Why a name like Vincent?

[frenchmon]

One of our audio-hobbyist buddies sent me a email extending me his congrats, and approval of my new Vincent preamp and asked me how I liked it. So I thought I would post what I explained to him here.


"I've alway seen Vincent over at Audioadvisor and I've read a few very good reviews about Vincent but that is about all. Not to many in the states can tell you anything about it. But AA sure sells alot of them but I have no idea who these people are, because they sure as in hell dont post reviews about them.

And I have always wondered why a German company would design a product from their head quarters in Germany, and pay another company in China to manufacture it, and then let that same manufacturing company make products that look just like it but with cheaper parts...and to top it off, The German company call their product Vincent? Just did not make sense to me.

But now that I own one I know why....at least in my mind. Its designed in Germany by Germans because Germans know how to design a product...just look at their cars and build quality of their cars and every thing else Germans make. It is built like a tank. They built in china where it cost less to build and still keep that German tuffness, design and build quality that goes into the Vincent named product. They let the Chinese manufacturer make Vincent designed products under their own Chinese name but with cheaper parts and a slight modification to the design, as part of getting a cheaper price to manufacature the Vincent gear. Add let me add, the Germans are there in the plant over looking the manufacturing. (I've read many reports and reviews online from Europe where I had to use a translating tool to understand information on Vincent)

But I could never figure out why call it Vincent! That is what really puzzeled me and I could not figure it out...it stumped the hell out of me. Why a strang name like VIncent!
The name it self comes from a Latin word and means “conquering.” But shoot.....that still did not tell me much. Now Vince...is the short version of Vincent so it still did not tell me much. I read over the reviews and nothing much there but the same stuff you read in professional reviews. But what I did notice in some of the reviews was that it was really good with strings...but I never really tripped off that. Alot of gear sounds good with strings. So one day with out even thinking about the reviews and just spinning music that I like, I happen to play some classical with vocals and man what I heard was unbelievable! All of a sudden those reviews that made a big deal about strings came back to mind! I could not believe it...

This thing does classical and stings really well. Stings are more vivid with this preamp. The stings sorta come to life as if they are dancing above and infront of you. And the name "VIncent" is perfect because the meaning is not in what Vincent means “conquering.” but its in what it portrays or depicts. Elegant...luxurious, style ,gracefully refined and dignified, as in tastes and movement. Now dont get me wrong...it does other music really good as well, but play something with string... it just really out shines other stuff I have heard.

I spoken in other forums asking question about Vincent and I have gotten everything from its cheap made in China...to, do not buy it it sounds muddy to its nice stuff, to it looks nice but neve heard it. But I can assure you, Vincent is a fine piece of gear....and Elegant as well.

I really like this preamp. I've seen reviews call it a Hybrid preamp, but thats not the case with the SA-T1..its all valve. It has a matching pair of mono amps, the SP-100 that are tube and transistor but not the preamp...

Now listening to a 1977 recording on vinyl.... Brahms Symphony No. 2 in D Major OP,73 by Artur Rodzinski conducting the Philharmonic-Symphony of New York which is not the best recording on vinyl and the SA-T1 makes it sound really decent. I need to get some better quality Classical on vinyl. Classical strings on CD really shine unlike anything I've heard in the past on any gear....Thats "Vincent" for ya!

frenchmon