Constellation Andromeda Owner's Manual
Contents
Page Topic
3 Warranty information
4 Before you install the Andromeda
Unpacking
Installation notes
In the event of malfunction
5 Power supply connections
6 Input and output connections
XLR and RCA inputs
XLR and RCA outputs
RS 232
USB
Trigger output
AC power input
11 Controls / displays / indicators
Front panel buttons
Rear panel controls
13 Control screens
15 Step-by-step operating procedure
16 Maintenance
16 Troubleshooting
17 For more information
CAUTION: NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. Do not open the amplifier chassis or remove any of its
screws. Contact Constellation or your dealer if you have service needs.
WARNING: Do not expose this amplifier to moisture or excessive humidity, and do not use it outdoors. Fire
hazard may result.
The lightning flash with arrowhead, within an
equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated dangerous
voltage within the product enclosure that may
be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk
of electrical shock to persons.
The exclamation point within an equilateral
triangle is intended to alert the user to the
presence of important operating maintenance
(servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance.
Limited warranty
Dear purchaser
This product has been designed and manufactured to the highest quality standards. However, if something does go wrong with this product, Constellation and its national distributors
warrant the replacement of defective parts including labor (exclusions may apply) in any
country served by an official Constellation distributor. This limited warranty is valid for a
period of 3 years from the date of purchase.
Terms and conditions
1. The warranty is limited to the repair of the equipment. In the event that your equipment requires service, the
customer must first obtain a return authorization from Constellation or its authorized distributor. The customer is responsible for returning the equipment to Constellation or its authorized distributor. In the event that the
repair is determined to be under warranty, Constellation will return the equipment to the customer at no
charge. Except as indicated, neither transportation, shipping, nor any other costs, nor any risk for removal,
transportation and installation of products are covered by this warranty.
2. With the exception explained below, this warranty is only valid for the original owner. It is not transferable.
It is valid only when purchased from an authorized Constellation dealer or distributor. A valid receipt showing the purchaser’s name, date of purchase, and dealer information must be submitted with all warranty
claims.
2A. In the event that this equipment is purchased as a used or trade-in equipment from an authorized Constellation dealer or distributor, the second owner shall receive the balance of the original warranty based
upon the original date of purchase. Valid receipts showing the purchaser’s name, date of purchase, and
dealer information for the current owner and the original purchase must be submitted with all warranty
claims.
3. This warranty will not be applicable in cases other than defects in materials and/or workmanship at the time
of purchase and will not be applicable for damages caused by incorrect installation, connection or packing; for
damages caused by any use other than correct use described in the user manual; for damages caused by negligence, modifications, or use of parts that are not made or authorized by Constellation, LLC; for damages
caused by faulty or unsuitable ancillary equipment; for damages caused by accidents, lightning, water, fire,
heat, extreme weather condition, war, public disturbances or any other cause beyond the reasonable control of
Constellation and its appointed distributors; for products whose serial number has been altered, deleted, removed or made illegible; or if repairs or modifications have been executed by an unauthorized person.
4. This guarantee complements any national/regional law obligations of dealers or national distributors and
does not affect your statutory rights as a customer.
5. Unauthorized dismantling of this product will render this warranty void.
6. Constellation strives to manufacture the very finest possible equipment, and therefore reserves the right to
make changes or improvements without notice.
Before you install the Andromeda
Unpacking
Take care when you remove the Andromeda and its power supply from their packaging. Because of their machined aluminum chassis components, they may be heavier than you expect. Have an extra person nearby to
help if you need it. You may wish to use gloves to protect your fingers and avoid leaving fingerprints on the
surface.
Installation notes
The Andromeda must be located in an area with adequate ventilation so that heat does not build up. There
should be at least 6 in/15 cm of clearance between the sides and top of the phono preamp and the nearest wall
or cabinet. If the Andromeda is installed in a cabinet or an equipment closet, ensure adequate ventilation. If
you install the power supply on a different shelf or compartment, make sure it, too, is adequately ventilated.
Installation of the phono preamp or power supply in an unventilated cabinet or closet may cause the Andromeda to overheat, reducing its lifespan.
The Andromeda requires a room-temperature environment to operation properly. Ambient temperature
should be about 70°F/21°C, plus or minus 10°F/5°C. Never install the Andromeda in a place where it may be
exposed to direct sunlight, and do not install it next to a heater, radiator, air conditioner, etc.
Make sure the Andromeda will not be exposed to moisture. Do not locate it in an area where it might be spilled
on, and do not place it in a humid location (such as an unfinished basement).
