Constellation
Virgo/Centaur: High-End Audio Superstars (Part 2)
Centaur Direct
Novelty abounds inside the huge Centaur
monoblocks. Instead of using one power amp stage comprising multiple
transistors, each amplifier employs four125W modules in a balanced bridged
configuration [two are shown on the PCB, adjacent]. Neither are these modules
entirely conventional as they only employ N-type MOSFETs, rather than
complementary NPN and PNP pairs, in a single-ended configuration. The concept,
according to Constellation, is to achieve the delicate sound and musicality of
a small single-ended triode amp, albeit one with the capacity to ‘play much
louder'.
![Although logic might suggest ‘Direct' will always sound better, in practice our experience was the reverse](http://programming4.us/image/082013/26/94755921.jpg)
Although
logic might suggest ‘Direct' will always sound better, in practice our
experience was the reverse
Each Centaur has three inputs, including
traditional RCA and balanced XLRs in addition to a second XLR that services its
proprietary ‘Constellation direct’ option. This input omits one of the
company's l-FET line stage modules, making use of the higher output voltage
capacity of the Virgo preamp [see Lab Report, p27] to demand less voltage gain
in the Centaur. The overall pre/power voltage gain remains the same just as
there’s no change in the maximum power output of the Centaur — there's simply a
[a 'higher voltage gain in the Virgo and proportionally less in the Centaur in
‘Direct’ mode. Although logic might suggest ‘Direct' will always sound better,
in practice our experience was the reverse - Ken and I both enjoyed a more
open, expressive and simply more ‘relaxed’ sound via the conventional balanced
XLR inputs in my system. It's likely that the relative sensitivity of the
loudspeakers and analogue output level of the source will play a big role in
which mode is preferred
Power and Delicacy
With all that power on tap, I just had to
dig out Kodo‘s Warabe [Sony SRCL 4671], the opener ‘Yokigen' featuring
relentless drumming that immediately evokes some battle scene in a Kurosawa
epic. The Centaurs are no slouches when it comes to slam, but the delight was
the Centaurs are no slouches when it comes to slam, but the delight was the
roundness to the sound, a quality that imparted the sense that the air being
moved was of a greater quantity than the woofers could ever manage. With flute
hovering over the drums, the Constellations juggled delicacy and force
simultaneously, favoring neither over the other. While Lou Rawls’ At Last [Blue
Note CDP7 91937] and Keb’ Mo‘s Peace... Back by Popular Demand [Okeh/Epic EK
92687] delivered vocal textures that could not trip up the Constellations, by
the time i grotto them, I expected no less. The latter’s bottleneck playing,
the solo piano on ‘The Times They Are A'Changin", the drum attack on ‘For
What It’s worth’ — again, the realism stops you in your tracks. Because those recordings
are sublime by any standards, it was time to delve into material of possibly
questionable sonic worth. Hits Of The '605 [Music Club MCCD 028] contains
treasures like the Small Faces' ‘ltchycoo Park“, Petula Clark’s ‘Downtown’,
some Kinks in mono, Status Quo's ‘Pictures Of Matchstick Men' — chart classics.
Long ago, I learned never to assume that just because a track was known
primarily as a single, best heard over a small tranny radio beneath the covers
at 1am and with school in the morning. That it would be a sonic nightmare.
Hearing in stereo for the first time such stunners as Dion’s ‘The Wanderer
‘taught me not to prejudge.
![Constellation's Virgo preamp [top] offers four sets of balanced (XLR) and single-ended (RCA) ins with pairs of XLR/RCA outs. The network and USB ports are for control / updates, the other multipin sockets connect to the outboard P5U.111e Centaur [bottom] has parallel 4mm speaker outlets, RCA and low/normal gain XLR ins.](http://programming4.us/image/082013/26/94756921.jpg)
Constellation's
Virgo preamp [top] offers four sets of balanced (XLR) and single-ended (RCA)
ins with pairs of XLR/RCA outs. The network and USB ports are for control /
updates, the other multipin sockets connect to the outboard P5U.111e Centaur
[bottom] has parallel 4mm speaker outlets, RCA and low/normal gain XLR ins.
As Close As It Gets
By whatever magic Madnick and his A-team created
these units, the Searchers' ‘Needles 8. Pins’- which I have heard at least 1000
times - delivered tiny details that previously eluded me. You could analyses
the gorgeous harmonies, especially when the group splits apart left/right at 1m
055 into the track. The jangling guitar, more tuneful bass: it was like
re-discovering The Ginger Man after 45 years.
It's easy to get carried away when in the
presence of a system such as one powered by the Virgo and brace of Centaurs.
Those of you fortunate enough to own ‘super’ systems know the sensation - it’s
the same sense of near-grace one feels when driving a Ferrari or sipping a
glass of Solaia.
![It's easy to get carried away when in the presence of a system such as one powered by the Virgo and brace of Centaurs](http://programming4.us/image/082013/26/94757968.jpg)
It's
easy to get carried away when in the presence of a system such as one powered
by the Virgo and brace of Centaurs
Sadly, the price only becomes secondary if
you're astoundingly wealthy. For the rest of us, the Constellations are
something to which we might aspire, for they are game changers. They even
inspired Paul to say that they're probably the best analogue amplifiers he’s
heard. Having auditioned this system in two entirely different settings, I have
no doubt that we are experiencing the birth of a new reference-caliber line of
electronics. Yes, the price is forbidding, the size off-putting, the preamp ergonomics
the antithesis of ‘real-time’, tactile rotaries. But what you’ll hear is as
close to the source as it gets. This is a notable triumph by any standards.
