Audio Hungary Qualiton

Audio Hungary Qualiton Phono was designed from the ground up as a premium category vacuum tube phono stage with extreme low noise and distortion level. It was made to complement the A series of Qualiton products.

The MM card is installed by default. MC card is an extra and cost a bit less then 400 EUR. The slot on the back of the main unit's chassis offer an easy installation of MM and MC cards, for lower and higher impedance cartridges. Any card can easily be swapped with simply unscrewing of the four screws, removing the MM module and with insertion of the MC board into the connector inside of the phono. When module is locked, you only need to tighten it back with the screws.

In the signal transmitting circuit the audio processing is done via Tungsram ECC83, as well as Tesla E88CC double triodes. The standard RIAA correction is implemented with the use of classic passive network between the amplifying stages. No negative feedback is applied with this particular design. The nominal input sensitivity is 5 mV and nominal effective output signal is 500 mV.

The interior of the device has a unique thermal design for optimal cooling and shortest signal path. In order to achieve the lowest possible noise level Audio Hungary team have separated the power supply from the main phono chassis.

With outboard, separated power supply Audio Hungary managed to avoid the negative effects of power supply transformer magnetic field. Along the design process they discover significant benefits with signal-to-noise ratio and with better, more involving musical experience, when power supply was farer away from the signal circuit.

THE Qualiton Phono preamplifier uses passive RIAA correction and its accuracy was repeatedly measured and checked on the Rohde & Schwarz UPV Audio Analyzer. The dual mono structure delivers the output level of the left and right channel operation within 0.5dB.

Interestingly, both power transformer and the MC transformers are made in Audio Hungary own factory. Step up transformer uses  unique 30 years old lacquered copper wires, that were left as a stock at the Audio Hungary former company. The MC transformers bobbins are made from bakelite and the core constitute of special material alloy with high μ value. Power and MC transformers double shielded and lowers the noise due to stray field of power transformer.

The stabilised power supply is separated not only for the lower noise but also to deliver better thermal operation. Both units are connected to the military grade power supply connectors.

And the most important part... There are only tubes in a signal path. Audio Hungary has chosen a premium selection of NOS Tungsram ECC83 and Tungsram (or Gold Lion) E88CC valves.

What they say...

Mono and Stereo

2021
 

Audio Hungary Qualiton Phono preamplifier possesses a unique organic quality, that is evident even with the very first notes being served from the turntable.

Tube-based phono preamplifiers are always associated with unique three-dimensionally and Qualiton Phono embodies this quality with ease, expanding from the basic attributes to the level of performance, that is usually reserved for a higher priced phono stages. As with the rest of the Audio Hungary products, Qualiton Phono is priced reasonably and perform more than a notch about its given price.

All in all. It's great to have a pleasant *déjà vu*, with the similar impact of the Audio Hungary's Qualiton APX 200 power amplifier and Qualiton APR 204 Qualiton tube preamplifier I've already reviewed.

I'm more than positively surprised and inspired by what Audio Hungary Qualiton Phono could deliver in terms of music's flow. This double boxed phono preamplifier certainly deserves the recognition and that's why I'm happily giving out the Mono and Stereo Highly Recommended Award!

Audio Hungary has started an interesting and most positive momentum with their line of products andI'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of products they'll reveal in the future.

Matej Isak