Constellation Perseus Owner's Manual

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CAUTION
To reduce risk of electric shock, do not remove any of the phono preamplifier’s cover plates or screws. There
are no user serviceable parts inside. Contact qualified service personnel.

WARNING
To reduce risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this preamplifier to moisture, rain, or excessive
humidity.

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’s 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.

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Thank you for purchasing the Constellation Audio Perseus phono preamplifier. We
designed the Perseus to achieve greater fidelity and greater flexibility than any other phono
preamp—and to elevate your vinyl playback system to a level you didn’t think possible.

The Perseus employs circuitry and controls unlike those found in any other phono preamp.
Thus, setting it up requires a few steps not normally needed with conventional phono pres.
By taking a few minutes to read this manual before you operate the Perseus, you will be
assured of getting maximum performance from this component.

Contents

Page Topic

4 Before you install the Perseus

Unpacking
Power supply setup
Installation notes
In the event of malfunction

6 Turntable and preamp connections

XLR inputs
RCA inputs
XLR outputs
RCA outputs
Chassis and signal grounds

10 Other connections on the Perseus

Power inputs
RS-232
USB / control
Hub

11 Controls / displays / indicators

Front panel knobs and buttons
Rear panel controls

15 Control screens
17 Step-by-step operating procedure
18 Maintenance
18 Troubleshooting
19 For more information

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Before you install the Perseus

Unpacking

Take care when you remove the Perseus from its packaging. Because of its machined aluminum top chassis,
it is heavier than the average preamp. Have an extra person nearby to help if you need it. You may wish to
use gloves to protect your fingers.

Power supply setup

The Perseus's separate power supply (bottom component in the picture above) must be connected to the
Perseus 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 which are permanently attached to the power supply are spiral-wrapped, gold-plated
copper designed for aerospace use, and can handle up to 30 amps.

Connect one of the supplied cables to the Analog Left power socket on the Perseus, then into the Analog Left
power socket on the power supply as shown above. Repeat with the Analog Right and Control power
connections.

At this point you can plug the Perseus power supply into the wall socket. Leave the master power switch off
until you connect your other equipment to the Perseus.

DO NOT remove the power cables while the unit is powered on. If you do happen to accidently 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 Perseus.

If you will be using the Constellation Audio Centaur or Hercules amplifiers (or any other high-powered
amplifier), do not plug the Perseus 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 Perseus’s performance if the
amplifier(s) and preamp are plugged into the same electrical circuit or AC outlet.

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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 Perseus.

Installation notes

The Perseus preamplifier uses passive cooling; there are no internal fans. While the Perseus does not
generate as much heat as an amplifier, it should still be located in an area with adequate ventilation.

There should be at least 6 in/15 cm of clearance between the sides and top of the preamp and the nearest
wall or cabinet. If the Perseus is installed in a cabinet or an equipment closet, ensure the cabinet/closet has
adequate ventilation. Installation in an unventilated cabinet or closet may cause the Perseus to overheat,
significantly reducing its lifespan.

The Perseus 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 Perseus 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.

Make sure that the Perseus 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).

We recommend leaving the Perseus on all the time to ensure maximum performance and the best possible
sound quality.

Installing the Perseus 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 Perseus phono preamp is designed to be paired with any high-quality turntable, and with any quality
preamp; ideally Constellation's Altair or Video preamps. 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 on the Perseus, turn off the master power switch on the back of
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 Perseus. 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 Perseus’s internal parts or circuit will immediately void your warranty.

If your Perseus 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 preamp, 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 Audio dealer.

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Turntable and preamp connections

1. XLR MC inputs

The two XLR inputs farthest to each side of the back panel of the Perseus 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 inputs MC-1 and MC-3. These XLR connections cannot be used concurrently
with the RCA input below them; for example, you can use either MC-1 (XLR) or MC-2 (RCA), but not both. 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 Perseus uses a symmetrical circuit layout. This
configuration requires that the Perseus’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.

The MC input numbers from left to right, looking at the back of the Perseus are:
MC-1

right

, MC-3

——MC-3

right

, MC-1

left

left

.

2. XLR MM input

The two XLR inputs closest to the center of the Perseus back panel are for use with MM cartridges. As you are
looking at the rear panel, the left XLR input is for the right channel, the right input is for the left channel.
These XLR connections cannot be used concurrently with the RCA input below them; for example, you can
use either MM-1 (XLR) or MM-2 (RCA), but not both. 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.