Zesto Audio Bia 200 Select, 100 Watt Class A Stereo Power Amp
The Bia 200 Select marries Class A tube finesse with solid-state-like control: Positive Feedback found it exceptionally neutral, quiet and revealing, while Audiophilepure highlighted extended treble and tuneful bass. With jet-black backgrounds, wide dynamic headroom, and flexible tube/bias options, this hand-built 100W amplifier delivers spacious, commanding performance.
WATT RECOMMENDS
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
95/100
Build Quality
91/100
Value for Money
85/100
Pros
Exceptionally neutral, low-noise and resolving presentation with a jet-black background.
Tight, tuneful bass and highly extended, precise treble complement its powerful Class A dynamics.
Flexible tube and bias selection can tailor performance, while the preferred KT150 middle setting balances delicacy, clarity and headroom.
Cons
Its $15,900 asking price places it firmly in specialist high-end territory.
Sound quality depends on careful tube and bias selection; the reviewer found low-bias KT150 operation muddy and high bias comparatively mechanical.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 95/100
Reviewers describe an unusually complete performance: exceptionally quiet and transparent, with extended treble, controlled bass, substantial power, and a highly convincing sense of space. The most enthusiastic assessment calls it both tube-like in its musical ease and solid-state-like in its control, with little sense of added artifact or limitation.
Transparency Resolution
96/100
Audiophilepure calls the Bia 200 transparent and resolving, highlighting its sparkle, precision, and extension. Positive Feedback goes further, reporting a jet-black background, extreme yet organic definition, and a neutrality and quietness the reviewer found exceptional among both tube and many solid-state amplifiers.
Tonal Balance Musicality
94/100
The presentation is described as neutral, truthful, delicate, elegant, and fun rather than stereotypically warm or thick. Positive Feedback found the middle bias setting especially well judged, while low bias was said to sound muddy and high bias comparatively bombastic and mechanical.
Dynamics
95/100
The Bia 200 is repeatedly characterized as powerful and controlled, with headroom for crescendos, strong drive, and the ability to handle both bombast and delicacy. Positive Feedback reports that the Class A design never seemed to run out of gas, while Audiophilepure praises its tight, tuneful, well-controlled low end.
Soundstage Imaging
95/100
Positive Feedback reports pinpoint imaging, convincing depth and width, and a speaker-disappearing presentation in a revealing reference system. Audiophilepure similarly describes an open, expansive top end and an ability to step out of the recording's way, allowing its spatial qualities to come through.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
91/100
This is a substantial hand-built dual-mono tube amplifier with a custom toroidal transformer, transformer-floating balanced inputs, auto-bias operation, premium ceramic tube sockets, and separate 4, 8, and 16-ohm output taps. Its 64-pound steel enclosure, 50-hour factory burn-in, matched KT150 complement, and carefully specified passive parts indicate serious engineering, though the reviews offer little direct commentary on long-term durability.
