The Classé DP-300 DVD player, the one equipped with HDMI and component connectivity (see our article here) has got a new family with the SSP-300 and SSP-600 processors, as well the CA-5200 power amplifier, that will be examined in another article. This high-end, Quebec born company is distributed in the UK by B&W -and indeed, many sales portals bundle the Canadian box maker with B&W's loudspeaker systems.
The SSP-300 and SSP-600 are sixth-generation Classé surround sound processors. Both use single-ended analog audio paths, and the same digital audio and video processing circuits. Both are 7.1 channel devices, and they can decode discrete surround formats from Dolby and DTS, and an impressive number of surround matrix modes. They accomodate SACD and DVD Audio multi-channel audio sources. To achieve this, the SSP-300 and SSP-600 both feature single-ended 7.1 channel analog inputs. (See specs below).
Classé SSP-600
Although, however, they share a lot in common, notably regarding circuitry, there are differences that explain another distinction: the price..., $4500 ( £2560) and $6500 (£3700) respectively. "Balanced Audio" is the answer to this tricky question. The SSP-600 is adding a second, linear power supply, an additional analog circuit board, which includes two-channel preamplifier balanced and 7.1 channels of balanced audio outputs.
Digital signals are handled with particular care, in order to maintain the integrity of the bit stream, and the clock accuracy. The audio DSP uses Motorola 32-bit processors for complex calculations being performed with minimal round-off error, resulting in better resolution. Eight differential 24-bit multi-bit delta-sigma DACs convert digital to analog, allowing again high resolution and excellent low level linearity.
"For enthusiasts whose audio sources or power amplifiers lack balanced interconnections, the SSP-300 is the obvious choice. But for the highest performance with music and movie sources, the advanced circuitry of the SSP-600 will deliver performance benefits that greatly exceed its additional cost", the company says, in order to justify the difference.
Specs: Classé SSP-600 Processor (source Classé Audio) Audio Video No. of inputs No. of inputs Analogue Composite 4
-single-ended
11pr RCA S-Video 5 -balanced 1pr XLR Component 3 -7.1 (single-ended) 1 set RCA No. of outputs Digital Composite 4 -coaxial 4 S-Video 3 -AES/EBU 1 Component 1 -optical 2 Video conversion No. of outputs Composite to S-Video yes Analogue Composite to component yes -single-ended 4pr RCA S-Video to composite yes -balanced 1pr XLR S-Video to component yes 7.1 (single-ended) 1 set RCA Component to composite yes 7.1 (balanced) 1 set XLR Component to S-Video yes DigitalAudio formats & standards
-optical 1 Dolby EX yes Analogue audio inputs Dolby digital 5.1 yes Stereo Dolby Pro Logic yes -input level 2Vrms Dolby Pro Logic II yes -max input 3.6 Vrms DTS-ES discrete yes -input impedance 17KΩ DTS-ES Matrix yes -input capacitance 1000pF DTS 3/2/1 yes Analogue audio outputs DTS Neo:6 yes 7.1 PCM yes -max output 8Vrms THX Ultra2 yes -output impedance 56Ω 24bit/96kHz digital PCM yes -THD (any source) <0.002% lip sync yes -S/N ratio (analogue source) >96dB Music modes -S/N ratio (digital source) >101dB natural -S/N ratio (7.1inputs) >105dB party -Frequency resp. (analogue) 20Hz -22Hz surround -Frequency resp. (digital) 20Hz -22Hz Other connectors -Frequency resp. (7.1 inputs) <10Hz -200KHz (-3dB) DC trigger (2.5mm) 2 Stereo analogue out IR in (2.5mm) 1 Tape rec & rec output IR out (2.5mm) 1 -output level 2Vrms RS-232 port (DB-9) 1 -output impedance 470Ω CAN bus IN 1 CAN bus OUT 1 Auto cal. microphone 1 Features & specifications Power supply -type switching/linear -transformer size 30VA Type of outputs drivers balanced No. of independent zones 2 No. of signal paths 3 Weights & measures width 17.5" (444mm) depth (excl. connectors) 16.5" (419mm) height 6.75" (172mm) gross weight 54 lbs (25 kg) net weight 45 lbs (21 kg)