The way audiophiles listen to music has changed radically through the past few years. Not long ago, most audiophiles relied on a CD player as their primary digital music source. Today, most audiophiles store their music as digital files. But the way they play those files can be differ substantially. Some use a computer as their primary source, connected through a USB DAC. Others prefer to store files on a media server and access them using a handheld interface.
To suit both preferences, Constellation Audio offers the Performance Series Cygnus digital music source in two versions. One is a pure USB DAC, designed to connect to a computer for digital file playback. The other is a USB file server, built to access files stored on USB sticks and hard drives. Both also offer a complete set of legacy digital connections, including AES/EBU, coax and Toslink.
Dual isolated USB inputs for digital file playback
Full suite of digital inputs
USB computer input (DAC version)
Quad 32-bit/192-kHz DAC
Custom digital filter
Fully balanced digital and analog circuitry
Separate power supply
Browse digital music files from smartphones and tablets (file player version)
Full front-panel control
Machined aluminium chassis
Specifications:
Supported digital file formats | FLAC, WAV, AIFF | |
DAC inputs | 1 AES/EBU, 2 RCA SPDIF, 2 TosLink, 1 USB (in USB DAC version), 2 USB (in USB media server version) | |
DAC outputs | RCA and XLR stereo analog audio | |
Supported sampling rates/bit depth | Up to 192 kHz/32 bits on USB/AES/SPDIF Up to 96 kHz/32 bits on COAX/AES/TosLink |
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Available filter profiles | minimum-phase, phase-perfect, Bessel, Butterworth | |
THD+N | <0.01% | |
Frequency response | 20 Hz to 22 kHz, ±0.2 dB | |
Output noise | ≤100 dB | |
Output impedance, B & UB | <50 ohm | |
Weight, digital file player | 35 lbs/16 kg | |
Weight, power supply | 22 lbs/10 kg | |
Dimensions, digital file player/DAC | 5.50 x 17.00 x 15.75 in (hwd) 140 x 432 x 400mm (hwd) |
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Dimensions, power supply | 5.00 x 6.00 x 14.50 in (hwd) 127 x 152 x 368mm (hwd) |