Very good video. I agree on most of your findings. After hearing this amplifier you will find out what the quality of recordings is. Prospective buyers need to be sure that the rest of their setup matches these amplifiers (source, cables, etc.). By the way, I am glad there’s no H390/H590 mark outside. That’s what I like about Scandinavian style, simple but still sophisticated. Furthermore, the H590 is called 'the beast', so that says enough ....☺️
Would love to know how a 590 holds up against a Mcintosh ma9000. Would almost be tempted to fork out the extra money for the Mcintosh on looks alone! Bit unfortunate the 590 is so good, yet so bland looking. I guess it's the sound that really matters though.
I’ve got the H160 fed by a Holo Spring KTE Dac and I’ve found no itch to upgrade. Running Maggie 1.7i and it’s fantastic. I am looking at spatial audio m3 and m4 as a speaker upgrade.
Thanks for de review, bought a h590 for my self. The 590 is going to play with de SF electra Amator 3 and The Denafrips Pontus II. Regards from Portugal
From what I heard there in store, Hegel really sounds great ( for my taste - detailed High Freq presence) The demo I have posted of the Lumina 5 is stunning .. Very nice. Thanks for the video and discussion here =)
Any ProAc speaker owners here using Hegel for amplification ? If yes, are you happy with what you're hearing or consider some other brand of amplifiers ? Asking because I have the ProAc d48r floorstanders being driven by a Hegel H360. Happy with what I'm hearing, want to find out what I can do better
looks like the comparison was done exclusively using the onboard DACs in both units so what we don't know is if it's the amplifier or DAC section of the 590 that is sonically superior to that of the 390 its too bad they didn't cover this point
@@vilipmak3973 If I'm not mistaken, the internal DAC boards, in both models, are the same. Not trolling here, but I would be interested to know what specific internal differences exist, between the 2 units, that caused the full library of audiophile buzzwords to be used to describe the listening experience of the 590 vs the 390. I mean, power output is close, damping factor is likely close, DACs are the same, both dual mono.
@@mtkreger You and Steve obviously miss the point here. When you're listening to the H590 or the H390, you're listening to the whole of it, the totality. Even if the electronics are humble, there is synergy working here or evident. The sum is always greater than the parts.
@@vilipmak3973 forget about the streamer... any high resolution file from a good recording can be transported even by an old computer using Roon server, so you just need a high-end DAC + high-end integrated amp or preamp+amp and it will sound amazing.
Good job guys with the videos. Keep up the great work. Please do a video comparing Naim vs Hegel in terms of sound signature / house sound and pros & cons of each brand
I would be more interested in how this integrated sounds versus a similarly priced separate system. I personally prefer separates because it simplifies the upgrade path.
I have a 390 and love it. I daren't listen to the 590 - my bank balance will complain too much. I like the look of Hegel products, the minimalist look is all about the music rather than the 'look at me!' aesthetic of amps like McIntosh. As for displaying the model number on the front... no end-user needs it, remember Mies Van Der Rohe’s modernist phrase “Less is More.”
I've had my H590 for a few years now and never looked back. Glad you mentioned the low level listening. The way it does this is outstanding. Paired with Focal Sopra n2s. Pushing up the power and the thing just dances. And so I was a happy chappy for years. Head in the clouds and enjoying everyday. And then. One day. It all came crashing down. They went and released the H600. With auto inputs (I would love this). Early views and there's rumours its better than the H590. How is this possible. It's gonna cost me 6 grand to upgrade. That doesn't make sense to me atm. Would also like to agree with the precise rendering. You put crap anywhere near this thing and it will render it so you hear it. It is what it is.
I'm leaning towards getting a NAD M33 and getting B&W 803 D4's, but I was wondering would the M33 be powerful enough? Would it benefit to be driven with a Hegel too? Would they work together? A newbie to audiophile and looking for advice. Any help would be appreciated. Hello from London.
I highly recommend that if your music library involves a good deal of recordings that are non-audiophile and you might want a more forgiving amp like the McIntosh MA12000. It's not just about the performance. Think about a Ferrari and how it's a high performing car but if you drive bad roads, a lot of stop and go traffic, then you might be better with a Porsche Cayenne
Your car analogies are right although I would NEVER give in to mediocre sounding recordings and buy gear that pleases this bad sound quality! I always go the other way: ONLY buy well recorded music for my HighEnd gear. And there is a whole lot very well recorded music out there. But you have to take a closer look before buying…not just go out / or klick your mouse and buy whatever there is. My silent hope for doing this is also that recording engineers see that their mediocre stuff stays in the shelf’s of Amazon or other dealers and they finally put in the effort that is necessary!
