Constellation Pictor User manual

2
Thank you for purchasing the Constellation Pictor Line Stage.
Using the same revolutionary Line Stage Gain Module circuit pioneered in our Altair and Viego
preamps, and a fully separate, physically isolated power supply, the Pictor delivers truly ex-
traordinary sound quality. However, as with our other preamps, the Pictor’s advanced design
necessarily demands a somewhat different setup process compared with typical stereo preamps.
By reading this manual before you operate the Pictor, you assure maximum performance from
your system.
Contents
Page Topic
3 Warranty information
4 Before you install the Pictor
Unpacking
Installation notes
In the event of malfunction
5 Power supply connections
6 Input and output connections
XLR and RCA inputs
XLR and RCA outputs
RS 232 / control
USB / control
Trigger output
AC power input
9 Controls / displays / indicators
Front panel knobs and buttons
Rear panel controls
11 Remote control
12 Control screens
14 Step-by-step operating procedure
15 Maintenance
15 Troubleshooting
17 Specifications
17 For more information

Limited warranty
New Constellation Audio products are warranted to be free from manufacturing defects for ninety (90) days
from date of purchase from an authorized dealer or distributor. If the product is registered on our website:
https://www.constellationaudio.com/warranty/register within this period, the warranty shall be extended to
three (3) years from the original date of sale. The warranty includes parts and labor. Complete warranty details
are on the included warranty card.
3
CAUTION: NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. Do not open the amplifier chassis or remove any of its
screws. Contact Constellation or your dealer if you have service needs.
WARNING: Do not expose this amplifier to moisture or excessive humidity, and do not use it outdoors. Fire
hazard may result.
The lightning flash with arrowhead, within an
equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the us-
er to the presence of uninsulated dangerous
voltage within the product enclosure that may
be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk
of electrical shock to persons.
The exclamation point within an equilateral
triangle is intended to alert the user to the
presence of important operating maintenance
(servicing) instructions in the literature accom-
panying the appliance.

Before you install the Pictor
Unpacking
Take care when you remove the Pictor and its power supply from their packaging. Because of their machined
aluminum chassis components, they may be heavier than you expect. Have an extra person nearby to help if
you need it. You may wish to use gloves to protect your fingers and avoid leaving fingerprints on the surface.
Installation notes
The Pictor must be located in an area with adequate ventilation so that heat does not build up. There should be
at least 6 in/15 cm of clearance between the sides and top of the preamp and the nearest wall or cabinet. If the
Pictor is installed in a cabinet or an equipment closet, ensure adequate ventilation. If you install the power sup-
ply on a different shelf or compartment, make sure it, too, is adequately ventilated. Installation of the preamp
or power supply in an unventilated cabinet or closet may cause the Pictor to overheat, reducing its lifespan.
The Pictor requires a room-temperature environment to operation properly. Ambient temperature should be
about 70°F/21°C, plus or minus 10°F/5°C. Never install the Pictor in a place where it may be exposed to direct
sunlight, and do not install it next to a heater, radiator, air conditioner, etc.
Make sure the Pictor will not be exposed to moisture. Do not locate it in an area where it might be spilled on,
and do not place it in a humid location (such as an unfinished basement).
When you connect or disconnect the AC cord, always grasp it by the plug, not by the cord itself. Pulling the
plug out by the cord can damage the cord, the AC socket, and/or the Pictor.
Installing the Pictor in a place where it will be exposed to direct sunlight or moisture, or where it will not have
adequate ventilation, will void your warranty.
Source components
The Pictor has six analog audio inputs—three balanced (XLR) and three unbalanced (RCA)—and can be used
with any audio source component with line-level analog outputs. An XLR connection will provide the highest
quality signal, and should be used when possible. If you are using a record turntable, you will need to connect
a high-quality phono preamp, such as the Constellation Perseus or Andromeda, between the turntable and the
Pictor.
Before making or changing any connections to the Pictor, turn off the master power switch on the back of the
power supply, and turn off the power amplifier(s).
In the event of malfunction
Do not under any circumstances open the chassis of the Pictor. There are no user-serviceable parts inside.
Opening the chassis can present a shock hazard even if the AC power is disconnected. Any alteration or modi-
fication of the Pictor’s internal parts or circuit will void your warranty.
If your Pictor does not function correctly, refer to the Troubleshooting section at the end of this manual. If you
are still unable to resolve the problem, contact your Constellation dealer.
If liquid is spilled on the Pictor, or if any metal object (such as a staple or a paper clip) is inadvertently forced
inside, immediately disconnect the AC power and contact your Constellation dealer.
4

