The Classé SSP-800 is basically designated at 7.1 because it has one XLR/RCA
output labelled as SUB. However, there are two XLR/RCA output jacks labelled AUX,
which means you can configure the processor with up to three subwoofers (the AUX
outputs can be assigned to other tasks as well). This is the reason Classé calls it a
10-channel processor.
Two Texas Instruments DSP chipsets operate at 2800 MIPS (I guess we need to start
using the acronym BIPS, or Billion Instructions per Second, in which case the
chipsets operate at 2.8 BIPS).
Classé gave me the following, more specific, details about the circuit design: “The
DAC is a current output DAC, so there is an I/V converter followed by a
reconstruction filter (TI OPA2134), then the volume control, then a bu
ff
er stage
(National LM4562) followed by a gain stage (also LM 4562). The signal is di
ff
erential
thru the output and biased in Class A. The single-ended output just uses the non-
inverting side of the LM4562. There are two DSPs and both are the TI
TMS320DA710.”
The inside of the chassis, shown below, is Spartan compared to some other
processors on the market (this is the HDMI v3.1 chassis, which had four HDMI input
jacks – the latest version has a v1.4 board, and five HDMI input jacks). This compact,
short conductor path design is integral to the unit’s very low distortion rating (and
bench test results later in this article).
