REVIEW： Black Ice Fusion 9 III Phono Pre Makes Your Records Sound BETTER!!!
United States of Analog | November 9, 2023
🎙️ Early Video Analysis
What is this video about?
This video is a review of the Black Ice Audio Fusion 9 MK3 phono preamp. Host Bob is discussing his audiophile journey and explaining why he finally decided to upgrade to a high-quality “big boy” phono preamp after years of using budget models under $100. He’s testing whether this $900 tube phono preamp can improve his system, particularly addressing issues he’s been having with his McIntosh MA-252 amplifier.
What gear, products, or brands are discussed?
- Black Ice Audio Fusion 9 MK3 Phono Preamp [00:00:48]: $900, tube-based, supports both moving magnet and moving coil cartridges, 16 pounds, full-size component (17″ wide, 13″ deep, 3.75″ tall), includes two Sovtek 12AX7 tubes, 5-year/1000-hour warranty, available in black and silver
- Black Ice Audio F-159 [00:05:08]: $1,800 higher-end phono preamp model
- McIntosh MA-252 [00:03:28]: 100-watt tube hybrid amplifier, $4,500 list price – host finds it overly warm, lacking detail and soundstage, prone to clipping
- MoFi Studio Deck turntable [00:04:40]: Described as “great”
- Master Tracker cartridge [00:04:43]: Described as “great”
- Jolida JD-202 [00:02:44]: 1990s vintage amp owned by host
- Jolida JD-1301 [00:02:52]: Hybrid tube amp owned by host
- J2 DACs [00:01:20]: Multiple units acquired during pandemic
What are the host’s main opinions or takes so far?
- Phono preamps matter more than he previously thought [00:02:33]: Initially believed they just needed to boost signal, now realizes they significantly affect sound quality
- Budget phono preamps are inadequate [00:02:18]: Admits his previous sub-$100 phono preamps were insufficient for serious audiophile use
- McIntosh disappointment [00:03:42]: Despite decades of wanting the brand, finds his $4,500 McIntosh amp underwhelming – overly warm, lacks detail and soundstage
- Built-in phono stages are questionable [00:02:08]: Warns viewers to “proceed with caution” with built-in phono stages on budget turntables
Were there any strong recommendations or warnings to viewers?
- Warning about budget turntable phono stages [00:02:02]: “Proceed with caution with those. The quality of the built-ins can be questionable at best”
Were there any funny moments, strong opinions, or memorable quotes?
- Self-deprecating humor about budget spending [00:02:18]: “All of them under a hundo. Ooh, right? Ick. I know, but I wanted to spend my cash in other categories”
- Pandemic reference [00:01:15]: Refers to COVID-19 era as “the pando, as we’ll call it”
- “Big boy phono preamp” [00:00:03]: Repeated phrase emphasizing his upgrade to serious audiophile equipment
- Tube rolling enthusiasm [00:05:52]: “You know, roll to your heart’s content, have fun. There’s a lot of tubes out there”
Summary
In this opening portion of his review, host Bob introduces viewers to his upgrade to the Black Ice Audio Fusion 9 MK3 phono preamp, marking his first venture into high-end phono amplification after decades of using budget models under $100. He candidly admits that he previously underestimated the importance of quality phono preamps, thinking they simply needed to boost the cartridge signal without considering their impact on sound quality. This realization prompted him to reach out to Black Ice Audio (formerly Jolida) for a review unit of their $900 tube-based phono preamp.
The host provides context for this upgrade by discussing his overall hi-fi journey and component improvements over the years, while expressing particular disappointment with his McIntosh MA-252 amplifier. Despite the McIntosh’s $4,500 price tag and his decades-long desire for the brand, he finds it overly warm, lacking in detail and soundstage, and prone to clipping at reasonable volumes. He’s hoping the Black Ice phono preamp can help address these issues since he primarily plays vinyl through the McIntosh system.
Bob then introduces the Fusion 9 MK3 in detail, highlighting its full-size construction (unlike typical small phono preamp boxes), substantial 16-pound weight, and tube-based design using two Sovtek 12AX7 tubes that can be easily rolled for different sonic characteristics. He positions this $900 phono preamp as appropriately priced for his reference system that includes the MoFi Studio Deck turntable and Master Tracker cartridge, setting up the expectation that a quality phono stage should complement his existing high-end components.
