Cambridge Audio has developed a proprietary protection system called 'CAP4' to ensure reliability and a long life for its amplifiers and the speakers they are connected to. This protection system comprises of four main protection methods, one of which is 'intelligent clipping detection'.
CAP4 has the ability to detect when the amplifier starts to clip or overdrive at its output, which can damage loudspeakers, and degrade the sound. Clipping distortion is caused at high volume levels when the output signal attempts to go outside the maximum voltage that the amplifier can provide, causing the tops of the signal to flatten off. When CAP4 detects clipping the volume will be automatically reduced down until CAP4 detects an un-distorted output.
Note: The clipping detection is disabled by default.
The clipping detection feature can be enabled and disabled by following the steps below:
- Enter the setup menu - Whilst the EXA100 is in standby mode, press and hold speaker A/B button until speaker A/B white LED’s flash alternately, then release speaker A/B button.
- Select the A3 button - the A3 LED will be lit blue when Clipping function has been enabled.
To save the setup settings and exit the setup menu, press the Speaker A/B button.
Pressing the Standby/On button while in the setup menu will exit this setup menu and will not save the setup settings.