Black Ice Audio (Jolida) F159 end game MM/ MC phonostage upgraded - relisted

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Black Ice Audio (Jolida) F159 end game MM/ MC phonostage upgraded - relisted

De-tweaked a little to drop the price so re-listing. Please ignore my other listing.

A rare in the U.K. piece (230v). An interesting story on these. Jolida is now called Black Ice Audio who have joined up with Jim Fosgate (audio royalty - look him up).

F159 as Jim built 159 prototypes. The F159 includes the Foz XT-R cross talk eliminator which makes a huge difference. There are reviews of both the stand alone X-TR and F159 online.

This unit is very far from stock - see list of upgrades (no value changes, just better component quality):

Power supply:
IEC is now a Furutech gold
Fuse is a Wilbrand Acoustics
All power supply capacitors ((combo of Audio Note (both types) and Elna))
Soundcoat dampening applied to the chassis as a whole
Voltage regulator now a New Class D
Chips for Foz control coated with Audio Magic Black Out Paint


Input:
Upgraded gold over copper RCA (and the output)
Loading resisters now Vishay Naked Z-Foils (massive upgrade for any phonostage)
Solid silver ptfe wrapped wire (and the output)

Signal board:
High voltage caps now Mundorf and JJ
All coupling and output caps now Mundorf ZN
Mega tube upgrade to NOS Pearl Cryo GE 5670 with gold pin adaptors. Both tubes measured and rated to Low Noise Grade. These tubes were $90 each in 2014. I have just dropped these in as NOS - they are not used. Both are GE, one being a triple meca and the other a shield getter, both from the 1960’s. Ultra rare!

Some info off the web:

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.


Another major feature of the phono stage is the inclusion of the XT-R 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

Once the phonostage is warmed for a few mins and then the Foz XTR is dialled in (only need be done once), this pre sound epic!!


These retail for $1500 in the US (excl post and VAT) with mout any stellar upgrades.

£960 incl UK post
Or collection with Covid-19 on doorstep collection.

I’m also incl the set up disc, these retail for £50.

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