Any interest in notes on Constellation Inspiration integrated amp?

Discussion in 'Power Amps' started by Puma Cat, Dec 10, 2021.

  1. Puma Cat

    Puma Cat Friend

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    A friend of mine recently loaned me his Constellation Inspiration integrated amp as a "long-term loaner" (he's got too much gear around his place). I realize that a product in this price range isn't in the "discretionary spend range" of audio gear for most folks, including me, but If the gang is interested, I'll post some note on features, functions, and listening impressions. Just let me know, thanks.
     
  2. wbass

    wbass Friend

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    I'd welcome a couple photos and some quick thoughts, even if just for fun.
     
  3. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    Honestly, it'd be interesting to hear some comparisons of this kind of 6 figure gear even if it's "entry level" or "budget minded" according to Constellation, just to get some triangulation on the relative merits of those terms, even if what that means to a company that peddles more to the uber-fi-class is still relatively beyond our Camry-ish lifestyles.

    It's never bad to compare a $25/bottle wine to a $250/bottle wine to level-set if it doesn't cost you anything!
     
  4. Puma Cat

    Puma Cat Friend

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    Just some photos taken with my little Fujifilm X100F...
    The Constellation Inspiration sells at MSRP for $16,500 and combines the Inspiration preamp stage with one "section" (one half) of the Inspiration stereo power amplifier, so the power output is 100 Wpc instead of 200 Wpc. Many components, including the transistors in the input, driver, and output stages, are virtually identical to those in Constellation’s more upscale models, e.g. the Virgo preamp and Centaur amps.
    Front panel
    [​IMG]

    Rear panel. The Argento binding posts are the best I've ever used. Supports both balanced and single-end inputs, and balanced outputs if you just want to use it as a preamp.
    [​IMG]

    In position on a rock maple platform resting on hardwood blocks to provide mechanical grounding. I've just placed the amp on some HRS Nimbus spacers and couplers that I've had around for years to provide both damping and mechanical grounding to the maple platform, so more on that later this weekend.

    [​IMG]

    I've been racking up hours on this unit as it was unused when my buddy shipped it to me. I've got about 170 hours on it so far (tracking burn-in hours in Excel, along with the Holo May KTE DAC) and it's starting to sound better and better. Sources are both my Lampizator Baltic 3 DAC and the Holo May KTE, which is currently installed, and which I'm burning in at the moment to get the requisite hours on it.

    Notable attributes off the top are exceptional neutrality, transparency, and resolution, but not at the expense of superb tonal accuracy, harmonic "rightness", timbral color, and presentation of instrumental and vocal overtones. The amp has the natural sweetness and richness of real voices and instruments. An audio buddy was over and played a female vocal by Suzanne Vega he knew well, and said it provided the finest presentation, resolution, and quality of female vocal textures he has ever heard. You guys like plankton? Well, this puppy has plankton in spades. It is very neutral and uncolored, but it does not sound cold or clinical like CH Precision or Soulution gear I've heard, which I personally find to devoid of character and uninvolving. This integrated amp provides excellent grip and control over the low end without any muddying or smearing of bass definition or articulation. Imaging is superb, with tight focus of instrumental and vocal placement regardless of how challenging or complex the content may be, and the soundstage is very wide, well past the sides of the speaker and cavernous 3-dimensionally.

    While It's still not fully burned in, it's already one of the two best-sounding solid state integrated amps I've ever heard, along with the DarTZeel CTH-8550. My buddy who was over, and has also heard the DarTZeel, agrees. I'll be back later with some more impressions using the HRS Nimbus couplers and spacers, which I just put it on this morning. Cheers.
     
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    Last edited: Dec 11, 2021
  5. 9suns

    9suns [insert unearned title here]

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    Thanks for your impressions!
    I've been very interested on Constellation Audio integtated amps (both Argo and the Inspiration) since long time ago but couldn't find proper impressions of their sound.

    How would you describe the sound compared to the Dartzeel integrated?
     