⏱️ Mid-Video Analysis
Gear, Products, or Brands Discussed
[00:05:59-00:11:03] Black Ice Fusion 9 III phono preamp, Project turntable, BDI cabinet, MasterTracker cartridge (47k impedance), MA-252 (Mac/McIntosh integrated amp), Sovtek tubes, R-Core transformer
Host’s Key Findings, Verdicts, or Opinions
[00:07:45-00:08:59] The host believes impedance matching and gain control are essential features for phono stages, praising the Fusion’s flexibility to tailor sound to specific equipment and preferences
[00:09:00-00:09:15] Critical of “cheaper boxes and built-ins” as inflexible “get-what-you-get” situations, specifically targeting shortcomings of his MA-252’s built-in phono stage
[00:09:25-00:09:32] Found no perceivable difference between RCA and balanced outputs, advising users to “use what makes you feel good inside”
Listening Tests or Sound Quality Observations
[00:09:35-00:09:55] Host conducted focused testing on three criteria: soundstage (instrument/voice separation), dynamics (highs/lows/emotion), and overall drama in music
[00:10:21-00:11:03] Detailed listening impressions: Pink Floyd’s “Obscured by Clouds” delivered startling dynamics that interrupted his liner note reading; Steely Dan’s “Cousin Dupree” showed full, wide soundstage with separated instruments and detailed vocals; Dire Straits’ “You and Your Friend” demonstrated clear texture of Mark Knopfler’s National Guitar with vibrating strings audible, plus prominent bass from John Ilsley
[00:07:44-00:07:56] Tested different impedance settings around 47k ohms, confirming 47k as optimal for his MasterTracker cartridge
Vinyl Records, Albums, or Music Discussed
[00:09:56-00:10:21] Test albums included Dire Straits, John Coltrane, Steely Dan, Pink Floyd, and Bill Withers, using audiophile pressings from Mobile Fidelity (Mo-Fi) and Blue Note, except Pink Floyd which was a Grundman cut reissue
[00:10:21-00:11:03] Specific tracks: Pink Floyd “Obscured by Clouds” (opening track), Steely Dan “Cousin Dupree,” Dire Straits “You and Your Friend”
Audiophile Tips, Advice, or How-to Content
[00:07:50-00:08:08] Impedance matching advice: recommends testing settings around your cartridge’s specified impedance and using small tools like toothpicks for precise switch adjustment due to small switch size
[00:08:21-00:08:33] Gain setting guidance: Moving magnet cartridges should start at low gain (move to medium if needed), while moving coil cartridges require medium or high gain settings
Memorable Quotes or Strong Takes
[00:06:35-00:06:40] “They’re keeping the hot side hot and the cold side cold. You know, you just got McDLT’d.”
[00:07:19-00:07:21] “This is the first audio review ever to reference the word peekaboo.”
[00:10:39-00:10:42] “Steely Dan’s Cousin Dupree, an easily cancelable song in 2023”
Summary
This portion focuses on the Black Ice Fusion 9 III’s build quality, features, and setup process. The host emphasizes the unit’s robust metal construction, large form factor that allows component stacking, and practical features like impedance matching and three-level gain control. He particularly values the flexibility these adjustments provide compared to fixed phono stages in integrated amplifiers, specifically criticizing his MA-252’s built-in phono section as inadequate.
The host conducted systematic listening tests targeting three specific improvements: soundstage width and instrument separation, dynamic range, and musical drama. He tested the Fusion against high-quality audiophile pressings from artists like Pink Floyd, Steely Dan, Dire Straits, John Coltrane, and Bill Withers, using Mobile Fidelity and Blue Note releases along with a Grundman-cut Pink Floyd reissue.
The listening results were highly positive, with the host describing moments of genuine surprise during Pink Floyd’s “Obscured by Clouds” that interrupted his reading, exceptional soundstage width and vocal detail on Steely Dan’s “Cousin Dupree,” and remarkable guitar texture and string resonance on Dire Straits tracks. The Fusion successfully addressed his three target areas, delivering the improved separation, dynamics, and musical engagement he sought to overcome his integrated amplifier’s limitations.
