Given the number of piecemeal threads floating around regarding the SSP-800 I felt it would be more useful to consolidate the information we currently know about the upcoming processor into a dedicated thread. I believe it would facilitate better record keeping as more information about the SSP becomes available. It is also my hope that this thread would serve as the main stomping ground for any and all discussions regarding the technical and performance aspects of the product and to address questions from potential buyers and learn from the comments of early adopters.
Introduction
From inception the SSP-900 project had but only a single agenda and that was the creation of the ultimate audio and video processor with little regard to cost. The many years that went into the research and development exercise finally culminated in a statement product that was on the verge of release in early ‘07. Unfortunately, the over engineered SSP-900 was based on an extremely complex modular design and was very expensive to build.(Street price was originally set for $25,000).
Achieving quality product yields from volume manufacturing was no trivial task not to mention the product lifecycle that would be necessary to realize a timely ROI. Furthermore, the concept went beyond Classé's core competency of producing strictly high-end audio components. Rather than market the SSP-900 as it was originally envisioned Classé rechristened it as concept vehicle for creating the SSP-800.
By reducing the modularity of the SSP-900 and stripping it of its video processing boards, the SSP-800 would be half as expensive, easier to build and more reliable. Since most of the R&D work had already been done in the creation of the SSP-900, the SSP-800 only needed to be adapted to the newest hardware standards and consumer needs at the time. Additionally the slimmer SSP would have much greater market appeal catapulting the Classé brand name for quality and performance to a wider audience.
Audience
The SSP-800 is simply put a high performance multi-channel audio processing machine. It caters to people that put audio reproduction above all else. It is not in competition for the logo’s title and it is not seeking the most features award either. Classé built the SSP-800 for one purpose and one purpose only and that is to deliver the best audio playback possible. Anyone looking for a conversational piece decorated with ridiculous graffiti logos and silly features that are likely to go unused or underutilized should probably look elsewhere. The SSP-800 is a high-end definition product that is all about getting the most from your audio sources, no more no less.
Advantage
The SSP-800 is engineered from the ground up by the Classé Design Team that built the acclaimed SSP-600 and by the principle engineer that brought the Proceed AVP2/AVP2+6 and the cost no object Mark Levinson Nº40 Media Console to market. The AVP2/AVP2+6 is recognized as one of the best processors ever made inheriting much if not most of the Nº40 Media Console's DNA. The SSP-800 result’s from the ultimate culmination of talents between Classé engineering and Proceed/Mark Levinson heritage. The SSP-800 makes no compromises and is the evolutionary next step in high-performance multi-channel audio for both analog and digital sources. (Note: The AVP2+6 originally retailed for $6,895 and the Nº40 Media Console $30,000, circa 2002.)
Price:
Original Estimate: $10,000 - 12,000
Initial Price: $8,000 ( August 2008 )
First Price Change: $9,000 ( October 2009 )
Second Price Change: $9,500 ( November/December, 2010 )
Availability:
Single-DSP Version - August 2008
Dual-DSP Version w/HDMI 1.3 - October 2009
Dual-DSP Version w/HDMI 1.4 Upgrade Board - November/December 2010
PERFORMANCE
2CH: According to Classé it is their best yet from the Delta Series.
UPDATE: 2CH performance has been supplanted by the 2CH pre-amplifier/processor CP-800, announced on September 24, 2010.
MCH: According to Classé it is expected to be the best available from anyone at any price.
UPDATE: MCH performance, as of August 2013 (date of the last known review), remains reference quality and continues to be relevant more than 5 YEARS in production.
CODECS
Single-DSP Board: STANDARD
Dual-DSP Upgrade Board: STANDARD + ADVANCED
STANDARD - Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, dts, dts-ES Matrix, dts-ES Discrete, dts Neo:6 2CH, dts 96kHz/24-Bit, MCH LPCM 96kHz/24-Bit*
ADVANCED - Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, dts-HD High Resolution and dts-HD Master Audio*
- Optional +10 dB boost added to each MCH LPCM.
- Trim compensation features available for early DTS music recordings.
- Multiple configurations to level settings and manage bass engaged manually, by input or stream type.
*(Plus other custom modes similar to those available in the legacy SSPs.) (NO THX Post Processing)
NOTE: All of the current sample rates including 7.1 channels at 192kHz/24-Bit are supported. However, the DAC systems perform best with the lowest THD+N when implemented as 96kHz input. Therefore, the SSP-800 will sample rate convert the signals to 96kHz before going to the DACs.
Dolby Volume
As of October 28, 2010 progress is being made on Dolby Volume licensing and there’s still testing to be done but Classé doesn't know when it will be ready.
UPDATE: Dolby Volume was made available on September 20, 2012 as part of firmware update 2.0.6 for Dual DSPs with HDMI 1.3 and firmware update 3.0.2 for Dual DSPs with HDMI 1.4 Upgrade Board.
Dolby Pro Logic IIz
Dolby Pro Logic IIz is of less urgency to Classé because they don’t have people asking for it and it is only useful to people who are not otherwise using the AUX channels for additional subwoofers, bi-amping or feeding another system. Classé is not saying they won’t do it, just that they would like to offer Dolby Volume first.
UPDATE: Currently there are no plans to offer Dolby Pro Logic IIz at this time or for the foreseeable future.
