This review of the Vincent SA-T7 Tube Stereo Preamplifier (USD 3500) is our third of a Vincent component. This is my first and for some reason, as I edited the first two by other writers, I assumed carelessly that Vincent was a French company. Vincent is from Germany, founded in 1995 by Sintron Distribution GmbH.

The product list includes the design and manufacture of DACs, CD Players, and pre and power of all types. The factory is located in Iffezheim, adjacent to the spa town of Baden-Baden and close to Stuttgart.

My Use

The SA-T7 arrived shipped in a double box and undamaged.

The manual was clear and we had the unit warming up quickly. I played the preamp for about 20 hours before seriously auditioning. The break-in is very important with this preamp. Out of the box, there’s a fairly distinct grain over the sound for about an hour then it disappears leaving a somewhat constricted soundstage. Then, a dramatic shift happens at about ten hours and changes to what I consider excellent sound, with even more subtle changes after that. Judge at 10 hours, not out of the box. Important! It’ll be all smiles.

I bypassed the preamp section of my MBL N51 Integrated Amplifier with Ansuz Acoustics C2 Interconnects and hooked up my analog and digital front ends to the line outs of the Vincent. All cabling was by Ansuz Acoustics, C2 and D2 level.

After 20 hours of repeat play on a CD, I began the important job. By that time, the preamplifier had broken in completely.

My Use

The unit was accepted as a preamplifier, which I used primarily during the review period. However, the updated MK model has a built-in Bluetooth (5.0) receiver.

If you’ll be using the Vincent full figured, the Bluetooth adds some excellent functionality and it sounds good and works effectively (streamed directly from my iPhone). But I was using it as a tube foil to the solid state preamp section of my MBL N51. For comparison, I had my Allnic Audio L-8500 OTL/OCL Preamplifier to test the Vincent’s resolve against a world-class, $13,500 tube preamplifier.

As of the publication date, the SA-T7 is not Roon Ready. Budget-conscious audiophiles want a quality streaming platform for their preamplifiers or integrated amplifiers. This is the first Vincent preamplifier with a Bluetooth receiver included. This will be an attractive add-on for many.

Features and Specifications

The SA-T7 MK features connections for a wide range of analog and digital audio sources (each unused rear RCA connection is protected with a plastic cap). Vincent provides six stereo RCA-analog inputs, one Toslink and one coax digital connection. Deciphering the digital is a PCM 5100-based DAC up to 24-bit/192 kHz. Most formats are playable including WAV, FLAC, APE, LPCM, MP3, AAC, AC3, and WMA music files.

As far as the circuit design and tube implementation are concerned, the manual states “Thanks to the developed ‘BestPentode’ circuit (developed by chartered engineer Frank Blöhbaum), the current distribution noise typical of pentodes is now a thing of the past.” Without getting into the technical weeds, further research of Blöhbaum’s patented circuit explains “Best Pentode” combines high gain with reduced noise from the tube, because the screen current (separated from the cathode emission and then wasted, in normal pentode applications) is returned to the plate, both eliminating separation noise and adding the screen transconductance to the total. [Source].

For the relatively reasonable MSRP of USD 3500, the SA-T7 packs an audiophile wallop. Vincent has taken great pains to implement their tubes (all NOS used in telecommunications). The manual (linked above) gives very clear chapter and verse of the unit’s functionality.

Frequency Response: 10Hz – 100kHz +/- 0,1 dB

Output Voltage: 3 V
T.H.D.: < 0,001 % (1 kHz, Output Voltage 2Veff a 10 KOhm)
Amplification: typ. 13,3 dB (Volume Control max. Gain)
Input Sensitivity: 430 mV (2V Output Voltage)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: typ. > 100dB (A)
Input Impedance: > 22 kOhm
Max. Power Consumption: 58 Watt
Inputs: 6 x Stereo RCA, 1 x Optical, 1 x Coaxial, 1 x Bluetooth
Outputs: 2 x Stereo RCA Pre-Out, 1 x Stereo RCA Rec-Out, 2 x 3,5 mm Jack (Power Control)
Tubes: 4 x 6SCH9P, 4 x 6SCH51P, 1 x 85A2
Playable Digital Formats: WAV, FLAC, APE, LPCM, MP3, ACC, AC3, WMA
Colour: Black / Silver
Weight: 8,5 kg
Dimensions (WxHxD): 430 x 135 x 370 mm

Inside showing tube placement, etc. 1xE180F displayed in window bathed in an orange LED (photo below)(dimmable)/4x6SCH9P/4x6SCH51P. “The high-level grid pentode type displays their whole potential. The tubes are a new old stock (NOS) from storage that was used for amplifying high-frequency signals.”

