Vincent SV-500 Tube Hybrid Integrated Amplifier

The German brand VINCENT was registrated in 1995 as a trade mark by Sintron Distribution GmbH in Iffezheim/Germany. Since its formation, Sintron has been developing products for this high-end brand. German know-how guarantees the brands high-quality & excellent manufacturing in the far east – high end parts and above-average housings provide the brand’s top line “inner values”. Product development takes place in Germany.

VINCENT stands for a continual orientation to 2-channel stereo in the high-end class. There are two electrical concepts. On one side there are the solid state products - equipment that is based on pure transistor technology. Products of the solidLine are one example to be mentioned. They have a precise, light and dynamic sound design. The other is hybrid technology: These are devices that are partly equipped with tubes to give the sound the typical "tube character", but using the solid state power in the output stage. It is possible to achieve a power for driving even difficult speakers. The sound character is both airy and dynamic, but also hybrid units offer their own charms with tubes which add certain warmth to the soun

So here we have the Vincent SV-500 Hybrid Integrated amplifier – it's a superbly designed tube/transistor hybrid amplifier. Based on Vincent’s SV-227 integrated amplifier, it has three valves in the preamplifier circuit – two 6N1 and one 12AX7 – which the maker says should last 10 years at a conservative estimate. There’s a variable output around the back, so you can actually use it as a valve preamp. The power amplifier section uses four large Toshiba power transistors, and the SV-500 boasts a good-quality 250VA toroidal power transformer to supply the juice. The manufacturer claims a power output of 2x 50W RMS into 8ohm, rising to 80W RMS into 4. 

The amplifier offers four line-level RCA unbalanced inputs, plus two digital. The latter work with the built-in Burr Brown PCM5100 DAC that runs up to 32-bit/384kHz. Defeatable bass and treble controls are offered and have quite a dramatic action, so are left switched out. The fascia also sports a headphone jack and handy mute switch. 

On the back, there’s additionally a line-level output for tape machines, and chunky loudspeaker binding posts are fitted. The supplied aluminium-cased remote control is a really nice touch, with a good feel. The SV-500 itself feels well built, which isn’t surprising considering it is engineered in Germany. The controls feel silky, but still the unit has a utilitarian feel and is perhaps an amplifier to be heard and not seen however, there’s a basic rightness to this integrated that is hard not to like. In the great scheme of hi-fi amplifiers, it’s not right at the very top understandibly, and yet it’s very refined for a medium priced integrated and less flawed than many of its rivals. You could say that it’s good enough to really connect you with your music. The Vincent SV-500 packs so many positives up all together, and exudes a charm that makes it a real pleasure to live with.

Specs: 

Product: Vincent SV-500
Origin: Germany/China
Type: Integrated amplifier/DAC
Weight: 10kg
Dimensions: (WxHxD) 430 x 118 x 375mm

Features:

Quoted power: 2x 50W (8ohm)
2-bit/384kHz-capable DAC
Inputs: 4x RCA; 1x optical digital; 1x coaxial digital

This SV-500 is in impeccable condition... as-new like it just came out of the box & plastic. It's indistinguishable from a brand new unit. Performs flawlessly as well.

Come hear this wonderful Vincent Integrated here at the Andover shop or purchase with confidence here in this site.

Vincent SV-500 Hybrid Integrated Amplifier: $799.00 plus sales tax and shipping when applicable