Just in; The Absolute Sound’s Editors’ Choice issue. Once again, Constellation’s Inspiration 2 Preamplifier and Stereo Amplifier have been named top choice in their respective categories by
Editor-in-Chief Robert Harley.
Inspiration 2 is just the gateway to Constellation’s
Sound of Perfection.
Constellation Inspiration 2 Pre-Amplifier
Your pre-amplifier can have a huge effect on Sound Quality, Clarity, Power, and Soundstaging. Generally these qualities are inter related.
Improving Soundstaging
To achieve truly accurate 3d Stereo depth and soundstaging the channels need to be in perfect alignment. The Line Stage Gain Module employs fully balanced, mirror-imaged circuits made with hand-matched, ultra-low-noise transistors. A unique servo circuit monitors the signal balance and corrects for even minute inconsistencies. Left and Right channels are totally seperated in a true Dual Mono Configuration.
Achieving Vanishing Noise floor
Want to hear subtle low level detail? - even the ambience of the recording venue? The noise floor in our Pre-amp has been lowered using modern approaches to Power Supply design- the main cause of noise. Our Constellation Switched-Mode Power Supply (C-SMPS) provides ideal DC power under any conditions, anywhere in the world – something impossible with traditional, transformer-based linear supplies. So the Inspiration 2 Preamplifier will always deliver 100 percent of the performance we designed into it. The power produced by C-SMPS is more than 20 dB quieter than with a typical linear supply, so the Inspiration 2 Preamplifier goes effortlessly from hauntingly quiet passages to thrilling dynamic peaks.
Convenient Yet Uncompromised
While clarity, dynamics and transparency were the main goals with the Inspiration 2 Preamplifier, we also made it easy to use. An LCD touchscreen lets the listener fine-tune the preamplifier’s operation intuitively, aided by an elegant, machined-aluminum remote control. A digitally controlled resistor-ladder volume control achieves precision and transparency no potentiometer can match. While the Inspiration 2 Preamplifier offers fewer inputs than our other preamps, its sheer musicality is sustained. It’s all the best aspects of our Reference 2 and Performance 2 preamplifiers, distilled into a smaller and more practical component.
Reviews
Munich High-End Show: The Top, Top Fives!
The annual Munich High-End Show is the predominant audio event. This is still the show to attend if you want to know what’s new and what’s next in audio.
Prominent Magazine HiFi Plus tasked several reviewers at the show with coming up with their top five products at the event.
We consciously avoided getting our reviewers to share their recommendations. Rather than avoiding repeats, we wanted to show if there was consensus. Also, with such a large show, the risk of repeats was relatively low. In fact, just one brand was picked by more than one reviewer—Alan Sircom and Tom Martin selected Constellation Audio in their respective top fives.
This is Huge - where else can one compare the top amplifiers brands at one place and time?
Specifications
- Inputs 3 XLR Stereo 3 RCA Stereo
- USB (for control)
- Outputs 2 XLR stereo 2 RCA stereo
- 12-volt trigger
- THD+N <0.001%, 20 Hz – 20 kHz @ 2V out <0.1%, 20 Hz – 20 kHz @ 10V out
- S/N ratio >-105 dB, A-weighted
- Input impedance (balanced) 20K Ω
- Input impedance (single-ended) 10K Ω
- AC power draw – idle 135W
- Output Impedance < 50 Ω
- Volume control resolution 0.5 dB from 0dB to -90 dBFS
- Weight 25 lbs./11.5
- Dimensions 17″/432mm X 15″/381mm X 5.5″/140mm (WDH)
Audiofi is your Constellation dealer in Canada
Inquiries; please call Philip Meyburgh at (604) 351-3485