Power supply connections
The Pictor's separate power supply (bottom component in the picture above) must be connected to the Pictor main chassis
(top component in the picture above) as shown above before you plug the unit into a wall. Make sure the power switch
on the power supply is in the off (O) position. The supplied cables are spiral-wrapped, gold-plated copper designed for
aerospace use, and can handle up to 30 amps. Only these cables should be used between the power supply and the Pictor.
Connect the Analog Right power cable from the supply to the Analog Right jack on the preamp, the Analog Left power
cable from the supply to the Analog Left jack on the preamp, and the Control power cable from the supply to the Control
power jack on the preamp. At this point you can plug the Pictor power supply into the wall socket. Leave the master
power switch off until you connect your other equipment to the Pictor.
DO NOT remove the power cables while the unit is powered on. If you do happen to accidentally pull one of them
out, DO NOT plug it back in. Turn off the power supply using the hard switch on the rear panel, unplug the unit,
then replace the cable. Failure to power down the unit before replacing a power cable can result in substantial damage
to your Pictor.
If you will be using a Constellation Audio amplifier (or any other high-powered amplifier), do not plug the Pictor into the
same AC socket or into any other outlet connected on that circuit. Constellation Audio amplifiers draw a great deal of
power and could affect the Pictor’s performance if the amplifier(s) and preamp are plugged into the same electrical circuit
or AC outlet.
When you connect or disconnect the AC cord, always grasp it by the plug, not by the cord itself. Pulling the plug out by
the cord can damage the cord, the AC socket, and/or the Pictor.
5

Input and output connections
1. XLR inputs
On the rear of the Pictor are six XLR inputs, two on each side. As you are looking at the rear panel, the left three XLR in-
puts are for the right channel, the right three inputs are for the left channel. Underneath each jack is the corresponding
input number. Use of XLR connections is recommended for the best possible audio quality. To remove an XLR plug, push
on the tab above the jack and pull the plug out.
IMPORTANT NOTE: To preserve true dual-mono operation, the Pictor uses a symmetrical circuit layout. This configura-
tion requires that the amplifier’s back panel connections be laid out a little differently from those on most preamps. For
example, the left-channel connection for Input 1 is on the right side of the back panel, and the right-channel connection is
at the left side. Connecting the cables in the usual side-by-side fashion will result in an incorrect installation and the mix-
ing of sounds from different source devices.
2. RCA inputs
These unbalanced inputs are provided as a convenience for use with unbalanced signal sources. Whenever possible, we
recommend using XLR connections instead. Connecting to an unbalanced source is handled in the same way an XLR bal-
anced source. To remove an RCA plug, grasp the plug and pull it out. Do not pull on the cable.
IMPORTANT NOTE: To preserve true dual-mono operation, the Pictor uses a symmetrical circuit layout. This configura-
tion requires that the amplifier’s back panel connections be laid out a little differently from those on most preamps. For
example, the left-channel connection for Input 1 is on the right side of the back panel, and the right-channel connection is
at the left side. Connecting the cables in the usual side-by-side fashion will result in an incorrect installation and the mix-
ing of sounds from different source devices.
6

