference between solid and 

absolutely outstanding performance. 

This level of refinement only comes with a great deal of experience, and is 

not available to those who flit from one trendy notion to the next. It accounts 

in no small measure for both the consistency of sonic performance among 

Classé products (as they are all based on similar analog gain stages), and for the 

consistently excellent reviews those products receive by owners and reviewers 

alike.

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 insufficient to guarantee subjectively musical results.

For this reason, all Classé products are laboriously fine-tuned during the 

development process by carefully controlled listening tests. Our ears are still 

some of the finest laboratory test instruments available, and nicely complement 

more traditional engineering test equipment. In the course of optimizing the 

circuitry for a product, hundreds of decisions are made based on the subjective 

impression given by substituting one high quality part for another. 

As an example, we may listen to half a dozen 0.1% film resistors of the same 

value, from several different companies. Standard tests may show them all to 

provide identical results in terms of noise, distortion, and so forth. Yet, almost 

invariably, one selection yields some small improvement in the subjective 

reaction to the performance of the product under development. Less often, even 

a single such change can result in a surprisingly large improvement.

Multiply those various improvements by the dozens or even hundreds of such 

decisions that must be made before the product can be finalized for production, 

and you have a remarkable improvement, indeed—all based on careful listening 

tests, which we view as a necessary complement to the solid engineering you 

might rightly expect from Classé.

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extraordinary longevity

Another benefit of having worked with highly refined circuit designs so 

extensively over many years is that we have 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 experiments and actual long-

term experience, we are able to design and manufacture products which we are 

confident will stand the test of time.

We are confident that your new Classé product 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 amplifier incorporates a variety of protection circuits, all 

designed to protect both the amplifier and your loudspeakers against dangerous 

fault conditions. Significantly, these protection circuits do not intrude upon 

or limit the normal performance of the amplifier; rather, they simply put the 

amplifier into 

protection

 mode when confronted with abnormal conditions. 

These conditions include:

•  output overload

•  DC offset

•  AC mains voltage (outside of normal tolerances)

•  excessive operating temperatures

If any of the first three conditions occurs on either channel 

(any of which 

might harm either your amplifier or possibly your loudspeakers)

, the amplifier will 

immediately go into protection mode. In such a case, a 

Channel LED 

indicator 

will blink red, indicating the channel with the fault, and the sound will be 

muted until the fault can be righted. 

If the fault is not channel-related, e.g. AC mains voltage out of range, the 

Standby LED 

will blink. In all cases, the unit will need to be re-started once the 

cause of the fault condition has been rectified.

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BALANCED

SINGLE-ENDED

1

2

3

4

5

SELECT

�������

MODE

Front Panel

1 

Standby button & LED indicator

The front panel 

Standby 

button will toggle the amplifier between 

operate

, 

its fully operational state, and a 

standby

 mode that leaves the amplifier off, 

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).

The current state of the amplifier is indicated by the 

LED

 indicator in the 

center of the 

Standby

 button. The state of this 

LED

 indicates the 

following:

•  on 

=  

standby

•  flashing (on power-up) 

=  

initialization

•  off + 

Channel LED

 on 

=  

operate

•  flashing (after power-up) 

=  

AC mains voltage out of range

When in 

standby

, the amplifier’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 amplifier for an extended period of time, 

perhaps while traveling for a vacation, we suggest you disconnect it from 

the AC mains. Please be certain that the amplifier is in 

standby

 prior to 

disconnecting 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. The best protection in the case of severe electrical 

storms is to simply remove the electronics from any connection with the 

power grid.

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2 

Select button

The 

Select 

button is used (along with the 

Mode 

button) when configuring 

the amplifier for either balanced or single-ended operation. It is also used 

when configuring the turn-on delay or amplifier number for an amplifier 

connected to a Classé preamplifier by the DC Trigger or CAN Bus control 

systems.

3 

Channel status LED indicators

Each amplifier channel has two 

Channel LED 

indicators. They are used to 

indicate the use of either balanced (XLR) or single-ended (RCA) inputs for 

that channel.

These indicators are also used to indicate fault conditions in your amplifier, 

should any ever arise. If a channel’s LED indicators blink red, there is a 

problem in that particular channel. If all the 

Channel LEDs 

are blinking 

red, there may be a systemic problem that is not specific to a particular 

channel.

Caution! 

