Constellation

White Magic

White Magic 1024 576 Audio Excellence

Equipment list:

  1. Magico S3 speakers in pearl white.
  2. Constellation Argo integrated amplifier
  3. Cambridge Audio Stream Magic 6 – Digital streamer
  4. Cambridge Audio 752BD – Universal disc player
  5. Supra Sword speaker and interlinking cables
  6. Crestron control
  7. Furman power conditioner
  • The client’s relationship with Audio Excellence goes back more than 20 years.
  • More than happy with his previous system of Duntech speakers and Conrad Johnson amplification.
  • A complete remodelling of his apartment brought him back into our store to look at simply updating his system to accommodate HD.
  • As we do, we played him something he didn’t specially ask for. A system consisting of Magico speakers and Constellation amplification. He was astonished by the extent to which music reproduction has advanced in the last 10 years. And so the process began.
  • The first challenge was to relocate system position which would allow the potential of the Magico S3 speakers to shine. The previous configuration had the speakers in free space. With the remodelling of the apartment, a major decision was made to swing the room 180 degrees and have a sliding door removed and bricked up.

Cabinet challenges.

  • Cabinet was painstakingly designed by the client and tweaked with input from ourselves.
  • Initially, all the electronics where to be hidden. We recommend that the gorgeous metalwork of the Constellation amplifier should be on show. This now sits centrally in the cabinet on two metal supports which creates the illusion of it floating. It also aids ventilation from top to bottom.
  • Limited space – Speaker’s feet slide under the cabinet.
  • Finish matched to pearl white of speakers.
  • Curves of speakers reflected in the cabinet.

System features.

  • Not only has the performance of equipment improved, so has functionality and ease of use.
  • CD collection stored uncompressed on NAS streamed through Cambridge Audio.
  • Universal disc player has HDMI in which accepts signal from HD decoder to make use of its better DACS and facilitate switching.
  • A basic Crestron system makes the system a breeze to use. Although the client still keeps the Constellations impressive remote handy.

Performance:

  • The biggest compliment to the system is that the client says he listens to more music than ever before with large portions of a weekend now devoted to music.
  • The system proves that high-performance audio can be integrated into a home.
  • Sound is incredibly musical, none fatiguing, detailed and a real treat to listen to.

High-End Stereo and Home Theatre meet

High-End Stereo and Home Theatre meet 1024 576 Audio Excellence

High-quality stereo music playback and home theatre are two very different experiences. Where budget and space allow, we recommend having both a dedicated cinema and a pure stereo listening music room. In this case, the client insisted on having both in the same space.

Mission accomplished.

At the centre of this very special system is a pair of Magico S7s, a speaker which can deliver true high-end music and with three 10inch woofers can deal with the dynamics of a movie soundtrack. These are driven by 400W Constellation monoblock amplifiers. Two JL Audio subwoofers are in place, one for the LFE of a movie soundtrack and the other to supplement the two front speakers. Four overhead speakers, four surround speakers, laser projection and acoustic treatment round things off. An absolute system which is a true treat to experience.