Room Correction: 5-Band (per channel) PEQ (manual).
The MDS DAE DSP upgrade board is capable of Audyssey and Trinnov automated room equalization but support for either feature has been suppressed at present given the complexities involved in proper room correction which cannot be trivialized with the DSP alone.
In addition, Trinnov's Curt Hoyt, states support for Trinnov in the upgrade board used by Classé would require a new project to port the code over to that platform. As of now, there is no Trinnov code either residing in or available for the TMS320DA710. In contrast, Audyssey code is available through the Performance Audio Suite per the TI data sheet.
Single-DSP Board: Momentum Data Systems MDS DAE-7 (7101) Module
- Texas Instruments Aureus DA610 Chip (TMS320D610A-225MHz)
- TMS320C67x™ Floating-point DSP (2nd Generation Chip) — Offer's the industry’s most advanced DSP C compiler and Assembly Optimizer to maximize efficiency and performance optimized for high-performance audio applications.
Dual-DSP Board (Upgrade): Momentum Data Systems MDS DAE-7D (7503) Module
- Texas Instruments Aureus DA710 Chip (TMS320D710A-300MHz)
- TMS320C672x™ Floating-point DSP (3rd Generation Chip) — Offer's the industry’s most advanced DSP C compiler and Assembly Optimizer to maximize efficiency and performance optimized for high-performance audio applications.
- FREE, Field Upgradable, Expected later this year ( 2008 ) or the next ( 2009 ).
Each custom built OEM MDS DSP board is derived from a corresponding stock MDS DAE-6 and MDS DAE-6D DSP board. The boards were engineered to cooperate with Classés home grown system board circuits which include but are not necessarily limited to their own implementation of power supply, volume control and DACs.
It is believed that both the current DSP and future dual-DSP boards are capable of DSD processing but it was not factored into the SSP-800's specifications. It is unknown whether a later firmware update would enable this feature or not. If significant interest was present in both the user community and in the form of HDMI enabled SACD hardware to make the investment in time and resources worthwhile it could be possible but it would be a long shot at best. EDIT: The SSP-800 does include the DSD DACs (PCM1792s) necessary for optimal performance but not the supporting architecture and as such the signal would need to be converted into MPCM. All HDMI capable SACD players presently provide this facility circumventing the need to implement it within the processor.
ADCs
Cirrus Logic CS5381 "Flagship" High-performance Stereo Analog-to-Digital Converter
DACs
Texas Instruments/Burr Brown PCM1792 [One for each pair in differential mode.] (L & R, C & S and AUX1 & AUX2)
Texas Instruments/Burr Brown PCM1796 [One for each pair in differential mode.] (SL & SR and RL & RR)
Volume Control
Cirrus Logic CS3318 "Flagship" Analog Volume Control IC Delivering Superior Sound Quality for High-End Surround Sound, Pro Audio Systems
- One for eight balanced channels and one for four single-ended channels.
Output Buffers
Single Ended: National Semiconductor LME49720 Ultra-low distortion, low noise, high slew rate operational amplifier series optimized and fully specified for high performance, high fidelity applications.
Balanced: National Semiconductor LME49720 Ultra-low distortion, low noise, high slew rate operational amplifier series optimized and fully specified for high performance, high fidelity applications.
Audio Inputs Analog
8 RCA: 7.1 Analog bypass ONLY.
4 RCA: 2.0 Analog bypass OR digital conversion.
2 XLR: 2.0 Analog bypass OR digital conversion.
Audio Inputs Digital
4 S/PDIF - Optical
4 S/PDIF - Coaxial
4 HDMI 1.3 OR 5 HDMI 1.4 (Upgrade Board)
Audio Outputs Analog
10 RCA: L, R, C, SW, SL, SR, RL, RR, AUX1, AUX2
10 XLR: L, R, C, SW, SL, SR, RL, RR, AUX1, AUX2
AUX1 and AUX2 can be used for…
- Extra subwoofers in a 7.3 configuration. OR
- L&R subwoofers in a 7.1 configuration. OR
- Bi-amping the L&R channels. OR
- Fixed use in another room.
Audio Outputs Digital
1 S/PDIF - Optical
1 S/PDIF - Coaxial
2 HDMI 1.3 OR 2 HDMI 1.4 (Upgrade Board) NOTE: Standby Pass-Through enabled over HDMI 1 output ONLY.
Video Inputs
2 S-Video (Eliminated with HDMI 1.4 Upgrade Board)
2 Composite
2 Component
4 HDMI 1.3 OR 5 HDMI 1.4 (Upgrade Board)
Analog Devices ADV7802 12 Bit, 140 MHz High-performance Video Decoder with NTSC/PAL 3D Comb Filter Delivering Crisper HD Images
- Component, S-Video and Composite A/D Conversion and Transcoding
- Analog video sources can be output as either analog or digital while all digital video sources remain digital.
Video Outputs
1 Component
2 HDMI 1.3
2 HDMI 1.4 (Upgrade Board)
On Screen Display Overlay Supports all resolutions up to 1080p for both the built-in LCD and the main display screens.
Control Ports: IR IN & OUT, TRIGGER OUT1 & OUT2, USB, RS-232, CANBUS IN & OUT
Foot Print: Same chassis as used by the legacy SSP-600.
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