SQ of Hegel H390 on-board DAC?

It's fantastic.  With the build quality of the H390, why would you look at paying to add another piece of equipment?

i found the onboard dac of the h390 to be excellent, as good as well reputed outboard dacs in roughly the sub $2000 range (think dena pontus, upper soekris, better w4s and so on), sonically it is on the clear and precise side, not romantic or particularly warm, very extended highs with a good amount of treble energy, expansive imaging, a sound most would call ’linear and accurate’ (even though in reality in this pursuit accuracy is never an objective term)

i tried running the h390 with outboard dacs, and it became clear to me that coming into the h390’s analog inputs (whether rca or xlr) the amp section sounded warmer and touch more rolled off and ’forgiving’ than with a digital feed through the onboard dac

this leads me to surmise that bent holter and team optimized the onboard dac to sound very clean, and synergize with the slight softening of the treble they built into the analog section of the amp

the midrange and bass in all cases was absolutely exemplary

@bigtwin, jjss49:

Thanks for your comments!

I found an open box unit I hope to purchase today. 

My Aqua La Voce II DAC was $2700 when new, for whatever that's worth. 

Lately, I've been experiencing a dissatisfaction with the overtly warm sonics of my system. It could be that aging-related hearing loss is to blame. 

It remains to be seen whether a "very clean" DAC will appeal to me but I'm hoping the smooth but more transparent SQ of the amplifier will prove to be a welcome change.  

Just bought it.

It's supposed to ship Monday. 

After all I've read, I'm very much looking forward to hearing it! 

I have listened to the h390 on several occasions and I am quite sure that you are going to be very happy with it presentation and musicality. Speakers used were Harbeth, SonusFaber and Dynaudio C1. Congratulations 🎊