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  1. #1

    Constellation Centaur Stereo Amplifier

    cut and pasted from posting in Constellation forum...

    I knew in the first few notes we had a (clear) winner...sorry to preempt the voting. Not even warmed up and with compromised cabling, the impact and impression was OVERWHELMING. Last night I listened extensively to Burmester CD 03 thru the VAC and Ref 40, a great way to sonically and musically test gear, in addition to some prized vinyl. I've never listened to a component and immediately felt compelled to grap a pad of paper and pen, but this Centaur made me want to. As I listened here is what I wrote (noting it may be very system and room dependent):

    Not hyperbole....I'm finicky and fickle and not easily impressed, I knew in the first few notes, this is as it should be. Left me wanting for nothing (a feeling I cannot ever remember having). I cannot believe what I am hearing. Instant connection like when I met my wife or first drove my R32 (even more instant than my SL600...price doesn't dictate outcome). The Centaur is a game changer, transformative (truly)....as impressive (actually more) of an upgrade than any component change I've made including ARC Ref40 or Magico speakers...and those two were huge upgrades.

    In short, more of everything...liquid smooth, all there for the taking, smooth and musical. Only amp that has been able to grab me by the balls and whisper in my ear at the same time.

    This is how I want my Magicos to sound, for real. Enveloping; heard detail not there before; all the nuances captured...felt like human beings were singing to me; wanted to kiss the singer of track track one...never heard anything like this before.

    What I read about all the potential of my ARC Ref 40 preamp, I'm now experiencing, in spades. I understand its potential now. Makes me feel better about acquiring it by a country mile.

    Sound stage laterally is FINALLY balanced and even in height and width and presence. Layers, layers, layers. Round, round, round.

    Dynamics finally. Not artificial or hyped but there and in my face (or I should say in my chest). But perfect flow and timing. Fast when needed. Slow when necessary. Transients galore. Everything but never too much, but always climactic and engaging.

    Finally, detail and all of it at low volumes.

    Totally balanced across the spectrum and continuous not disenfranchised presentation.

    Now I understand macro and micro detail and dynamics in perfect tandem.

    I'm done, the race is finished, I'm in love finally with an amp (ok that may be hyperbole).

    The Centaur's sound is "transcendent, emotional, beautiful, pretty, determined, in control, effortlessly powerful, balanced; and, it conveys the drama and nuance/detail perfectly in the same moment"

    Sorry for the rambling, but wow wow wow wow wow. I am very impressed and happy. All the hours researching, dollars spent, and the reach was worth it for sure.

    PS, the bass and slam and movement of air from my Magicos is now in a different league, naturally and harmonically correct at same time.

  2. #2
    Ok then, so it's good?

  3. #3
    Yeah, I guess that's what i'm saying! :p

    Quote Originally Posted by bzr View Post
    Ok then, so it's good?

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by bzr View Post
    Ok then, so it's good?
    Quote Originally Posted by Dpod4 View Post
    Yeah, I guess that's what i'm saying! :p
    I trust Darrin's ears very much. It must be outstanding.
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  5. #5
    Thanks, Joe. Your journey has been an inspiration for me!
    Quote Originally Posted by joeinid View Post
    I trust Darrin's ears very much. It must be outstanding.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dpod4 View Post
    Thanks, Joe. Your journey has been an inspiration for me!
    We definitely feed off of each other.
    Fleetwood Deville by Oswald Mills Audio, Vienna Acoustics Haydn Jubilee, Wharfedale Linton w/ stands, Klipsch RB-75, Klipsch RP-160M.

    Job INTegrated. Luxman L-595aSE

    NAD C 658 streamer.

    First Watt SIT-3, Job 250 Monos, NuForce STA200, AkitikA GT-102 amp, ASL Wave monos, Dennis Had 45 monos. Absolute Audio Labs PCF 25 amp (improved First Watt F7 super clone)

    Topping D90, RME Audio ADI-2 DAC FS, ModWright Ultimate Sony XA-5400ES.

    Burmester 948, McIntosh MCLK12, Kimber Kable, Siltech, Cardas, Avanti Audio cables.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by joeinid View Post
    We definitely feed off of each other.
    1451673415_1361401746.jpg
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  8. #8
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    Fleetwood Deville by Oswald Mills Audio, Vienna Acoustics Haydn Jubilee, Wharfedale Linton w/ stands, Klipsch RB-75, Klipsch RP-160M.

    Job INTegrated. Luxman L-595aSE

    NAD C 658 streamer.

    First Watt SIT-3, Job 250 Monos, NuForce STA200, AkitikA GT-102 amp, ASL Wave monos, Dennis Had 45 monos. Absolute Audio Labs PCF 25 amp (improved First Watt F7 super clone)

    Topping D90, RME Audio ADI-2 DAC FS, ModWright Ultimate Sony XA-5400ES.

    Burmester 948, McIntosh MCLK12, Kimber Kable, Siltech, Cardas, Avanti Audio cables.

  9. #9
    Great review, Darrin! Really giving me something to think about...


    Allen



  10. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by socfan12 View Post
    Great review, Darrin! Really giving me something to think about...
    Listened to Rickie Lee Jones album tonight. She was in the room with me. Don't tell my wife.
    Now I want my whole system to be Constellation. When will the madness end?!

