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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.