If  you  see  any  Channel  LED  Indicator  blinking  red,  please 

disconnect the amplifier from the AC mains immediately and 

check  that  all  external  connections  are  cleanly  made  and 

secure. If the AC mains are not easily accessible, you can press 

and  hold  the  Standby  button  for  three  seconds  to  reset  the 

amplifier. If no fault is immediately obvious, please call your 

authorized Classé dealer for assistance.

4 

Mode button

The 

Mode 

button is used (along with the 

Select 

button) when configuring 

the amplifier for either balanced or single-ended operation. It is also used 

when configuring the turn-on delay and amplifier number of the amplifier 

when it is connected to a Classé preamplifier by the CAN Bus 

communications or Trigger systems.

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�

Rear Panel

The 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 specific advice on incorporating your new amplifier into your 

system.

1 

Balanced (XLR) Input

Balanced audio interconnections were originally developed 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 consumer companies like Classé to preserve 

every nuance of the finest audio performances in your collection.

Technically, balanced audio interconnections provide two distinct benefits: 

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, due to either EMI (electromagnetic 

interference) or RFI (radio frequency interference). In the world of wireless 

telecommunications, there is more potential interference around than ever 

before—it makes sense to keep it out of music and movie soundtracks.

For this reason, we strongly recommend using the balanced analog 

interconnections between your Classé components wherever possible. 

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The 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

These pin assignments are consistent with the standard adopted by the 

Audio Engineering Society (AES14-1992). 

If you are using your Classé power amplifier with a Classé preamplifier, 

you’re all set – just take standard balanced interconnect cables and plug 

them in.Then engage that input on the power amplifier by configuring it 

as described in 

Initial Setup.

If you are using another brand of preamplifier, please refer to the operating 

manual of your balanced-output preamplifier to verify that the pin 

assignments of its output connectors correspond to your amplifier. If not, 

have your dealer wire the cables so that the appropriate output pin 

connects to the equivalent input pin.

2 

Single-Ended (RCA) Input

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 effort 

to ensure that the single-ended (RCA) inputs of your power amplifier are 

as good as possible. However, this connection standard cannot offer the 

immunity from interference that balanced interconnection does—hence 

our recommendation to use the balanced inputs when possible.

If you elect to use the single-ended inputs of your Classé power amplifier, 

you need to engage them by configuring the amplifier as described in 

Initial Setup

.

3 

Speaker Outputs

A pair of high quality 

five-way binding posts 

is provided for each channel 

of the amplifier. 

Although the binding posts on your Classé amplifier will accept bare wire 

connections, we strongly recommend the use of high quality spade or hook 

lugs, crimped and soldered 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.

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4 

Classé CAN Bus Control Ports

These 

RJ-45

 connectors are reserved for future control and communication 

applications using Classé Audio’s implementation of the Controller Area 

Network (CAN) Bus specification.

5 

IR Input and Output

Your Classé amplifier 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 amplifier between 

operate

 and 

standby

, as well as 

discrete command codes for either 

operate

 or 

standby

. These codes may be 

used in “macros” for sophisticated remote control systems, facilitating the 

control of the amplifier in the larger context of a complete system.

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 amplifiers, and emitters (available 

from your dealer) to translate the remote’s flashes of infrared light into 

corresponding pulses of electricity. The 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 amplifier 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). This allows you to “daisy chain” 

your control wires from one product to the next.

The amplifier is designed to respond to IR commands of 5 Volts DC, with 

the tip of the mini mono-plugs defined to be “positive” relative to the 

shank of the plug.

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6 

DC Trigger Input and Output

Many audio/video preamplifiers can supply a DC control voltage to 

associated equipment in order to induce desired behavior. Your Classé 

amplifier can take advantage of these capabilities in order to be switched 

between 

operate

 and 

standby

 automatically, perhaps in concert with the  

A/V preamp itself.

Two 

1

/

8th

-inch 

mini mono-jacks 

provide this remote-controlled turn-on 

(that is, toggling between 

operate

 and 

standby

) of the amplifier. These jacks 

provide a simple pass-through of the control voltage from one to the other, 

allowing you to “daisy-chain” a series of amplifiers quite easily.