The music you enjoy growing up often is not going to hold up in your later years - that's where McIntosh excels because it is slightly forgiving - gear that emphasizes extreme detail retrieval and portrayal at the expense of everything else will only serve to brutalize all your fond memories - If you're lucky, the music you loved so much from back in the day was well recorded and survives intact and vital.
@@Alexander-iv4xg no, to really get lost in your music the sound quality must be „right“. When I play great sounding music I don’t think about my gear at all cause there’s only MUSIC playing in my room (no more Hifi system…so to speak). When I play mediocre sounding albums (which I do less and less) I don’t really get the real connection to the music…in contrary: it leaves me disappointed and unsatisfied.
How would you compare the H590 to the MA 12000? Which is better in your opinion? I have NAD M33 and I’m looking to upgrade after recently auditioning the Michi X5 with my Sabrina X.
Just bought a h390 for €4600, witch is just little over half the price of h590, understood why its called Robin hood, i have not heard h590, its just to much money for me. H390 is still a big upgrade over my previous h190, h390 will proably be enough for most, h390 is proably also the amp i see most of in the hole hegel lineup, its so good for me with my b&w 702 s2, that i could see this as an endgame amp for me, the only thing i miss for future would be a better stream msybe a new dac but the dac is good enough for me at the moment, even after upgrading speakers i won’t need to change the amp
Heard both in Montreal. When they switched over to the 590 the room practically emptied. The 390 sounded better. I couldn’t believe that was the next level up in Hegel. I wish I had a video of people’s faces when they switched it over.
@@toddlesiak3837 that’s what I heard at Montreal show. 590 sounded bright and harsh. Again, It may have been a new unit not burned in. But literally the whole room cleared out and the dealer made a bunch of excuses why it wasn’t sounding it’s best. Who knows, that’s just what I heard. I owned 360 and 390 but in my set up I didn’t like 390 either. Sounded better at the Montreal show though. I prefer Simaudio over Hegel
I've always been somewhat intrigued that you guys seem to really love McIntosh ( I do too!) but, haven't given the McIntosh Tannoy combo a whirl? Some Ardens or Cheviots maybe?
I have B&W805D3, planning to upgrade the amplifier. I moostly listen to pop music. Which of the following amplifier would be suggested? 1.) GRYPHON Diablo 120 2.) Hegel H390 3.) Used Classe CP-500/CP-800 Pre Amplifier + CA-2200 Amplifiers Appreciate any opinions
Interesting thoughts but nothing new. Have the 390 and love it … refused to listen to the 590 as I knew it would likely make me buy it! The 390 was expensive enough. But no regrets the 390 is a great performer The DAC’s are very capable on both 390 and 590.
@@bikemike1118 Cheers, fur sure… no concerns with the 390… it’s the wallet & paying in NZD.. is like $11k I’m thinking the 190 should be enough…, but the 390 sounds like a real step up…. All about the $ as well…😂👍
They said during the review that generally the McIntosh's were more forgiving, which might be good for lessor quality recordings, and that the Hegel 590 is more detailed and revealing.
Agreed with Adrian, Hegel need to reappraise their industrial design - both from an aesthetic and value for money vantage. Also agreed they're nice builds and feel quality but it doesn't quite hit that Nordic aesthetic they're perhaps aiming for.
I own the H300 from a few years back. The case design is pretty much same as today but the display on the 300 is not good at all. The new displays are much more attractive and easier to read what is going on. I really like the sound of my unit and frankly I can't see upgrading especially at the current cost.
Everyone has their own preference in this regard (aesthetic design). I personally don't want be looking at VU meters and other lights while listening to music.
@@mark9118 Hegel 90 line is great and the display is really good and it dosen’t disturb your music listening, and way you control the volume is fantastic, i have used analog amps that always have the problem that the volume steps are to big
Hegel sounds great but the fact that incorporates a DAC and Streamer puts off a significant percentage of audiophiles ! They would be much more successful ( sales wise ) if those features would come as optional modules instead. Best Regards
You don't have to use the integrated DAC and streamer. Personally, I like the fact they are built-in. If you can afford a H590, the price would not be much cheaper to be buying factor without those.
