VINCENT SV-700/DAC-1
Integrated amplifiers
Alike the Vincent SV-238 Mk that we reviewed few years ago the SV-700 is an amplifier beast. It weighs 25kg and its heatsinks get really hot after thirty minutes indicating that its Class A topology is not only a paper statement. And yes, there is a glorious round window on the amplifier’s aluminum fascia that lets you see glowing tubes inside.
Function and form
The Vincent SV-700 is a hybrid amplifier that combines a solid-state power stage with a vacuum tube preamplifier in one chassis, all fed by a 500VA toroid. The tube compartment hosts 1x12AX7 and 2x12AU7 per channel. By push of a button a user can select whether the SV-700 should run in Class A (consuming 350W at idle) or in more environmentally friendly Class AB. Sonically the AB is not an option – the Class A operation was audibly better in all parameters. The tax you pay is slightly less of power: in the Class A the SV-700 provides 2x 50W into 8 ohms, in the Class AB 2x100W, or 2x200W into 4 ohms respectively. All signal paths are strictly symmetrical from inputs to outputs. The SV-700 offers 4 analog inputs (3x RCA and 1x XLR) plus 2 digital inputs for a built-in DAC (optical and coaxial), 1 line output and 1 regulated preamplifier output.
Should your primary source of music is represented by a streamer or a NAS storage, the Vincent DAC-1 will be become your first choice upgrade. The SV-700’s built-in DAC (up to 24bit/192kHz) is a decent performer, the DAC-1 is a completely different league however. And the combination of the SV-700 and the standalone DAC-1 gives fantastic price to performance ratio leaving most competitors far behind. I loved the combination of the two so much that I had decided to review both devices as a pair.
Bass management
One cliché says that tubes are friendlier to human ears than transistors and it holds true here – the vocal of Lisa Gerrard was very present in the room and supporting percussive rhythms were punchy and solid (Dead Can Dance, Into The Labyrinth). Another cliché says that tubes are soft, colored and smeared. I cannot disagree more. Through the SV-700 the percussions had very good balance between transient attack and high mass sound pressure followed by clean trailing off. The SV-700 can provide punchy and dynamic rhythms also in Forest Runners (David Arkenstone, Citizen of The World) and if I should compare its presentation to category peers I would say it is above average.
Clarity & delicacy
Take a simple yet very difficult song like Walk The Dinosaur (Flying Pickets, Inak). This vocal arrangement can be sweet and dynamic but also very nasty and flat. Not every amplifier or speakers can handle the layers of sounds that are built toward the finale of the track – the SV-700/DAC-1 combo can do this with aplomb. It lets you navigate inside the arrangements and lets individual voices shine even at high listening volumes.
I also liked the Vincents when listening to Nicola Benedetti’s Vivaldi suite (Decca) – the transition between the digital zeros and the ambient silence of a recording venue was delight to hear, as well as the first very dynamic stroke of the violinist’s bow. The very same recording played through Accuphase E-270 integrated that I had on hand during this review was a bit veiled and too soft.
Tonal accuracy
The Vincent is open at the top end with a slight tilt towards leaner tonality, yet it is a superbly clean amplifier and so the extra oppeness never becomes sibilant. On the contrary it helps soft transient sounds stand out as if they were carved by a chisel. The whole presentation of the SV-700 is lively with a great sense for rhythm and timing.
Spatial resolution
There is a lot to admire about the SV-700 but if I should single out one parameter where the Vincent excels it would be soundstaging. It throws a very wide and deep soundstage with point-to-point imaging precision. Big orchestras were spatially very resolved and I could identify easily from where a xylophone sound came from, which player got restless on his chair or the moment of a bow touching string. The soundstage was very natural without any inclination towards being ´U´ or ´V´ shaped. It is not flat but all the members of the orchestra are easily traceable within a rectangular stage.
The soundstage resolution is changing when switching between the A and the AB mode – the Class A gives you better 3D illusion, airiness and orchestral color saturation, plus improved transparency and more relaxed rhythmical drive. There is no real reason why to stay in the Class A other than paying less for electricity. If I should compare the Vincent combo to the Accuphase E-270 there is no way the latter can win despite it is more expensive. I highly recommend the SV-700/DAC-1 to any serious audiophile. For the money paid (3.500€ amp and 700€ DAC) it is a bargain.
Recommended resellers
Hifi studio MeLissa, Brno, tel. +420 777 041 313
Manufacturer's website: http://www.vincent-tac.de
Associated components
- Sources: Vincent CD-S6 as a CD transport, Node2 16bit/44kHz, Vincent DAC-1
- Amplifiers: Accuphase E-270
- Loudspeakers: Aurum Cantus V8F
- Interconnects and speaker cables: Vincent Premium (Cu and Cu/Ag versions)
- Power conditioning: Vincent PF-1, Pangea AC-9MkII/AC-14SEmkII,
Gallery
AAVIK I-280
As far as its function is concerned the I-280 is an old-school integrated amplifier for audiophile purists. On the rear panel it has five single-ended RCA inputs, a preamplifier output, and speaker posts. The amplifier can be ...
Recommended resellers
RP Audio, Ostrava, +420 737 366 831
ACCUPHASE E-270
It is one of those rare amplifiers that is designed and built entirely in Japan, with absolute focus on perfection. Accuphase should establish its own university to train the rest of the world in how to design ergonomic devices and ...
Recommended resellers
CZ: Perfect Sound Group, Praha, tel. +420 722 960 690
SK: Nisel SK, Bratislava, tel. +421 905 203 078
ACCUPHASE E-4000 + PS-1250
The E-4000 is a successor of E-480 that we have not reviewed, and the E-480 was the successor of E-470 that we have reviewed. Interestingly, the “400” range of Class AB integrated amplifiers of Accuphase can be tracked back to 80’s ...
Recommended resellers
CZ: Perfect Sound Group, Praha, tel. +420 722 960 690
SK: Nisel SK, Bratislava, tel. +421 905 203 078
ACCUPHASE E-450
The Accuphase could create the illusion of Diana Krall’s presence in my listening room – it is not only a headless or bodyless voice in the room but the whole person performing just for you. If I should be nitpicking then the E-450 ...
Recommended resellers
Nisel SK, Bratislava, tel. +421 905 203 078
ACCUPHASE E-5000
What would you like to know about the all new Accuphase? Clean and sweet treble – ticked. Rich and colorful mids – ticked. Wide and deep soundstage – ticked. But these are not new things, rather a usual Accuphase list of traits. So, ...
Recommended resellers
Perfect Sound Group, Praha, tel. +420 722 960 690
ACCUPHASE E-560
Right after first few minutes of listening a listener forms his opinion on the Accuphase. As listening progresses, this initial opinion usually proves to be wrong. The reason is that there is nothing spectacular in Accuphase's house ...
Recommended resellers
Nisel SK, Bratislava, tel. +421 905 203 078
ACCUPHASE E-800
The physical appearance of the E-800 is totally Accuphase: satin gold aluminum panel, controls cleverly hidden behind a flap, sensitive and accurate VU meters, silky operation of knobs and buttons, and legendary fanatical ...
Recommended resellers
Navrátil Audio, Havířov, +420 737 821 360
Nisel SK, Bratislava, tel. +421 905 203 078