When you connect or disconnect the AC cord, always grasp it by the plug, not by the cord itself. Pulling the
plug out by the cord can damage the cord, the AC socket, and/or the Andromeda.
Installing the Andromeda in a place where it will be exposed to direct sunlight or moisture, or where it will not
have adequate ventilation, will void your warranty.
Connected components
The Andromeda is designed to be paired with any high-quality turntable, and with any quality preamp (ideally a preamp made by Constellation Audio). Both balanced (XLR) and unbalanced (RCA) connections are available. XLR will provide the highest quality/lowest noise signals, and should be used when possible.
Before making or changing any connections to the Andromeda, turn off the master power switch on the power
supply, and turn off the preamp and power amplifier(s).
In the event of malfunction
Do not under any circumstances open the chassis of the Andromeda. There are no user-serviceable parts inside. Opening the chassis can present a shock hazard even if the AC power is disconnected. Any alteration or
modification of the Andromeda’s internal parts or circuit will void your warranty.
If your Andromeda does not function correctly, refer to the Troubleshooting section at the end of this manual.
If you are still unable to resolve the problem, contact your Constellation dealer.
If liquid is spilled on the Andromeda, or if any metal object (such as a staple or a paper clip) is inadvertently
forced inside, immediately disconnect the AC power and contact your Constellation dealer.
Power supply connections
The Andromeda's separate power supply (bottom component in the picture above) must be connected to the Andromeda
main chassis (top component in the picture above) as shown above before you plug the unit into a wall. Make sure the
power switch on the power supply is in the off (O) position. The supplied cables are spiral-wrapped, gold-plated copper
designed for aerospace use, and can handle up to 30 amps. Only these cables should be used between the power supply
and the Andromeda.
Connect the Analog Right power cable from the supply to the Analog Right jack on the preamp, the Analog Left power
cable from the supply to the Analog Left jack on the preamp, and the Control power cable from the supply to the Control
power jack on the preamp. At this point you can plug the Andromeda power supply into the wall socket. Leave the master power switch off until you connect your other equipment to the Andromeda.
DO NOT remove the power cables while the unit is powered on. If you do happen to accidentally pull one of them
out, DO NOT plug it back in. Turn off the power supply using the hard switch on the rear panel, unplug the unit,
then replace the cable. Failure to power down the unit before replacing a power cable can result in substantial damage
to your Andromeda.
If you will be using a Constellation Audio amplifier (or any other high-powered amplifier), do not plug the Andromeda
into the same AC socket or into any other outlet connected on that circuit. Constellation Audio amplifiers draw a great
deal of power and could affect the Andromeda’s performance if the amplifier(s) and phono preamp are plugged into the
same electrical circuit or AC outlet.
When you connect or disconnect the AC cord, always grasp it by the plug, not by the cord itself. Pulling the plug out by
the cord can damage the cord, the AC socket, and/or the Andromeda.
Input and output connections
1. XLR MC input
The XLR inputs farthest to each side of the back panel of the Andromeda are for use with MC cartridges. As you are looking at the rear panel, the left XLR inputs are for the right channel, the right inputs are for the left channel. These correspond with input MC-1. Use of XLR connections is recommended for the best possible audio quality. To remove an XLR
plug, push on the tab above the jack and pull the plug out.
IMPORTANT NOTE: To preserve true dual-mono operation, the Andromeda uses a symmetrical circuit layout. This configuration requires that the Andromeda’s back panel connections be laid out a little differently from those on most preamps. For example, the left-channel connection for input MC-1 is at the far right side of the back panel, and the
right-channel connection for MC-1 is at the far left side. Connecting the cables in the usual side-by-side fashion will result
in an incorrect installation and the mixing of sounds from different tonearms or turntables.
2. RCA MC input
This unbalanced input is provided as a convenience for use with unbalanced signals from MC cartridges. These jacks correspond with input MC-2. Whenever possible, we recommend using XLR connections instead. Connecting to an unbalanced source is handled in the same way an XLR balanced source. To remove an RCA plug, grasp the plug and pull it
out. Do not pull on the cable.
IMPORTANT NOTE: To preserve true dual-mono operation, the Andromeda uses a symmetrical circuit layout. This configuration requires that the amplifier’s back panel connections be laid out a little differently from those on most preamps.
For example, the left-channel connection for Input 1 is on the right side of the back panel, and the right-channel connection is at the left side. Connecting the cables in the usual side-by-side fashion will result in an incorrect installation and
the mixing of sounds from different source devices.
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