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dpod4 View Post
    Listened to Rickie Lee Jones album tonight. She was in the room with me. Don't tell my wife.
    Now I want my whole system to be Constellation. When will the madness end?!
    Hopefully never :hyuk:
    Fleetwood Deville by Oswald Mills Audio, Vienna Acoustics Haydn Jubilee, Wharfedale Linton w/ stands, Klipsch RB-75, Klipsch RP-160M.

    Job INTegrated. Luxman L-595aSE

    NAD C 658 streamer.

    First Watt SIT-3, Job 250 Monos, NuForce STA200, AkitikA GT-102 amp, ASL Wave monos, Dennis Had 45 monos. Absolute Audio Labs PCF 25 amp (improved First Watt F7 super clone)

    Topping D90, RME Audio ADI-2 DAC FS, ModWright Ultimate Sony XA-5400ES.

    Burmester 948, McIntosh MCLK12, Kimber Kable, Siltech, Cardas, Avanti Audio cables.

  12. #12
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    I asked my dealer about the Centuar. His response was and I trust his ears.

    "I love the Centuar. Amazing amp. Probably the best solid state I have heard. The best way to describe would be delicate. Not being a girl here, but it just sounds delicate and effortless. We have a guy who purchased centaur. Has Magico and vac amps. Lost his mind. Smokes his 40k vac amp.
    Gryphon Essence stereo amp and preamp/dac Hurricane power cords
    Fyne Audio F1-10, Lumin T2, Moon 260 Transport
    Shunyata Research Everest, Sigma V2 XC,
    Shunyata Research Sigma USB and Ethernet
    Argento Audio speaker cables and interconnects

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by johnthomas View Post
    I asked my dealer about the Centuar. His response was and I trust his ears.

    "I love the Centuar. Amazing amp. Probably the best solid state I have heard. The best way to describe would be delicate. Not being a girl here, but it just sounds delicate and effortless. We have a guy who purchased centaur. Has Magico and vac amps. Lost his mind. Smokes his 40k vac amp.
    We might know the same guy, but he did move from VAC 450 to I think the Constellation mono's with new Q5..
    Dewey,

    "If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking." - George S. Patton

  14. #14
    Your dealer sounds spot on. I have the VAC Statement 450S, too. Probably the best sounding large watt tube amp on the market. But with the Magicos, the Centaur is in a completely different (better) league. I felt all my previous purchases were good solid incremental improvements and for the most part worth the extra dough (e.g., VAC 300.1a to VAC 450S), but the Centaur was a startling, completely unexpected and quantum leap in improvement. I feel like Constellation Centaur is the drug Bradley Cooper took in the movie Limitless....my Magicos are experiencing their full potential!

    Quote Originally Posted by johnthomas View Post
    I asked my dealer about the Centuar. His response was and I trust his ears.

    "I love the Centuar. Amazing amp. Probably the best solid state I have heard. The best way to describe would be delicate. Not being a girl here, but it just sounds delicate and effortless. We have a guy who purchased centaur. Has Magico and vac amps. Lost his mind. Smokes his 40k vac amp.

  15. #15
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    Darrin... It's great to hear when somebody reaches audio nirvana!!!
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    “The more you tighten your grip Tarkin the more star systems will slip through your fingers”

  16. #16
    Quote Originally Posted by jwhite613 View Post
    Darrin... It's great to hear when somebody reaches audio nirvana!!!
    Long journey on the amp front but finally nirvana for sure. Listened to Count Basie today and was so grateful what the Centaur was delivering

  17. #17
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    Re: Constellation Centaur Stereo Amplifier

    Darrin, I just re-read your post on the Centaur. It got me thinking that it was the Centaur that made me go insane when I demoed the S5's at Goodwins. I initially thought it was the speakers, after hearing the S5's with different amps I'm convinced now that it was synergy with the Centaur that made me write about the S5's being game changers.

    Damn hobby, the more I learn, the less I know.
    Last edited by MDP; January 15, 2014 at 01:33 PM.
    Mark


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  18. #18
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    Re: Constellation Centaur Stereo Amplifier

    I'm afraid you might have had the same experience if you had heard the Q3 with Constellation, which I did in NYC at Ears Nova. Just a great combination. But so are Vitus or Soulution with the S5 or Q3. All state of the art in performance.

  19. #19

    Re: Constellation Centaur Stereo Amplifier

    Quote Originally Posted by MDP View Post
    Darrin, I just re-read your post on the Centaur. It got me thinking that it was the Centaur that made me go insane when I demoed the S5's at Goodwins. I initially thought it was the speakers, after hearing the S5's with different amps I'm convinced now that it was synergy with the Centaur that made me write about the S5's being game changers.

    Damn hobby, the more I learn, the less I know.
    I loved the S5s on their own but when the Centuar was installed it was only then I realized what the S5s were capable of, especially low end grip and presence as well as finesse and touch on mids and highs. Interestingly the air tight ATM-2 is pretty darn close on all fronts too at a fraction of the price. I think impedance matching and current are the keys along with an SET amp type harmonic approach

  20. #20
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    Re: Constellation Centaur Stereo Amplifier

    Thanks Darrin !!
    Mark


    Kharma DB9 Signature
    Pass Labs XP32......incoming
    Pass Labs X350.8
    Esoteric N-05XD
    VPI Avenger with Magnetic Drive
    Manley Chinook Phono Pre
    Ortofon Cadenza Black cartridge
    Kharma Elegance speaker cables
    Kharma Elegance interconnects
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  21. #21

    Re: Constellation Centaur Stereo Amplifier

    Quote Originally Posted by MDP View Post
    Thanks Darrin !!
    Anything for the man with the best avatars

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