You can do much better than Hegel, even at a comparable or lower price point, I do understand that a lot of mid-fi gear is difficult to demo but make an effort instead of relying on paid print/video media or fanboys!
Hegel H120 or H190
Hello!
I’m considering getting an Hegel integrated amplifier. I like their sound, they are in my budget range and they feature the functions I will use. Because of my budget, I’m considering a H120 or a H190, used or new. H390 and H400 are out of my budget I think.
After several tests, I would say the H190 sounds slightly better (wider soundstage, more precision) but it’s not day and night though so I am still wondering what to do because it is also much more expensive, whether used or new.
I’d like to know your thoughts about that, if any of you had the two and used them over the course of several weeks or months.
Speakers are B&W CM1 (bookshelf); I’ll probably upgrade them within 2 or 3 years. I rarely listen to my music above 80 db and the room is about 17 square meters.
Thank you very much for your ideas!
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- 39 posts total
@bimmerlover other than the original price being $3900, yes, it's a sale. |
@dayglow I have never been able to understand the Hegel pricing. They are much cheaper on the 2nd hand market because - I assume - at that point they are compared to their actual competition. For one, they are hard to look at. But let's say simple is beautiful and scandinavian and move past that. I think it is high value for its functionality but not the rest, By wattage its super expensive Reliability- no idea Sound quality - never heard them at home I think they are marketing them to a younger, wealthier clientele who turn it on when the other doctors/traders/attorney buddies come over. Set and forget. I am not criticitizing the brand just trying to understand the secret sauce. |
As an owner of a Hegel h390 let me take a stab at explaining the sauce. :) Even at retail you get a lot for the $. You have a high quality DAC, a streamer, and a very capable amp that, yes, does sound very good. They are powerhouses as well. Not sure what wattage you’re wanting but the 390 has been bench tested at 270w into 8, and 490w into 4. Stable into 2. Damping factor is 4000. They can drive almost any speaker with grace and iron control. The 590/600 of course are even more powerful and I’m not sure there are speakers made they can’t easily drive. So, literally all you need to listen are speakers. And, I got mine brand new for $4500. If that’s not good value then we have a different understanding of the word. 😉 Imo to get the quality of sound a 390, 590 or 600 provide, buying an amp, preamp, DAC, streamer, you’d be spending 5x as much. Frankly I cannot think of a better value or more bang for your buck. 👍🏼 People spend more for an Ethernet cord. 🙄 |
- 39 posts total