We believe great audio components should deliver convenience and ease of use commensurate with their sound quality. This is why we created the Pyxis, the high-end audio industry's most advanced and distinctive remote control. We include the Pyxis with the Altair line stage, the Sirius HD digital music source, and the Orion phono preamplifier.

The core of the Pyxis is its advanced 432- by 230-pixel touchscreen. We chose the touchscreen's elegant font after considerable experimentation, then fine-tuned it for a classic look that recalls the graceful, handwritten notations of Leonardo daVinci. The touchscreen's display and functions change depending on the situation. For example, it can display the number of the SACD track playing on the Sirius HD digital music source. It can display a list of artists, albums, or songs stored on a USB stick. It can display the menu that allows renaming of the Altair line source's inputs. Or it can display the running temperature of the Pegasus amplifier.

The advanced technology of the touchscreen complements the classic feel of the Pyxis' machined aluminum knobs and buttons. The volume knob connects to a mechanical potentiometer, so it has the familiar feel of a high-quality volume control-yet as it turns, the touchscreen displays the volume level with a resolution of 0.1 dB.

The back of the Pyxis is hand-upholstered in buttery leather by an artisan whose clients include many of the best-known names in fashion accessories. The leather looks as beautiful as the interior trim of the most exclusive luxury cars, and also provides a practical non-slip surface. A matching charging stand recharges the remote's complement of NiMH batteries.

To provide reliable operation, the Pyxis uses 2.4-gigahertz 802.15.4 RF wireless technology. It works even when it is pointed away from the Constellation Audio components-and even from the next room. An infrared emitter on the front allows the Pyxis to control components of other brands; it can learn all standard IR codes.

The Pyxis is surely the most advanced remote ever offered with high-end audio components. Yet it is far more user-friendly than most other remotes-and easily the most handsome remote ever created. Our “dream team” of the world's best audio engineers and industrial designers believe their components deserve no less.

The Altair produces something previously thought impossible: the natural timbre and warmth of the finest tube preamps, with precision, dynamics, and purity matched by no other solid-state preamp. One must hear it-and use it-to appreciate how revolutionary the Altair really is.

Line Stage Gain Module
This balanced preamp module forms the core of the Altair. It is made from two mirror-imaged amplifiers, one amplifying the positive half of the signal and the other amplifying the negative half. An essentially perfect balance between positive and negative is maintained through the use of hand-matched, ultra-low-noise FETs and servo circuits.

Fully balanced circuitry
The Line Stage Gain Module's complementary balanced circuitry automatically cancels incoming noise and interference while increasing slew rate and frequency response. It is part of the reason behind the Altair's extraordinary 200-kHz bandwidth.

Unequaled mechanical isolation
The Altair's circuit boards are mounted on a sandwich of stainless steel sheets surrounding an isolating polymer layer. The assembly is then attached to an elastomeric suspension and connected with highly flexible, custom-made wires to protect against external vibration.

Unmatched shielding
Each Line Stage Gain Module is protected from electromagnetic interference by a shield machined from solid aluminum. Control circuits are shielded by formed aluminum enclosures. And of course, the thick aluminum chassis walls provide further shielding.

Machined solid aluminum chassis
The enclosures for the main chassis and the power supply are machined from solid billets of aluminum, so they cannot resonate as sheet metal enclosures do. The wall thickness is 8.2mm, thick enough to block 50/60 Hertz electromagnetic interference from household circuits.

Constellation Link balanced interface
The Altair puts out perfectly balanced signals through our Constellation Link interface, which bypasses the input module of our Hercules and Pegasus amplifiers to reduce the number of gain stages in the signal chain.

Triple-transformer power supply
Inside the Altair power supply module are three separate R-core transformers, one for left channel analog audio, one for right channel analog audio, and one for digital/control circuitry. Custom-extruded PCOCC cables terminated with aerospace-type Hypertronics connectors carry the separate power feeds to the Altair main chassis.

Pyxis wireless touchscreen system controller
The Altair comes with the Pyxis wireless system controller, which controls all Constellation Audio components as well as products from other brands. A 432- by 230-pixel touchscreen on the Pyxis allows control of the Altair's advanced functions. The aluminum volume knob is connected to a high-quality potentiometer to give a traditional high-end audio feel.

Optically controlled resistors for volume control
Instead of using a potentiometer to perform volume control within the circuit, we use an array of 48 optically controlled resistors. These resistors are controlled through a temperature-compensated tracking circuit that maintains ideal signal balance in all conditions. Because they are completely electrically isolated from the control circuits, the optically controlled resistors are as sonically benign as an ordinary resistor.altair

Advanced multifunction touchscreen
The 432- by 230-pixel full-color touchscreen displays control functions and operating information for all Constellation Audio components, using a high-resolution font chosen and refined specifically for this application.

2.4-GHz IEEE 802.15.4 wireless technology
Provides reliable, responsive control of all Constellation Audio components without affecting audio performance in any way. Works regardless of the direction the remote is pointed, and also works through walls.

Incomparably elegant look and feel
A machined aluminum front panel, machined aluminum knobs, and hand-upholstered leather back give the Pyxis a style and comfort rivalling those of the most extravagant luxury cars.

Learning multibrand IR remote function
A standard IR emitter on the back of the remote allows the Pyxis to operate any IR remote-controllable audio or video components. The Pyxis can learn commands from any standard IR remote.

Traditional-feel volume control
The machined aluminum volume knob is connected to a high-quality potentiometer, so it turns smoothly and precisely with a feel that will be familiar and comfortable to anyone who has used a high-end preamplifier.

Instant touch activation
A soft touch to the Pyxis screen “wakes up” the remote, activating its circuitry and illuminating its backlight.

Formats
CD Formats : Red Book
Audio Formats : WAV, AIFF, FLAC, ALAC, OGG Vorbis, AAC, Windows Media-formatted content files, MP3
Internet Radio Provider : vTuner 
Disc Compatability : CD, CD-R, CD-RW

User Control
Front Panel : Touch-sensitive eject and shutdown mode function
TV Monitor : 4:3 and 16:9 customisable TV interface USB touch screen compatible
Web Interface : PC and Mac internet browser compatible Adobe Flash user interface
AMX Creston : Installer-customisable reference apps available
Handheld : User interface app for iPhone and iPod Touch devices

Streaming and Ripping
USB : Scan and play from FAT and NTFS formatted memory sticks
Network Shares : Scan and play from music stored on a network share
Network Storage : Rip to external network storage for expanded music storage
CD Metadata : AllMusic.com online, FreeDB online and local database
StreamNet : 6 user streams to NaimNet and NetStreams systems

Power
Supply Voltage : 100V-230V; 50 or 60Hz

Formats
CD Formats Red Book
Disc Compatability CD, CD-R

User Control
Front Panel Seven button matrix
Handheld R-Com

Power
Power Supply Options 555PS, 2 x 555PS

Upgrades
Power Supply 555 PS
Other NAC 252, 552 PS, NAP 500, 500 PS