@@bikemike1118 What I am saying is that the H590 costs at least $11,000 USD and if they sold it without the DAC it would still cost $10,000 USD, even though a separate DAC might cost more than $1,000 USD. What people are paying for with the H590 is the SoundEngine2 technology of the amp (that creates the low distortion and what Vilip calls the "extremely dark background") and the extremely high damping factor. People who can afford a $10,000 USD integrated amp, are probably not going to balk at $11,000 even if they use a separate DAC. Personally, I think there is too much fuss made about DAC's, and the ones that supposedly sound really good are manipulating the signal in an artificial way, sort of like the way some solid-state amps manipulate the signal to make them sound like tubes. I don't think that the H590 DAC manipulates the signal as much as many high priced separate DAC's. The inclusion of the DAC and streaming device (although the streamer is still somewhat lacking in compatibility at this time) is part of the minimalist design of the Hegel integrated amps. It is for people who are "incognito" audiophiles, those without the desire for a large number of components and flashy meters, etc. Also helps out with the WAF also, or those without a lot of space.
@@filmalchemistfish472 They're talking about in time for Munich next year. It will be a staggered roll-out. H120 & H190 first. H390 & H590 later after firmware shakes out in the field.
We used the DAC. Zen Stream into Innuos Phoenix USB Reclocker into Hegel internal DAC. The only device in the store with access to Apple Music is the the Node which, although is quite good, is not as good as a digital streamer as the Zen Stream. So, no Apple Music - and additionally Airplay is limited to 16-44, so, no Airplay.
@@vilipmak3973 thank you for the reply.. i use a h390 with a metronome le dac.. (in dac loop setting). fyne audio f703's. with decent cables. but where i am from apple music is the only option. so now my situation is, i think , h390 being so good at its price ... its next thing to upgrade .. i like the tight a controlled bass h390 provides .. and the voice too .. but i think i am missing a bit up top .. what would you recommend for me ma12000 or h590. or i should go separates . please suggest .. sorry for the long question...
Thanks guys for another interesting gear review. I have the H390 with Focal Sopra No2 speakers, as well as a Holo Audio May DAC and an Antipodes Server. I'd like to upgrade from the H390 which, like both of you, I have loved and appreciated. Do you have a recommendation given I don't need the DAC and server function of the H590, but like the Hegel sound?
As a Focal lover for more than 10 years: How would you rate the combination of the H390 being a match for the Sopra 2 (scale 1-10)? What stands out, what is (maybe) lacking, in your opinion?
@Roger Well, I have actually upgraded since that post and replaced the H390 with a Vitus RI-101 Mk II. However, what I loved about the H390 was the dynamics and missed this to some extent with the Vitus. But I found that if playing loud the H390 became a bit "honky" with the Sopra speakers. A bit underpowered in my opinion. The Vitus is definitely more detailed, more powerful, still dynamic and a better match for the Sopra's. I would recommend the H590 or comparable amp to drive Sopra No2's. Cheers
@@ericbriggs3328 Wow, congrats on that major upgrade! With 2 x 600 watts at 4 ohms, that must be a different ball game altogether! So for me the message is clear: The Hegel 390 does not fully exploit the sonic potential of the Sopra 2's - good to know since I am evaluating my next premium hi-fi system where the the Focals definitely play a role.
@Roger Yes that's exactly my advice. I also love the Sopra No2's. They seem so "natural" sounding, easy to listen to for long sessions. But they are capable of delivering a lot more detail than the H390 can provide. Happy listening!
As the official arbiter of who is interrupting who, I have ruled that Adrian did not interrupt Vilip in this video, Adrian was merely clarifying for the benefit of the viewers an obscure acronym used by Vilip. This judgement is final and cannot be appealed.
@@vilipmak3973 I have corrected the spelling, so the ruling is reinstated. The decision of the judges is final. No refunds or exchanges. Void where prohibited by law.
@@mark9118 All that would be well and good if only you were the moderator of the AE youtube channel - unfortunately, that is not the case - and all decisions resides with yours truly. Sigh…
@@vilipmak3973 The ruing has nothing to do with the comments section of this video. It refers to the video itself. Are you saying that Adrian interrupted you? It seems to me that he just clarified the obscure (outside of Toronto) acronym you used, in order to make your video comments clearer to the audience.
@@mark9118 And essentially but unequivocably he "interrupted". You can comment but you cannot rule on "decorum". You may not like it and yet at the same time these interruptions are part of the ongoing dynamic within at the very least, my existence - if it becomes a matter for Adrian and Angus, then it becomes an internal matter.