Sound

There is no way I would confuse the pentode-based SA-T7 with a triode-based topology but in use with a solid-state amplifier like the MBL, probably a good thing. No matter, as the tube choice is excellent and adds a lovely, detailed warmth to digital sources and vinyl. It’s a solid choice for matching the widest possible number of amplifiers. And though it couldn’t match the Allnic OTL/OCL preamp’s upper treble and soundstage (for a $10,000 premium), it more than held its own considering the price difference.

The unit runs very quietly—no tube rush through the tweeters. Very user-friendly. Vincent adds: “Linear amplification is combined with extreme low-noise characteristics, thanks in part to the BestPentode-circuit that eliminates the electrical current noise often associated with pentode tubes.”

I turned on the preamplifier in the morning and left it on all day. The unit was well-ventilated but did not get too hot under the fingers (manual turn-on from the front; no on/off on the remote, otherwise mute, volume, and input select for small metal remote functionality). And the amber LED hue was lovely (although dimmable from a rear toggle, I left it full on for the duration).

I was doing three concurrent reviews and used the Muarah Audio MT3 Turntable (USD 2900 incl. tonearm) and the Skyanalog G-3 MC Phono Cartridge (USD 2200) for the bulk of the Vincent review. I also played some wonderful CDs through my MBL CD/DAC—the Vincent adds its lovely tube warmth and detail to any topology, digital or analog. However, most of my listening was completed with vinyl.

In general, the Vincent offered a wide and deep soundstage and very specific imaging on all genres. And the bass was reflective of the original recording. So, the emphasized bass of the Montreal Symphony Decca CD of “Uranus” from The Planets by Gustav Holst was impressive if a little enhanced by Decca engineering, whereas the bass from Boston’s Symphony Hall on the new Deutsche Grammophon Original Source reissue LP was far more natural but no less effective. There was tonal lustre and dynamic shading in the “Jupiter” hymn and articulation at high speed reminiscent of preamplifiers costing more.

The realism on this particular DG OS LP continued with the vaunted acoustics of Boston’s great hall. For whatever reason, the original DG engineers fiddled far too much at the board and created a harsh, unnatural sound on many of their recordings. The Emil Berliner Studios remastering has recaptured much of the hall’s warmth and the Vincent was very happy to relay it through the speakers. As such, Steinberg’s magnificent Planets takes its place among the great recordings. It was always a great performance, now with sonics to match.

Piano, always a challenge to record and replicate, was a special treat through the Vincent. So Claudio Arrau’s superb rendition of Schumann’s Novelleten had power and punch with solid bass and a beautiful tube glow slightly rounding the edges of the initial attacks. A good thing as the sound style continued this way on CDs of piano music, which through solid state can be a little hard-edged. Even the great Pollini’s famous, glacial Stravinsky Petrouchka was smoothed out a little.

And imaging of voices was a strength, too. The Vier letzte Lieder with Gundula Janowitz on her justly famous, but poorly recorded Karajan, original (1973) and sounding resplendent on the Deutsche Grammophon Original Source reissue, with the great singer now floating above and from within the orchestra with diction heard. As such, the Vincent does the voice very well.

Summary

No matter the genre or medium, the Vincent SA-T7 MK Tube Stereo Preamplifier (USD 3500) is an excellent partner and now adds Bluetooth streaming for a full-function component. German engineering and manufacture, lovely sound at a reasonable price. As such, it should be on all your audition lists if you’re looking for a sub-$5000 preamplifier.

Further information: Vincent