Hegel comparison

I think this review could pretty clearly answer your question…

https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1365-hegel-music-systems-h390-integrated-amplifier-dac

I think this extract from the conclusion pretty much says it all…

“With Hegel Music Systems’ H390 integrated-DAC having so much in common with their H590 at so much lower a price, I couldn’t help wondering, after having finished listening to the H390, if Hans Wetzel had jumped the gun by buying the H590. After all, regardless of the H590’s high quality -- it does seem like a killer product -- $11,000 is a lot of money, and Hans is no big spender. In fact, he’s such a cheapskate that at times it gets him in trouble, as he admitted in September 2018 in “The High Cost of Cheap.” Plus, the speakers he uses don’t need all that much power -- does he reallyneed more than the H390’s 250Wpc?

So after finishing my evaluation I phoned him, told him what I thought of the H390, then asked if he’d wished he’d waited for it. He told me that he’s happy with his purchase of the H590, but that, yes, had he known how good the H390 would turn out to be, he probably would have waited for it -- if only because it costs a lot less. Well, who wouldn’t want to get the most sound quality for the least cost?”

@stuartk  and @soix  Thanks so much for the quick response.  I'll check out those links.

Is this the same Stu that was selling an H590 a few months ago? 

I was also looking at the hegel h390 at the end i go home with the gato 400s.

@cundare2  I have owned both the 390 and 590. While the 390 is an excellent amp, the 590 just took everything to that next level of performance.  The video posted by @stuartk is on point.  From a value standpoint the 390 is hard to beat. 

Both are great amps.  I've spent quite a bit of time with both and also the new 600.  The 590 will drive the bass harder and tighter but the 590 has a small dip in the midrange which makes the 390 sound "warmer" side by side.  I think it's the DAC in the 590 that causes the midrange dip.  I used an external DAC on the 590 and the dip vanished.  Good luck and cheers.