Wondering why no one ever talks about the Streamers in Hegel amps? Are they bad? Being an all in one unit … you would think streaming would be a selling point?
The issue is that Hegel does not have their own software - Roon would be an ideal solution except no Hegel is Roon certified yet. The DAC is very good. The Streamer could be but is currently under-supported.
i use h390, apple music via airplay, compering with bs node .. its lot better. BS node is dry and clinical, but hegel h390 airplay is natural and little warm .. thats my experience ..
Is the source you use in your reviews one of the online streaming services or a local music/file server? I have wondered why you don't use good quality CDs or SACDs played locally. Is it a matter of convenience or efficiency moving from track to track or is it intended to reflect how you believe most of your customers get there music?
We use Tidal through Roon. No doubt that a physical media player would be better - but the convenience of having hundreds of files instantly available makes these reviews possible.
Sadly both of these are outside of my budget. Can you continue the Hegel comparisons toward the more affordable models? How much am I giving up with a H120 or H90? Thanks!
@@TuanMinh-sv2gq I haven’t. I’m still procrastinating, but my short list is Hegel 120 or Heaven 11 Billie 2. It looks like I’ll be sweating another summer with my tube amp.
Is the Hegel H590 worth the money? Are you kidding me? The H590 is absolutely world-class and is probably the best pound-for-pound, for the money, and it's not cheap, integrated amp on the market!!!
We were just having lunch today with some friends, and one of them commented about the number of boxes in my system. Every now and then, I wonder if there is an integrated amp that I could just live with.
I felt the 390 was running out of gas a bit on Hegel 30.1's. I asked a dealer if the h590 was better he was like. No if you didn't like the 390 you won't like the 590 it is just a little more powerful 390. Here you go instead look at this goofy looking no volume knob that won't work for me Boulder integrated! UGH Face Palm! Why do they do this? lol
Hello guys. I totally dig what you are saying and i must say that i myself own a Hegel H30 amp, a P30 pre and a HD30 Dac. Sound is absolute. But i would love for Hegel to come out with a Dac upgrade for my HD30. Do you know if Hegel have plans for such a thing
Frivolous conversation, if you only test them digitally, then it is clear that H590 has a better da converter. Test them on analog inputes and let's see if the difference is so big.
@@bikemike1118 have you bought hifi before? Or popped 30Gs worth into hifi? Hope you dont "check the sensitivity and impedence" and drop the dough just like that!
@@GH-zs8eq then why don’t you go to your/ a dealer and talk once more to them or best: check it out…You won’t find any further information here in UA-cam‘s comment section…especially when you wanna buy 30k speakers. Makes not much sense, does it?!
$11k is insane for a piece of hifi gear! 🤣 My chinese EL34 class A singled ended tube amp from 2021 is hand wired with nice, decent transformers and delivers that midrange magic, that nothing else has got to offer. It should be supplemented with two (REL) subs and two "speaker enacoms" from combak for impedance adjustment and goes for CAN$320. My KEF LS50 Metas in a somewhat smaller room are a "match in heaven", believe it or not. It may even drive my Magnepan 1.4 planars properly, but I will have to experiment with that combination in the future ... 🙂 Apart from that, I do like the presentations of Audio Excellence Canada very much, thumbs up!
@@henni1964 well, nice to hear that you’re fully satisfied as it seems. But even though $ 11k aren’t inexpensive I am a hundred percent sure that your 300 bucks amp cannot compete in any sonic way. I don’t want to shatter your world but unfortunately there is no such thing as a „giant“killer - even though I wouldn’t consider Hegel amps as giant - for pocket money…not in this world at least. No offense though. But the joy of listening is the main thing in our hobby and when it’s right for you be happy: you‘ve saved a lot of cash.
