CAUTION To reduce risk of electric shock, do not remove any of the amplifier’s cover plates or screws. There are no user serviceable parts inside. Contact qualified service personnel. WARNING To reduce risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this amplifier to moisture, rain, or excessive humidity.
Thank you for purchasing the Constellation Audio Hercules II amplifier. You are about to experience what we believe is one of the finest amplifiers ever built. Because of their very high power output, this amplifier demands careful and thoughtful installation in order to deliver the performance it is designed to achieve. This is especially true of the Hercules II Mono, which delivers double the power of the Hercules II Stereo.
Before you install the amplifier Unpacking At more than 200 pounds each, the Hercules II amplifier is too heavy for one person to lift safely. Four strong people are required to lift each amplifier and to move it from place to place. Likewise, do not place this amplifier on surfaces that cannot safely support their weight. Lightweight furniture and equipment racks should not be used to support these amplifiers.
Location The Hercules II must be installed in an area with adequate ventilation. There should be at least 6 in/15 cm of clearance between the vents on the side of the amplifier(s) and the nearest wall or cabinet. Ensure that no curtains or shades can be lowered in a way that will block the amplifier’s vents. If the amplifier is installed in a cabinet or in an equipment closet, ensure that the cabinet/closet has adequate ventilation.
Connections 1. BAL input Use this XLR balanced input for connection to balancedoutput preamps of other brands. To select this input, set the input switch to BAL (left position). To remove the XLR plug, push on the tab above the jack and pull the plug out. 2. Direct input Use this XLR balanced input only for connection to the Constellation Audio Virgo or Altair preamp. This connection forms the Constellation Direct—an audio interface that is, in essence, perfectly balanced.
4. Speaker-cable binding posts On the Hercules II Mono, two sets of binding posts are provided for the output. These can be used for standard cabling (with a two-conductor cable running from the amp to the speaker) or in a biwired arrangement with separate cables going from one amp to the speaker’s woofer and midrange/tweeter drivers. Consult your speaker’s manual for more information. On the Hercules II Stereo, one set of binding posts is provided for each channel.
5. 20-amp IEC AC socket Connect the supplied 20-amp AC cord here. You may also use an aftermarket power cord if you wish. 6. Trigger input This 3.5mm jack accepts a 12-volt DC on/off trigger signal from preamps and third-party control systems. When a 12volt DC trigger signal is input to the jack, the Hercules II will turn on. When the trigger signal stops, the amplifier will turn off. Controls / displays / indicators 7.
. Master power switch This switch disconnects the amplifier from AC power. If the switch is set to the Off position, the front power switch will not be active and the status indicator LED will not be illuminated. If the switch is set to the On position, the front power switch will become active and the LED will glow solid red, indicating standby mode. This switch also resets the amplifier’s internal circuit breaker. If the circuit breaker trips, flip the switch off and on again to reset it. 10.
Operation Initial installation and power-up STEP 1: Before making any connections, make sure the amplifier’s master power switch is turned off. If the AC has not been connected, connect the amplifier(s) to the wall AC power socket using the supplied cord. STEP 2: If you are using Hercules II Monos, connect a high-quality speaker cable from the left speaker to the left amplifier’s binding posts, and repeat the process for the right speaker/channel.
STEP 8: To mute the amplifier, press and release the left side of the bar on the front panel. The LED status indicator will start flashing blue and the sound will stop. To unmute the amp, press and release the left side of the bar again. STEP 9: To turn the amplifier off, press and hold the left side of the bar on the front panel for 3 seconds. The LED status indicator will start to blink red, indicating that the amp is in cool-down mode.
E. If none of these conditions restores power, it is likely one of the amplifier’s internal fuses is blown. Do not attempt to change the fuse yourself—the amplifier requires the use of special high-voltage fuses that are not commonly available. Contact your Constellation Audio dealer for service. 2. If the front status indicator LED is illuminated red, push the left side of the front power switch bar and hold it for 3 seconds. The LED should begin flashing green.
4. If these steps do not restore sound to both speakers, turn the rear power switch off on the Hercules II Mono or biwired Hercules II Stereo connected to the speaker that is not working, or on the single Hercules II Mono amp. Leave the music playing, and allow it to continue to play until the sound dies out. This will discharge the power supply to avoid possible electrical shock or amplifier damage.
Specifications: Hercules II Mono 14 Inputs 1 Constellation Direct XLR 1 standard balanced XLR 1 unbalanced RCA Outputs dual metal binding posts Power output, 8Ω (1 kHz @ 1% THD+N) Power output, 4Ω (1 kHz @ 1% THD+N) Power output, 2Ω (1 kHz @ 1% THD+N) 1.1 kW 1.5 kW 2 kW Frequency response 10 Hz to 100 kHz +1/-0.5 dB Gain 14 dB Constellation Direct 26 dB Balanced & RCA THD+N (1 kHz @ up to 90% of rated power) <0.05% Output impedance 0.
Specifications: Hercules II Stereo Inputs 2 Constellation Direct XLR 2 standard balanced XLR 2 unbalanced RCA Outputs metal binding posts Power output per channel, 8Ω (1 kHz @ 1% THD+N) Power output per channel, 4Ω (1 kHz @ 1% THD+N) Power output per channel, 2Ω (1 kHz @ 1% THD+N) 550 W 750 W 1 kW Frequency response 10 Hz to 100 kHz +1/-0.5 dB Gain 14 dB Constellation Direct 26 dB Balanced & RCA THD+N (1 kHz @ up to 90% of rated power) <0.05% Output impedance 0.
For more information Your Hercules II Mono or Hercules II Stereo amplifier 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 Audio dealer. For more information about Constellation Audio products, please visit our website: www.constellationaudio.