Magazine Review ( Monthly Audio of Korea )

 

FJORD AUDIO  C100 Pre-Amplifier

The birth of the ultimate vacuum tube preamplifier

 

There are countless audio brands, but brands specializing in tube amplifiers are few, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to find new emerging brands. At such a time, a noteworthy brand has been born. 

The brand uses the name “FJORD,” taken from the glacial canyons of Northern Europe, Norway, and the brand logo also combines the feeling of a canyon with the image of a sound wave. Just by looking at the name, one might think it is a European brand, but it is actually a Korean high-end tube amplifier brand.

Recently, K-Audio has been gaining a stronger presence in the global market, and FJORD Audio was also created with the goal of entering the world stage. 

It made its first overseas appearance last year, and this year, with its entry into the UK, it has officially launched in Korea as well.

FJORD Audio is led by Mr. Fjord Chang, who has long been active as an audio developer and reviewer, serving as both CEO and CTO. Based on his extensive engineering experience, he ambitiously introduced his own high-end brand. 

As a professional high-end reviewer and audiophile himself, he has presented products that he truly wanted to create.

The company currently offers three amplifiers: the P150 monoblock power amplifier, the C100 line preamplifier, and the A100 phono amplifier, which are its main models.

For this first product review of the brand, we take a look at the C100 preamplifier, focusing on its core technologies and characteristics.

First, the Product Design

The design was inspired by the Fjord canyons, combining wood and metal along the curved outer lines to convey a sense of nature. The front panel features only an OLED display and control knob, creating a neat and clean image. 

It is also impressive that there are no visible screws on the exterior, and since it is a separate power-supply type, it can be placed either stacked or separately.

Even the unseen internal structure has been carefully designed. 

The modular boards are enclosed in aluminum covers, said to be inspired by the engine bay of a supercar. This clean internal design seems to be directly reflected in the clarity of its sound.

Second, the Pure Full-Balanced Tube Circuit

It uses a pure full-balanced system through vacuum tubes. 

Without any buffer circuit, it is constructed entirely with tubes, and from input to output, the Hot and Cold signals are completely separated in a full-balanced configuration.

In fact, most tube amplifiers are unbalanced in nature, and even when they support balanced operation, they typically use matching transformers or transistor conversion circuits. 

However, the C100 achieves a balanced circuit purely with tubes, without such components.

Third, Class-A Amplification and Zero Feedback Circuit.

Each channel uses two 12AU7 tubes and one 12AT7 tube, for a total of six tubes, and it is designed in a pure Class-A amplification mode.

The most remarkable aspect is that, while most tube preamplifiers use a feedback circuit by default, the C100 preamplifier applies a zero-feedback circuit, a design approach that was previously seen only in high-end solid-state amplifiers.

This enhances sound quality and transparency to the highest level, overcoming the weaknesses of conventional tube preamplifiers.

Fourth, the UTS System

The UTS system is a proprietary technology developed by the company, designed to suppress harmonic noise and external vibration in vacuum tubes. Named “Upper Tube Set,” this method involves mounting the tubes upside down on a separate chassis. 

The tubes are firmly connected with a dedicated tube ring and 10T duralumin, improving the S/N ratio through the UTS structure.

Fifth, Completely Independent Power Supply and Massive Power Section

The C100 features not only a separate power supply but also completely independent power sources for the left and right channels.

As seen from the rear of the product, each channel is supplied with its own power. Internally, there are two toroidal transformers, one per channel, and each power board is independently configured.

For a preamplifier, an extraordinary emphasis has been placed on power—its total weight exceeds 18 kilograms, comparable to that of a power amplifier.

In addition, it uses a 64-step precision attenuator volume, along with FJORD Audio’s own matched tubes and top-grade components. Every aspect reflects the maker’s dedication and uncompromising standards, resulting in a highly refined high-end tube preamplifier with exceptional completeness.

Listening Impressions

When listening to it, the reasons behind the newly applied technologies become clear. 

The typical weaknesses of tube preamplifiers are hard to find here, and from the very first listen, one can sense a high-end character distinct from any tube preamplifier previously experienced.

Traditional tube preamplifiers often had a narrow soundstage or reduced transparency, which made listeners prefer solid-state preamplifiers—but the C100 has completely overcome these limitations.

As a result, it delivers an accurate soundstage and excellent transparency, emphasizing the energy of each instrument while preserving the analog tone unique to vacuum tubes.

It also performs well across a wide range of music genres, which deserves high praise. The more you listen, the more you realize the importance of the preamplifier, and you become deeply impressed by FJORD Audio’s philosophy.

The brand reminds us of the true essence of analog sound, presenting the role and significance of the preamplifier in a clear and convincing way.

Above all, its beautiful design and analog sound that embodies true essence are enough to please both the eyes and ears. 

Although it is a new brand, it is rare to find a product with such a high degree of completeness, making us look forward to the other products that will follow.