Bought my first Hegel product the other day. Never listened to any Hegel before, so since I like Norwegian hifi products and have read much nice words about Hegel amplifiers, I bought an old Hegel H1 mk4 from the internet. It is in mint condition and was 400$. I am very pleased I bought this amp, it is the best integrated amp I have ever owned. I am 58 years old, and have loved good hifi gear since early teenage, so I have had a few nice amplifiers. Are using this Hegel on Warfedale Heritage Linton 85year anniversary speakers, witch goes together much better than the Opera Consonance Cyber 100 15year anniversary tube amp I used before. The Opera is a nice amp, but the Hegel is on a different level. H1 mk4 has 120 watt pr channel and as much as 70 ampere current, stable down to 2 ohm. And it sounds so clean and beautiful. My Warfedale speakers came to life with this Hegel. Match made in heaven. Thank you for giving us your thoughts on the H 190. It sounded like it has much the same sound qualities as the H1, when you describe your experience with it. Nice review 👍
Wonderful review as usual my man. This amp has been reviewed a lot but you still managed to provide a different angle and information others didn’t mention. I have Harbeths now so this unit is a top contender for next amp for these speakers.
@@NemoPropaganda I predict that the H390 will be replaced by early 2025 at the latest. Hegel has already replaced the H590 with the H600, and announced a replacement for the H190 (model number not known yet), so it makes sense that the H390 will also be upgraded in the not to distant future, but this is pure speculation on my part.
sorry for the double post. If you didn't realize from the previous post I own the H390 and love it. Something I do not believe you have spoken of but I have to mention Roon. All of the newer Hegel integrated amps are Roon ready. Those that have other Roon ready speakers, like Bluesound, can enjoy music throughout their home and the Hegel amp would be an endpoint. It is brilliant and adds another level of functionality to the system. Also using Roon is amazing. Just my 2 cents. Thanks again.
As someone who doesn't have the money to play around with front equipment matchmaking. It feels good having the neutrality of the Hegel H190. Knowing that when I upgrade my Focal Aria 926, which it pairs very well with, I know it will do a good job on my next speakers too.
absolutely agree, this could easily be considered an end game amp for many people. Sure it's not a $10k+ esoteric amp but that's crazy money for most people. I'm really happy for you, it feels good when the upgrade bug starts to go away because you've found something you love :)
Nice review and it’s good to hear your opinion on this amplifier with comparisons to other amplifiers. I was fortunate to get my Hegel H190 brand new for £2050 . It pairs amazingly well with my B&W’s and for the money I don’t think there’s much out there that can compete with it. If people are like me and don’t feel comfortable with going beyond 3-4K price range/bracket on an amplifier then I would say this could be an end game amplifier for a lot of people.
You could have gone a bit more in depth about the integrated DAC. When connected to a competent streamer in USB, you get the highest resolution in Tidal and Qobuz. Some reviewers compared the integrated DAC to the Chord Qutest which, by itself, in the US, is approximately US$2,000 (and no need for additional interconnect and power-cords) . You may want to do a review of the Integrated DAC, which, I believe, is the same one used in the H390 and H590. As a package, it's an amazing integrated Amp.
My entire review is based on how the amp performs using the internal DAC. I feel making an additional video just for the DAC would be a bit redundant. I covered many aspects of the amplifier and I am very happy with the outcome of this video.
@@NemoPropaganda Did not mean to sound critical, your review is great. Both components are a great value for the price and hopefully, potential buyers will consider both aspects.
@@alpro3714 it's okay I did not take any offense, I just respond in a dry way sometimes because I respond to all comments and I don't have time to make them all polite or reread them, I just type and click reply. But I really do appreciate you making the effort to clarify.
I was interested in this amp but I ended up buying a Rega Elicit mk5. The H190 just doesn't have enough analog inputs for my needs and no phono stage. Plus, here in Canada, my dealer didn't roll back the price.
Hello Nemo, thanks for the great review, just a couple of things you missed, DAC quality, and the auto shut off feature that is very convenient (15/30/60 min)
I hate auto shutoff so I disabled it and forgot about it :). As far as DAC quality I had no problems enjoying the internal dac for 80% of my listening sessions.
I really enjoyed this one Nemo. The sound signature of the Hegel sounds very similar to that of the Marantz Model 30 in comparison to other amps. I will certainly consider buying a Hegel if I am ever in the market due to the integrity shown by their rollbacks!
@@NemoPropaganda Yeah I bought one. It replaced my Schiit Ragnarok 2. Big upgrade, scale, soundstage, & bass is much improved on the Model 30. The mids & treble are exactly as you describe the Hegel.
They have an open box at my local HiFi store for $2k I’m considering, but my focal Aria speakers are already very neutral and the neutrality of this amp might make them sound dull🤔
Hello! The presentation was very good!! Now I want a Hegel h190 or a Fezz tube amplifier!! The decision is difficult because the Hegel is almost an all-in-one device, but somehow the precision is detailed, but somehow the emotion is lacking, like say a tube amplifier.. I don't know if I'm hearing this right or maybe it's wrong!!? In the Hegel h190 category, which other type would you add next to it that is at least as good? Thank you
don't get me started on emotiva prices lol, they're a freaking roller coaster! Everytime I look at the site prices are different, but hats off to them, currently the prices are very attractive!
In the end, if there are any price changes (up or down) it is based on supply vs demand, regardless of what they tell you. A lot of companies who went all-in on production during the pandemic (due to high demand) need to move some inventory now that demand is back to normal levels, and a possible recession is coming.
I have the original Buchardt S400 and did not paired very well for my taste. It sounded flat. I am still have opportunity to know who S400 sound with Kinki Studio integrated receiver.
Had S400 mk1 with h190, great match. Ended up pairing S400 with IOTA stack for a secondary system and hooked H190 to a pair of Dali Epicons 2, helped by Dali E-f12 sub. S400 is a great speaker but touch focused on mid and low frequencies and losing on top end for my taste.
@@aurelianmarin6494 thank you for your input. Unfortunately I didn’t have the WOw effect as others when auditioned that amp. I am still using my Audio GD A1 amp with Rótel pre amp. Probably the A1 has reached the maximum of this speakers.
S400 MK2 are not picky with amplification. They will pair well with just about any amp tha thas an honest 50w RMS/channel or more. As far as how it sounds, I liked it but some may prefer a more energetic amp. S400 MK2 treble is not very aggressive, same with the Hegel so together its a smoother presentation that some may feel is a little too relaxed, but others may feel its perfect.