Value for Money
85/100
At $15,900, the Bia 200 Select occupies a costly specialist segment, but the supplied reviews do not directly weigh its asking price against competing amplifiers. They do portray its performance as unusually accomplished, including one reviewer's claim that it delivers the most truthful 100-watt stereo amplification he has heard.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
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Specifications
- Output
- Class A KT150 = 100 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms 4 Ohm, 8 Ohm and 16 Ohm output taps 10A, 7A and 5 Amp 6mm x 32mm Slow-blow speaker fuses for outputs Eight 5-way binding posts Non-inverting output polarity Push-Pull Ultra-Linear design
- Power rating for Auto Bias Select Switch Settings
- Left Position: KT88 = 60 Watts per channel, KT120 = 60 Watts per channel, KT150 = 60 Watts per channel, KT170 = 60 Watts per channel Middle switch position: KT120 = 85 Watts per channel, KT150 = 85 Watts per channel, KT170 = 85 Watts per channel Right switch position: KT150 = 100 Watts per channel, KT170 = 100 Watts per channel
- Inputs
- Transformer floating ground differential balanced XLR inputs Left and right balanced inputs (pin 2 hot), impedance 10K Ohms RCA single ended inputs Left and Right with impedance of 47K Ohms Independent ground lift switches on left and right Balanced inputs 5 Volts RMS input to reach rated output
- Detailed Specs
- Dual Mono Auto bias No negative feedback Frequency response 20Hz to 30Khz ~ 3dB Total Harmonic Distortion ~ 0.22% at 1W into 8 Ohms Gain of 24dB Noise level > 2mV -RMS into 8 Ohms with input shorted 1% metal film resisters throughout Polypropylene capacitors throughout the signal path
- Power
- Custom Toroidal power transformer with global mains 15 Amp IEC power mains connector 120 Volts AC mains with 8 Amp 5mm x 20mm slow blow fuse Optional factory installed 220V, 230V/240V 50/60Hz with 4-amp slow blow fuse Power consumption at rated output 517 Watts Front panel on/off switch with green LED indicator for high voltage and amber LED for low voltage
- Active Components
- Matched quad set of four (4) KT150’s vacuum tubes Four (4) Gold pin ECC82 (12AU7) vacuum tubes High quality gold plated ceramic sockets
- Other Features
- Each unit is made by hand 50-hour factory burn in on all circuits and vacuum tubes Dimensions 17″ W X 20″ D X 10″ H Weight 64 (29Kg) Shipping box = 27” x 27” x 13” (5 cm x 68.5 cm x 33 cm) Shipping weight: 80 pounds (36 kg) 16 and 14 gauge Zinc plated steel enclosure Two year limited warranty Six months warranty on 12AU7 Vacuum Tubes Ninety day warranty on KT150 Vacuum Tubes
Manufacturer's Description — Zesto Audio
Key Features
- The Bias Select switch is engineered with 3 bias settings for 4 different output tube
- Compatible with KT88, KT120, KT150 and KT170 output tubes
- Bias Select switch is easy to use, change on the “Fly” so you can hear the difference
- Auto Bias is safe, consistent and settings are always perfect
- Class A power is fast for a more lively, immediate response to your music
- 4, 8 & 16 Ohm taps gives you options for your speaker preference
- Dual Mono gives you less cross talk and better stereo imaging
- Choice of high quality gold plated Single Ended RCA or Balanced XLR connectors to suit your needs or cable preferences
- True transformer differential balanced XLR inputs for the best noise rejection
- Independent Left and Right ground switches on the XLR balanced inputs to eliminate ground loops and hums
- No Negative Feedback design does not modify or compress the musical signal
- Large custom Toroid is higher voltage for increased performance and lower noise
- Global mains power supply can work all over the world
- Provides plenty of gain for your system
- Push-Pull/Ultra Linear circuit design provides lower distortion, more power, and a better performance out of your tubes
- Low noise levels allow really dark black quiet musical passages
- Non-inverting polarity retains the same phase as the input (so your trumpets blow and don’t suck)
- Gold pin sockets are more reliable because gold doesn’t oxidize when it heat cycles
- Matched quad KT150 output tubes retain the stereo balance and lower noise
- Elegantly designed, heavy duty 14 &16 gauge zinc plated steel enclosure to accommodate the extensive grounding scheme
- The optimized frequency response provides the best musical range to benefit the natural harmonic structure of the instruments
- All fuses are easily accessible
- Each unit is hand built “Made in the USA”
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Zesto Audio Bia 200 Select, 100 Watt Class A Stereo Power Amp
- A/V Solutions — in-store — Pleasanton, California, United States (website)
- Absolute Audio - Canada — in-store — Calgary, Alberta, Canada (website)
- Altitudo Audio — online and in-store — Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (website)
- Audio Gallery — online and in-store — Las Rozas de Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain (website)
- Audio Philosophy — in-store — Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States (website)
- BELHIFI — online and in-store — Meise, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium (website)
- Choice Audio — online and in-store — White Bear Lake, Minnesota, United States (website)
- Deep Dive Audio — in-store — Palm Bay, Florida, United States (website)
- East End Hi-Fi — online and in-store — Brookhaven, New York, United States (website)
- Editors Choice HiFi — in-store — Paola, Kansas, United States (website)
and 10 more verified dealers