Constellation Centaur II Owner's Manual
Thank you for purchasing the Constellation Audio Centaur II power amplifier.
You are about to experience one of the finest amplifiers ever built. Because of its very high power output, this amplifier demands careful nstallation in order to deliver the performance it is designed to achieve. This is especially true of the Centaur II Mono, which delivers double the
power of the Centaur II. By reading through this manual and following the steps outlined within, you can ensure that your amplifier performs at its very best.
Contents
Page Topic
3 Warranty information
4 Before you install the Centaur II
Unpacking
Installation notes
In the event of malfunction
5 Input and output connections
XLR and RCA inputs
Speaker outputs
AC power input
RS 232, USB and Trigger input
8 Controls / displays / indicators
Front panel
Rear panel
9 Step-by-step operating procedure
10 Maintenance
11 Troubleshooting
13 Specifications
15 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 Centaur II
Unpacking
DO NOT lift the Centaur II amplifier by the power button on the front panel. Lift
it only by the side edges as described below and shown at right.
At nearly 100 pounds each, the Centaur II is too heavy for one person to lift safely.
Two strong people are required to lift each amplifier and to move it from place to
place. Likewise, do not place these amplifiers on surfaces that cannot safely support
their weight. Lightweight furniture and equipment racks should not be used to support these amplifiers.
Lift each amplifier by hooking your fingers under the side edges, as indicated by the
arrows in the photos at right. It’s a good idea to wear soft gloves to protect your fingers and help avoid fingerprints on the amplifier.
AC connection
For best performance, each amplifier should be plugged into its own dedicated 15- or
20-amp AC outlet, with no other component but the amplifier connected to that AC circuit. It is especially important to provide a dedicated AC output if the amplifier is used with a speaker that has impedance dips down
into the 2- or 3-ohm range at certain frequencies, a high-level signal at these frequencies can draw potential
peaks well over 1,000 watts per channel. Do not plug the amplifier(s) into a power strip or AC line conditioner—few such products are designed to handle the current that these amps can pull.
While it may be tempting to plug two Centaur II Monos into a single AC circuit, we strongly caution against it,
especially if you have 15-amp AC circuits. A single 15-amp circuit provides only 1,800 watts of power, which
isn’t sufficient to allow two Centaur II Monos to reach their peak output capability, especially with low-impedance speakers. Not only will sound quality suffer, your listening sessions will likely be interrupted often when
the Centaur II Monos’ considerable power draw trips your home’s circuit breaker.
Before you make or change any connections to the Centaur II, be sure to turn off the master power switch on
the back panel and let the unit cool down for at least 1 minute.
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 amplifier.
Location
The Centaur II must be installed in an area with adequate ventilation. There should be at least 6 in/15 cm of
clearance between the vents on the side of the amplifier(s) and the nearest wall or cabinet. Ensure that no curtains or shades can be lowered in a way that will block the amplifier’s vents. If the amplifier is installed in a
cabinet or in an equipment closet, ensure that the cabinet/closet has adequate ventilation. Installation in an unventilated cabinet or closet may cause the amplifier to overheat.
The amplifier 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 amplifier in a place where it may be exposed to
direct sunlight, and do not install it next to a room heater, radiator, air conditioner, etc. Ambient temperature
can rise even more quickly with two Centaur II Monos, so if you place both of them in an enclosed or tight
space, make extra sure to provide plenty of ventilation and air flow.
Make sure that the amplifier 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).
Installing the Centaur II 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.
Speakers
The Centaur II produces sufficient voltage and current to drive practically any loudspeaker made, regardless of
the speaker’s impedance, sensitivity or power rating. However, the Centaur II Stereo and, especially, the Centaur
II Mono have enough power to damage some loudspeakers if used carelessly. When you turn up the volume on
your preamp, do it gradually. If you hear distortion, crackling noises, or mechanical thumps from the speaker,
turn the volume down immediately. You can best appreciate the Centaur II’s performance by connecting it to a
large set of full-range loudspeakers. It will sound excellent with small speakers, too, but if you connect it to a small
set of speakers, avoid turning the volume on your preamp to maximum. Constellation Audio is not responsible for
damage of any speaker connected to the Centaur II.
Before you make or change any speaker connections, be sure to turn off the master power switch on the back panel
and let the unit cool down for at least 1 minute.
BE VERY CAUTIOUS if you intend to connect the output of the Centaur II to the speaker-level input of a powered subwoofer or subwoofer amplifier. It could result in serious damage to the Centaur II amplifier. Before
attempting this, read the full explanation on page 7.
In the event of malfunction
Do not under any circumstances open the cabinet of the amplifier. There are no user-serviceable parts inside.
Opening the cabinet can present a shock hazard even if the AC power is disconnected. Any alteration or modification of the amplifier’s internal parts or circuit will immediately void your warranty.
If your amplifier 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 Audio dealer.
If any liquid is spilled on the amp, or if any metal object (such as a staple or a paper clip) is inadvertently forced in
through the vents, immediately disconnect the AC power and contact your Constellation Audio dealer.
Input and output connections
1. BAL input
Use this XLR balanced input for connection to balanced-output preamps of
other brands. To select this input, set the input switch to BAL (left position). To
remove the XLR plug, push on the tab above the jack and pull the plug out.
2. Direct input
Use this XLR balanced input only for connection to the Constellation Audio
Virgo, Altair or Inspiration Preamp 1.0 preamps. This connection forms the
Constellation Direct—an audio interface that is, in essence, perfectly balanced.
The positive- and negative-going halves of the signal will exhibit near-zero difference except for their polarity. To select this input, set the input switch to Direct (middle position). To remove the XLR plug, push on the tab above the jack
and pull the plug out.
3. RCA input
This input is provided as a convenience. You can use it if you elect to feed the
amplifier with an unbalanced signal source. To select this input, set the input
switch to RCA. However, to get the best performance from the Centaur you
must use an XLR input.
Centaur II Mono inputs
Centaur II Stereo inputs
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