Great review, thanks. I'm thinking of upgrading from my entry level Emotiva gear to this unit (ta-100 preamp with basx2 amp). Do you think that would be a large and worthy upgrade in sound? This would be paired with MartinLogan 60xti.
it's a night and day difference to me and I think it's a worthy upgrade but its hard to say if you'll feel the same way. For many people the upgrade in amplification is more nuanced
good for Hegel but as a skeptic I have to think it has something to do with buyer resistance. Maybe they just finally hit the point of buyer burnout and in order to keep the whole ball rolling they needed to roll back prices to increase sales to maintaining their entire manufacturing structure. Not cheap to begin with, there is a limit. People start voting their wallet and there is no lack of competition for expensive gear. I think generally the price increases across the industry were often a money grab and now I've noticed that there are a lot of "sale" prices going on to move gear.
mmm, I don't think that's the case. The CD player they just released cost them tons of money and when I met them at Axpona I asked why because CD players are not very popular and this one seems like a niche CD player and their answer was a simple: "we don't expect to sell a ton of CD players, but we wanted to make it" so if they're willing to release a product they know won't sell huge numbers just because they want to I'd assume they're pretty solid financially :).
You obviously have to take what I write as what it is. It comes from us. But one thing Covid did for us is actually allowing us to sort of stabilize at a much higher level than before Covid. Yes, the market over all has cooled down a little. Some will say "more than a little". But we are still at much higher numbers than pre Covid and the benefits of that has been used to reduce the pricing on these 3 models. So this is not a sale or special promotion. We do those too, but this is not one of them.
Very good review and comparisons. I might only critique that a huge factor is missing in your comments. That is soundstage, imaging, airyness of the Hegel compared to the other amps. Seasoned audiophiles place a high value on amps imaging. That's why tubes are still popular, even when Solid state is often more competent in other areas. Thanks nonetheless, for your very detailed review.
once you get into this price category all the amps have good soundtage, imaging, and air, it's just the way they do it which can be different. At some point I expect potential buyers to try and visit a dealer to listen if at all possible since I can't cover every aspect of sound.
Tubes add even-order harmonics, which are often referred to as "sweet" or "musical" harmonics because they are more pleasing to the ear than odd-order harmonics, which can sound harsh or metallic. A solid state amp, by comparison, is more likely to reproduce the sound as it was recorded and mixed with very low distortion (at least high quality amps), and let the recording engineer determine the amount of soundstage and airiness. Hegel goes one step father from normal solid-state amps with their proprietary SoundEngine technology as described here: "The Hegel SoundEngine local error canceling system prevents distortion in the audio amplifier circuit stages, preserving the original details and the dynamic range in the original music signal. The end result is a much cleaner music signal with a larger dynamic range and lower distortion. The unique and patented Hegel SoundEngine audio technology is combining the advantage of class AB-amplifier and the advantage of class A-amplifiers, without having the drawbacks of class A and class AB-amplifier technologies. The SoundEngine Technology will cancel crossover distortion found in all types of class-AB amplifiers. The human ear is very sensitive to high-frequency distortion components in the music signal. The Hegel SoundEngine technology will cancel high-frequency distortion components found in normal types of audio amplifiers. The Hegel SoundEngine technology is not using any kind of global negative feedback, it is using local and adaptive feedforward technology if there should ever be any need for cancellation of distortion within the audio amplifier stages."
Hello! The presentation was very good!! Now I want a Hegel h190 or a Fezz tube amplifier!! The decision is difficult because the Hegel is almost an all-in-one device, but somehow the precision is detailed, but somehow the emotion is lacking, like say a tube amplifier.. I don't know if I'm hearing this right or maybe it's wrong!!? In the Hegel h190 category, which other type would you add next to it that is at least as good? Thank you
@@tibitibi1407 If you want an H190 at the discounted price, you had better act quickly before they run out. The replacement of the H190 will go back up in price most likely. But sounds like you want a tube amp or at least a tube preamp. You should probably try and listen to these amps yourself.
Hi Nemo, as always great review. Keep this up! I need your insight. Which of the 2 integrated-amps, Hegel H190 and Kinki Studio you have Pair's well with your Focal Kanta no. 1? Which of the 2 tames down the brightness of the speakers? Thank you and wishing you more successes.
Hi Nemo! Thanks for this insightful and very detailed review! In your opinion, is the sound quality of the H190 better than the sound quality of the H120? You said the H120 "sounds more lively" in a comment below. Would like to know your thoughts about that! Thanks :)
I have B&W805D3, planning to upgrade the amplifier. I mostly listen to pop music. Which of the following amplifier would be suggested? 1.) Hegel H390 2.) Gryphon Diablo 120 3.) Soulnote A2 3.) Used Classe CP-500/CP-800 Pre Amplifier + CA-2200 Amplifiers Appreciate any opinions
Hi, I have not heard most of those amps, I know the Hegel is very forgiving to poor recordings (modern music) so that could be a great option. I don't know too much about Gryphon or the other two options though.
Hi Nemo! Great review! For this and other reasons I just bought the H190 and I have it since a couple of days. I'm very excited to spend time listen to it. One question... I also own an Eversolo A8. (Of course I will test it myself) but what would you think about using the DAC on the Eversolo and how it might perform vs using it just as a streamer? Keep doing the great reviews!
I have not heard the A8 and I think personal taste is a big factor so maybe try the Hegel on it's own first for 2-3 weeks, then try with the A8 dac for 2-3 weeks, then go back to the Hegel and see how you feel.
@@NemoPropagandathank you for your answer, I get you. Nevertheless the Eversolo should have a better capabilities just as a streamer according to it's features, right? Also, I'm running LS50 Meta. Thinking about the future, which speakers would you recommend for the H190 under $3k? Best regards!
@@jmlaso Just try for yourself bro, you might be surprised, I don't want to guess what a product should or should not do. As far as speakers for the Hegel H190 under $3k I'd probably go for the Fritz Carbon 7 SE MK2.
@@NemoPropaganda yeah of course I will. I was just asking as you reviewed the A6 and considering they both are similar in streaming features I was wondering about your opinion. Thanks again!
@@jmlaso I understand but I have learned it's best not to guess because different products can be very different, even from the same brand or within the same lineup.
Sounds like this would be an upgrade over the Schiit Freya+ and Aegir combo, especially with the DAC and streaming considered. Just curious, how did these pair with Buchardt S400 MkII? Also, H190 can be found for $2,800 at some retailers. Perhaps, a new model is coming and they need to move inventory before then.
Yeah, I think they are relasing a new model but H190 on sale is an excellent choice for sure!!!! I can't imagine the new version would be very different, maybe they will just add some features.
While I would never spend $3900 on any 2 channel amplifier, I can respect the company for doing the right thing and bringing the price back to the original amount. It's been clear for well over a year now that companies are widely hiking prices simply because they CAN now and people will still pay the asking price. I can't be sure of this of course, but it seems that _most_ companies just took advantage of the supply chain issues to increase profits, thus taking advantage of the customers. Blame covid, increase price, make more money. The formula worked for many lol. It's pretty egregious when awful products at say $900 are increased to $1200 just because.