3. XLR outputs
The inner XLR connections on the rear of the Pictor are outputs. The signal at these outputs is the same—it does not mat-
ter if you use output 1 or output 2. To remove an XLR plug, push on the tab on the connector body and pull the plug out.
Be sure to match the output to the correct channel on your amp. Looking at the back of the Pictor, the outputs on the left
side are for the right channel, the outputs on the right are for the left channel.
When XLR connections are used to connect the Pictor with Constellation Audio amplifiers, it creates the Constellation
Link—an audio interface that is, in essence, perfectly balanced. The positive- and negative-going halves of the signal will
exhibit near-zero difference except polarity.
4. RCA outputs
RCA unbalanced outputs are also supplied for amps and recording devices not equipped with XLR jacks. The signal at
these outputs is the same—it does not matter if you use output 1 or output 2.
When connecting to an amplifier, be sure to match the output to the correct channel on your amp. As you are looking at
the back of the Pictor, the outputs on the left side are for the right channel, the outputs on the right are for the left channel.
To remove an RCA plug, grasp it by the connector body and pull the plug out.
7

5. RS 232 / control
This connector is used to interface the Pictor with third-party
control systems such as those from AMX, Crestron and Control4,
and also to update the amplifier’s firmware. For more informa-
tion, contact your dealer.
6. USB / control
This USB jack interfaces the Pictor with third-party control sys-
tems such as those from AMX, Crestron and Control4, and also
to update the amplifier’s firmware. For more information, con-
tact your dealer
7. Trigger output
This 1/8-inch/3.5mm jack outputs a 12-volt DC trigger signal when the Pictor is powered on. This signal can be
used to automatically turn on a connected amplifier (if the amp has a DC trigger input), or to trigger home auto-
mation systems.
Power supply connections
8. AC input
This AC input accepts standard
15-amp IEC-type power cords.
You may use the high-quality
power cord supplied with the Pic-
tor, or substitute an aftermarket
power cord if you wish.
9. USB / control
These cables connect to the power
inputs of the Pictor preamp.
These are special spiral-wrapped,
gold-plated copper cables de-
signed for aerospace use. Each
one is rated to handle 30 amps.
Each of these cables mates with a matching jack on the preamp. Be sure to connect the Analog Right power cable
from the supply to the Analog Right jack on the preamp, the Analog Left power cable from the supply to the An-
alog Left jack on the preamp, and the Control power cable from the supply to the Control power jack on the pre-
amp.
Before connecting these cables, switch off the power supply and disconnect it from the AC power. Failing to
do this can damage the preamp or the power supply.
8

Controls / displays / indicators
10 - 16. Front panel controls
The front panel includes an LCD touchscreen and two knobs plus five buttons positioned underneath the dis-
play. These buttons allow you to control the Pictor without its remote. The functions of the buttons are shown
using icons on the touchscreen. Here are the functions of the buttons and knobs:
10. Balance
This knob adjusts left-to-right balance when an input screen is displayed—i.e., when an input is selected. Turn
the knob counterclockwise to shift the balance to the left, clockwise to shift the balance to the right. An onscreen
indicator will indicate if the balance is centered or how far it is shifted to one side or the other.
11. Volume
The volume control is always active when the Pictor is powered up and the mute is deactivated. Note that the
control is calibrated in negative decibels (-dB), reaching maximum volume at 0.0 dB and minimum at -99.0 dB.
Thus, when you turn the volume up (clockwise), the number on the front display will decrease. When you turn
the volume down (counterclockwise), the number will increase. The adjustments steps are in 1 dB increments
between -99.0 dB and -50.0 dB, and 0.5 dB increments from -49.5 dB to 0.0 dB.
12. Home
This button brings you to the input select screen no matter which control screen you are currently viewing.
13. Return/back
This button brings you back to the previous control screen. For example, from any input’s screen, such as XLR 1,
it will take you back to the input selector screen.
14. Standby/power
Push this button to turn the Pictor on and off. When you turn the unit on, it will take a few seconds for the unit
to warm up. When it is ready for use, its LCD screen will show the most recently selected input. To put the unit
in Standby mode, press this button again after turning on the power.
Hold this button down for 5 seconds to turn the Pictor off. The unit will enter cool-down mode for 10 seconds.
During cool-down, no buttons on the unit or remote will operate.
9

