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.
2Single-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.
3Speaker Outputs
Two pairs of high quality five-way binding posts are provided on the amplifier, in order to facilitate “bi-wiring.”
In practice, bi-wiring involves connecting two (preferably identical) sets of speaker cables between each amplifier channel and its corresponding loudspeaker. In many cases, the benefit is a subjectively improved level of clarity and detail from the speaker, as a result of being able to feed the two separate sections of its crossover and driver complement with identical, yet separate signals.