Prices always go up when demand outstrips supply. That includes labor, materials, and finished products. Prices go down (even to below cost if necessary on existing inventory) when supply outstrips demand. That's the way the world works. As a result of all the USA COVID-19 government giveaways (and massive fraud) and paying people more in unemployment insurance than they were making while working, and people being cooped up in their homes, the demand for all home entertainment products skyrocketed during COVID-19, and that kind of demand is obviously now starting to decrease.
Hegel is fairly priced in Europe. In the US there is a healthy markup from the US distributer. No shame on Hegel. In Europe, USA brands command a premium.
Hegel is a name we all know. The H 190 seems to appear in many speaker reviews as a match comparison. Now I’m Curious… How might you compare the CHoco sound Emei to this amplifier. The CHoco has that single 400 va toroidal transformer but with a limited 4 capacitors at only 4400 microfarads per side. Really interested in your thoughts and reflections. Great channel and thanks. Bruce.
I talked about this comparison in the Choco EMEI review, I feel the two amps are on par with each other in terms of fidelity and sound quality overall.
I watched the whole video and I don't think you mentioned if it paired up well with a lot of speakers. I have the Elac DBR62 and the Polk R200 I was wondering if this amp would pair up good with these. Thanks
No I didn't cover that. At this price I think its the dealers job to help the customer in this way. I sold my DBR62 a while ago now and I don't have the R200. I tried my Focal Aria & Kanta, Klipsch R50M, Buchardt S400 MK2, and Fritz Carbon 7.
Given the price point and size of your speakers, I would look at some less expensive (but still very high quality) alternatives for an amp, such as Cambridge Audio CXA81, Rotel RA-1572 MKII, Audiolab 7000A, etc. Even if you can't stream with some of them, you can get an iFi Zen Stream for $400.
For me, should have MM phono in before a DAC. Phono stage tech is matured with few tech advances to warrant design changes. DACs on the other hand, complete opposite story. Plus other devices like Streamers can have on-board DAC.
Many people feel inexpensive phono stages have gotten so good that most users don't use the internal one any longer, I could see that as a reason for skipping it. It could also come down to space constraints inside the chassis.
The way that is the least buggy for you :). Personally I use the BluOS on my Node. I've found Tidal Connect annoying for various reasons but other people seem to love it.
Hi Nemo, my set up is Hegel H190, Focal Kanta 1 and Eversolo DMP A6 Streamer. Would like to get your suggestion for a good DAC below $1k usd to complement my system to improve SQ, like making sound more holographic and a bit warmer. Your insights will be highly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
mmm, I feel the eversolo is not a good match with focal personally, little too cold in the treble. I have not tested mine with an external dac yet but I will test it with the Ares 12th-1 soon.
Hi Nemo, good day! Have you already tested the Ares 12-1 with the Hegel H190 + Eversolo A6 + Focal Kanta 1? Also, are the Kanta 1 for keep if these are my electronics? Thank you.
@@ralphlee4110 I don't like the Eversolo & Kanta combination personally, the Kanta top end will show you the weakness of the Eversolo even with a good a dac in the chain. Outside of that the rest of the setup (H190, Ares12th, Kanta) are a good match for each other in my opinion but I would not buy the Kanta No1 at the USA MSRP today since the Platimon is better for US customers but if you'r in EU where Kanta No1 is more like $5k then I think it's a better deal.
I have the Hegel H190 and love this amp. The only thing I hate is the poorly designed metal remote. Buttons are way to sensitive and a slight accidental touch causes a change. The buttons are not sealed around the frame so any moisture goes directly into the circuit board. Buttons are very small in diameter. Hegel needs to make a proper remote for such an expensive amp. I find the cheap plastic one they sell is much better. Hegel, improve your remotes.
@@NemoPropaganda And, the unsealed gaps around the buttons leading straight into the circuit board, and they are so sensitive an extremely light bump changes modes. No getting around it, it is a very poorly designed remote especially on a $3400.00 unit. Just because it's metal doesn't mean anything. I love my H-190 but the metal remotes sucks, period.
@@lights80088 I think it's just preference, I used to tinker with electronics diy and have used those tiny tactile buttons in the past and I kind of like them but I can understand it may not be for everyone.
@@NemoPropaganda Do you see the openings around the buttons? I have the remote and it is perfectly visible. Dirt and heaven forbid someone spills something on the button side of this remote. Sorry, it's not a "preference", it's a poor design by any standard. I've used many remotes and no one else does this. Not trying to argue, we need to be realistic about Hegels remotes. The remotes seem like an after thought for such an expensive piece of equipment. Their plastic remote is very generic (I have that one and use it instead of the metal one) but even then, it does not have any of the issues of the metal one. It's just a cheap remote that was only about $35 with Hegels name stamped on it. Other manufacturers on this price level have very nice remotes. I just don't understand Hegel on this one.
@@lights80088 but you are argueing, I'm telling you I like it and you won't accept that. You are welcome to believe it is the worse remote in the world, I'm not trying to change your mind. But you are trying to change my mind it seems. I like the remote and if water spills on it and I damage it somehow I will simply buy another remote. We make money to free us from stress, we should not let the potential spending of money cause stress. I accept your opinion and I have my own, hence preference. It's not a big deal.
95% of the soundstage characteristics of a system are going to be the from the speakers and room acoustics/treatments. The main soundstage differences in amps is going to be solid state vs tube.
An important clarification: hegel amps are not class ab. They use a proprietary technology called adaptive feed forward that is more similar to class d than ab
Hegel uses a proprietary negative feedback method they call SoundEngine to remove distortion, and they are definitely not class D, and in all other respects are A/B. Although SoundEngine uses some digital processing, the amplification stage is not digital and therefore not Class D. Here is a description of Hegel SoundEngine: "The Hegel SoundEngine local error canceling system prevents distortion in the audio amplifier circuit stages, preserving the original details and the dynamic range in the original music signal. The end result is a much cleaner music signal with a larger dynamic range and lower distortion. The unique and patented Hegel SoundEngine audio technology is combining the advantage of class AB-amplifier and the advantage of class A-amplifiers, without having the drawbacks of class A and class AB-amplifier technologies." From what I have read, the SoundEngine technology has some theoretical similarities with noise cancelling headphones.