15. Multifunction button
The multifunction button serves different functions depending on which control screen is shown. A label on the
LCD display will show the function of the button. Note that when an input screen is shown, this button switches
between speaker and headphone output.
16. Mute
Press this to button to silence the Pictor temporarily. The numerical volume readout will flash. Press again to re-
store the audio. Because the Pictor uses a relay to perform the mute function, it may take a second or so for this
control to respond.
17. Rear-panel power switch
This is the master power switch for the Pictor. The
power/standby buttons on the front panel and remote
control will not function when this switch is flipped
down. To power up the Pictor, first flip this switch up,
then either press the Standby button on the remote, or
press the front of the touchscreen and hit the onscreen
Power button or the middle button under the touch-
screen.
10

Remote control
The remote operates the basic functions of the Pictor. It does not operate Constellation source devices, such as
the Perseus phono preamp and the Cygnus digital file player.
18. Standby
Push this button to turn the Pictor on
and off. When you turn the unit on, it
will take a few seconds for the unit to
warm up. When the amp is ready for
use, its LCD screen will show the most
recently selected input. To put the unit
in Standby mode, press this button
again after turning on the power.
Hold this button down for 5 seconds to
turn the integrated amp off. The unit
will enter cool-down mode for 10 sec-
onds. During cool-down, no buttons on
the unit or remote will operate.
19. Mute
Press this to button to silence the Pictor
temporarily. The numerical volume
readout will flash. Press again to re-
store the audio. Because the Pictor uses a
relay to perform the mute function, it
may take a second or so for this control to respond.
20. Volume up/down
Press these buttons to raise or lower the volume. Each press changes volume by 1 dB at volumes below -50.0 dB,
and 0.5 dB at volumes above -50.0 dB. Holding the buttons down raises or lowers the volume quickly.
21. Balance left/right
Press these buttons to shift the balance to the left or right. Each press changes the balance by 0.1 dB.
22. Input
Press this button to select among the Pictor’s XLR and RCA inputs. You will have to wait a second or so be-
tween pushes of this button, because for best sound quality the Pictor uses relays to switch inputs.
23. Headphones
Push this to activate the headphone output. This will mute the sound from the speakers. To restore the sound in
the speakers, push the headphones button again.
NOTE: The remote uses a single CR2032 battery, which should last about a year under normal use. If the am-
plifier does not respond to the remote, use a 7/64" allen wrench to remove the back cover, remove the old batter-
ies, and install a fresh CR2032 battery.
11

Standby
This screen appears if you touch the touchscreen when the rear-panel master
power switch is flipped up. Pushing the onscreen Power button (or the Standby
button on the remote) will power up the Pictor and put it into warmup mode.
Powering on
This screen appears after you press the onscreen Power button or the Standby
button on the remote while the Pictor is powered down. It indicates that the Pic-
tor is in warmup mode. No buttons will function when this screen appears. After
about 10 seconds, the Pictor will become active and an input screen will appear.
Powering off
This screen appears for about 10 seconds if you push the Standby button under
the middle of the front touchscreen or on the remote while the Pictor is powered
on. It indicates that the amplifier is powering off and going into Standby mode.
No buttons will function when the screen appears.
Input selector (Home)
This screen appears when the power is on and the unit is warmed up. Touching
any input button onscreen will switch to that input. The setup screen can be ac-
cessed from this screen using the multifunction button below the display.
Volume/balance
When you select an input, this screen will appear. It provides a large volume
display as well as the display for the balance control. The balance control
functions only when this screen is shown. Pushing the multifunction button
under the Setup label enters the input setup screen.
Note that when the input screen is displayed, the phase of the Pictor's output
can be switched using the button under the fourth indicator on the lower part of
the touchscreen (identified by the red arrow in the screen at right). When the
phase is positive (normal) the indicator will read PHASE+. When the phase is
flipped, the indicator will read PHASE-. Phase can also be switched using the
Phase button on the remote control.
Control screens
Many functions of the Pictor are controlled through the LCD touchscreen.
Here is how the control screens function:
12

