Source: Press Release, Last Accessed: 2016/02/03

World-class audio engineer Jim Fosgate is the vision and expertise behind the Fosgate brand and the designer of the Signature headphone amplifier. Something of a legend in his homeland, Fosgate is reputed to have pioneered high-power in-car audio systems, earned some 18 patents for audio-related inventions and in 2003 won an Emmy award for “Development of Surround Sound for Television”. As you might expect, one or two of his patented technologies feature in the Signature headphone amp. While branded as a tube amp, the Signature is -actually- a hybrid design that combines both tube and solid state electronics. This, along with its unique circuit topologies, aims to elevate the headphone listening experience on a number of levels.
The circuit incorporates a pair of 12AX7 dual-triode tubes in a low distortion series regulated push-pull configuration in the input/driver stage. High speed, high current video buffers are then used to drive the headphones directly. The video buffers provide a pure audio path with low output impedance, low distortion and a wide signal bandwidth, allowing the natural smooth sound of the tubes to pass straight through to the outputs.
A patented bass boost equalizer circuit improves low-frequency bass impact without adding bass boom or muddiness. There are three positions on the bass control enabling a tailored sound depending on choice of headphones, music and personal audio preferences. Another unique feature is a surround sound function, designed to add spaciousness to stereo headphone sound. A patented “Panorama Control” circuit creates a sense of depth and space; it moves the soundstage outside of your head, creating a more natural result. Again, this feature can be adjusted to enable a listener-defined experience.
In the Signature’s circuit, the tube amplifiers, buffers, bass EQ and surround sound processing are all configured in a single stage. Negative feedback is applied around this stage in a single loop. Output offset is controlled with DC servos, allowing the video buffers to directly drive the headphones with no output capacitors in the signal path. There is only one coupling capacitor per channel in the signal path and it is enclosed within the feedback loop, hence capacitor coloration is eliminated. Distortion and noise are below the threshold of hearing while the bandwidth is very wide, at around ten times the threshold of human hearing (2 Hz to 200 kHz at -3 dB), the company says. The power supply uses separate oversize storage capacitors on each amplification path of each channel to provide a rock solid supply voltage without voltage regulators to affect the signal. The circuit is configured so that audio signals from one channel cannot couple to the other, preserving soundstage width and depth.
A 35-second muting circuit eliminates turn on/off transients. Two stereo inputs and a stereo tape output are provided, with front panel selector switches for added usability. Industrial design by Fred Hulen incorporates the classic hallmarks of the Fosgate Signature range: slim, simple yet elegant aesthetics. Complementary anodized aluminum finishes on the face plate, transformer covers and tube socket flanges are offset by the black painted top and gorgeous real wood side panels.

For more information: http://www.soundfowndations.co.uk (UK), http://www.musicalsurroundings.com/ (US)

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