After 6 months reviewing amps I purchased a Hegel H190. I did not have an opportunity to listen before purchasing. My current amp is a Plinius 8150 which had been refurbished and upgraded. But it still is a 20 year old amp. After installing the amp ( via ethernet cable and Apple play )and listening to it for 30 seconds I thought something was wrong, no depth, no bass and just not enjoyable. I actually sent it back and swapped it for a demo H190 from the same company as they would not refund my initial purchase. It was exactly the same. To say I was confused is an understatement. I am not an audiophile but even to my ears and my wife's it was just underwhelming. My speakers are Audio Monitor silver RS6. I have sold it and will stick with the Plinius. Lesson, do not buy an amp unless you listen to it in person. I am still confused how this amp receives great reviews??
do keep in mind break-in is a real thing and can take some time but ultimately I'm not surprised by your outcome, we could say maybe it was bad synergy or maybe you did not give it enough time but I think it's important to remember that Plinius 8150 was not a cheap amp for its time, $3k at launch 25 years ago which is $5500 in todays money and the older amps back then were known for having some coloration to them, that Plinius for example had a very muscular sound to it so most modern amps may sound boring or anemic to you since most modern amps have bass that is more linear. Either way you have an amp you love so you get to save money by not upgrading :)
They did about 1 year ago the H190 was back to $3800, then about 6 months later it was severely discounted down to around $2400. Hegel then released the new model with Phono which is the H190V which entered the market at $4200 and has not experienced any price change.
pfffff, the price droped now to 2990 EUR (from 3690), this is rediculously cheap for such a competent amplifier. I do not need it but I am almost having sleepless nights because of wanting it. I was always curious about hegel as it is so well reviewed unit and it is kind of atractive to me with its neutrality and precision.
Hegel have mentioned on occasion that their products are not tuned by ear/listening, which I think shows. While I think the H190 is fine and competent (personally it made me want to look out the window and think about the shopping, but possibly pairing issues/not digging very high damping factor amps), I’ve found some of their other products very hit and miss - ranging from sounding almost faulty to just plain unlistenable. Just my personal take, plenty of people swear by this brand and I’m not here to shit on anyone’s gear/likes!! I’m in the camp that most thing sound different and not tuning you gear by ear during development is a massive red flag for me. So unless you believe that every competently amplifier sounds the same make sure you listen first, especially with a measuring only brand like Hegel. Honestly I don’t think any review should fail to mention that about them.
my understanding is their amps don't all sound the same, like the H190 is not simply a more poweful H120 and H120 actually sounds more lively. Maybe thats what leads to differring opinions? I ran into that when I reviewed the Focal Kanta No1, everyone said they were crazy spicy but mine werent, turns out the towers are way spicier than the bookshelves and everyone who reports them being spicy owns the towers or heard the towers and everyone who thinks Kanta is bright but not too aggressive owns or heard the bookshelves.
@@Birmingham_racing no idea, have not heard the powernode but generally the difference between inexpensive class D versus something higher end class ab is more top end refinement and a more natural/organic midrange at minimum.
@@NemoPropaganda guess I will have to hear it to know but look up some reviews on the powernode. I know it can't compare to my brothers rotel but I still love it
Why don’t they have phono inputs… people who appreciate such high quality products … many have vinyl players../ and where do they go to connect… buy another V10… !!!
because they quickly become out dated and you can add an external one of your choice for not much money. This is a modern take on a purist amplifier. It's not about features, it's about sound quality.
But the Yamaha is a tank. I have to say form factor is as important as sound. Could Yamaha possibly evolve its home theater receiver esthetic? One might consider then.
The Yamaha R-N2000A is rated at 2 X 90 watts per channel RMS at 8 ohms. You have to be careful at looking at Yamaha specs, because they highlight the "maximum output power" which is misleading. The H190 is rated at 2 X 150 watts per channel RMS at 8 ohms. Also, the H190 has a Damping factor of more than 4000, which is important for bass control.
Mentioning the price rollback is a critical portion of a review. It shows the type of company a buyer will be dealing with. Great start to this review
Bought my first Hegel product the other day. Never listened to any Hegel before, so since I like Norwegian hifi products and have read much nice words about Hegel amplifiers, I bought an old Hegel H1 mk4 from the internet. It is in mint condition and was 400$. I am very pleased I bought this amp, it is the best integrated amp I have ever owned. I am 58 years old, and have loved good hifi gear since early teenage, so I have had a few nice amplifiers. Are using this Hegel on Warfedale Heritage Linton 85year anniversary speakers, witch goes together much better than the Opera Consonance Cyber 100 15year anniversary tube amp I used before. The Opera is a nice amp, but the Hegel is on a different level. H1 mk4 has 120 watt pr channel and as much as 70 ampere current, stable down to 2 ohm. And it sounds so clean and beautiful. My Warfedale speakers came to life with this Hegel. Match made in heaven. Thank you for giving us your thoughts on the H 190. It sounded like it has much the same sound qualities as the H1, when you describe your experience with it. Nice review 👍
Wonderful review as usual my man. This amp has been reviewed a lot but you still managed to provide a different angle and information others didn’t mention. I have Harbeths now so this unit is a top contender for next amp for these speakers.
thank you! I need to hear some harbeths, still never had the pleasure!
@@NemoPropaganda they have a nice flavour to them, try to get your hands on one of the models in the new xd line.
LOVE IT!! Well done brother. Great review.
thank you bro!
@@NemoPropaganda Hell yea man! My pleasure! ! Happy Fathers day if ya got kiddos.. :)
Great take on the Hegel. Appreciate your review as always.
¡Gracias!
thank you!
Love that you included the elac ubr62 ;D
i have been waiting for this one. Excellent job. Next the H390!
maybe :)
@@NemoPropaganda I predict that the H390 will be replaced by early 2025 at the latest. Hegel has already replaced the H590 with the H600, and announced a replacement for the H190 (model number not known yet), so it makes sense that the H390 will also be upgraded in the not to distant future, but this is pure speculation on my part.
sorry for the double post. If you didn't realize from the previous post I own the H390 and love it. Something I do not believe you have spoken of but I have to mention Roon. All of the newer Hegel integrated amps are Roon ready. Those that have other Roon ready speakers, like Bluesound, can enjoy music throughout their home and the Hegel amp would be an endpoint. It is brilliant and adds another level of functionality to the system. Also using Roon is amazing. Just my 2 cents. Thanks again.
I don't use roon so I don't know anything about it.
OOHhhhhhh ... Hegel .. !! I saw the thumbnail and got excited!! =) I love Hegel.
their customer service is very good, love them
Great review, Just purchased H190 !!
Nice! did you get the current promotion? I'm seeing some great deals on H190 recently :)
As someone who doesn't have the money to play around with front equipment matchmaking. It feels good having the neutrality of the Hegel H190. Knowing that when I upgrade my Focal Aria 926, which it pairs very well with, I know it will do a good job on my next speakers too.
absolutely agree, this could easily be considered an end game amp for many people. Sure it's not a $10k+ esoteric amp but that's crazy money for most people. I'm really happy for you, it feels good when the upgrade bug starts to go away because you've found something you love :)
Nice review and it’s good to hear your opinion on this amplifier with comparisons to other amplifiers.
