Up for sale is a soon to be 3 month old (end of May) F 360 Preamplifier. It is in mint condition. The reason I am selling has nothing to do with the sound quality. I have it paired with my recently purchased AVA M225 monoblocks which together they sound great. I like the M225's so much I just have to try them with their Digital Preamp. Otherwise I could easily be content it really does sound good.
One nice feature in the design is the fact that it uses 1 6sn7 tube very economical for tube rolling!
From the Black Ice Web Site:
Black Ice Audio’s F360 Vacuum Tube Preamplifier is an example of state-of-the-art vacuum-tube technology as
it exists today. This product was designed to provide: 1) a Preamplifier that would deliver musical accuracy 2) a
significant value based on a high performance to price ratio 3) Features that will be useful to a wide range of
amplifiers in contouring the musical presentation 4) a vacuum tube unit that would exceed the reliability of solidstate units. The F360 is housed in a Heli-arc welded chassis and uses 1 6SN7 vacuum tube. Parts quality is the
best currently available, and the overall circuit layout is maximized for sonic purity.
Many listeners in general want speakers to disappear, tight clear bass, extended highs without glare and a rich,
full midrange. Putting together a system that meets the expectation of the owner can be a hit and miss
proposition given the significant number of permutations of sound resulting from different combinations of audio
components. With the F360, Black Ice Audio has built a preamplifier with features that will assist in the
contouring of your sound preferences. The SSX feature (Sound Stage Expander) is a dimensionality circuit that
adds a greater sense of depth, space. It is a Jim Fosgate US patent (number 5,307,415) originally used in
surround processors. It was called a “panorama control”. It cross feeds signals between the channels so each
channel has a signal from the other which is out of phase. Negative feedback is applied around this stage in a
single loop. Output offset is controlled with DC servos allowing the buffers to directly drive the signal path with
no output capacitors. Separate, oversized storage capacitors are utilized on each channel to provide a rocksolid supply voltage without voltage regulators to affect the signal. The circuit is configured so that audio signals
from the one channel cannot couple to the other, preserving soundstage width and depth.
The bass equalizer circuit is designed to increase up to 15 dB low bass impact without bass boom. Conversely,
in the event of boomy bass, the bass equalizer can reduce the boom up to 15 dB. In addition, there is a high
frequency equalizer circuit that can increase or decrease high frequency up to 11 dB. (Based on Fosgate US
patent 3,883,832). Distortion and noise are below the threshold of hearing. The bandwidth is very wide allowing
audio signals to pass through without colorations. Bandwidth is an amazing “ten times” threshold of human
hearing 2 Hz to 200KHz at -3Db.
Asking Price is 1700.00 which includes power cord, alllen wrench, glass cloth,manual and remote, 2 NOS Sylvania Tubes - 1 chrome dome (hiss but sounds good)and 1 branded Baldwin and the stock tube. All 3 tube have a couple hundred hrs. on them.
plus shipping from 19607 Paypal FF or you pay paypal fees or money order. Check my feedback under Bufford on Agon and US Audiomart and purchase without any worries
Thanks for your interest.
Irwin
