Audible Nectar Posted June 6, 2021 Share Posted June 6, 2021 SSIA. Curious if anyone here is running any Hegel amplification, and if so, why and what other amps have you used/can compare it to? I see them around on a some high end sites here and there, seem to be a newer brand, internals look robust, curious what ya all might know..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parlophone1 Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 Producer from Norway. Pretty popular in Europe. They have been around for some time. They have a reputation for a clean accurate sound with plenty of power for most home applications. I never had a chance to listen a system with all Hegel components. But for a short listening session I used one integrated, actually just a pre-section of Hegel integrated when buying a Kenwwod combo Pre+amp. Wanted to make sure that Kenwood preamp is in a good condition. Hegel produced just a bit cleaner sound with a bit more instrument separation, but that could be expected as Kenwood is 35 years old. 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audible Nectar Posted July 6, 2021 Author Share Posted July 6, 2021 They seem to have a reputation for being "tubey" with pinpoint imaging/spatial characteristics yet with high damping factor. Seemed an amp right in a Klipschers wheelhouse and as such was curious if they had any representation in here. I hadn't heard anything much until a few years ago but as stated primarily a European popularity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parlophone1 Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 They certainly have that characteristics, at least what I have heard of them. I would not put the word"tubey", but then again, I have not hearf them with highgly sensitive speakers. Soudstage and detail they have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandz Posted April 11, 2022 Share Posted April 11, 2022 I’m running a hegel h590 to a pair of Cornwall 4. It sounds great The 590 is super quiet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Idontknow Posted May 14, 2022 Share Posted May 14, 2022 Chandz, I've not heard a Hagel yet. Have you ever compared it to tubes? Curious if you know about that. The First Watt amps are the only solid state amps I've heard so far that are literally indistinguisble from tubes in many cases. I struggle with solid state because of their muffled sound signature. Muffled in the sense that they don't produce any spatial separation compared to tubes. The Yamaha AS1200 for example was a big disappointment. Nice looking! lots of tight bass and power but no separation compared to tubes. Had that typical muffled sound I can't stand with jazz. It reminds me of a sock stuffed in a horn. It's like there's no airy openness as if the music can't breath. Half of my audiophile buddies are all into solid state but they haven't compared many things and they also listen to the types of music that tubes don't benefit with IMO. My friends hate that I love tubes. They tease me about having 3 watt single ended amps with old technology that don't measure well. I say until one sits down and listens to how well an amp can play at low volume, they'll never understand. They play their music so F.... loud, that's half their misunderstanding. My approach is how well it plays at low volume. High volume brings out more by a listeners perception. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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