VINCENT RELEASES TWO NEW WALLET FRIENDLY AMPLIFIERS
Vincent Audio tends to fly under the radar in Australia which is a little surprising given this brand excels at well-finished, audiophile grade models that are very nicely priced.
As if to prove all of the above, take a moment to consider what its new SP-998 Mono and SV200 Integrated Amplifiers offer for the money.
Vincent Audio SP-998 Mono Amplifiers
Priced at $3300 each, the SP-998 mono amplifier is a beast delivering 300 watts into an 8ohm load and 600 watts into 4 ohms. Switch the SP-998 into Class A mode, and you can expect each amp to deliver 50 watts per channel into an 8-ohm load.
Frequency response is what you’d expect from an audiophile model, and the SP-998 doesn’t disappoint with its bandwidth that starts at 50kHz and bottoms out at 10Hz. So you can expect a midrange topped by soaring highs and underpinned by floorboard rattling bass.
Along with extended bandwidth, there’s a total harmonic distortion that measures a lowly 0.1 per cent at 1kHz/1 watt.
Input sensitivity is civilised at 1.1 volts so a wide range of preamps will work just nicely with the SP-998. Ditto for its input impedance of 47kOhm which is an industry standard.
Inputs include an RCA or balanced XLR input, while 3.5mm jacks allow for a remote trigger on/off.
The SP-998 is hefty and weighs in at 31 kg each. It is 458mm high, 265mm wide and 420mm deep. Finishes available are your choice of black or silver.
Vincent Audio SV200 Integrated Amplifier
Meanwhile, Vincent's new SV200 Integrated Amplifier is poised to be a cracker at its $999 price tag.
Part of Vincent’s Tubeline series this hybrid model features two 6N11 input tubes and solid-state output stage, a tried and proven combination. Especially when the tubes are in the crucial input stage and have to handle low-level signals.
The SV-200 is rated at 25 watts per channel into an 8Ohm load and 35 watts per channel into a 4Ohm load. Hardly a powerhouse, but we’re surmising at $999 this model is tailor-made to power the kind of efficient speakers that would be chosen for a high-quality budget priced hi-fi system. Particularly considering the unit is compact enough to sit on your desk or sideboard, and measures just 210mm wide, 95mm high, and 320mm deep.
Despite the compact construction, high dynamics and low noise stand out when listening to this amplifier.
Vincent Audio will feature at the 2018 Melbourne International Hi-Fi Show, in Room 1310, October 12-14, Queens Road, Albert Park. Tickets on sale now.
For more information visit Vincent Audio.
Peter Familari
One of the veterans of the Australian HiFi industry, Peter was formerly the Audio-Video Editor of the Herald Sun for over two decades. One of the most-respected audio journalists in Australia, Peter brings his unparalleled experience and a unique story-telling ability to StereoNET.
Posted in: Hi-Fi
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