🏁 Final Thoughts & Verdict
Gear, Products, or Brands Discussed
- [00:11:12] Klipsch Forte 4s in Walnut (speakers used for testing)
- [00:11:16] Blue Train by John Coltrane (stereo version)
- [00:11:43] Bill Withers “Just the Two of Us” from greatest hits MoFi reissue
- [00:11:51] Black Ice Audio Fusion 9 Mark III phono preamp
- [00:13:28] Black Ice Audio (manufacturer)
- [00:14:13] MoFi deck (turntable)
- [00:16:01] BlackIceAudio.com (where to purchase)
Host’s Final Verdict or Conclusion
[00:13:07] The Black Ice Audio Fusion 9 Mark III “does just that” in terms of upping your phono stage game and reaping benefits, though “for a price.”
[00:14:45] The Fusion 9 is “a great performer for three reasons: the quality parts that are chosen, the tube stage, and the way it’s implemented in the overall circuit design.”
[00:15:57] The unit “brought out more in the music than I originally thought was there.”
Final Recommendations
[00:15:35] If you’re looking to improve vinyl reproduction, “your phono preamp may be a good place to start” as it’s “the link in the chain often overlooked and misunderstood.”
[00:13:14] “It’s up to you to decide how far you want to take your search for the sound.”
Final Tips, Caveats, or Advice for Viewers
[00:13:34] Slight increase in record surface noise noticed, though it might have been imagination and could be related to the unit’s voicing in service of increased detail.
[00:14:13] Minor issue with faint tick when powering MoFi deck on/off, but host takes responsibility and notes it could be wiring, speaker sensitivity, or deck electronics.
[00:15:12] “Audio gear is all about different tastes” – emphasizes that not everything sounds the same, which is why gear diversity exists.
How the Video Wrapped Up
[00:16:03] Standard YouTube outro: “Hey, thanks for watching. I hope you enjoyed this. I hope you learned something. I learned something in this experience.”
[00:16:10] Channel sign-off: “I’ll see you next time in the United States of Analog.”
[00:16:23] Humorous post-outro comment comparing his ending style to Guy Fieri.
Memorable Closing Quotes or Strong Final Opinions
[00:12:08] “Sometimes in music, it’s not just about the music, but hearing things in the music that you weren’t necessarily meant to hear… the air between the words, the notes the guitar player doesn’t play, that space in between, the artist’s position in space.”
[00:12:23] “I don’t really have the vocabulary to explain it, but I know it when I hear it. And for me, that’s the magic sauce that separates us audiophiles…”
[00:15:59] “And isn’t that what we’re all listening for?” (referring to bringing out more music than originally thought was there)
Summary
In this final portion, the host wraps up his review of the Black Ice Audio Fusion 9 Mark III phono preamp with enthusiastic praise for its performance. He tested it with his Klipsch Forte 4 speakers and found that it significantly improved soundstage width and detail compared to his reference Mac equipment, particularly noting how recordings like Bill Withers’ “Just the Two of Us” became “otherworldly” and “emotionally moving.” The host emphasizes the audiophile pursuit of hearing subtle details in music – “the air between the words” and “the notes the guitar player doesn’t play” – which he considers the magic that separates serious listeners from casual music consumers.
The host maintains objectivity by noting two minor issues: a slight increase in record surface noise (which he attributes to the unit’s voicing for increased detail) and occasional faint ticking when powering his turntable on/off (which he takes responsibility for, citing possible wiring or compatibility issues). He contacted Black Ice Audio about the latter issue and received standard troubleshooting advice. Despite these minor concerns, he praises the unit’s quality parts, tube stage implementation, and circuit design.
His final recommendation is measured but positive, suggesting that upgrading one’s phono preamp is often an overlooked way to improve vinyl playback, while acknowledging that audio preferences are subjective and the decision ultimately depends on how far each individual wants to pursue sonic improvement. The video concludes with his standard outro and a humorous self-deprecating comment about his enthusiastic closing style.
Analysis generated from archived transcripts. Channel: United States of Analog — hi-fi gear reviews, vinyl, and audiophile culture.