The remote trigger will be operated by the presence of 5–12  Volts DC, 

with tip polarity as shown below:

7 

RS-232 Control Port

This 

DB-9 connector has two purposes:

•  downloading new operating software into your amplifier (should 

new features ever be added, for example)

•  for external control of your amplifier by systems such as  

i-Command

™

, AMX

®

 and Crestron

™

For more information, please contact your dealer and ask about home 

automation systems.

8 

AC Mains Input

An IEC standard power cord is used with the CA-5100. Plug the cord into 

the 

IEC receptacle 

on the rear panel, and the other end into a suitable wall 

outlet.

9 

AC Mains Fuse

Your Classé power amplifier has an 

AC mains fuse,

 accessible on the rear 

panel. If you suspect that your AC fuse has blown, disconnect your 

amplifier from the AC mains, as well as from its input connections and 

speaker connections, and refer to the appropriate item of the section 

entitled 

Troubleshooting

.

Do not open your amplifier. There are no user-serviceable parts within 

this product.

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ENGLISH

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.

18

ENGLISH

Initial Setup

Your new Classé amplifier is quite simple to set up and enjoy. Please follow the 

steps outlined below in order to safely set up and use your new amplifier. 

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 amplifier is quite heavy.

2.  Place your amplifier (be sure to read “Unpacking and Placement”) 

and connect it to the AC mains.

This includes deciding on the location, making sure you have adequate 

ventilation, and adequate clearance for all the wires behind the amplifier. 

Once accomplished, connect the amplifier directly to the AC mains. Do 

not use extension cords, as most are not suitable for the current sometimes 

required by your amplifier.

3.  Configure your amplifier.

The 

Select

 and 

Mode

 buttons are used when configuring your amplifier 

for how you would like it to operate. 

configuring balanced/ 

single-ended operation

While in 

standby

, pressing the 

Select

 button will cause the 

Channel LEDs 

to light up, indicating how the amplifier is currently configured (either 

balanced or single-ended) for each channel. 

One of the 

Channel LED

 indicators will be blinking, indicating that you 

may select either balanced or single-ended operation for that channel. Press 

the 

Mode

 button to toggle between either the balanced mode or the single-

ended mode of operation, as indicated by which of the two channel LEDs 

for that channel is blinking.

Press the 

Select

 button again to select the next channel, and repeat the pro-

cess until the amplifier is configured as you desire. To finish, continue to 

press and release the 

Select

 button until all the 

Channel LEDs

 are off.

Make sure you configure the amplifier to use the type of input connection 

you will be using for each channel. You may safely use any combination of 

single-ended and balanced input connections your system requires.

19

ENGLISH

configuring amplifier  

turn-on delay/amp no.

In a system that contains multiple Classé amplifiers, you may set the 

number of seconds of turn-on delay for each amplifier, allowing each to 

turn on in the order you have specified, rather than all at once. 

(Having 

several powerful amplifiers all turning on at the same time can sometimes stress 

the AC mains in your home, potentially leading to nuisance tripping of circuit 

breakers). 

This number also acts as an ID when using the CAN Bus. 

For example, to set the delay for two seconds (and to designate a particular 

amplifier as #2):

•  Place the amplifier in 

standby

 (

Standby LED 

on)

•  Press and hold the 

Mode 

button until the 

Channel LEDs 

are lit. 

When released, the LEDs will blink to indicate the turn-on delay 

and current number of the amplifier (e.g. once to indicate a one 

second delay and amplifier #1).

•  If you want to change the current amplifier number setting, press 

and hold the 

Mode 

button again until the 

Channel LEDs 

are 

on.

•  While continuing to hold the 

Mode 

button, press the 

Select 

button two times (the same number as the desired delay in 

seconds and the amplifier number); 

•  Release the 

Mode 

button. The amplifier will confirm your choice 

by blinking the 

Channel LEDs 

twice.

4.  Make your preamp connections.

With the amplifier in 

standby

 (or disconnected from the AC mains), and 

using high quality interconnecting cables, make the appropriate 

connections with the balanced or single-ended connectors (as configured in 

Step 3

).

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.

5.  Make your speaker connections.

Make the connection between the output terminals of the amplifier and 

your loudspeakers, using high quality speaker wires. 

Connect the black (–) terminals on the amplifier to the black (–) terminals 

on your speaker, and the red (+) terminals on the amplifier to the red (+) 

terminals on your speaker. 

If bi-wiring, run a total of four conductors between each amplifier 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.