FireStone Preamp and Big Joe IV review - Modding options - Conclusion

by Steven ROBSCIX Wall on: 10/07/2010 02:00 PM [

Modding options

We offer this section for educational purposes only and we do not recommend any modifications to your audio. You can easily turn your new components into expensive paper weights and you will definitely void your warranty.

There is not much room within the chassis for extensive additions to the circuitry however, some components can be modified and upgraded. These amplifiers do not have many internal modification options for the end user but there is one we can see.

Connectors - You may want to upgrade the stock units to some higher end connectors. For those, that use speaker wire you might want to add 3 way binding posts. These types of connectors would allow much more connection options for various speaker cable types.

Final thoughts and Verdict

The combination of the Mass and the Big Joe IVs make an excellent desktop audio amplifier system with 100 watts of audio muscle! The Class D design topology produces excellent, crystal clear sound quality even at high volumes. The volume control is exceedingly clean and offers a very wide range that is quite precise. This system provided dead silent operation, no hiss or hum, just great sound pumping out.

If we did have a complaint it would be the price may be too high for some. Class D can be very cheap at lower power rating but when you start adding high wattage output then can get quite expensive. We would have preferred to see 3-way binding posts on the amplifiers instead of just the Banana jack outputs.

We would say that if you are looking for an excellent sounding desktop amplifier system to go with your new speakers, go and give the Mass, Big Joe IV, bundle a look and long listen. If you heard anything like what we heard you should be very impressed indeed.

If firestone keeps turning out components like this, they will have no troubles building a large following in the North American markets.

Until next time, this is Robscix in the Lab signing off and still rocking the Guru3D Audio Lab with the Mass and Big Joe IVs.

Leave/read comments on this product
Sign up to receive a notice when we publish a new article
Or go back to Guru3D's front page.

8 pages « < 5 6 7 8

Firestone Audio Bravo DP and Spitfire MKII DAC Review
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?