@@bikemike1118 Agreed. It all comes down to personal taste. I do love this typical EL34 lush sound in the midrange. Transistor amps can't emulate this special kind of sound, no matter the price tag, because of the law of physics. Hegel amps are amazing for what they are capable of. Many prefer this kind of sound. Regarding tube amps, even a proper KT88 amp can't reach this kind of pureness in the midrange, the EL34, invented by Philips, will provide you, nor a 6C33C, a 300B or a 845 single ended amp. I have heard them all over the years. If you are into Rock and Pop music, especially when it comes to (female) vocals, there is nothing better than an EL34 amp imho. Steve Guttenberg, the "Audiophiliac", reviewed my amp on his channel and found nice words for it's performance. Even if the EL34 tubes begin to slightly distort at higher volume levels, you will love it! Best thing about the price tag is, that everyone can easily test it for themselves. But two subs are a must have, because this amp in single ended class A configuration is way too weak below 80 Hz. Connecting the REL subs via high level 8 ohm output taps is a piece of cake. 🙂
@@henni1964 okay…fair enough. My experience with tube amps is mainly with tube preamps…there I can say that gear that sounds too mellow (in some cases too „warm“ or even blurred) is badly constructed. My current tube preamp isn’t „tubey“ in that kind of way but highly dynamic, immediate, clear and life sounding. IMO this what an amp of any kind should be. But we’re in our hobby here and everything what pleases your ears is „allowed“ cause it all is personal anyway.
You’ve concluded that the 590 is better integrated amplifier…but it’s twice the cost of the 390!!! If it isn’t better, then Hegel is really doing something wrong 😑!!!
how about a comparison video between H590 and MA12000 .. love the videos..
Very good video. I agree on most of your findings. After hearing this amplifier you will find out what the quality of recordings is. Prospective buyers need to be sure that the rest of their setup matches these amplifiers (source, cables, etc.).
By the way, I am glad there’s no H390/H590 mark outside. That’s what I like about Scandinavian style, simple but still sophisticated. Furthermore, the H590 is called 'the beast', so that says enough ....☺️
Would love to know how a 590 holds up against a Mcintosh ma9000. Would almost be tempted to fork out the extra money for the Mcintosh on looks alone! Bit unfortunate the 590 is so good, yet so bland looking. I guess it's the sound that really matters though.
Great review guys, thank you!
I’ve got the H160 fed by a Holo Spring KTE Dac and I’ve found no itch to upgrade. Running Maggie 1.7i and it’s fantastic. I am looking at spatial audio m3 and m4 as a speaker upgrade.
I upgraded from H160 to an H390. Believe me, H160 is good but is not in class with an H390 on any parameters
Thanks for de review, bought a h590 for my self. The 590 is going to play with de SF electra Amator 3 and The Denafrips Pontus II. Regards from Portugal
How did it sounded with those DACs?
You said “ I would always trade slightly less resolution for a warmer more inviting sound”
In that case, the H390 comes out on top.
Great info guys. Thank you.
20:00 you guys finally hit the nail on the head as to why the gear DOES matter.
From what I heard there in store, Hegel really sounds great ( for my taste - detailed High Freq presence)
The demo I have posted of the Lumina 5 is stunning .. Very nice.
Thanks for the video and discussion here =)
H390 vs H590 or H190 vs H390. Which of these versus has the biggest difference in sound?
Any ProAc speaker owners here using Hegel for amplification ? If yes, are you happy with what you're hearing or consider some other brand of amplifiers ?
Asking because I have the ProAc d48r floorstanders being driven by a Hegel H360. Happy with what I'm hearing, want to find out what I can do better
How long would you say it takes for the H390 amp to fully burn in?
Adrian is correct. I have this unit with some big Harbeths and it’s a great combo with an Innuos
looks like the comparison was done exclusively using the onboard DACs in both units
so what we don't know is if it's the amplifier or DAC section of the 590 that is sonically superior to that of the 390
its too bad they didn't cover this point
Actually it wasn't. We used a much better external streamer/dac combo. And that was covered in the video.
@@vilipmak3973 If I'm not mistaken, the internal DAC boards, in both models, are the same.
Not trolling here, but I would be interested to know what specific internal differences exist, between the 2 units, that caused the full library of audiophile buzzwords to be used to describe the listening experience of the 590 vs the 390. I mean, power output is close, damping factor is likely close, DACs are the same, both dual mono.
@@mtkreger You and Steve obviously miss the point here. When you're listening to the H590 or the H390, you're listening to the whole of it, the totality. Even if the electronics are humble, there is synergy working here or evident. The sum is always greater than the parts.
@@vilipmak3973 forget about the streamer... any high resolution file from a good recording can be transported even by an old computer using Roon server, so you just need a high-end DAC + high-end integrated amp or preamp+amp and it will sound amazing.
Foremost it’s about the music. i had a hegel h190 and sold but regretted it so much that i went out and bought another one. That’s saying a lot.
