Constellation Audio Virgo II Preamplifier User Manual

2

CAUTION
To reduce risk of electric shock, do not remove any of the 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.

3

Thank you for purchasing the Constellation Audio Virgo II preamplifier. And prepare for a
musical experience far beyond your expectations.

The Virgo II employs essentially the same revolutionary circuitry pioneered in our Altair

preamp. Like the Altair, it’s designed for simple operation. However, as with Altair, the

unique design demands that certain aspects of setup and operation are necessarily a bit
different from those of typical stereo preamps. By reading this manual before you operate
the Virgo II, you assure that you get maximum performance from the preamp.

Contents

Page Topic

4 Before you install the Virgo II

Unpacking
Power supply setup
Installation notes
In the event of malfunction

6 Source device and amplifier connections

XLR inputs
RCA inputs
XLR outputs
RCA outputs

8 Other connections on the Virgo II

Power inputs
RS-232
USB / control
Hub

10 Controls / displays / indicators

Front indicator—power supply
Front panel knobs and buttons

12 Remote control
13 Control screens
15 Step-by-step operating procedure
16 Maintenance
16 Troubleshooting
18 For more information

4

Before you install the Virgo II

Unpacking

Take care when you remove the Virgo II 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 Virgo II's separate power supply (bottom component in the picture above) must be connected to the Virgo II
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 Virgo II.

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 Virgo II power supply into the
wall socket. Leave the master power switch off until you connect your other equipment to the Virgo II.

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 Virgo II.

If you will be using the Constellation Audio Centaur or Hercules amplifiers (or any other high-powered
amplifier), do not plug the Virgo II 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 Virgo II’s performance if the
amplifier(s) and 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 Virgo II.

5

Installation notes

The Virgo II preamplifier uses passive cooling; there are no internal fans. While the Virgo II 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 Virgo II 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 Virgo II to overheat,
significantly reducing its lifespan.

The Virgo II 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 Virgo II 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 Virgo II 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).

The light-dependent resistors used in the Virgo II’s volume control need 8 hours of continuous operation to
reach maximum linearity. We recommend leaving the Virgo II on all the time to ensure maximum performance.
If the Virgo II has not warmed up for 15 to 30 minutes from a cold start, you may notice a slight left-to-right
channel imbalance. This may be corrected temporarily using the balance control.

Installing the Virgo 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.

Amplifier

The Virgo II preamp is designed to be paired with any high-quality audio amplifier; ideally Constellation's own
Centaur or Hercules amps. Both balanced (XLR) and unbalanced (RCA) connections are available. XLR will
provide the highest quality/lowest noise signals, and should be used when possible.

Source components

The Virgo II preamp has eight analog audio inputs, four balanced (XLR) and four unbalanced (RCA), and can be
used with any audio component with line-level analog outputs. As with the outputs mentioned above, an XLR
connection will provide the highest quality signal, and should be used when possible. If you are using a record
turntable, you will need to connect a high-quality phono preamplifier, such as the Constellation Audio Perseus
or Orion, between the turntable and the Virgo II preamp.

In the event of malfunction

Do not under any circumstances open the chassis of the Virgo II. 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 Virgo II’s internal parts or circuit will immediately void your warranty.

If your Virgo II 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.

6

Source device and amplifier connections

1. XLR inputs

On the rear of the Virgo II preamp there are eight XLR inputs, four on each side. As you are looking at the rear
panel, the left four XLR inputs are for the right channel, the right four inputs are for the left channel.
Underneath each jack is the corresponding input number. 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 Virgo II uses a symmetrical circuit layout. This
configuration requires that the Virgo II’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 at the far right side of the back panel,
and the right-channel connection 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 source devices.

The input numbers from left to right, looking at the back of the Virgo II are:
1

, 2

, 3

, 4

——4

, 3

, 2

, 1

right

right

right

right

left

left

left

left

.

2. RCA inputs

These unbalanced inputs are provided as a convenience for use with unbalanced signal sources. Whenever
possible, we recommend using XLR connections instead. Connecting to an unbalanced source is handled in
the same way an XLR balanced source.

The input numbers from left to right, looking at the back of the Virgo II are:
5

, 6

, 7

, 8

——8

, 7

, 6

, 5

right

right

right

right

left

left

left

left

.

IMPORTANT NOTE: To preserve true dual-mono operation, the Virgo II uses a symmetrical circuit layout. This
configuration requires that the Virgo II’s back panel connections be laid out a little differently from those on
most preamps. For example, the left-channel connection for Input 5 is at the far right side of the back panel,