FireStone Preamp and Big Joe IV review -
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Bundle: Big Joe Mono Blocks
Lets rip into the next box and see what Firestone audio sent next. We have a pair of Class D Mono Block power amplifiers.
The Big Joe IV bundle Includes:
- 2 X Big Joe IV Class D Mono Block Amplifiers
- 2 X Power Adapters
- 2 Power Cords
- Instructions
- Warranty card
A Closer Look: Big Joe IV Mono Blocks
For those unfamiliar with mono blocks, they are separate mono amplifiers in which one amp is used for each speaker channel. Mono blocks are popular in the tube based crowds but they seem to be making a comeback for the solid state fans also.
These units are power amplifiers; they have no input or output level control and must be used with the Mass Preamp or other device that provides level control. Lets have a look at the Big Joe IVs.
Front
The front panels of the Big Joe IV follow very modern and clean design ideas. The lines are clean and you have a simple LED indicator for power. We can see the power ratings on the front to remind the end user of how much actual audio muscle they have in these small units.
Rear
The rear of the units is equally clean, offering simple mono RCA input and banana jack outputs for your speakers. There is also the master switch for the power supply with the DC power input right beside the switch.
Big Joe PSUs
The external PSU that are bundled with the BJ IVs are big and quite heavy duty in comparison to other power adapters we have seen for desktop amplifiers. The BJ IVs are running on 30VDC for each unit so that is a bit of power but considering the power they push out this seems reasonable.
According to Firestone Audio, their Bravo Digital Processor can convert USB to S/Pdif and also cleans and reclocks the S/PDIF signal producing a superior signal for your analog to digital converter. We have been working with many different S/Pdif based products in the Guru3D Audio Lab for quite awhile now so we are excited to have a look at the Bravo and use it for some testing. FSA also just released the second version of their popular Spitfire Digital to Analog Converter, known as the MKII version. So without any further delay, lets have a look at the Bravo Digital Processor and the Spitfire MKII Digital to Analog converter.
FireStone Preamp and Big Joe IV review
Hailing from Taiwan, the Firestone audio company is starting to gain a lot of ground in the audio community in North America. Looking through their current sonic line up we see audio components that seem to truly be designed for the desktop audio enthusiast offering big sound in a small footprint. The word in the audio community is these guys dont play when it comes to audio. Their component are built tough and above all else built to sound great. Today, in the Guru3D Audio Lab we have two new products we can review. First we have the Mass Preamp and the Big Joe IV Class D Mono Blocks. We are excited to have a listen to these new components so lets get to the good stuff shall we?