The American company Constellaton Audio is famous for its transistor amplifiers, which occupy a worthy place in the top segment of High-End. The modern model range of the brand is represented by four product lines. Among them, the Inspiration line is considered to be the youngest, though not low price, because the cost of these components fluctuates around 1 million rubles (11100 EUR).
The devices of the series are built on the same advanced circuitry as the flagship product line Reference. Moreover, similar components are often used. Therefore, we can confidently say that the Inspiration line combines really advanced, high-end devices.
В нашей системе, которую подготовила компания Алком в салоне «Дизайн Техника», два ее ярких представителя – предварительный усилитель Inspiration Preamp 1.0 и два моноблока Inspiration Mono 1.0. С их помощью была построена великолепная система с мощным, глубоким и чистым звучанием. Inspiration Preamp 1.0 обеспечивает предварительное усиление и обработку сигнала, получаемого от источника. К нему подключены два моноблока Inspiration Mono 1.0, способные выдавать на колонки сигнал мощностью до 800 Вт.
Both devices, like other models of the brand, use proprietary technology balanced bridge topology. This is a fully balanced circuit, built on transistors only N-type, processing both positive and negative components of the signal. The result is the highest quality of balancing the two halves of the signal. As a result, the listener gets the maximum detail of the sound picture with accurate transmission of the finest nuances and microdynamics.
The Inspiration Preamp 1.0 is equipped with a triple-transformer power supply. The right and left channels are powered by one transformer with an R-core, which minimizes magnetic radiation and noise levels. The control circuits are powered by the third transformer. Such circuit allows to reliably isolate sound circuits from control circuit noise.
The linear cascade of the model is made on a completely complementary symmetric circuit. It provides signal amplification with two completely similar circuits with mirror image for positive and negative halves of the signal. As a result, interference is almost completely eliminated, and doubles the rate of voltage rise, reaching the upper limit of the frequency range of 100 kHz.
To avoid distortion caused by vibration in sensitive audio circuits, mechanical isolation of PCBs from the main chassis is used. The insulation is made by means of special flexible material. This solution eliminates the impact of external interference and prevents the transfer of vibration from the power supply to the sensitive circuits of the preamplifier.
Home Theater Mode allows the Inspiration Preamp 1.0 to be used in one system as a preamplifier for dual-channel music and to connect to a surround sound processor when watching movies. Since stereo mode allows the signal to be streamed through a linear stage, it eliminates the impact of home theater equipment on music playback.
Another feature of the preamplifier borrowed from "older" models is the Constellation Direct interface. It directs the balanced signal from the linear amplification module directly to the amplification stage of the connected amplifier, eliminating one amplification stage from the signal circuit. This gives even clearer and more musical sound.
Special attention should be paid to the Inspiration Line Stage chassis, on the basis of which the preamplifier body is assembled. It consists of thick aluminum panels, which are assembled in combination with steel counterforces. The result is an analogue of the system "spike groove". This solution significantly increases the rigidity of the chassis and minimizes vibrations.
Constellaton Audio Inspiration Preamp 1.0 has for switching three inputs XLR and RCA. There are two XLR and RCA outputs each. There is also a USB connector for the control interface. For comfortable control there is a remote control in a stylish aluminum case, the design of which is in harmony with the design of the device.
Constellation Audio Inspiration Mono 1.0 is a mono amplifier on a fully balanced circuit. Weighing less than 25 kg and compact enough in size, it is capable of delivering real concert hall dynamics. Power per one channel at 8 Ohm impedance is 400 W, and at 4 Ohm impedance it increases to 800 W. This allows you to achieve perfect sound from any speaker at any volume levels.
Constellation Audio's traditional balanced bridge topology technology allows for perfect signal balancing. This results in excellent sound reproduction accuracy.
The Inspiration Mono 1.0 is powered by a toroidal transformer with a non-standard winding and a capacitor battery for 240 thousand microfarads. This allows you to get the smoothest and most stable DC voltage and achieve the highest peak power when playing complex music parts. The transformer is housed in a separate enclosure isolated by thick aluminum alloy plates. This eliminates the impact of electromagnetic interference on sound circuits.
The amplification scheme of Inspiration Mono 1.0 is built exclusively on discrete components - transistors, capacitors, resistors. Circuits are absent along the entire signal path. This ensures the highest performance of a monoblock with unlimited dynamics and minimal noise.
The stable design of the monoblock eliminates the need for a filter in the output stage. As a result, the bandwidth is kept constant and the impact that the filter can have on the output sound picture is prevented. The placement of the output stage on the rear panel minimized output resistance, which significantly increased the damping factor.
