Joining this thread with my eyes on a Vincent SV-236 (non MK) with the all black knobs (no silver accent rings) with all 6 inputs as analog (yes, I will use them all). I currently use Audio Refinement separates (see system page for details) designed by YBA that is considered to sound quite tube like with a good amount of warmth. I pair it with some ProAc Studio 148s and this setup beat a Rogue Cronus Magnum head to head (Rogue sounded more solid state to me). Excited to see what a SV-236 with my modified RP6 can do with those ProAcs.
From what I've read about the Vincent PHO-700 and 701 (hybrid phono preamps), the tube in the audio path was added pretty much as an afterthought (more as a tube buffer instead of the design using the tube in the initial audio signal path) and some have reported the phono stage working without a tube in the socket. How does this hybrid phono preamp design differ from the SV-236? I put my Jasmine LP 2.0 mkII phono stage up against a PHO-8 (same preamp without the tube) and the Jasmine was a clear winner. The Jasmine also beat out the Pro-ject Phono Tube Box with upgraded tubes.
From what I've read about the Vincent PHO-700 and 701 (hybrid phono preamps), the tube in the audio path was added pretty much as an afterthought (more as a tube buffer instead of the design using the tube in the initial audio signal path) and some have reported the phono stage working without a tube in the socket. How does this hybrid phono preamp design differ from the SV-236? I put my Jasmine LP 2.0 mkII phono stage up against a PHO-8 (same preamp without the tube) and the Jasmine was a clear winner. The Jasmine also beat out the Pro-ject Phono Tube Box with upgraded tubes.