Constellation Audio / Performance series – Virgo II

Features

Chassis-width, triple-transformer power supply
The Virgo power supply design is borrowed directly from the Reference Series Altair preamp. This triple-transformer supply offers separate, isolated feeds for the left and right channels, as well as a separate feed for control circuits. Because each channel of audio cannot be affected by the power demands of the other (or of the control circuits), maximum sonic purity is achieved. The power supply now stretches the full width of the preamplifier, so the preamp section can sit directly atop the power supply.

Line Stage Gain Module
One of the core technologies that make Constellation Audio products so extraordinary is this unique module, which is designed to deliver a more perfect match between the positive- and negative-going halves of the audio signal than conventional balanced preamplifiers can. The result is greater detail, incredible depth and a sound that comes that much closer to the perfectly natural tonality one experiences at a live event.

Fully balanced audio circuitry
Because the Line Stage Gain Module employs fully complementary balanced circuitry, with the signal amplified by two “mirror-imaged” preamp circuits, it cancels interference, reduces noise to the vanishing point, and achieves an exceptional slew rate with frequency response out to 200 kilohertz.

Home theater bypass mode
One of Virgo II’s inputs can be configured for home theater bypass, so that it passes the left and right front channels from a surround-sound decoder directly through to the amplifiers and speakers, without affecting the surround-sound system’s volume or channel-to-channel balance. Selecting any other input returns the system to two-channel mode.

Meticulous mechanical isolation
To protect the sensitive audio circuits from external vibration, we mount them on a metal “raft” that floats on an elastomeric suspension. We further isolate the circuits by separating Virgo II’s jack panel from the chassis with a pliable material. The metal construction of the “raft” shields the audio circuits from any interference emitted by the control circuits underneath.

Thick 8.2mm metal chassis for superior shielding
We build Virgo II’s chassis from solid slabs of aluminum machined to a minimum thickness of 8.2mm, which is necessary to block 50/60 Hz electromagnetic
interference from household wiring and appliances. No sheet metal chassis can shield audio circuits anywhere near as effectively as the Virgo II’s heavy, sturdy enclosure can.

Constellation Direct interface
When Virgo II is used with any Constellation Audio amplifier, it can be connected via the Constellation Direct interface, which transmits a perfectly balanced audio signal from the Virgo’s gain stage straight into the power amplifier. This connection bypasses the input modules of the amplifiers, thus reducing the number of gain stages in the signal chain and achieving even greater musicality.

Machined aluminium remote control
Any component as beautifully designed as Virgo II simply wouldn’t feel right with a conventional remote control, so we designed one to suit the preamp’s physical aesthetics. The machined aluminum body and backlit buttons of the remote provide a comfortable, gratifying feel and easy operation in any level of room light.

Advanced front-panel control system
Virgo II combines the intuitive feel of traditional knobs and buttons with a 432 x 230-pixel display that provides complete access to all of the preamp’s advanced features, such as input renaming and gain presetting for each input.