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!

boozendormi

@megabyte thanks that makes sense. 

I have yet to reach $4500 total to spend in the last decade on all my hifi gear so yes, we have a very different understanding of the word (and the WORLD smiley )

By wattage, in a small room, what I also have, I don't know why one would need anything over 75 Watts, so my opinion does not matter as I have no clue what 200+ Watts do.

I do understand it has a great DAC. And streamer. Which is why I said: high value for its functionality

I do want to try the H90 or H120 in my system because of all the good things I hear.... but none of them are in stock - the one place where they are, they have a 20% restocking fee but some day I might.... 

 

@grislybutter    I will always reply when one takes the time to ask my opinion. Regarding Hegel no "secret sauce" exits other than marketing. Specifications are the Hegel selling point. As you might know watts are cheap and a very high damping factor can give an amplifier a very mechanical characteristic. How many times does a Hegel fanboy spew "4000 damping factor". Have heard the H390 enough times to know it checks few if any boxes for me, even for a second system. Yes, it can play loud and has bass control but so does a Crown XLS 2502 power amp. Transparency in production, consistency and parts quality has always been another issue with Hegel.  

Thanks @dayglow ! Good to have another objective view, it's a big world out there with a lot of options.

@boozendormi 

I am no expert at all as i am looking at a new amp as the initial set up was not well thought out as i knew no better.  Way too much research into this but.....ultimately know what direction you want to go with the speakers and what their requirements are to drive their best sound and get the amp that will pair with them as well as your ears, well.

I am leaning 190v as they should pair real nice with my MA silver 300's.  Mind you i have been at this for months.  No, i have no heard them with my speakers but have spoken to two who have as i have paired selections down. 

I am running 100w at these speaker now and you can hear they want more as they have so much more to give, and i have heard it from them when i tested and bought them and can hear i am not getting that at home.

And..... still not 100% positive on the amp selection, but close (90%) as this offers a great headphone amp (which i use a lot) and a pretty good DAC that means i do not need to work on upgrades there for the short term and can focus on other upgrades and whn the time comes (if it does) i can upgrade the DAC and/or headphone amp..

I have no knowledge about the speakers you have but again, if you are upgrading in the future, and that upgrade gets you into a speaker needing more power that 75 wpc,, I would go 190V or an equivalent....otherwise 120

Oh, i looked at 390 (now 400)....and no need for me to have that 30%+ increase in cost for power i do not need now, and likely ever and that goes with a few other integrated amps i have been looking at.

Hmmm...so....i would say make sure you know what you will power in the future so you do not need to upgrade again for need.  One can always upgrade for want.

I had several Hegels, currently 390 and 95. as many posters, plan to change the speakers asap. I had B&W 805s, but like the combination with Sterling (like Harbeth but better) and Dynaudio much more.  

Hegel 90 and 95 are mighty machines for small rooms. they can run a good size speaker.