Input setup
When you press the multifunction button labeled Setup on the input screen, this
screen will appear. It allows you to set up a home theater bypass input, and set
minimum and maximum output levels.
To set minimum and/or maximum levels: Adjust the Pictor's volume to the
desired minimum or maximum level, and press either the Set Min or Set Max
button, depending on which function you want, and hit Apply to accept the
setting. To clear the setting, press either CLR Min or CLR Max as appropriate, or press Default to clear both
settings.
To set up a home theater bypass input: First select the input you want to use for this function, then adjust the
volume on the Pictor to the desired level. Push the Set Min button, then the Set Max button, then the Apply
button. To clear these settings, press CLR Min then CLR Max, or press Default.
Screen setup
To adjust LCD brightness: Press the + and – buttons on the left side of the screen,
on either side of the dark dot.
To adjust LCD contrast: Press the + and – buttons on the right side of the screen,
on either side of the half-dark/half-light dot.
To adjust LCD backlight timeout: Press the Timeout button in the lower left
corner to keep the screen lit for 15 sec., 30 sec., 1 min., 5 min., 10 min., and
always on.
To accept or cancel screen setting changes: Press the Apply or Cancel button, respectively.
To return to the factory default settings: Press the Default button. This will bring up a screen asking “Are you
sure you want to set this device to its default settings?” Hit the Yes button to go to default settings, the No
button to cancel.
Product info
This screen is accessed using the multifunction button labeled Info on the screen
setup screen. It is for servicing use only.
13

Step-by-step operating instructions
We’ve covered all of the basic controls and indicators of the Pictor. Here’s how you use them to perform the
basic operations of turning the unit on, selecting a source, adjusting the sound, and turning the unit off.
STEP 1: Before making or changing any connections to the Pictor, turn off the master power switch on the
back of the power supply, and turn off the power amplifier(s).
STEP 2: To turn on the Pictor from the front panel, first make sure the power switch on the back of the unit is
on, and your power amplifier is powered off. Now touch the touchscreen. It will illuminate and a power but-
ton will appear onscreen. To power up the Pictor, press the onscreen Power button, the middle button under
the touchscreen or the Standby button on the remote
When you turn on the power, you will hear the Pictor’s internal relays click as the unit goes into warmup
mode. The touchscreen will read Powering On. After about 10 seconds, an input screen will appear and the
most recently used input will be selected. Once Pictor and your source devices are fully powered up, it is safe
to turn on your power amplifier.
STEP 3: To change to a different input from the front panel, press the button under the Home icon. This will
bring up the input select screen. Push an onscreen button (XLR-1, RCA-1, etc.) to select the input you want.
The screen for that input will appear. Alternatively, you can scroll through the available inputs using the In-
put button on the remote. Enable playback on the chosen source device.
STEP 4: Adjust listening volume with the volume knob on the front of the unit or the volume up/down but-
tons on the remote. Note that the control is calibrated in negative decibels (-dB), reaching maximum volume
at 0.0 dB and minimum at -99.0 dB. Thus, when you turn the volume up (clockwise), the number on the front
display will decrease. When you turn the volume down (counterclockwise), the number will increase.
STEP 5: To adjust left-to-right balance, turn the balance knob. Counterclockwise shifts the balance to the left,
clockwise shifts it to the right. Or use the buttons on the remote; left shifts the balance to the left, right shifts to
right. The onscreen indicator will show you the balance setting in 0.1 dB increments.
STEP 6: To mute the sound, press the Mute button on the remote or the second button from the right under
the touchscreen (only available when the home and volume/balance screens are displayed). An X will appear
next to the speaker icon, and the volume indicator will flash. To unmute the system and restore sound, press
the Mute button on the remote or the button under the touchscreen.
STEP 7: You may wish to set a maximum output level to prevent damage to your speakers if the level is acci-
dentally turned up too high, and a minimum output level so that the Pictor always delivers an audible vol-
ume. To do this, adjust the Pictor’s volume to the desired minimum or maximum level. Push the
multifunction button labeled Setup. Press either the Set Min or Set Max button, depending on which function
you want. Hit Apply to accept the setting, or Cancel to return to the original setting. To clear the setting, press
either CLR Min or CLR Max as appropriate, or press Default to clear both settings.
STEP 8: If you want to use the Pictor in a home theater system, in conjunction with a surround-sound proces-
sor, you should set up one input for home theater bypass. When you switch to this input, volume and balance
will be at fixed settings and your channel balance adjustments in the surround processor will be preserved. To
do this, first select the input you want to use for this function. Now adjust the volume on the Pictor to the de-
sired level. Push the multifunction button labeled Setup. Push the Set Min button, then the Set Max button,
then the Apply button. To clear these settings, press CLR Min then CLR Max, or press Default.
STEP 9: To turn the system off, stop playback on the source device. Hold the Standby button in the middle
under the LCD touchscreen or on the remote down for 5 seconds. The unit will enter cool-down mode for 10
seconds, during which no buttons will work. After cool-down mode finishes, you can turn the unit back on
again as described in Step 2 above.
14

