We are delighted to inform that a long review of the JMF Audio PCD 102 mains filter was published by “image-hifi” Germany. Jan-Feb. 2024 issue.
Introduction:
“Forget all preconceptions you may have about mains filters. Even though we are talking about the smaller JMF Audio model here: the PCD102 can make everything better than you’ve ever heard.”
We are thankful to Berlin based reviewer and writer Andreas Wenderoth and editor in chief Uwe Kirbach.
Stereophile review of the HQS 7001, February 2024, preview of the first page, more unveiled:
“If I am fortunate enough to be surrounded by such beauty as I take my last breath, I will die a lucky man”
We are thankful to senior and music loving reviewer Jason Vistor Serinus for his passion, enthusiasm and long interview.
Review of the JMF Audio HQS9001 mono power amplifiers and the JMF Audio PRS 1.5 line preamplifier, writen by Alan Sircom, in HiFi Plus, Octuber 25th, 2023.
You can access to the original review here.
No bragging
There’s just one downside; the absence of bragging rights! The typical high-ender may not have heard of the brand in part because JMF Audio almost never appears on the second-hand market; there is nothing left to upgrade from here. As you won’t find a preamp that does what the PRS 1.5 does elsewhere, so you won’t swap it for The Next Big Thing. Similarly, I find it hard to imagine what you might buy after owning a pair of HQS 9001s. And as the company doesn’t make a new product every year, they don’t get the exposure of other, more attention-grabbing brands. And finally, the JMF Audio products make a sound that is so intrinsically ‘right’ isn’t going to be as ‘bling!’ as one that shouts from the rafters.
In 2019, Falcon Acoustics passionately created a replica of the BBC’s last 1974 LS3/5a prototype, which they executed with utmost precision. This replica was launched as a limited edition of 50 pairs called the “Kingswood Warren Limited Edition,” paying homage to the BBC’s Kingswood Warren Technical Research Department, where the original LS3/5a monitors were born. Impressively, all 50 pairs were sold within eight days at $8,000 per pair.
According to the press release received from Falcon’s CEO, Jerry Bloomfield, “The Kingswood Warrens” featured redesigned inductors from the BBC’s Research and Development Department, special polycarbonate film capacitors refabricated by Falcon, and ultra-low inductance resistors – all in very limited quantities dictated by the availability of rare original materials preserved or acquired by Falcon. Bloomfield expressed that the passionate reception of Kingswood Warren surprised them and that its improved sound quality left an even greater impact.
“Consequently, we decided to explore how much of the Kingswood Warren’s sonic experience we could incorporate into our regular production LS3/5a models.”
“Historically, the transformers used from the initial production of LS3/5a onwards were made smaller than the BBC prototypes to save costs. We intentionally reversed that trend: the Gold Badge BBC LS3/5a filters incorporate larger inductors, BBC-style transformers, compared to previous versions. This results in lower distortion, improved saturation levels, and additional bass enhancement. My experiences in amplifier design taught me that replacing a physically smaller inductor (with higher resistance) with a larger one (with lower resistance) of the same inductance will reduce noise and increase low-level dynamics.”
“Then we looked at the capacitors,” Bloomfield continued.
The polycarbonate film has not been manufactured for over 30 years. Fortunately, we had some left for the Kingswood Warrens, and this allowed us to develop new Falcon capacitors using a graded polypropylene film, which provides a sonic signature very similar to the ones used in the Kingswood Warren Limited Edition, instead of the polyester film typically used. The new capacitors offer cleaner and more defined sound, adding an extra level of precision that I describe as being able to hear the spaces between the notes. All these advancements came together to create the Falcon Gold Badge LS3/5a crossover, which has now received registered design status from the BBC. Additionally, we use 100% UK/EU-made components.”
The KEY DIFFERENCES with its counterparts lie in a tighter bass with improved textures, resulting in a greater ability to “sync” with rhythms. This is accompanied by a more open midrange, delivering clearer and freer-sounding highs.
“It’s a subtle, but real and easily discernible difference.”
Absolutely wrongly has JMF Audio not been further known to a broader public so far. The German sales manager Michael Hannig calls it “an undiscovered pearl”. The French company started with power amplifiers that quickly found favor in many recording studios. The worldwide test premiere of our author shows that the current HQS 6002 stereo power amplifier meets even the highest audiophile demands.
You can read the original article and its translation into English here.
Chicago’s Shaumburg Convention Center, top floor, Presidential Suite, was the place where the latest version of the JMF Audio analog amplification line was presented. A first in the USA since the introduction in the recording studios of Nashville in 1989.
AXPONA 2022 inaugurated JMF Audio’s North American representation by Audio Skies, a long established Los Angeles based company.
The JMF Audio instruments for the music were presented in the new Orose ® black case finish. It was a pleasure to unveil the following exclusives to the North American music lovers:
– HQS 6002 dual-mono power amplifier, new version G
– PRS 1.5 dual-mono preamplifier, new version F, with the MBR1 remote control
– PCD 102 dual-section mains filter, powering JMF Audio electronic components for the first time
– PC3 version D power cord, featuring the new JMF Audio IEC carbon plug, the very first model built
Links to online reviews:
You can read the original article here.
Review of the presence of JMF Audio in AXPONA 2022 by Jason Victor Serius, Stereophile (April 2022)
“The sound was natural and warm, with correct timbres and no edge or glare. If I must be real picky, I could have done with a bit more transparency and bigger images. But in the context of an audio show, this was world-class sound. When, on a Ray Brown recording of “You Look Good to Me,” a chime of some sort resonated from the right channel, it struck me as one of the most perfect reproductions of that sound I’ve ever experienced.”
Jason Victor Serius, Stereophile (April 2022)
You can read the complete original review here.
Demostration of the JMF Audio PCD102 power conditioner in The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (APA), with the intervention of the professor Stephen Chow (Chairman of the APA Council 校董 會 主席), Professor Gillian A. Choa (Director 校長 of APA), Professor Martin Lau (Dean 院長 of the Chinese Opera School), Wa Yuen (Associate Dean 副 院長 and Chief Designer and media technology), Albert Ho (music recording teacher) and Sanco Lee (sound technical manager).
You can read the entire article here.
Following his interview of Blu-ray discs producer Mr. Mark Waldrep of AIX Records (Los Angeles, USA), chief editor of High-Fidelity Magazine Mr. Wojciech Pacula contacted JMF Audio of France for more information about the DMT 3.7 transport and the Blu-ray Pure Audio disc format.
You can access to the the interview extracted from the article here (link to the full article at the bottom of the extract).
Falcon Loudspeakers LS3/5a, los únicos LS3/5a Golden Badge en conseguir ser “Clase A” de Stereophile “Recommended Componentes 2021”, en toda la historia de la revista.
En su número 472:
Se puede leer el artículo completo aquí.
