Constellation Inspiration 1.0 amp and preamp review

kiwi_1282001 said:
Hey Mike,

In the constellation inspiration 1.0 range there is also an integrated amplifier.

Just wondered if you had heard it and if so what your thoughts were on it?
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Yes. It’s excellent. Same house sound. Not a 300 watt monster, but plenty of power and finesse and the same tube like Constellation sound. Liquid and engaging. Doesn’t get hot. Made in USA.


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kiwi_1282001 said:
Thanks very much for sharing that Mike.

A review in The Absolute Sounds noted "While the 1.0 conveyed a general tonal signature that was dead-on neutral, its personality was ever-so-slightly shaded to the cooler side of the spectrum". Do you agree with that? I'd actually prefer something with a hint of warmth.

Constellation is under consideration to drive my speakers and I prefer a single chassis integrated. Its competitively priced too.
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I personally don’t. I’ve always thought the Constellation sound is liquid and smooth. I say “sounds like tubes without the heat and fuss.”

Dead neutral SS amp? I would have to think on that. Bryston I guess.

Sterile and dry is CH and Spectral (just my two cents).

Liquid is Constellation and T+A.

Sweet is Luxman.

Big, ballsy and dynamic is Gryphon.

Warm is Pass XA.


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Mike said:
Sterile and dry is CH and Spectral (just my two cents).
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Feedback is adjustable on CH. Is it possible feedback was too high so sound is sterile and dry?

I agree on Spectral. Sounds like my childhood family Pioneer receiver to MY ear.
 
Mike, in your view, where does the SIT-3 sit among these descriptions? Or a VAC amp?


Mike said:
I personally don’t. I’ve always thought the Constellation sound is liquid and smooth. I say “sounds like tubes without the heat and fuss.”

Dead neutral SS amp? I would have to think on that. Bryston I guess.

Sterile and dry is CH and Spectral (just my two cents).

Liquid is Constellation and T+A.

Sweet is Luxman.

Big, ballsy and dynamic is Gryphon.

Warm is Pass XA.


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Click to expand...
 
DavidMcCallum said:
Mike, in your view, where does the SIT-3 sit among these descriptions? Or a VAC amp?
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The SIT-3 doesn’t sound like any other amp. If frankly doesn’t sound like an amp at all that you can compare it to. It does take a good hour to warm up, needs a high gain preamp and doesn’t like a high impedance or difficult load. It likes to float between 4 and 8 ohms, no less, no more. My 18 ohm speakers require me to put a resistor on it.

The Constellation is very liquid, smooth, slightly warm without any loss of detail.

The VAC is a tube amp through and through. Organic, rich, natural and musical and currently, my amp of choice for home.


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Mike,
Thanks for the description. If you do not use a resistor, which are some speakers (in your experience) that you recommend that can be driven well by the SIT-3 amp?
Anshul
Mike said:
The SIT-3 doesn’t sound like any other amp. If frankly doesn’t sound like an amp at all that you can compare it to. It does take a good hour to warm up, needs a high gain preamp and doesn’t like a high impedance or difficult load. It likes to float between 4 and 8 ohms, no less, no more. My 18 ohm speakers require me to put a resistor on it.

The Constellation is very liquid, smooth, slightly warm without any loss of detail.

The VAC is a tube amp through and through. Organic, rich, natural and musical and currently, my amp of choice for home.


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Click to expand...
 
Some have tried it with the Harbeth P3ESR’s, I haven’t yet. I’ve only tried it on all my Avantgarde’s.


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