Усилители мощности стерео — Constellation Audio Revelation 2 Stereo Amplifier

The Revelation 2 Stereo Amplifier is the stereo member of the Revelation 2 series from Constellation Audio, a four-piece family completed by a line stage, a phono stage and a mono version of the same amplifier. In the United Kingdom it lists at GBP 35,000, the same figure charged for a single Revelation 2 Mono. Constellation says the second generation fits the design ideas of its original amplifiers into a more compact chassis, and that the new supply raises output by 20 percent compared with the previous Revelation version.

Key specs that matter

Rated power is 300 W per channel into 8 ohm and 600 W per channel into 4 ohm at 0.1% THD+N over the 20 Hz to 20 kHz band, a clean doubling into the lower impedance. The response extends from 10 Hz to 80 kHz with a tolerance of 0.05 dB. Output impedance is 0.05 ohm and the damping factor is given as 150. Noise is 100 dB below a 1 V reference with A-weighting, rising to 115 dB unweighted and 125 dB A-weighted when referenced to full power, all measured from DC to 90 kHz. The case is 432 mm wide, 216 mm high and 585 mm deep, and the amplifier weighs 25 kg.

Engineering and use context

Constellation reaches higher output by adding amplifier modules instead of making the circuit more complex. The output topology is Balanced Bridged, where the positive and the negative half of the waveform each get a dedicated amplifier, and only N-type transistors are used on both sides. At the input sit hand-matched low-noise transistors with a servo that keeps the two halves in balance. The Constellation Switched-Mode Power Supply, called C-SMPS, is claimed to be more than 20 dB quieter than a typical linear supply, and its power factor correction keeps operation stable at any mains voltage worldwide - the power factor reaches 0.98 at partial load and 1.00 at full load. Consumption is below 0.5 W in standby and 135 W at idle, climbing to 1,300 W or 1,970 W at maximum output into the higher or lower rated impedance.

Pairing

The rear carries a pair of XLR sockets, including a Constellation Link, next to a pair of RCA sockets, with metal binding posts for the speakers. Connected to another Constellation unit through the Constellation Direct link, the amplifier drops one amplification stage and runs at 12 dB of gain, needing 15 V or 12.5 V to reach rated output into each load. The regular inputs apply 25.2 dB and reach full power with 3.7 V or 2.6 V respectively, which suits third-party preamplifiers. The Revelation 2 Preamplifier completes the series as its control unit.

Alternatives

The Constellation Inspiration 2 Stereo Amplifier is the smaller stereo model below it, with lower rated output in a lighter chassis.