Усилители мощности моно — Constellation Audio Performance 2 Monoblock

Constellation Audio built the Performance 2 Monoblock as the one-channel amplifier of the Performance 2 series, which the company says eclipses both the original Performance amplifiers and the outgoing Reference series. It is sold alongside a Performance 2 Stereo version, and the two share one product sheet, circuit description and power supply concept.

Key specs that matter

Maximum power, measured at 0.1% THD+N across 20 Hz to 20 kHz, is 1,200 W into 8 ohms and 2,000 W into 4 ohms. Inputs comprise a pair of XLR sockets, of which one is the Direct type, and a single RCA socket. Gain is 12 dB through the Direct input and 25.2 dB through the standard inputs. Frequency response is quoted as 10 Hz to 80 kHz within plus or minus 0.05 dB. The damping factor exceeds 160 and output impedance is 0.05 ohm, while signal-to-noise figures are above 100 dB A-weighted referenced to 1 V, above 115 dB unweighted referenced to full power and above 125 dB with A-weighting at full output. The chassis measures 47.6 x 28.6 x 57.2 cm (WHD) and weighs 40.9 kg.

Engineering and use context

Signals enter through the company's Line Stage Gain Module, where hand-selected low-noise transistor pairs work with a servo that corrects any inconsistency in signal balance. The Constellation Direct XLR input removes one amplification stage from the signal path. Power comes from the company's switch-mode supply (C-SMPS) with Power Factor Correction, which keeps the supply stable at any AC mains voltage worldwide and keeps voltage and current aligned in phase with any speaker load. Compared with the previous version, output rises by 20 percent, and supply noise is more than 20 dB lower than that of a typical linear supply. Power factor is 0.98 at partial power and 1.0 at full power. AC draw is below 0.5 W in standby, 135 W at idle, 1,300 W at maximum output into 8 ohms and 1,970 W into 4 ohms. The circuit is balanced, each polarity of the signal getting its own amplifier circuit. Where many balanced designs use N-type transistors for one half and P-type for the other, the Balanced Bridged topology uses only N-type devices, so both halves pass through identical circuitry. Large front-panel meters are part of the casework.

Pairing

Constellation names the Performance 2 Preamplifier as the partner for these amplifiers, and a Constellation preamplifier can feed the Direct XLR input to bypass the amplifier's input stage. Stereo playback calls for a pair of these amplifiers.

Alternatives

The Constellation Revelation 2 Monoblock is a smaller single-channel model rated at 600 W into 8 ohms and 1,100 W into 4 ohms in a 25 kg chassis.