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The Back Story
:
Suffice to say that Jim Fosgate (nicknamed “Foz”) is a World-Class Engineer and is the
vision and expertise behind the Fusion F35. His repertoire of achievement spans every category of audio
electronic devices from two channel audio, car audio, surround sound, headphone amplifiers to digital audio
equipment. If one wants to experience a “live experience of audio”, Foz’s sound room epitomizes the fusion
of his designs in preamplifiers, amplifiers, source devices, cables and speakers. His proficiency is not a
matter of a blind squirrel finding an acorn. It is based on decades of document research and
experimentation of every possible major circuit approach, followed up by Foz building and auditioning the
circuits himself. Many people have asked us about the model number Fusion F35 which is rather like a
fighter jet designation. The F in the model number represents an abbreviation for Foz, and 35 denotes the
new replacement for the Fusion 3502, JD 302 and the JD 502 which have been in the Black Ice Audio/Jolida
Inc. product lineup for over 25 years.
Another aspect of Foz’s expertise is manufacturing acumen. His designs reflect that somebody has to make
the stuff and complications are not the friend of manufacturers. Foz’s circuits are second to none in terms of
sound reproduction, but when the added dimension of creating a unit that uses accessible parts, ease of
assembly and cost effectiveness, World-Class Engineer is not a complement, it is an identification of fact.
About Your Fusion F35
Before working on the design of the F35, we asked a simple question, “What do listeners want”. Many
listeners in general want speakers to disappear with a natural organic three dimensional sound, tight clear
bass, extended highs without glare and a rich full midrange. Out of that objective came a circuit design we
call the Odyssey. Essentially the Odyssey is a dual phase V drive circuit. The underlying basis is a fully
balanced differential push pull circuit.
Black Ice Audio’s Fusion F35 Integrated Stereo Vacuum Tube Amplifier is an example of state-of-the-art
vacuum-tube technology as it exists today. This unit contains the Jim Fosgate newly designed Odyssey
circuit. This product was designed to provide: 1) an integrated amplifier 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. Parts quality is the best currently available, and the overall circuit layout is
maximized for sonic purity.
The Fusion F35 comes with 4 pieces of EL 34 or 6550 power output tubes, 4 pieces of 12AX7 for the
preamplifier and power drive tubes. With Exact Biasing, one can use either EL 34/6CA7s or 6550s. Please
note that the tube types KT88 through KT150s can be used in place of the 6550s. The Fusion F35 is rated
at 70 watts per channel RMS with the 6550s and 60 watts per channel with EL 34s. Since the Fusion F35
already has a built in pre- amplifier, all that is required to create a sound system is the addition of two
speakers of 4 or 8 ohms and a source.
Another change is one of cosmetics. The F35 has glass integrated into the cosmetic design at the front panel
and the transformer cover. Controls except for the volume control are touch activated and of course there is
a remote for your convenience. For biasing, the amp has a simple process Exact Biasing which is adjusting a
screw for each tube that is measured by a built in amperage meter. This is placed conveniently on the top
panel of the amp.
Construction and Testing
Like every Black Ice product, your Fusion F35 has been carefully hand-crafted, using precision mechanical
parts. Electronic components and assembly procedures are similar to those used in the manufacture of
scientific equipment and musical instruments. To assure consistent performance, each F35 is visually
inspected at several assembly points, tested, and electronically profiled prior to shipment.
This time-consuming perfectionist approach in the design and manufacture of audio equipment is intended to
provide the best in musical satisfaction with lasting value.