Vincent Audio SV-228 Hybrid Stereo Integrated Amplifier

A Hybrid Amplifier, Built Around One Tube Stage

An integrated amplifier is the heart of a stereo system. It takes the signal from your sources, then boosts it until your speakers can fill the room. One box holds the preamp and the power amp, so there is less to buy and less to set up.

The Vincent SV-228 splits that job between two kinds of parts. One 6N4 tube and two ECC82 tubes shape the signal up front. Solid-state transistors take over for the heavy lifting, so you get tube character without giving up grip on the speakers.

A Flagship Without the Flagship Price

Vincent sells the SV-228 below its top model, the SV-737, and it follows the well-liked SV-227MK. Power is 100 watts per channel into 8 ohms, and 180 watts into 4 ohms. Enough to keep a hard-to-drive pair honest.

The VU Meter Is the Only Old-Fashioned Part

One classic touch stays on the front. A real VU meter sits in the middle, and you can change the color of its backlight to suit the room. Everything behind that glass is current, starting with a Burr-Brown PCM5102 converter.

The converter takes an optical or coaxial feed, so a TV or a CD transport plugs straight in. Bluetooth 5.0 handles your phone. On the bench it measures below 0.1% distortion at 1kHz, with better than 90dB of signal-to-noise.

Shape the Sound, or Get Out of Its Way

Bass and treble controls sit on the panel, and a bypass switch lifts them out of the path when you want nothing added. There is a loudness button and a headphone jack. A main input lets the SV-228 work as a plain power amp inside a home theater.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Audiophilia reviewed the SV-228 and came away won over. The sound of it, the review said, "is eminently engaging and easy to love," even though the amplifier makes no attempt to hide its own character.

Summing up, the review pointed to "rightness of tone and lush, holographic presentation" as what closes the argument, and suggested adding a phono stage to build a full system around it.

Who Is This Amplifier Best For?

• You want tube character and real solid-state grip in one box — one chassis, one remote, and no interconnect between preamp and power amp to buy or worry about.
• You own speakers that ask for current — 100 watts into 8 ohms and 180 into 4 means the amp stops being the limit on how loud and how clean the room gets.
• You already have a home theater — the main input lets a processor drive the SV-228 directly, so the same amplifier serves movies and music instead of you buying twice.
• You want the digital side handled — the built-in converter and Bluetooth take a TV, a laptop and a phone, so nothing else needs a shelf or a power outlet.
• The SV-228 takes line-level and digital sources — a turntable needs a phono stage ahead of it, since there is no phono input on the back. Add one from our phono preamps.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Two stereo RCA inputs take sources like a CD player or a phono stage. The optical and coaxial inputs feed the built-in converter, and Bluetooth 5.0 covers anything wireless. A main input lets an AV processor drive the amplifier directly.

On the back you get a preamp output, a record output, and four pairs of speaker terminals, which is enough to run two pairs at once. A headphone jack sits on the front, and a metal remote comes in the box.

Pairs Well With

Building your system? Here are some great companions:

• Speakers: With 100 watts into 8 ohms this amp drives a demanding pair — see our Floorstanding Speakers or Bookshelf Speakers.
• Phono Preamplifier: Spinning vinyl? See our Phono Preamps.
• Cables: Good cable matters at this level — browse our Speaker Cables and Interconnects.
• Audio Rack: At 34 pounds the SV-228 wants a sturdy home — see our Audio Racks.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much power does it deliver?

100 watts per channel into 8 ohms, and 180 watts per channel into 4 ohms.

Which tubes does it use?

One 6N4 in the input stage and two ECC82 tubes in the driver stage.

What is the Main In input for?

It lets an AV preamp or processor feed the SV-228 directly, so it can act as the power amplifier for a home theater.

How do I stream music wirelessly?

Select the Bluetooth input, pair your phone or laptop, and play from any music app.

Does it have a headphone output?

Yes, a front-panel headphone jack is built in for private listening.

What finishes are available?

Silver or black, and the VU meter backlight color can be changed to suit the room.

See It in Action

GadgetryTech reviews the hybrid design, the sound and the build:

And Nemo Audio Project listens across several kinds of music:

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Learn More

Want to learn more about integrated amplifiers, tube audio, or building a two-channel system? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.