Compact Hybrid Power Amp with a BIG, Beautiful Voice
With the SV-200 hybrid stereo power amplifier, Germany's Vincent Audio introduces the little brother of the bestselling SV-237MK and SV-700 power amps. Despite the compact footprint of the SV-200, very few compromises had to be made to pack the casework with a high level of performance worthy of its larger siblings plus feature-rich capability.
The Vincent SV-200 is an amplifier with a high dynamic range, an extremely low noise level, and plenty of musicality. The music signal is sweetened by two 6N1 vacuum tubes in the input stage. But don't let the presence of tubes give you the false impression that this is yesterday's component. The SV-200 is nicely equipped for today's digital sources, thanks to its digital inputs and built-in DAC.
Perfect for a smaller hi-fi or home theater system, the SV-200 delivers 25 watts-per-channel at 8 ohms and 35 watts-per-channel at 4 ohms. That means it has more than enough power to fill a small to medium size room with beautiful sound when used with sensitive speakers. And, as with most Vincent power amps, it sounds far more muscular than its specified power ratings might imply. And the hybrid circuitry can't be beat for sheer musical enjoyment at anywhere near the price range.
Sounds Far Larger Than Its Size Suggests
The SV-200 certainly sounds larger than its size suggests. It's a compact component with a BIG, beautiful voice. These days, not everyone wants to devote a huge amount of space to hi-fi gear. So this power amp is right in tune with the times offering a chassis size that is half the width of standard stereo components. That gives you lots of options for placement and frees up valuable shelf or equipment rack "real estate" for other applications.
"I was looking to get a small high-end amplifier for my bedroom to give me that sweet warm analogue sound and [bought] the Vincent SV-200," reports reviewer Akila at trustpilot.com, September 24, 2018. "I am really happy that I went with this option!"
Hybrid Tube and Solid State Design
The SV-200 delivers the best of two worlds to audiophiles, combining the advantages of both transistor amplifiers and vacuum tube components. The combination of a vacuum tube input stage and solid state output stage gives you the best of the classic Golden Age richness that only tubes deliver. It also delivers the power, control, and reliability associated with solid-state electronics. This hybrid tube and solid state circuitry is a Vincent specialty, a proven combination which Vincent has used to great success in some of its most widely acclaimed amplifiers.
The hybrid design of the SV-200 features two 6N11 input tubes in a differential push-pull design, giving the sound the classic warmth and lushness that you can only achieve through the use of vacuum tubes, followed by a powerful output stage using Toshiba FET transistors operating in Class AB mode.
A Truly Powerful Power Supply
In the end, a power amplifier is only as good as its power supply, and Vincent goes the extra mile toward achieving top performance with an oversize toroidal transformer. To keep the signal constant, the SV-200 uses Elco capacitors for the "buffering" with a total smoothing capacity of 13600 μF.
Excels with Digital Sources, Too
In addition to making your analog sources sound superb, the SV-200 also excels with digital sources. Its built-in DAC lets you plug in streamers and other gear directly without the need of an external DAC. Playable digital formats include WAV, FLAC, APE, LPCM, MP3, ACC, AC3, and WMA files.
Ins and Outs for Analog and Digital Gear
For connecting your source components, the SV-200 has you covered for both analog and digital material. It has two analog inputs and two digital inputs (1 x optical, 1 x coaxial). For connecting a recording device and a power amplifier or active subwoofer, a Rec Output and a Pre Output are included on the rear panel.
Of course, a high-quality remote control comes with the SV-200 for convenient armchair operation.
