OVERVIEW

To create the Virgo preamplifier, our "dream team" of the world's best audio engineers and industrial designers borrowed heavily from the Altair, Constellation Audio's state-of-the-art Reference series line stage. Although the Virgo's design is more economical to manufacture, its fundamental circuit topology is the same—and its sound is as arresting as one might expect from such revolutionary technological concepts.

The core of the Virgo is Constellation Audio's Line Stage Gain Module, a fully balanced preamplifier circuit that achieves essentially perfect balance between the positive and negative halves of the audio signal. The musicality and transparency of this circuit are unequalled in any other preamp available. The Line Stage Gain Module also makes possible the Constellation Link, a direct connection to Constellation Audio amplifiers that bypasses the amplifiers' input stages for superior sound quality.

The circuitry inside the Virgo is built on a "raft" assembly that floats on an elastomeric suspension so it is isolated from outside vibration, just as a raft floating on a lake is not affected by disturbances on shore. The audio circuitry sits atop the raft, and the control circuit is mounted beneath it. A metal plate isolates the two halves from each other to block interference between them.

The chassis of the Virgo is as functional as it is beautiful. The enclosure is machined from solid aluminium to a minimum thickness of 8.2mm, adequate to block all common forms of electromagnetic interference. A 432 x 230-pixel screen on the front provides detailed information about operating status and adjustments.

A separate power supply enclosure contains any electromagnetic fields generated by the power supply so they do not affect the Virgo's sensitive analog circuitry. Inside the enclosure are two separate supplies. One is a linear supply with an R-core transformer; it provides ultra-clean power to the analog circuits. The other supply provides power for the control circuitry. Two high-quality Hypertronics cables, originally developed for the aerospace industry, provide a high-current interface between the power supply and the preamp section.

An elegant machined aluminium remote control with backlit buttons provides full access to all of the Virgo's functions. Those who seek the ultimate control experience can use the Virgo with our Pyxis wireless system controller, which allows advanced automation functions and full two-way control.

The seductive sound of the best tube preamps. The precision of the best solid-state components. Only with Constellation Audio's innovative circuit concepts and industrial design are these seemingly conflicting goals possible. And only in our preamps is it achieved.

Features

Line Stage Gain Module
The core of Constellation Audio preamps is a fully balanced preamplification module built from two mirror-imaged amplifiers. One half of the circuit amplifies the positive half of the signal and the other amplifies the negative half. Painstaking circuit design and construction achieves an essentially perfect balance between positive and negative halves of the signal.

Fully complementary audio circuitry
Complementary balanced circuitry in the Line Stage Gain Module cancels interference and allows the Virgo to achieve vanishingly low noise with exceptional slew rate and frequency response. Thanks to this design, the Virgo achieves an extremely high 000 kHz bandwidth, for incredible sonic detail and depth.

Mechanically isolated circuit board
Audio and control circuits are mounted on a metal "raft." The raft floats on an elastomeric suspension to prevent outside vibration from disturbing the Virgo's precision circuitry. Its metal construction isolates the audio circuits from the control circuits to prevent interference.

Solid aluminium chassis for maximum shielding
Built from solid aluminium machined to a thickness of 8.2mm—the dimension required to block 50/60 Hz electromagnetic interference from household wiring and appliances—the Virgo's chassis provides a safe haven for the sensitive audio circuits within.

Constellation Link balanced interface
Owners of Constellation Audio amplifiers can use the Virgo's Constellation Link interface, which transmits a perfectly balanced audio signal from the Virgo's gain stage straight into the power amplifier. The Constellation Link bypasses the input modules of our Hercules and Centaurus amplifiers, thus reducing the number of gain stages in the signal chain.

Separate power supply
To reduce interference to insignificance, the Virgo's power supply is housed in an entirely separate chassis, connected to the preamp using high-quality Hypertronics cables. The enclosure holds two separate supplies: an R-core transformer coupled to a linear supply circuit to feed pure power to the preamp, and another supply to power the control circuits.

Advanced front-panel control system
With a 432 x 230-pixel screen, five control buttons and two control knobs, the front panel provides complete access to all of the Virgo's advanced features, such as input renaming and gain presetting for each input.

Machined aluminium remote control
The remote control supplied with the Virgo befits the preamp's gorgeous industrial design. Its machined aluminium body and backlit buttons provide a gratifying feel and reliable operation.