Maintenance
The Pictor requires no regular maintenance.
If the unit’s surface becomes dusty, simply wipe it off with a soft dry cloth. Do not spray cleaners on the sur-
face. To clean fingerprints from the surface of the preamp or power supply, spray a small amount of mild
window cleaner such as Windex onto a soft dry cloth, then use the cloth to remove the fingerprints. Do not
spray the cleaner directly onto the amplifier.
Troubleshooting
Unit will not turn on
1. First, check to see if the rear master power switch on the power supply is on. If it is, try the following steps
in order. After you perform each step, touch the touchscreen on the front of the unit. If it illuminates, the unit
is functioning correctly and there is no need to continue to the next steps.
A. Check power cable connections between the wall and the Pictor. Push the wall plug and the connector
at the power supply in firmly.
B. If the Pictor is plugged into an AC line conditioner, make sure the line conditioner is turned on.
C. Flip the master power switch off and on again. This will reset the Pictor's internal circuit breaker.
D. Check the circuit breaker for the AC circuit that the Pictor is plugged into. If the breaker is tripped, flip
it back on. If it will not turn on, there is likely a short circuit somewhere in the lines or in a device connect-
ed to this AC circuit. Check the power cords for your components to make sure none have been damaged.
E. If none of these conditions restores power, it is possible one of the Pictor's internal fuses is blown. Do
not attempt to change the fuse yourself—the Pictor requires the use of special high-voltage fuses that are
not commonly available. Contact your Constellation dealer.
Unit is on but no sound is produced
1. If the front touchscreen is blank, touch it. If it illuminates and shows anything other than the onscreen Pow-
er button, the unit is on. If it shows the onscreen Power button, touch the button to power up the unit.
2. If the front touchscreen shows the message “Powering On,” wait about 10 seconds. Once the unit is
warmed up, an input screen should appear and the sound should come from the speakers or headphones.
3. If the volume numbers on the LCD panel are flashing, hit the Mute button on the front panel or on the re-
mote to restore sound.
4. If none of the above steps restores the sound, try the following steps in order. If any one of the steps re-
stores the sound, there is no need to continue to the next steps.
A. Check you are on the correct input. Cycle through available inputs using the front touchscreen con-
trols, or select the desired input using the remote.
B. Check that the source component is on and playing back—i.e., if it is a CD player, make sure that the
CD is playing and not in pause mode.
C. Check the connections between the Pictor and your amplifier(s), and between the Pictor and the audio
source device. If a cable is disconnected, reconnect it. If this does not restore sound, try substituting a dif-
ferent set of cables in order to make sure the original set was functioning properly.
D. Check that the volume is at a sufficient level. Do not turn the volume all the way up to check this, as if
sound is reestablished while the Pictor is set to output maximum volume, damage can be done to your
speakers and amplifiers.
E. If none of these actions restores the sound, contact your Constellation Audio dealer.
15

