Fisher X-202 Stereo Master Control Integrated Amplifier with Premium Vintage Tubes - Serviced

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General:
The X-202 is a classic Fisher integrated amplifier from the golden age of U.S. made vacuum tube gear. 

First it's worth mentioning that this specific example is absolutely beautiful. Its faceplate in particular is stunning, and has aged so well that the patina adds to the overall character of the unit. 

Then comes the sound - the fisher X-202 sounds fantastic.

It gives you everything you want from a vintage tube amplifier. Sound is detailed, yet full-bodied, warm, and effortlessly harmonic. Everything we played sounded excellent.

Best yet, this particular X-202 was serviced in-house here at SkyFi so the next owner experiences many more years of trouble-free high-performance listening. 

The X-202 employs a push pull tube 7189 output stage. The 7189 is a ruggedized variant of the EL84 tube, able to withstand higher plate voltages. In this circuit, it delivers approximately 12W into 8 ohms, perfect for driving high-efficiency speakers.

A great match for the Klipsch heritage series!

This listing also includes some interesting Fisher literature. It looks like the original owner requested promotional materials and was given the opportunity to refer friends by mail.

SkyFi Cosmetic Notes:
The faceplate has some patina on the top edge and some blemishes on the left side. The exposed chassis surfaces show sings of corrosion. The original jumpers are included but one set is broken. We opted to construct a high-quality new replacement pair. Overall the integrated presents really well for its age.

SkyFi Technical Notes:
This integrated was serviced in-house here at SkyFi. We replaced all of the mutli-section electrolytic cans and all remaining electrolytic capacitors. We also replaced the Selenium rectifier with a modern Silicon part. The controls were cleaned and all adjustments performed according to the service manual.

This integrated is loaded full of strong testing and quality vintage tubes. All are Mullard or Telefunken with the exception of one set of output tubes, which is GE.

Both output sets are matched fairly well for plate current and produce about 12W into 8 ohms before clipping. Most tubes are Fisher branded and have likely been installed in the unit since the 1960's.

We have made up a fresh set of output terminal jumpers and a shorting plug for the remote control port on the back of the unit.

All functions of this unit work as intended, with the exception of the volume control which is a very slight channel imbalance.

Ownership:
Single Owner

Connections:
RCA, Speaker binding posts

General Sound:
Big beautiful musical sound with little fatigue.

Cosmetic Condition:
8/10 = Very Good. Excellent front faceplate, one minor flaw on chassis side or top. See our detailed rating description here.

Working Condition:
Working perfectly and tested in our lab and listening room.

Included:
Unit, manual, and power cord.

Packing:
Will be packed using our highly developed in-house process and custom packing materials.Original MSRP:
$229.50

Dimensions:
15.13 x 4.75 x 12.5 inch / 384 x 121 x 318 mm

Weight:
39 lbs.

Approximate Age:
1963

Link to Manual:
Click Here

Recommended Cables:
Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Better

Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Best

Kimber Kable - Phono Interconnects

Testing Process:
We start with a visual inspection of all internal components to make sure that there are no signs of heat stress or damage. Capacitors are checked for telltale signs of predictive failure including bulging, shrunken wrappers, or physical leakage. We also inspect the PCBs for discoloration from resistors or transistors that may have been running hot. On vintage units we often spot check select capacitors for value and ESR.

If the device has the ability to decouple the preamplifier from the power amplifier, we remove the jumpers and independently test each section. If the device cannot be decoupled, we assess the electronic condition of the piece by analyzing the speaker level output only.

We start by connecting the "Pre-Out" jacks of the integrated to a Sencore PA81 Power Analyzer which simulates real world loading conditions and gives us an oscilloscope interface. The first order of business is checking that the volume control works smoothly throughout its entire range with acceptable channel balance. This is accomplished by feeding a 1 KHz sine wave into one of the preamp’s line level inputs while monitoring the preamp’s output on an oscilloscope.

We then switch to a 1 KHz square wave to test the tone controls, loudness function, and filters where applicable. During this step we are watching for equal alteration of the test signal by both channels. This also helps us identify dirty controls that will need treatment.

Once the basic line stage functions are verified, we test each input individually. This is especially important for devices that use relays to select their sources.

If the preamp section is equipped with a phono stage we test that as well. We use an inverse RIAA filter which allows us to feed a reference test signal into the phono input with the proper RIAA equalization and level. A square wave or sine sweep is used to verify that the device’s phono stage is faithfully reproducing the RIAA curve.

Next we test the power amplifier section by connecting the integrated amplifier speaker outputs to a Sencore PA81 Power Analyzer which acts as a dummy load, DC offset monitor, and oscilloscope interface. We start with a low level 1 KHz test signal at the "Main In” jacks and slowly increase its amplitude while monitoring the output on an oscilloscope for signs of noise, clipping, distortion, or improper channel balance. We continue increasing the signal level until the amplifier reaches clipping.

At this point we take an output power measurement and compare it to the spec sheet of the amplifier to verify proper performance. We finish off the bench evaluation with a 1 KHz square wave check and a 20 Hz to 20 KHz sine sweep to assess the amplifier’s frequency response characteristics.

This battery of tests will usually reveal if the amplifier has any issues that need further attention.

If the preamp and power amp both pass these tests, we reconnect the sections and verify that the preamp section can drive the power amp to rated power with a 1KHz tone on one of the line level inputs.

Before the device leaves the bench, we perform a listening test with actual music using a variety of preferred test tracks. Our benches are outfitted with familiar monitor speakers which help us identify inconsistencies that will not always show up on our test gear. The main things that we are listening for are hum or noise with no signal present, proper center image, clicks, pops, or any other obvious undesirable audio characteristics.

If the unit passes all of these tests it moves to our long term testing rig where we simulate real word operating conditions for 6-8 hours minimum. This allows us to monitor the unit for signs of thermal runaway or intermittent issues that only crop up when the unit has fully come up to temperature.