I was fortunate to get my Hegel H190 brand new for £2050 .
It pairs amazingly well with my B&W’s and for the money I don’t think there’s much out there that can compete with it.
If people are like me and don’t feel comfortable with going beyond 3-4K price range/bracket on an amplifier then I would say this could be an end game amplifier for a lot of people.
❤ Nemo I love when you review something always informative and precise very trustworthy and very in-depth. Best to your brother.👍
thank you for the kind words!
You could have gone a bit more in depth about the integrated DAC. When connected to a competent streamer in USB, you get the highest resolution in Tidal and Qobuz. Some reviewers compared the integrated DAC to the Chord Qutest which, by itself, in the US, is approximately US$2,000 (and no need for additional interconnect and power-cords) . You may want to do a review of the Integrated DAC, which, I believe, is the same one used in the H390 and H590. As a package, it's an amazing integrated Amp.
My entire review is based on how the amp performs using the internal DAC. I feel making an additional video just for the DAC would be a bit redundant. I covered many aspects of the amplifier and I am very happy with the outcome of this video.
@@NemoPropaganda Did not mean to sound critical, your review is great. Both components are a great value for the price and hopefully, potential buyers will consider both aspects.
@@alpro3714 it's okay I did not take any offense, I just respond in a dry way sometimes because I respond to all comments and I don't have time to make them all polite or reread them, I just type and click reply. But I really do appreciate you making the effort to clarify.
Great review, thanks! Being a h120 owner I really can say that you’re spot on since the h120 (I think) is really close to the h190
always nice to hear from people who use the products daily!
I was interested in this amp but I ended up buying a Rega Elicit mk5. The H190 just doesn't have enough analog inputs for my needs and no phono stage. Plus, here in Canada, my dealer didn't roll back the price.
How do You like the elicit mk5 so far? Do you had the chance to test both of them side by side? Wich speakers are you using? Thanks in advance!
Inflated oil prices drive all prices up unfortunately. Good to see that Hegel is profitable enough to decrease pricing.
Thanks NEMO,, 👍⭐👍
Thanks for the review. Out of those amps you compared, which one preformed the best at low volumes? Thanks again…
Hegel h190 is great at low volumes I never crank it past 50
my kinki studio separates. Though the hegel was still very good.
Hello Nemo, thanks for the great review, just a couple of things you missed, DAC quality, and the auto shut off feature that is very convenient (15/30/60 min)
I hate auto shutoff so I disabled it and forgot about it :). As far as DAC quality I had no problems enjoying the internal dac for 80% of my listening sessions.
@@NemoPropagandanow it’s time for you to review the h390
I really enjoyed this one Nemo. The sound signature of the Hegel sounds very similar to that of the Marantz Model 30 in comparison to other amps. I will certainly consider buying a Hegel if I am ever in the market due to the integrity shown by their rollbacks!
that marantz is super good looking, do you have one?
@@NemoPropaganda Yeah I bought one. It replaced my Schiit Ragnarok 2. Big upgrade, scale, soundstage, & bass is much improved on the Model 30. The mids & treble are exactly as you describe the Hegel.
@@JPWinters holy crap really? I didn't realize you replaced the Ragnarok so soon! I love the aesthetics and was really hoping you'd love it!
I tested many Hegel and many marantz amplifier and they don't sound same. Not at all. I tested them my revel f208.
@@Ragnarok20854 Did you test the Model 30? It sounds different than other Marantz, they changed their sound with these newer Hypex ones.
They have an open box at my local HiFi store for $2k I’m considering, but my focal Aria speakers are already very neutral and the neutrality of this amp might make them sound dull🤔
I don't think anything will make the Aria sound dull.
Hello! The presentation was very good!! Now I want a Hegel h190 or a Fezz tube amplifier!! The decision is difficult because the Hegel is almost an all-in-one device, but somehow the precision is detailed, but somehow the emotion is lacking, like say a tube amplifier.. I don't know if I'm hearing this right or maybe it's wrong!!? In the Hegel h190 category, which other type would you add next to it that is at least as good? Thank you
If you don't need any features the CHoco EMEI is on the same level.
Well Emotiva slashed their prices to even lower than pre-covid levels. So there are some companies who are doing the right thing.
don't get me started on emotiva prices lol, they're a freaking roller coaster! Everytime I look at the site prices are different, but hats off to them, currently the prices are very attractive!
@@NemoPropaganda yeah hard to match them on value proposition.
In the end, if there are any price changes (up or down) it is based on supply vs demand, regardless of what they tell you. A lot of companies who went all-in on production during the pandemic (due to high demand) need to move some inventory now that demand is back to normal levels, and a possible recession is coming.
Great review! How does it match with Buchardt S400ii? and vs Buchardt I150 with S400ii? maybe another video of speaker matching. Good work...
I have the original Buchardt S400 and did not paired very well for my taste. It sounded flat. I am still have opportunity to know who S400 sound with Kinki Studio integrated receiver.
@@elbebe1000 that’s surprising to hear as I read somewhere that the owner of Buchardt owns a Hegel h190 and pairs it with these exact speakers
Had S400 mk1 with h190, great match. Ended up pairing S400 with IOTA stack for a secondary system and hooked H190 to a pair of Dali Epicons 2, helped by Dali E-f12 sub. S400 is a great speaker but touch focused on mid and low frequencies and losing on top end for my taste.
@@aurelianmarin6494 thank you for your input. Unfortunately I didn’t have the WOw effect as others when auditioned that amp. I am still using my Audio GD A1 amp with Rótel pre amp. Probably the A1 has reached the maximum of this speakers.
S400 MK2 are not picky with amplification. They will pair well with just about any amp tha thas an honest 50w RMS/channel or more. As far as how it sounds, I liked it but some may prefer a more energetic amp. S400 MK2 treble is not very aggressive, same with the Hegel so together its a smoother presentation that some may feel is a little too relaxed, but others may feel its perfect.
Great review, thanks. I'm thinking of upgrading from my entry level Emotiva gear to this unit (ta-100 preamp with basx2 amp). Do you think that would be a large and worthy upgrade in sound? This would be paired with MartinLogan 60xti.
it's a night and day difference to me and I think it's a worthy upgrade but its hard to say if you'll feel the same way. For many people the upgrade in amplification is more nuanced
good for Hegel but as a skeptic I have to think it has something to do with buyer resistance. Maybe they just finally hit the point of buyer burnout and in order to keep the whole ball rolling they needed to roll back prices to increase sales to maintaining their entire manufacturing structure. Not cheap to begin with, there is a limit. People start voting their wallet and there is no lack of competition for expensive gear. I think generally the price increases across the industry were often a money grab and now I've noticed that there are a lot of "sale" prices going on to move gear.
mmm, I don't think that's the case. The CD player they just released cost them tons of money and when I met them at Axpona I asked why because CD players are not very popular and this one seems like a niche CD player and their answer was a simple: "we don't expect to sell a ton of CD players, but we wanted to make it" so if they're willing to release a product they know won't sell huge numbers just because they want to I'd assume they're pretty solid financially :).
