Vincent SP-998 /SP-T800

[electricladyland]

Hi All,

From reading your site I've noticed a few Vincent enthusiasts. I have a number of their products and generally find them great bang for buck. I'm looking for some mono-blocks to go with the sublime SA-T8 pre. Has anyone got experience with the SP-998 or SP-T800 monoblocks. I have a number of speakers so not meant to suit any specific speaker.

Thank you.

[frenchmon]

Hi...I have Vincent...the SA-T1 preamp and SP-331 MK amp. People are sleeping on these products. The SA-T8 is an outstanding preamp! Those Mono Blocks....SP-800 Class A-50 WATTS, 8 ohm 300 Watts are some powerful amps! I think the SP-T800 has been replace by the SP-T700...all those amps are great!

[electricladyland]

Hi frenchmon, I have an SA-T1 as well, quite nice for a budget pre. I agree the SA-T8 is outstanding and competes with pre-amps 3 times it's cost. Have you heard the Power Amps in question?

[Hyfi]

Good review of the exact combo here from 2009

TAS 188: Vincent Audio SA-T8 Preamplifier & SP-T800 Monoblock Amplifier | The Absolute Sound (http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/tas-188-vincent-audio-sa-t8-preamplifier-sp-t800-monoblock-amplifier/)

[electricladyland]

Good review of the exact combo here from 2009

TAS 188: Vincent Audio SA-T8 Preamplifier & SP-T800 Monoblock Amplifier | The Absolute Sound (http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/tas-188-vincent-audio-sa-t8-preamplifier-sp-t800-monoblock-amplifier/)

Thanks, yes I know the review. The main reason I bought an SA-T8. Just after some personal experiences with the Power Amps more so the SP-998.

[Hyfi]

Hybrid amps in general are pretty special and not enough people give them the chance. My Counterpoint is Hybrid and I have been eying up several Pathos Integrateds for the future.

[frenchmon]

Hi frenchmon, I have an SA-T1 as well, quite nice for a budget pre. I agree the SA-T8 is outstanding and competes with pre-amps 3 times it's cost. Have you heard the Power Amps in question?

No haven't heard the SP-998 or SP-T800 monoblocks. But I wouldnt be worried about the Vincent gear behaving poorly at all.

[electricladyland]

Thanks all. I've put a deposit on the SP-998's at a bargain price. It will be a while before I set them up as in the middle of renovating and changing my set-ups. So when set-up and run in I will give my thoughts.

Cheers.

[frenchmon]

Are you all setup yet?

[electricladyland]

Hi frenchmon,

No I havn't set up yet. I have just finished having my lounge renovated. With having a few days off when I was off colour has put me behind in my business and a few different issues that I hadn't expected. I'm hoping too re-do my music room at the end of the month and will set them up then. At the moment they are sitting in the boxes in my bedroom. They are pretty massive beasts. So a report hopefully in a month or so.

Cheers.

[frenchmon]

Cool...don't for get to take before and after pictures!

[electricladyland]

Cool...don't for get to take before and after pictures!

Hi frenchmon,

I just thought I'd better inform you of progress (or lack of). Had delays in reno's, had to change plans as hit a few unexpected roadblocks. So the Power Amps are still sitting in the boxes until everything is finished. It's a big job, but just have to be patient until reno's are finished.

Cheers.

[frenchmon]

No Problem....

[electricladyland]

Hi frenchmon,

Finally the renovations are finished and I have set up the big Vincent SP-998's. Running balanced from the sublime Unison Research CDE w/ upgraded Dac as source, into the Vincent SA-T8 pre. Speakers are Revel Ultima Studio. All I can say is these are magnificent mono blocks, jaw- droppingly good. I have never heard such grip on the bass, the woofer excursion! They just cruise in Class A. Can't wait till I put 50 or so hours on them, they already sound superb, straight out of the box.

In the meantime I'll have fun playing around with different sources, pre's etc. I'll update once the big Mono's have some more hours on them.

Cheers.