  6. Puma Cat

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    Unfortunately, I don't have both here to be able to make a side-by-side comparison. I sure wish I did. I can only say that the Dart CTH-8550 was one of the best sounding solid amplification devices I had EVER heard, regardless of the fact it was an integrated amp. So, the "long-term" memory of that stuck with me. The Constellation Inspiration has only gotten better since my post about it as it has over 200 hours on it now and its only gotten better with being more fully burned-in. I've also made some other changes to my system since getting it that result in me being even more impressed with it. With it's very sophisticated power supply design, full dual-mono circuit topology and superlative qualities of "neutrality with naturalness" it's only gotten better and better. Also, when i first got it in, I was using it with the Aurender N20 I had in for review, and that was really excellent. But now, I have the Lumin P1 in for review.

    [​IMG]

    The Lumin P1 is an integrated "network streamer", DAC, and preamplifier. It is exceptionally well-thought through with respect to design and implementation. It uses the LEEDH Processsing, which is a very sophisticated LOSSLESS digital volume control* and is the same digital volume processing that Soulution uses. The P1 is a true dual-mono design and by that I mean it's fully dual-mono all the way through, including the power supply with dual mono Lundhal transformers, no less! (F**kin' A, Lumin! :bow:).

    And...because the Lumin P1 has an optical SFP port that supports an optical transceiver, I can forego all the "network streaming components" in the main rack that I was previously using for streaming content from the Roon Core in the "remote server room" and go straight into the back of the P1 via optical fiber. Which is WAY COOL. And..QUIET. And with that, I am able to remove 8, 'count 'em 8, "components" from the digital streaming configuration in the main audio rack: SOtM SMS-200 UltraNeo network bridge, Keces P3 LPS for the SOtM, Shunyata Delta NRv2 power cord to power the Keces P3, EtherREGEN (ER) ethernet switch, UpTone Auido LPS-1.2 liner power supply for the ER, Shunyata V14-NR for the LPS-1.2, as well as Shunyata Ethernet cable and USB cables. And...as the Lumin P! is fully dual mono throughout from the front end all the way back through to the power supply means it's QUIET. As in, preternaturally quiet. And, Lumin, who has got it f**kin' goin' on, if you ask me, also put a proper ground terminal on the chassis, so I can run a Shunyata ground cable from P1 to the Ground-Plane Noise Reduction system of my Everest power distributor, which made it EVEN quieter! :punk:

    Which brings up the point about just how good the presentation can be when you remove noise from the ground planes of the source and amplification components.

    And then....you connect it to the Constellation Inspiration, which is also super quiet, and super transparent, and....Man! This system just sounds freakin' incredible.

    So...needless to say, I've been in a really good place of late.

    So....if you're thinking of getting a Constellation Integrated, my advice would be...just get it. It's fantastic. Even though I have an amazing First Sound Presence Deluxe preamp (with ~300,000 uF of power supply capacitance it's external dual-mono power supplies) and a really nice Conrad-Johnson LP70S power amp...I could live with the Inspiration integrated forever and be a VERY happy man.

    If you guys are interested in more info on the Lumin P1, just let me know. Personally, I am VERY, VERY impressed with it as well.

    Okay...so I gotta get back to listening to the P1 and the Inspiration. Life's...tough. ;)

    *– Reference for LEEDH Processing Digital Volume Control: https://www.processing-leedh.com
     
    Last edited: Feb 26, 2022
  7. 9suns

    9suns [insert unearned title here]

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    Thanks!
    I'm interested on them because used prices are usually really low compared to new (the 30k Argo integrated can be found for less than 10k) and the topology is really interesting, very similar (but a lesser implementation) to what Robert Koda does. Definitely will have an eye on the second hand Constellation stuff once I start my speaker rig.
    The Lumin looks the part as usual but the Constellation stuff (specially the Argo model in the used market) is very tempting with the right speakers IMO.
     
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2022
  8. Puma Cat

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    Yep, I''ve been looking for a used Argo or Inspiration Integrated to buy, too (Just FYI, the Inspiration that's here is on loan from a friend), but it just doesn't come up for sale often. My guess the reason for this is the folks who own it...simply don't sell it. It's like DarTZeel gear....how often does that stuff come up for sale? Like...never?
     
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2022

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