Yes, there is deflation right now in Hifi. It would be interesting to know if it’s supply chain or just reset of price gouging i.e. Covid markup’s.
You obviously have to take what I write as what it is. It comes from us. But one thing Covid did for us is actually allowing us to sort of stabilize at a much higher level than before Covid. Yes, the market over all has cooled down a little. Some will say "more than a little". But we are still at much higher numbers than pre Covid and the benefits of that has been used to reduce the pricing on these 3 models. So this is not a sale or special promotion. We do those too, but this is not one of them.
Hegel was always double the price of a comparable Rotel. Now, they are coming down to earth a bit, price wise.
Very good review and comparisons. I might only critique that a huge factor is missing in your comments. That is soundstage, imaging, airyness of the Hegel compared to the other amps. Seasoned audiophiles place a high value on amps imaging. That's why tubes are still popular, even when Solid state is often more competent in other areas. Thanks nonetheless, for your very detailed review.
once you get into this price category all the amps have good soundtage, imaging, and air, it's just the way they do it which can be different. At some point I expect potential buyers to try and visit a dealer to listen if at all possible since I can't cover every aspect of sound.
Tubes add even-order harmonics, which are often referred to as "sweet" or "musical" harmonics because they are more pleasing to the ear than odd-order harmonics, which can sound harsh or metallic. A solid state amp, by comparison, is more likely to reproduce the sound as it was recorded and mixed with very low distortion (at least high quality amps), and let the recording engineer determine the amount of soundstage and airiness.
Hegel goes one step father from normal solid-state amps with their proprietary SoundEngine technology as described here: "The Hegel SoundEngine local error canceling system prevents distortion in the audio amplifier circuit stages, preserving the original details and the dynamic range in the original music signal. The end result is a much cleaner music signal with a larger dynamic range and lower distortion. The unique and patented Hegel SoundEngine audio technology is combining the advantage of class AB-amplifier and the advantage of class A-amplifiers, without having the drawbacks of class A and class AB-amplifier technologies.
The SoundEngine Technology will cancel crossover distortion found in all types of class-AB amplifiers. The human ear is very sensitive to high-frequency distortion components in the music signal. The Hegel SoundEngine technology will cancel high-frequency distortion components found in normal types of audio amplifiers. The Hegel SoundEngine technology is not using any kind of global negative feedback, it is using local and adaptive feedforward technology if there should ever be any need for cancellation of distortion within the audio amplifier stages."
Hello! The presentation was very good!! Now I want a Hegel h190 or a Fezz tube amplifier!! The decision is difficult because the Hegel is almost an all-in-one device, but somehow the precision is detailed, but somehow the emotion is lacking, like say a tube amplifier.. I don't know if I'm hearing this right or maybe it's wrong!!? In the Hegel h190 category, which other type would you add next to it that is at least as good? Thank you
@@tibitibi1407 If you want an H190 at the discounted price, you had better act quickly before they run out. The replacement of the H190 will go back up in price most likely. But sounds like you want a tube amp or at least a tube preamp. You should probably try and listen to these amps yourself.
Hi Nemo, as always great review. Keep this up! I need your insight. Which of the 2 integrated-amps, Hegel H190 and Kinki Studio you have Pair's well with your Focal Kanta no. 1? Which of the 2 tames down the brightness of the speakers? Thank you and wishing you more successes.
Hi ralph, for sure that's the Hegel H190 :)
Thank you for promptly replying 👍
Hi Nemo! Thanks for this insightful and very detailed review! In your opinion, is the sound quality of the H190 better than the sound quality of the H120? You said the H120 "sounds more lively" in a comment below. Would like to know your thoughts about that! Thanks :)
I have not heard the H120, that's what I've heard from people that owned the H120 and upgraded to H190 so take it with a grain of salt.
@@NemoPropaganda thanks :)
Hi Nemo, Thanks for another awesome review. If you can please tell us how was the streaming done, specially for Tidal, was it done through AirPlay?
Yes, I used airplay.
I have B&W805D3, planning to upgrade the amplifier. I mostly listen to pop music.
Which of the following amplifier would be suggested?
1.) Hegel H390
2.) Gryphon Diablo 120
3.) Soulnote A2
3.) Used Classe CP-500/CP-800 Pre Amplifier + CA-2200 Amplifiers
Appreciate any opinions
Hi, I have not heard most of those amps, I know the Hegel is very forgiving to poor recordings (modern music) so that could be a great option. I don't know too much about Gryphon or the other two options though.
Hi Nemo! Great review! For this and other reasons I just bought the H190 and I have it since a couple of days. I'm very excited to spend time listen to it.
One question... I also own an Eversolo A8. (Of course I will test it myself) but what would you think about using the DAC on the Eversolo and how it might perform vs using it just as a streamer? Keep doing the great reviews!
I have not heard the A8 and I think personal taste is a big factor so maybe try the Hegel on it's own first for 2-3 weeks, then try with the A8 dac for 2-3 weeks, then go back to the Hegel and see how you feel.
@@NemoPropagandathank you for your answer, I get you. Nevertheless the Eversolo should have a better capabilities just as a streamer according to it's features, right?
Also, I'm running LS50 Meta. Thinking about the future, which speakers would you recommend for the H190 under $3k? Best regards!
@@jmlaso Just try for yourself bro, you might be surprised, I don't want to guess what a product should or should not do. As far as speakers for the Hegel H190 under $3k I'd probably go for the Fritz Carbon 7 SE MK2.
@@NemoPropaganda yeah of course I will. I was just asking as you reviewed the A6 and considering they both are similar in streaming features I was wondering about your opinion. Thanks again!
@@jmlaso I understand but I have learned it's best not to guess because different products can be very different, even from the same brand or within the same lineup.
Sounds like this would be an upgrade over the Schiit Freya+ and Aegir combo, especially with the DAC and streaming considered. Just curious, how did these pair with Buchardt S400 MkII?
Also, H190 can be found for $2,800 at some retailers. Perhaps, a new model is coming and they need to move inventory before then.
Yeah, I think they are relasing a new model but H190 on sale is an excellent choice for sure!!!! I can't imagine the new version would be very different, maybe they will just add some features.
Is that Kinki Preamp that shiny silver box under that white rega?
Yes sir, it's the EXP7 :)
While I would never spend $3900 on any 2 channel amplifier, I can respect the company for doing the right thing and bringing the price back to the original amount. It's been clear for well over a year now that companies are widely hiking prices simply because they CAN now and people will still pay the asking price. I can't be sure of this of course, but it seems that _most_ companies just took advantage of the supply chain issues to increase profits, thus taking advantage of the customers. Blame covid, increase price, make more money. The formula worked for many lol. It's pretty egregious when awful products at say $900 are increased to $1200 just because.