Sound seems unfocused
1. Play a CD of typical pop vocals and sit in front of your speakers at an equal distance from both (at least 8
feet away from each speaker). If the vocals seem to come from between the speakers, they are connected cor-
rectly. Alternatively, you can use the “barking dog” test from the Stereophile Test CD or a similar phase check
test from another test CD.
2. If the vocals seem to come from all around you, make sure that the cables between the amplifier(s) and your
speakers are connected properly, with the marked connector or cable connected to the positive (red or +) bind-
ing post on the amplifier, and the unmarked connector or cable connected to the negative (black or -) binding
post.
3. If you need to change the speaker cable connection, turn the amplifier off first. To avoid possible electrical
shock or damage to the amplifier, you must discharge the energy stored in the power supply. To discharge
the power supply, turn the power off with music playing. It may take up to a minute or so for the sound to
die out. After the sound dies out, it is OK to change or adjust the cables.
Sound comes from the wrong speaker
If left-channel sounds are coming from the right or vice-versa (i.e., the violins in an orchestral recording come
from the right speaker, not the left), check the cable connections between the source and the Pictor, the Pictor
and your amplifier, and the amplifier and your speakers. Make sure left-channel cables are connected to the
left channels of all components, and right to the right channels.
Only one speaker is working, or one speaker is playing a different piece of music
1. Check each cable between the Pictor and the source components. Make sure the left channel of the source
goes to the left input on the Pictor (which is on the right side, as you're looking at the back panel), and the
right channel to the right input (which is on the left side). On the back of the Pictor, the left and right inputs
are NOT next to each other. They are on opposite sides of the unit. In other words, the XLR and RCA input
numbers are 1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 1.
2. If you’re listening to speakers, check to make sure both speaker cables are firmly connected.
3. If you’re listening to headphones, check to make sure the headphone plug is pushed all the way into your
headphone amplifier’s output jack. If you’re using an adapter, make sure the headphone plug is fully inserted
into the adapter, that the adapter is fully inserted into the headphone jack, and that the connection between
the headphone cable and the headphones is secure.
Remote control does not work
1. Move the remote a few feet away to a different location and try again. The remote requires a clear line-of-
sight to the infrared detector on the Pictor’s front panel.
2. If the remote still doesn’t work, use a 7/64" allen wrench to remove the remote’s battery compartment cov-
er, then replace the remote’s CR2032 battery with a fresh battery and replace the cover.
Balance and volume controls do not function
1. If you are using the input configured for home theater bypass, this situation is normal—volume and bal-
ance controls do not function in this mode.
2. If you are not using an input configured for home theater bypass, you need to clear out the minimum and
maximum volume settings for the input you are using. Press the multifunction button labeled Setup on the
screen, then press the Default button.
16

Specifications
Inputs 3 XLR stereo
3 RCA stereo
USB (for control)
Outputs 2 XLR stereo
2 RCA stereo
12-volt trigger
Frequency response 10 Hz to 100 kHz
±0.5 dB
THD+N <0.001%, 20 Hz - 20 kHz @ 2V out
<0.1%, 20 Hz - 20 kHz @ 10V out
Output impedance <50Ω
Input impedance 20KΩ XLR balanced
10KΩ RCA unbalanced
Signal-to-noise ratio ≥105 dB, A-weighted
Volume control resolution 0.5dB from 0dB to -90 dBFS
Dimensions (hwd) Preamp: 6 x 17 x 15 in
432 x 133 x 381 mm
Power supply: 3 x 17 x 15 in
432 x 70 x 368 mm
Weight Preamp: 45 lbs/20 kg
Power supply: 22 lbs/10 kg
For more information
Your Pictor line stage should give you many years of trouble-free, maintenance-free service. If you encounter
any problems you cannot solve or have technical questions, please contact your Constellation dealer. For more
information about Constellation products, please visit our website:
constellationaudio.com