Audio Hungary Qualiton Classic X200

100 wpc Tube Integrated Amplifier

Reviews

• Twittering Machines
• Part Time Audiophile

Feature Breakdown

• Uses 4x KT-120 or 4x KT-150 power tubes
• 2x 12ax7 tubes
• 2x 6922 tubes
• Transformers wound in-house
• mm phono stage
• Headphone output
• tone controls
• 4 inputs
• subwoofer outputs
• EQ output
• XLR or RCA preamp inputs (if you want to use the amplifier only)
• Black finish chassis, brushed silver faceplate

The Audio Hungary Qualiton X200 is a full-function integrated amplifier with built in mm phono stage. It is rated at 100 watts per channel, and by switching out the KT-120 power tubes for KT-150, you can get a little more power output. But more importantly add drive and punch to the sound's already liquid and revealing qualities.The minimalist front panel has an input selector knob with led lights to indicate the selected input. There are four line-level inputs (RCA connectors) plus a phono input. The phono stage has 46db of gain and is intended for a MM cartridge. There are also tone controls for a little LF or HF boost, no cut.

"The Qualiton X200 sounds big and powerful, even huge when the recording demands it, like the sumptuously quirky "Rain" from Smerz's sumptuously quirky album Believer. The sound image was nicely delineated, with a very real sense of space and scale, things I attribute to resolution. Bass was also big and powerful, even huge when the recordings calls for it, but things never get too wooly even when things get "wet, filthy, and disgusting" on "Spit" from "Show Me The Body" Corpus I." - Twittering Machines

The tube bias adjustment for the power tubes is also located on the front. A knob is used to individually select each of the four KT-120s to indicate bias current. Then, using a supplied tool, a trim pot is adjusted until the green LED glows. Red LEDs above and below the green LED indicate over or under bias. Lastly, there is a headphone jack on the front panel for those times when headphones may be necessary for your listening pleasure.

The unit comes with a simple, elegantly designed metal remote control that allows for volume adjustment, and muting.

On the back side of the X200 are 4 and 8 ohm taps for speakers, as well as 4 line level inputs and the phono. Additionally there is a preamp output, and EQ output, and dedicated subwoofer output. Lastly, another pair of RCAs provide unbalanced input to the power amp section, which is also available as a balanced XLR input.

The X200 possesses a very clean build quality with building block portions of the circuit design on separate, removable boards. All the knobs and rear panel switches have a nice, solid feel to them as one would expect for an Audio Hungary product.

But How Does It Sound?

With either type of power tube, you have Liquidity, tonal colors, texture, and a wide 3 Dimensional soundstage. The KT-120 is a little softer, rounder and more forgiving. the KT-150 tubes pack punch in the lower frequencies, and leading edge transients have more, well edge, but in a good way.

Specs

• General
  • Number of input ports / channel
    • 1 unbalanced Phono IN
    • 4 unbalanced Line IN
    • 1 unbalanced Direct IN
    • 1 balanced Direct IN
  • Number of output ports / channel
    • 1 unbalanced Line OUT
    • 1 unbalanced Sub OUT
    • 1 unbalanced EQ OUT
    • 1 unbalanced Phones OUT
    • 1 balanced Power OUT
• Tubes required
  • 4 x KT120 (KT150 or KT170 optionally)
  • 2 x 6922
  • 2 x 12AX7
• Weight: 23 kg
• Dimensions: 43 x 47.5 x 20 cm
• Power requirement: Idle: 200 W, Maximum: 720 W

Preamp Section

• Input impedance
  • Phono: 47 kOhm || 120 pF
  • Line: 25 kOhm || 10 pF
• Max. input signal
  • Phono: 40 mV (f = 1 kHz)
  • Line: 8 V
• Gain
  • Phono: +46 dB (f = 1 kHz)
  • Line: 0 dB
• Max. deviation from RIAA curve - Phono: +/- 0.5 dB
• Frequency response
  • Line: 4 Hz to 1 MHz (-3 dB)
• Total Harmonic Distortion
  • Phono: < 0.03% (f = 10 kHz)
  • Line: < 0.001% (f = 20 Hz to 20 kHz)
  • EQ: < 0.002% (f = 20 Hz to 20 kHz)
• Signal-to-noise ratio
  • Phono: > 60 dB (1 V, without A-filter)
  • Line: > 90 dB (1 V, without A-filter)
  • EQ: > 90 dB (1 V, without A-filter)
• Bass boost in setting I - EQ: + 5.6 dB
• Bass boost in setting II - EQ: + 7.6 dB
• Treble boost in setting I - EQ: + 6 dB
• Treble boost in setting II - EQ: + 8 dB

Power Amp Section

Rated output power: 2 x 100 W
Input impedance, Direct balanced IN: 20 kOhm
Input impedance, Direct unbalanced IN: 10 kOhm
Input sensitivity, Direct balanced IN: 460 mV, to rated output
Input sensitivity, Preamp IN: 460 mV, to rated output
Input sensitivity, Phono IN: 2.25 mV, to rated output
Gain: +35.5 dB (RL = 8 Ohm)
Frequency response: 27 Hz to 70 kHz (-3 dB, rated output)
Total Harmonic Distortion: < 0.5% (f = 1 kHz, rated output)
Signal-to-noise ratio: > 100 dB (RL = 8 Ohm, rated output)
Load impedance: 4 to 8 Ohm