And Chinese amps are coming for their customers…
Prices always go up when demand outstrips supply. That includes labor, materials, and finished products. Prices go down (even to below cost if necessary on existing inventory) when supply outstrips demand. That's the way the world works. As a result of all the USA COVID-19 government giveaways (and massive fraud) and paying people more in unemployment insurance than they were making while working, and people being cooped up in their homes, the demand for all home entertainment products skyrocketed during COVID-19, and that kind of demand is obviously now starting to decrease.
Hegel is fairly priced in Europe. In the US there is a healthy markup from the US distributer. No shame on Hegel. In Europe, USA brands command a premium.
yeah, as you say it's fairly common. Most of the EU brands cost a lot more in USA and vice versa.
Hegel is a name we all know. The H 190 seems to appear in many speaker reviews as a match comparison. Now I’m Curious…
How might you compare the CHoco sound Emei to this amplifier. The CHoco has that single 400 va toroidal transformer but with a limited 4 capacitors at only 4400 microfarads per side.
Really interested in your thoughts and reflections. Great channel and thanks. Bruce.
I talked about this comparison in the Choco EMEI review, I feel the two amps are on par with each other in terms of fidelity and sound quality overall.
I watched the whole video and I don't think you mentioned if it paired up well with a lot of speakers. I have the Elac DBR62 and the Polk R200 I was wondering if this amp would pair up good with these. Thanks
No I didn't cover that. At this price I think its the dealers job to help the customer in this way. I sold my DBR62 a while ago now and I don't have the R200. I tried my Focal Aria & Kanta, Klipsch R50M, Buchardt S400 MK2, and Fritz Carbon 7.
Given the price point and size of your speakers, I would look at some less expensive (but still very high quality) alternatives for an amp, such as Cambridge Audio CXA81, Rotel RA-1572 MKII, Audiolab 7000A, etc. Even if you can't stream with some of them, you can get an iFi Zen Stream for $400.
For me, should have MM phono in before a DAC. Phono stage tech is matured with few tech advances to warrant design changes. DACs on the other hand, complete opposite story. Plus other devices like Streamers can have on-board DAC.
Many people feel inexpensive phono stages have gotten so good that most users don't use the internal one any longer, I could see that as a reason for skipping it. It could also come down to space constraints inside the chassis.
Where in the U.S can I buy the Hegel. I have been asking the company, however I never got a reply, so I was looking into the Exposure 3510
www.hegel.com/en/usa
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
What is the best way to use Tidal? Do you use a 3rd party app?
The way that is the least buggy for you :). Personally I use the BluOS on my Node. I've found Tidal Connect annoying for various reasons but other people seem to love it.
Hi Nemo, my set up is Hegel H190, Focal Kanta 1 and Eversolo DMP A6 Streamer. Would like to get your suggestion for a good DAC below $1k usd to complement my system to improve SQ, like making sound more holographic and a bit warmer. Your insights will be highly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
mmm, I feel the eversolo is not a good match with focal personally, little too cold in the treble. I have not tested mine with an external dac yet but I will test it with the Ares 12th-1 soon.
Thank you.
Hi Nemo, good day! Have you already tested the Ares 12-1 with the Hegel H190 + Eversolo A6 + Focal Kanta 1? Also, are the Kanta 1 for keep if these are my electronics? Thank you.
@@ralphlee4110 I don't like the Eversolo & Kanta combination personally, the Kanta top end will show you the weakness of the Eversolo even with a good a dac in the chain. Outside of that the rest of the setup (H190, Ares12th, Kanta) are a good match for each other in my opinion but I would not buy the Kanta No1 at the USA MSRP today since the Platimon is better for US customers but if you'r in EU where Kanta No1 is more like $5k then I think it's a better deal.
If I want to use a USB memory - do I need a separate piece, like a network player?
Please ask your dealer, I did not test it this way so I'm not sure.
I have the Hegel H190 and love this amp. The only thing I hate is the poorly designed metal remote. Buttons are way to sensitive and a slight accidental touch causes a change. The buttons are not sealed around the frame so any moisture goes directly into the circuit board. Buttons are very small in diameter. Hegel needs to make a proper remote for such an expensive amp. I find the cheap plastic one they sell is much better. Hegel, improve your remotes.
I actually love the remote but I can see the small buttons being annoying for some people.
@@NemoPropaganda And, the unsealed gaps around the buttons leading straight into the circuit board, and they are so sensitive an extremely light bump changes modes. No getting around it, it is a very poorly designed remote especially on a $3400.00 unit. Just because it's metal doesn't mean anything. I love my H-190 but the metal remotes sucks, period.
@@lights80088 I think it's just preference, I used to tinker with electronics diy and have used those tiny tactile buttons in the past and I kind of like them but I can understand it may not be for everyone.
@@NemoPropaganda Do you see the openings around the buttons? I have the remote and it is perfectly visible. Dirt and heaven forbid someone spills something on the button side of this remote. Sorry, it's not a "preference", it's a poor design by any standard. I've used many remotes and no one else does this. Not trying to argue, we need to be realistic about Hegels remotes. The remotes seem like an after thought for such an expensive piece of equipment. Their plastic remote is very generic (I have that one and use it instead of the metal one) but even then, it does not have any of the issues of the metal one. It's just a cheap remote that was only about $35 with Hegels name stamped on it. Other manufacturers on this price level have very nice remotes. I just don't understand Hegel on this one.
@@lights80088 but you are argueing, I'm telling you I like it and you won't accept that. You are welcome to believe it is the worse remote in the world, I'm not trying to change your mind. But you are trying to change my mind it seems. I like the remote and if water spills on it and I damage it somehow I will simply buy another remote. We make money to free us from stress, we should not let the potential spending of money cause stress. I accept your opinion and I have my own, hence preference. It's not a big deal.
I like also those futures,
hi, what is the sound h190 with focal 906? thanks
mostly neutral with good detail.
How about other sound characteristics such as soundstage ?
In my experience most modern amps & speakers all have a big sound stage. The Hegel staged just as big as anything.
95% of the soundstage characteristics of a system are going to be the from the speakers and room acoustics/treatments. The main soundstage differences in amps is going to be solid state vs tube.
You didn't mention about Yamaha A-S2200 compared to Hegel?
I cannot mention what I have not heard :) but based on other reviews of the AS2200 I think the sound is very different.
@@NemoPropaganda are you going to review the Yamaha integrated amps any time?
@@ivanfilatov7913 if they send me a review sample I will review it :)
@@NemoPropaganda ok, awesome!
How would the Hegel H190 pair with the Klispch Forte IV ??? does anyone know.
