The history of a manufacture,
of a knowhow

Pioneer in electronics, Jean-Marie Fusilier founded his company in 1974. It specialized in high frequency and infra-red remote control systems for industrial, defense and nuclear plants applications. The audio department was created in 1985, as a side project driven by the passion for higher fidelity music playback. At that time Jean-Marie Fusilier who had significant experience in tube amplifiers design, developed linear audio solid state power amplifiers with an unprecedented approach : high voltage rails for greater headroom, high current enabled outputs for the best control of the speakers, selected and matched transistors for linearity, selection of high purity materials to carry the signal, short signal path circuit design, direct coupling, high internal energy reserve for best transient response, made to measure passive components by specialists in aerospace and defense, use of techniques and components normally intended for telecom and radar systems... to serve the music.

1980-1985
Jean-Marie Fusilier studied an innovative power amplification technology

1985
First HQS power amplifier

1986
The HQS power amplifiers are produced by Jean-Marie Fusilier's brother, musician and technician, already designer of custom consoles for studio, broadcast and stage

1988
The HQS power amplification technology is evaluated at Soundville, a Tom Hidley designed studio in Lucerne, Switzerland.

More details about Tom Hidley, the American studio designer, on the References page.

At a presentation in Germany in 1988, these innovative power amplifiers caught the attention of René Zingg, the passionate sound engineer and owner of the newly built Soundville studios in Lucerne, the first world-class recording studio in Switzerland.

René Zingg asked for the evaluation of the JMF Audio power amplifiers technology for the control room (the isolated room in which the sound engineer and the producer make the technical choices and monitor the overall sound result). A never experienced natural sound filled the space… Tom Hidley, the American designer of the studio, was advised to come and listen. Also seduced, he challenged Jean-Marie Fusilier to build a power amplifier with 3dB more output level. This meant twice the output power! Of course, the challenge was taken up.

Masterfonics, Nashville, USA, the music city, 1989. The largest studio complex (recording/mixing/mastering), designed by Tom Hidley and standing as his reference, was the place where critical measurements and sound quality tests of the new JMF Audio purpose made mono amplifiers had to take place. Evaluations were carried on by the focused engineers. Measurements first: No phase shift... The engineers were used to measuring a significant delay between the input and the output in high frequency, even on reference power amplifiers. They checked the measurement instruments again, but Jean-Marie Fusilier informed them this was normal... The noise floor was the lowest... normal again. Then other engineers evaluated the sound quality. They spent all night placing tapes on the reel-to-reel desk, replaying and listening to their previous productions... On the next morning the faces were marked by hours of questioning. The JMF Audio power amplifiers sounded more transparent, more natural, more accurate with undistorted bass. Jean Marie Fusilier's creation was simply faithful. An engineer said: "if we had used these power amplifiers, we wouldn't have mixed the way we did...". This conclusion resonated in the studios world where engineers put great confidence in the monitoring system...

1989
First Nashville (USA) studio equipped with the HQS 3200 UPM power amplifiers on the main monitors

The studios owner, mastering engineer and GRAMMY Awards winner Glenn Meadows instantly purchased two pairs of JMF Audio mono power amplifiers. The reputation of the studio had to be preserved.

Starting from the results in Nashville, Tom Hidley, the most influential and respected recording studios designer, has advised JMF Audio power amplifiers which ideally complemented his unique approach to simple path, neutral and faithful sound monitoring.

The distribution of the JMF Audio power amplifiers to audio enthusiasts was made from Japan, where they were awarded for the best amplification technology, in all categories.

Being successful with the other industrial and defense activities of his company, Jean-Marie Fusilier did not feel necessary to further develop JMF Audio commercially at that time.

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1990-1995
The HQS power amplifiers are available in different finishes and equip more and more studios around the world

1996-1997
A new line of power amplifiers and a preamplifier including a phono stage are developed exclusively for Japan.

1998
JMF Audio invests in a 1’500m² facility and builds its Studio A for sound quality control and R&D.

Immersed in audio and music from a very young age, Jean-Marie Fusilier's sons Laurent and Arnaud, both graduated in science from regarded universities with experience and partners in laboratories, joined JMF Audio in the early 2000's.

Extraordinary elements were developed, to cover all aspects of audio:

2003, upsampling digital to analog converter operating at 768kHz whichever the input rate, more than 16 times the CD standard. Possibly a world’s first...

2005, patent for a psycho-acoustically based DSP cross-over.

2007, development of the HPM 1000 loudspeaker system. Development of the first HTS woofer, possibly featuring the most powerful magnet and light weight moving parts for a 16" transducer.

2009, first HPM passive loudspeaker with the HPX high-level cross-over.

2010, invention of the CSV pure analog precision volume control for the PRS 1.5 preamplifier.

2013, invention of the PCD 302 power line filter concept with its independent BDF 223 cells.

2015, always ahead, JMF Audio presented the DMT 3.7 disc transport featuring the proprietary BDPM1 optical mechanism for CD / SACD / Blu-ray, machined in solid blocks of aluminum. The Blu-ray playback being optimized for Pure Audio (patent), the new high definition audio-only disc.

Although it was not exactly planned, JMF Audio has become the only manufacturer to master audio from the disc mechanism to the woofer, through mains conditioning, interconnects, analog and digital... Each element being recognized for bringing the artists closer to the listener...

This wonderful journey has been possible thanks to our customers, the music lovers, the sound engineers who always ask for more and have challenged us to explore new areas.

No advertisement, only quality.

For the 30th anniversary, JMF Audio eventually unveiled the complete ensemble at the Munich's high-end exhibition (Hifideluxe), the most regarded of its kind. The visitors were amazed and naturally JMF Audio received the "Best Sound Award". Renewed the next years...

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2004
First psychoacoustic based DSP cross-over (patent) as an option in the modular DXC 6.10 DAC. Here shown with the laser engraved walnut front panel and controls.

2007
First 16" neodymium carbone woofer designed and handcrafted by JMF Audio.

Development of the HPM 1000 active loudspeaker system driven by the DXC 6.10 (patent).

New power amplifier series, models HQS 9001, HQS 7001, HQS 6002, HQS 1050

2015
BDPM1 world’s first machined optical discs mechanism for CD / SA-CD / Blu-ray Pure Audio 

Lindberg Lyd (2L), Norway, 2016 (classical music and jazz). With over 28 nominations to that date for the GRAMMY Awards with respect to the excellence of his work, the producer and owner Morten Lindberg integrated the JMF Audio PCD 302 mains filter and power cords to supply the recording equipment in the pursuit for the most natural sounding productions.

And the story continues! “Stories” of pianist and composer Jan Gunnar Hoff was the first Blu-ray Pure Audio album ever recorded using JMF Audio's technology. This time the contribution of JMF Audio on the sound was direct and engraved on the disc, for the enjoyment of all music lovers on all systems (hybrid SACD and files also included). Music lovers would have to expect new reference recordings…

The album “LUX” won a GRAMMY Award in 2020 and 2L has become the most nominated label in history.

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JMF Audio, a make, a knowhow that can equally fulfill the studios and the audio enthusiasts. Without a doubt, because all music lovers value musical beauty...

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> The approach of the designers

> Heritage, the recording studios, Tom Hidley

> Recordings made with JMF Audio amplifiers

> Munich High-End, 1985-2015, 30th anniversary

> 30th anniversary of the power amplifiers' technology recognition