Peter Madnick
![Peter Madnick](http://programming4.us/image/082013/26/94758968.jpg)
Peter Madnick, a 40-year audio industry
veteran, is 'project manager' for the Constellation electronics. He told HFN:
‘In 2009, I was approached by Constellation to help them fulfill their dream of
designing the world's finest audio equipment. My years in audio afforded me the
opportunity to work with a wide range of engineering talent. My job would be to
assemble a team of the very best, design the best, get it recognized as such,
then try to do it again for one-third of the price. 'My history, and that of my
immediate staff, included the development of over 400components: high-end and mid-audio,
video, and other home entertainment items.’ Among them were Audio Alchemy
products, especially outboard DACs, universally hailed for their performance,
but designed to a price. Much of their work for Audio Alchemy can be found in
Constellation models. ‘For example, the DSP processing and de-jitter techniques
were pioneered in our DACs, power supply filtering, microprocessor
architecture, FPGA design and many others. ‘The efforts of my expert staff, and
others as needed, have brought us to where we are today. ‘Madnick has overseen
the creation of the cost-no-object Reference series, complemented by the
Performance series —schematically identical to the Reference, but executed more
affordably. As Madnick says, ‘0urgoal is achieving elegant simplicity, while
hiding sophisticated hardware and software
Lab report
An issue with the polling of its
rotary-encoder volume knob aside, the Virgo preamp is a textbook performer. XLR
input 1 shows the highest PSU-related intermodulation (—1 15dB), XLR input 4
the lowest (-130dB) but all offer a supremely flat response (+-0.02dB from 1Hz-100
kHz), a fabulously wide 99.5dB A-wtd S/N ratio (re. 0dBV) and a huge 25V output
capacity. Distortion increases with the Virgo’s output above 1V to 20V (0.0005%
to 0.15%) which may explain the differences we heard between normal and
‘Direct' Centaur inputs but it remains impressively uniform with frequency [see
black trace. Graph 2 below]. Distortion also increases with power output via
the Centaur; from 0.0008% at 1W/80hm to0.003% at 10W, 0.02% at 100W and 0.09%
at 400W and it also increases more obviously at HF when compared to the Virgo
preamp [see blue trace, Graph 2].
![Dynamic Power output versus distortion into 8ohm (black trace), 4ohm (red), 2ohm (blue) and 1ohm (green) speaker loads](http://programming4.us/image/082013/26/94759968.jpg)
Dynamic
Power output versus distortion into 8ohm (black trace), 4ohm (red), 2ohm (blue)
and 1ohm (green) speaker loads
Constellation rates the Centaur at
500W/80hm which it achieves - just — at 510W at 1% THD, and it nudges over
the800W hurdle at 825W/4ohm. There's more in the tank under dynamic conditions,
the Centaur delivering 570W, 1.06kW, 1.93kW and 3.01 kW into 8, 4, 2 and 1ohm
in 10msec bursts at up to 1% THD [see Graph 1. below], and so it'll drive any likely
partnering speaker with ease. The output impedance is a uniform 0.018-0.0270hm
from 20Hz—20 kHz. Increasing thereafter. While the response — into Bohm — is
flat to withini0.04dB from 1Hz-100 kHz. The 89.9dB A-wtd S/N (re. 0dBW) is also
very wide. Readers may view comprehensive QC Suite test reports for the
Constellation Audio Virgo preamp and Centaur Mono power amp by navigating to
www.hifinews.ca.uk and clicking on the red ‘download' button.
![THD vs extended frequency; Virgo (1V out black trace) vs. Centaur (10W/8ohm, blue trace)](http://programming4.us/image/082013/26/9480984.jpg)
THD
vs. extended frequency; Virgo (1V out black trace) vs. Centaur (10W/8ohm, blue
trace)
Specifications
·
Power output (<1% THD. 8/4ohm): 510W / 825W
·
Dynamic power (<1%THD.8/4/2/10hm): 570W]
1.06kW/ 1.93W / 3.0kW
·
Output imp. (20Hzi20kHz, pre/power): 7.5»77ohm I
0.018—0.0280hm
·
Freq. resp. (20Hz-100 kHz, pre/power): —0.0 to
+0.1dB / -0.00 to +0.04dB
·
Input sensitivity (for 0dBV/0dBW): 47mV (pre) /
145mV (power)
·
A-wtd S/N ratio (re. 0dBV/0dBW): 99.7dB (pre) /
89.9dB (power)
·
Distortion (20Hz-20 kHz, 1V/ 10W):
0.0004—0.0007%/0.00]3—0.045%
·
Power consump. (pre/idle/rated o/p): 33W /
170W1800W (each)
·
Dimensions (WHD Virgo/Centaur):
432x140x400/432x280x508mm
Verdict
Though I no longer lust after the
unobtainable, were I to suddenly find, as Tevye desired, a small fortune, and I
had a craving for something solid-state, I'd need to choose between the
Constellations, D’Agostino’s Momentums and the big darTZeels. But that's like
choosing between three monumental wines — they're all good. However, recalling
another super group, you can buy them on blind faith
Sound
quality: 90%
![Sound quality: 90%](http://programming4.us/image/082013/26/9481984.jpg)