Vincent K-35 Tube Auto-Bias EL-34 Intergrated

When choosing this integrated, I put it up against a McIntosh MC-150 SS amp fed by an Audio Research LS-17 SE tube preamp, both highly regarded components (and for good reason). My speakers were and are Tannoy Revolution XT8s, speakers which are very revealing of what's upstream. The Vincent's sound won me over (the others I sold). I might point out I have also owned PrimaLuna mono-blocks and preamp and a Dialogue Integrated, also with EL-34s. While I owned different speakers with the PrimaLunas, I would give the nod over the Vincent only to the Dialogue Integrated. Otherwise, this Vincent's timbre, bloom, black background, and frequency extension have proven superior to most amplification I have owned.
Alas, my restless curiosity leads me to yet again seek some new combinations of components. (As anyone can tell from my selling record, I enjoy variety, but at least my restlessness means good deals on lightly used components for others). I purchased this amp four months ago, and I would estimate it has a total of maybe 250 hours on it. (I've rated it conservatively at 9 since I'm not sure if 250 hours constitutes "essentially never used." It's condition, operationally and cosmetically, is certainly "mint" though.)

I bought this amp NOS, sealed in the original manufacturer’s packaging, from an authorized dealer who retired and was selling off his inventory. I’m not certain when it was made, but it is typically Vincent in its solid build and heavy-duty construction. Lifting this amp is a chore! Given its weight, this thing has to have a beast of a power supply. Fortunately, given the magic of tube rolling, age does not play a factor in this amp's sound.

This amp is all tube with 1-12AU7 and 2-12AX7 preamp tubes and 4-EL-34 power tubes. The tubes are auto-biased so they always draw only the power they need to extend tube life and maintain adjustment with age, and the auto-bias also allows easy tube rolling with no need for manual adjustments.

The original tubes were bright for my Tannoys, so I upgraded the original preamp tubes with Genalex ECC83/B759 and Genalex ECC82/B749 Gold Lion tubes. These are Upscale Audio’s platinum-grade top of the line tubes (see photo for their test values). The difference from the original tubes was dramatic: much more bass, clear highs that are far more natural, and the amp even sounds faster. I was considering some KT77 power tubes but thought it might be wiser to let the buyer tube roll according to the needs of his or her system.

This amp seems far more powerful than its rated 35 wpc (even allowing for 70 “tube” wpc compared to solid-state). I have yet to turn the volume beyond 1/3 of the way up and usually run it at about the 8 o-clock volume position. It has 4 RCA inputs and a full-volume RCA output (for integrating into an AV system I guess?) as well as banana/spade/bare wire speaker connectors, one tap each for 4 or 8 ohm speakers. Upon turn-on, a warm-up cycle engages and then turns off an indicator light when it is ready to play. I have found letting it warm up for 10 minutes improves the sound though how much of that is the amp and how much is due to my SS phono pre or tube-CD player I couldn’t say.

The amp and remote are in perfect condition. Includes power cord, owner’s manual, original factory packaging, and a solid metal block of a remote. Everything works and the sound is revealing, timbre-rich, and non-fatiguing as most tube amps, but is more dynamic and lively than I expect from tubes--and I've owned some good ones! From a non-smoking home. Ships economy to lower 48.

Here is the dealer's ad I answered:
Pure Tube Stereo Integrated Amp, Retail Price $3500. 35W/ch, 21.5Kg, With remote.
This is the latest developed devices of Vincent changed in their appearance which also shows the big steps of evolution. Similar to the actual highest level of Vincent., the V-60, K-35 works with an automatic bias control unit. With this unit, the tubes work at the optimal operating point at any time. So there will be no more influences due to warming or aging of the tubes, even new tubes can be installed without any manual adjustment setting. This assures an optimized cooperation of preamplifier tubes (12AX7x1, 12AU7x2) and power tubes (EL34x4). The K-35 uses an Alps potentiometer for volume setting, which can also be done by remote-control.
This is one of the finest tube integrated amps available under $5000.