Напольная акустика — Chario CONSTELLATION PEGASUS MK2

The Constellation Pegasus MK2 comes from the Italian brand Chario and belongs to the Constellation MK2 range, built as a three-way floorstander. The MK2 range also takes in the Lynx and Delphinus bookshelf models, the Cygnus floorstander and the Phoenix centre speaker. Solid walnut and HDF form the cabinet, and its bass section is built around the company's NRS approach.

Key specs that matter

This model uses a 38 mm soft dome tweeter, a 170 mm paper compound woofer and a 170 mm paper compound subwoofer, loaded by a vented NRS enclosure. Crossover frequencies are 170 Hz and 1,500 Hz, using fourth-order Linkwitz-Riley filters. Chario gives 90 dB SPL sensitivity at 2.83 Vrms and 1 m, measured using pink noise decorrelated between channels in a BS 1116-1 room to the ITU-R standard, with a 45 Hz -3 dB bass cut-off. The 4 ohm rating comes with a 3.0 ohm minimum and a phase argument no wider than 36 degrees in either direction. Each speaker measures 1,030 mm high, 230 mm wide and 370 mm deep and weighs 26 kg.

Engineering and use context

Chario explains that the principle relies on the interaction between the woofer and the supporting surface, combined with an optimised mechanical design of the driver, to raise efficiency at low frequencies. With a driver positioned near a hard floor or wall, losses from backward acoustic radiation fall and acoustic loading rises. According to the company, this allows the woofer to double its efficiency by halving the diaphragm excursion required for a given sound pressure level. Since distortion tends to grow with excursion, reducing displacement at the same output is intended to lower harmonic distortion. The tweeter has a 60 degree dispersion angle for controlled directivity, and the front-facing woofer is a proprietary Chario design. A reflex port at the bottom of the cabinet uses an acoustic refraction principle to spread low frequencies through the room. Driver positions were set through mathematical calculations based on acoustic models and optimisation algorithms that account for interactions between the driver emissions. Chario states that crossover components are made to its specifications in Italy and hand soldered.

Pairing

A 140 W maximum average power amplifier is the Chario suggestion, and the dip in impedance makes stability with difficult loads a requirement when choosing electronics.

Alternatives

Chario's Constellation Cygnus MK2 is a further floorstander within this MK2 series.