Classe Audio SSP-600 owner manual Special Design Features, transcoding, THX Ultra

high-bandwidth video circuitry

transcoding

THX Ultra 2®

Special Design Features

Modern high definition video sources provide truly stunning picture quality. However, the technical requirements of passing these remarkable signals along to the display are quite challenging.

In recognition of the degradations that normally occur when passing these pristine signals through circuitry that is often not up to task, many videophiles connect all their video sources directly to their video displays. Unfortunately, doing so means switching inputs separately on the audio and the video gear, which is tedious to say the least.

Your new Classé surround processor incorporates professional-quality video circuitry that has both the extraordinary bandwidth and the requisite dynamic range to handle even the most demanding video signals in the HDTV standard. This preserves simple everyday operation of the system, since now all video and audio signals are routed through a single controller. Just as importantly, it does so without any compromise in picture quality.

The SSP-600 will receive standard, interlaced composite, S-video, and component signals and transcode (convert) them to provide all of those formats simultaneously to its various video outputs. It will convert signals “up” or “down” as needed to ensure that all outputs are active, all the time, regardless of input signal. (Note, however, that the SSP-600 does not change frame rates or broadcast standards, e.g., we do not convert from 60 fps NTSC to 50 fps PAL or vice versa.)

Also, progressive input signals cannot be routed to the remote zone, since the remote zone receives a composite signal. (There is no such thing as a progressive composite signal.) If you have a progressive source, we suggest connecting both its progressive output (for use in the main zone, without any further signal processing) and its S-video or composite output (for use in the remote zone).

THX® is an exclusive set of standards and technologies established by the world- renowned film production company, Lucasfilm Ltd. THX grew from George Lucas’ personal desire to make your experience of the film soundtrack, in both movie theaters and in your home theater, as faithful as possible to what the director intended.

Movie soundtracks are mixed in special movie theaters called dubbing stages, and are designed to be played back in movie theaters with similar equipment and conditions. This same soundtrack is usually then transferred directly onto DVD and other distribution formats, and is not changed for playback in a small home theater environment.

THX engineers developed patented technologies to accurately translate the sound from the movie theatre environment into the home, correcting the tonal and spatial errors that occur. With your SSP-600, when the THX indicator is on, the following THX features are automatically added:

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