Black Ice F159 New Jim Fosgate phono stage

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Tube Hybrid Phono Stage With Crosstalk Reduction Circuit

Underwood Hifi Inc. is glad to introduce the Black Ice Audio F159 phono preamp. The F-159 is our favorite under $2,500.00 phono stage.

The F159 is a superb phono stage that competes with others selling for double its price. It includes a $565.00 XT-R crosstalk reduction circuit as well as all new Jim Fosgate designed circuitry. It handles moving magnet as well as moving coil cartridges and offers superb performance for the money.

In the TNT review they said:
 

"The guys at Black Ice Audio told me to run-in the unit for 300 hours. It already sounds fabulously engaging after 30 hours, so I'm in for a treat over the next few weeks, it seems. My first impression is standout detail resolution and dynamics - drama, weight/solidity, and delicacy with layers of parts and textures. When reading reviews, I've wondered what "holographic soundstage" meant. I now know how a holographic sonic image sounds. The soundscape is dimensional and nuanced. Records I've heard many times over 50+ years sound refreshed - exciting, engaging. There are clear, often subtle, layers of previously unnoticed detail coming at me from every disc. The music is sounding not merely loud but big and full bodied with nuance. Records have always been a physical mediator between myself and distant and exotic people, places, and events. Listening to favourite recordings reproduced with the F159 feels like they are much closer than ever before."

Read it at:  https://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/black_ice_dac_phono_e.html

      I have one perfect photo sample @ $1580.00.

State of the art Phono stage

Back Story of the F 159: The author of the F159 is Jim Fosgate. Foz’s electronic design experience and excellence spans decades and coupled with Jolida’s decades of manufacturing experience, results in a unit which can provide our customers with a distinct improvement in turntable sound reproduction at an affordable price. In addition the phono pre-amplifier has a Fosgate designed Crosstalk Reduction Circuit (XT-R) which represents a distinctive electronic approach to solving crosstalk caused by a turntable’s cartridge and acoustic problems due to axial tilt. We have placed the name F159 to honor the designer who has built and tested 158 prototypes until finalizing his work in the 159th iteration.

Jim has used an upgrade to the classic Cascode circuit design and added a MOSFET to give the musical performance of tubes with the speed and detail of current solid state designs. Unlike most tube equipment it can product a perfect square wave and uses zero negative feedback when the tone controls are off.

Black Ice’s Audio F159 Phonograph Stage Tube Pre-Amplifier is an example of state-of-the-art vacuum-tube technology as it exists today. This product was designed to provide:

1) a Phono Stage that would deliver musical accuracy

2) a significant value based on a high performance to price ratio

3) a vacuum tube unit that would exceed the reliability of solid state units.

The F159 is housed in a heli-arc welded chassis and uses 2 6922/6DJ8 tubes. Parts quality is the best currently available, and the overall circuit layout is maximized for sonic purity.

Another major feature of the phono stage is the inclusion of the XTR circuit or Cross Talk Reduction circuit. To obtain high performance from a modern phonograph system, the tonearm and pickup cartridge must be properly adjusted to within a few thousands of an inch to minimize the effect of axial tilt. Axial tilt is when the cartridge needle of the turntable is not perpendicular to the record groove. In addition, a low dB channel separation of the cartridge can result in crosstalk. Crosstalk is simply the stereo signal from the left side leaking into the right side, and the stereo signal from the right side leaking into the left side. Jim Fosgate, has designed an elegant electronic circuit to compensate for crosstalk and axial tilt. The XT-R represents a breakthrough since axial tilt and crosstalk is not mitigated thru the traditional method of physical adjustment, the compensation of the XT-R is electronic. The XT-R incorporates signal cancellation to reduce inter channel crosstalk. This is the same technique that is used in high separation surround processors. The XT-R corrects for a misaligned stylus or cantilever, misaligned generator, misaligned tone arm azimuth (axial tilt). It also reduces crosstalk from cross coupling of the generator coils or tone arm wiring. This circuit works with moving magnet, moving iron, and moving coil cartridges. The XT-R will compensate for up to 7 degrees of axial tilt and can improve channel separation to a maximum of 48 dB. The result will be an improvement in stereo imaging and clarity without any sacrifice in smoothness.

Basic Specifications:
1- Gain @ 1KHZ in low gain position 40DB with 47K input.
2- Gain @ 1KHZ in high gain position 60DB with 47K input.
3- Noise floor in high gain position approx -70 DB with input load set to 10 ohms, noise floor will be lower with gain set in low position.
4- Frequency response with RIAA EQ is Plus/Minus 1/4 DB from 250 HZ to 20KHZ, + 3DB at 20 HZ (Bass Boost)
5- Distortion .05% @ 1 KHZ 1V RMS out.
6- Plate voltages APPROX 90V on input stage, 70V on second stage.
7- The calibrate meters work the same way as the XTR.
8- Rear panel Adjustable loading

Read my #1 rated AudiogoN feedback and then call me at 770-667-5633 with questions or to purchase a unit.
Email at: [email protected]
PayPal, Visa, AMEX, Discover and MasterCard as well as bank wires & money orders accepted.

GA & HI residents add sales tax.

Available in 220/240v for international sales.
International sales are paid by bank funds wire transfer.

I also sell phono preamps by LSA, Musical Fidelity, EAT, MOFI & Pro-Ject. And the fabulous Sweet vinyl pop and scratch filters.

Brands carried: Audio Alchemy, Audio GD electronics, Audio GE speakers, Black Ice Audio tube electronics, Bluesound music servers & streamers, Core Power Technologies A/V line conditioners and cables, Denon, DSPeaker room correction, EARMEN products, EAT phono stages, Emerald Physics speakers & amplifiers, Focal headphones, HifiMan headphones, Iso-Acoustics, LSA speakers, headphones, turntables & electronics, Marantz Reference, Martin Logan speakers & subwoofers, Melco servers, MOFI Electronics, Musical Fidelity, Music Hall, Ortofon cartridges, Peachtree Audio, Project turntables, Pure Audio Labs DAC’s, Quad electronics & speakers, Raal Requisite headphones, Sendy headphones, Silverline Audio speakers, SPL electronics, Sumiko cartridges, Sweet Vinyl pop & click filters, Wireworld, Zesto Audio tube electronics

Sales policies on our website at www.underwoodhifi.com