The H190 is tuned in away that should make it compatible with just about anything, it's one of the reasons people love it so much.
Would this b as goood as my reefurbished and upgraded Quad 909?
I'm not familiar with that amplifier.
Hey man, how do you connect a REL to this?
same way as always, either using the preouts or the speaker level.
@@NemoPropagandathanks! ever tried the variable line output and noticed a difference?
@@cd-rom. 99% of the time I’m using line output. Unless your amp has a crappy line out the difference shouldn’t be too big.
An important clarification: hegel amps are not class ab. They use a proprietary technology called adaptive feed forward that is more similar to class d than ab
Not sure where you got that from? Hegel is definitely a class A/B amplifier
looks like class a/b to me.
Hegel uses a proprietary negative feedback method they call SoundEngine to remove distortion, and they are definitely not class D, and in all other respects are A/B. Although SoundEngine uses some digital processing, the amplification stage is not digital and therefore not Class D. Here is a description of Hegel SoundEngine:
"The Hegel SoundEngine local error canceling system prevents distortion in the audio amplifier circuit stages, preserving the original details and the dynamic range in the original music signal. The end result is a much cleaner music signal with a larger dynamic range and lower distortion. The unique and patented Hegel SoundEngine audio technology is combining the advantage of class AB-amplifier and the advantage of class A-amplifiers, without having the drawbacks of class A and class AB-amplifier technologies."
From what I have read, the SoundEngine technology has some theoretical similarities with noise cancelling headphones.
After 6 months reviewing amps I purchased a Hegel H190. I did not have an opportunity to listen before purchasing. My current amp is a Plinius 8150 which had been refurbished and upgraded. But it still is a 20 year old amp. After installing the amp ( via ethernet cable and Apple play )and listening to it for 30 seconds I thought something was wrong, no depth, no bass and just not enjoyable. I actually sent it back and swapped it for a demo H190 from the same company as they would not refund my initial purchase. It was exactly the same. To say I was confused is an understatement. I am not an audiophile but even to my ears and my wife's it was just underwhelming. My speakers are Audio Monitor silver RS6. I have sold it and will stick with the Plinius. Lesson, do not buy an amp unless you listen to it in person. I am still confused how this amp receives great reviews??
do keep in mind break-in is a real thing and can take some time but ultimately I'm not surprised by your outcome, we could say maybe it was bad synergy or maybe you did not give it enough time but I think it's important to remember that Plinius 8150 was not a cheap amp for its time, $3k at launch 25 years ago which is $5500 in todays money and the older amps back then were known for having some coloration to them, that Plinius for example had a very muscular sound to it so most modern amps may sound boring or anemic to you since most modern amps have bass that is more linear. Either way you have an amp you love so you get to save money by not upgrading :)
atoll vs hegel comparison ?
I have not heard Atoll.
Still waiting for those prices to roll back...
They did about 1 year ago the H190 was back to $3800, then about 6 months later it was severely discounted down to around $2400. Hegel then released the new model with Phono which is the H190V which entered the market at $4200 and has not experienced any price change.
Loved the Hegel h160 I had to pair with Maggie lrs. Internal Dac was meh so used an external Dac in the chain between streamer and hegel.
I tried both, I didn't mind the internal dac but I always prefer my ares2 in the chain :)
@@NemoPropaganda well the h190 also has a better Dac than the h160 I had so perhaps that helped close the gap 🤷♂️
pfffff, the price droped now to 2990 EUR (from 3690), this is rediculously cheap for such a competent amplifier. I do not need it but I am almost having sleepless nights because of wanting it. I was always curious about hegel as it is so well reviewed unit and it is kind of atractive to me with its neutrality and precision.
yes, very good deal right now since its on clearance!
U sure u can stream TIDAL directly? No roon needed?
via airplay yes.
Hegel have mentioned on occasion that their products are not tuned by ear/listening, which I think shows. While I think the H190 is fine and competent (personally it made me want to look out the window and think about the shopping, but possibly pairing issues/not digging very high damping factor amps), I’ve found some of their other products very hit and miss - ranging from sounding almost faulty to just plain unlistenable. Just my personal take, plenty of people swear by this brand and I’m not here to shit on anyone’s gear/likes!! I’m in the camp that most thing sound different and not tuning you gear by ear during development is a massive red flag for me. So unless you believe that every competently amplifier sounds the same make sure you listen first, especially with a measuring only brand like Hegel. Honestly I don’t think any review should fail to mention that about them.
my understanding is their amps don't all sound the same, like the H190 is not simply a more poweful H120 and H120 actually sounds more lively. Maybe thats what leads to differring opinions? I ran into that when I reviewed the Focal Kanta No1, everyone said they were crazy spicy but mine werent, turns out the towers are way spicier than the bookshelves and everyone who reports them being spicy owns the towers or heard the towers and everyone who thinks Kanta is bright but not too aggressive owns or heard the bookshelves.
What they mean is that they tune them to be accurate, and not add any coloration of the sound.
👍👍👍👍🙂
I love neutral sound but it's out my budget. Maybe one day I can afford one
maybe H95 is an option?
@@NemoPropaganda worth considering how would that compare to my powernode? I've got a b&w 707 s2 so doesn't require big power
@@Birmingham_racing no idea, have not heard the powernode but generally the difference between inexpensive class D versus something higher end class ab is more top end refinement and a more natural/organic midrange at minimum.
@@NemoPropaganda guess I will have to hear it to know but look up some reviews on the powernode. I know it can't compare to my brothers rotel but I still love it
The H190 is on sale for $2800 right now pretty much everywhere. That’s the lowest I have ever seen it.
Oh it’s a white bagel not Rega my bad
Why don’t they have phono inputs… people who appreciate such high quality products … many have vinyl players../ and where do they go to connect… buy another V10… !!!
because they quickly become out dated and you can add an external one of your choice for not much money. This is a modern take on a purist amplifier. It's not about features, it's about sound quality.
" Hi wife acceptance factor"? is it 1950? Tsss
Do wives suddenly not care about home decor? Your comment is virtue signaling at its finest. Please take that nonsense elsewhere.
Cough cough Focal
I gotta say I don't see people getting this over the Yamaha R-N2000A @3999.00, at least I wouldn't.
I have not heard that yamaha but I think the sound is somewhat different just based on reviews I've seen.
But the Yamaha is a tank. I have to say form factor is as important as sound. Could Yamaha possibly evolve its home theater receiver esthetic? One might consider then.
The Yamaha R-N2000A is rated at 2 X 90 watts per channel RMS at 8 ohms. You have to be careful at looking at Yamaha specs, because they highlight the "maximum output power" which is misleading. The H190 is rated at 2 X 150 watts per channel RMS at 8 ohms. Also, the H190 has a Damping factor of more than 4000, which is important for bass control.