Constellation Audio Centaur

Constellation Audio "Innards"

Elberoth said:

Is it only me or anyone else also feels disappointed by those internals ? The amps looks gorgeous on the outside, and one would expect the internals to be equally impressive, but the amp looks quite oridinaty inside. They should definately keep them dressed up

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No, you are not the only one. I contacted CA and asked about the "reasons" the internal wiring looked like a mess (i.e. Garage-Build), --specifically the transformer wiring using off-the-Wal-Mart Shelf twisit ties ?

What's worse is the unit-to-unit inconsistencies evident in viewing other Inspiration 1.0 preamps. It would suprise me if these "variations" had no influence on unit-to-unit sound-quality or noise levels. The design/manufacturing of these preamplifiers looks cheap, hurried; not well thought out. Resorting to twist-ties to control a thick "bundle" of wires haphazzardly strewn about the power-supply section of the preamp is nothing short of laughable.

There are much more refined Hi-Fi products out there than these poorly executed builds. "Garage Build" comes to mind.

Just chiming in here but, as much as I was unimpressed with the interior of the Centaur II Stereo, it really is much more musical to me than the above mentioned amps that have obvious under-the-hood impressiveness.
It’s discouraging but the Constellation gear is pretty swell sonically.

andromedaaudio said:

Same thoughts here , i specially opened the sliding boulder lid for comparison :


DSC_0016 by andromeda61, on Flickr



DSC_0015 by andromeda61, on Flickr

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Have you compared the sound between the Boulder & the Constellation? I'd love to hear this thoughts...

I have heard constellation only at shows.
I d probably take constellation over Boulder .
Boulder has more of a signature sound imv.

Id put Boulder more in the Pilium camp.
Controlled sound / not exactly natural / borderline edgy highs

Constellation sounds a bit less " controlled ".

With a good tube pre probably quit nice .

For real neutral/ natural amplifiers you gotta get push pull tubes .
No matter what the measurements tell you

Wow. Really?!?! I must confess, I heard a Constellation Inspiration 1.0 preamp/amp set up with a set of Magico S3 MKII, and I was blown away…. But of course, as may be the custom in our hobby, to always attempt to "better deal" what is already great…. Thank you for the input. Greatly appreciated.

thesaint519 said:

Wow. Really?!?! I must confess, I heard a Constellation Inspiration 1.0 preamp/amp set up with a set of Magico S3 MKII, and I was blown away…. But of course, as may be the custom in our hobby, to always attempt to "better deal" what is already great…. Thank you for the input. Greatly appreciated.

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Thats a good speaker indeed .
Why don t you try some CAT or VTL on them , and describe what you think ?
A Wadax studio DAC player / Metronome AQWO DAC player and you ve got something hard to top for the money

( IMV)
in my view