Интегральные усилители — Constellation Audio Inspiration 2 Integrated Amplifier

The Inspiration 2 Integrated Amplifier combines a transistor preamplifier, power amplifier and headphone output in one case. It comes from Constellation Audio, founded in California in 2008. The Inspiration 2 series is the company's entry range, followed by Revelation 2, Performance 2 and Statement, and together with Revelation 2 it formed the first stage of a complete overhaul of the Constellation range around 2024. The series also includes the Inspiration 2 Preamp, Stereo and Mono amplifiers.

Key specs that matter

Output power at 0.1% THD+N across 20 Hz to 20 kHz is 125 W per channel into 8 ohm and 220 W into 4 ohm. Inputs are two balanced XLR pairs and two RCA pairs, plus a USB port used for control only. Input sensitivity for full power into 8 ohm is 3 V on the normal inputs and 15 V on the direct input, with gain of 25.2 dB and 12 dB respectively. Frequency response is 10 Hz to 80 kHz ±0.05 dB, and the damping factor is 64. Signal to noise ratio is 125 dB A-weighted referred to full power, or 100 dB referred to 1 V. A 6.35 mm headphone jack and a 12 V trigger output are fitted. Standby consumption is below 0.25 W and idle consumption 135 W. The amplifier measures 432 x 216 x 483 mm and weighs 16 kg.

Engineering and use context

The preamplifier section uses Constellation's Line Stage Gain Module, a fully balanced circuit with hand-matched low-noise transistors and a servo that continuously corrects the balance between the two halves of the signal. The power stage uses Balanced Bridged technology, in which identical single-ended modules built only from N-type transistors drive each side of the loudspeaker. Power comes from the C-SMPS, Constellation's switched-mode supply with power factor correction, which the company says keeps voltage and current in phase whatever the load, stays stable at any mains voltage and produces more than 20 dB less noise than traditional supplies. Volume is set by a resistor ladder controlled digitally from the front knob, which keeps the two channels matched at every level. This direct path skips the volume control, so a surround processor can use the power stage at a fixed level for home theatre. An LCD touchscreen and a machined aluminium remote control operate the unit, and the headphone amplifier is designed for low-sensitivity and high-impedance headphones.

Pairing

With its power reserve into low impedances, the Inspiration 2 has the reserves for most tower and stand-mount designs. Balanced sources such as DACs and phono stages connect through XLR, and a surround processor through the direct input.

Alternatives

Constellation Audio currently offers no other integrated amplifier.