Good job guys with the videos. Keep up the great work. Please do a video comparing Naim vs Hegel in terms of sound signature / house sound and pros & cons of each brand
I would be more interested in how this integrated sounds versus a similarly priced separate system. I personally prefer separates because it simplifies the upgrade path.
Generally - it is better. The only caveat, obviously, is that there is no simple upgrade path.
I have a 390 and love it. I daren't listen to the 590 - my bank balance will complain too much. I like the look of Hegel products, the minimalist look is all about the music rather than the 'look at me!' aesthetic of amps like McIntosh. As for displaying the model number on the front... no end-user needs it, remember Mies Van Der Rohe’s modernist phrase “Less is More.”
I've had my H590 for a few years now and never looked back. Glad you mentioned the low level listening. The way it does this is outstanding. Paired with Focal Sopra n2s. Pushing up the power and the thing just dances. And so I was a happy chappy for years. Head in the clouds and enjoying everyday. And then. One day. It all came crashing down. They went and released the H600. With auto inputs (I would love this). Early views and there's rumours its better than the H590. How is this possible. It's gonna cost me 6 grand to upgrade. That doesn't make sense to me atm.
Would also like to agree with the precise rendering. You put crap anywhere near this thing and it will render it so you hear it. It is what it is.
You almost make me cry... but I will go H590 soon :)
I'm leaning towards getting a NAD M33 and getting B&W 803 D4's, but I was wondering would the M33 be powerful enough? Would it benefit to be driven with a Hegel too? Would they work together? A newbie to audiophile and looking for advice. Any help would be appreciated. Hello from London.
A direct Macintosh comparison would be awesome. hard to move away from the Mac looks as they sound fine and look great.
I highly recommend that if your music library involves a good deal of recordings that are non-audiophile and you might want a more forgiving amp like the McIntosh MA12000. It's not just about the performance. Think about a Ferrari and how it's a high performing car but if you drive bad roads, a lot of stop and go traffic, then you might be better with a Porsche Cayenne
Your car analogies are right although I would NEVER give in to mediocre sounding recordings and buy gear that pleases this bad sound quality!
I always go the other way: ONLY buy well recorded music for my HighEnd gear. And there is a whole lot very well recorded music out there. But you have to take a closer look before buying…not just go out / or klick your mouse and buy whatever there is. My silent hope for doing this is also that recording engineers see that their mediocre stuff stays in the shelf’s of Amazon or other dealers and they finally put in the effort that is necessary!
The music you enjoy growing up often is not going to hold up in your later years - that's where McIntosh excels because it is slightly forgiving - gear that emphasizes extreme detail retrieval and portrayal at the expense of everything else will only serve to brutalize all your fond memories - If you're lucky, the music you loved so much from back in the day was well recorded and survives intact and vital.
@@Alexander-iv4xg no, to really get lost in your music the sound quality must be „right“. When I play great sounding music I don’t think about my gear at all cause there’s only MUSIC playing in my room (no more Hifi system…so to speak). When I play mediocre sounding albums (which I do less and less) I don’t really get the real connection to the music…in contrary: it leaves me disappointed and unsatisfied.
How would you compare the H590 to the MA 12000? Which is better in your opinion? I have NAD M33 and I’m looking to upgrade after recently auditioning the Michi X5 with my Sabrina X.
hi, what did you upgrade your nad m33 to?
Would love to hear about the seperates now
Just bought a h390 for €4600, witch is just little over half the price of h590, understood why its called Robin hood, i have not heard h590, its just to much money for me. H390 is still a big upgrade over my previous h190, h390 will proably be enough for most, h390 is proably also the amp i see most of in the hole hegel lineup, its so good for me with my b&w 702 s2, that i could see this as an endgame amp for me, the only thing i miss for future would be a better stream msybe a new dac but the dac is good enough for me at the moment, even after upgrading speakers i won’t need to change the amp
What is the difference in sound between the H590 vs H600?
Why is there a large blurred square in the video? Was the wall that offensive?
Heard both in Montreal. When they switched over to the 590 the room practically emptied. The 390 sounded better. I couldn’t believe that was the next level up in Hegel. I wish I had a video of people’s faces when they switched it over.
wow, are you for real with this comment?
That would make the H390 absolutely best pick out of the whole Hegel's integrated range !!
That's very strange. I've heard many ppl say the 590 sounds much better
@@toddlesiak3837 maybe wasn’t burned in but it was a big difference
@@monster7363 So, you're saying the 390 actually sounds much better than the 590?
@@toddlesiak3837 that’s what I heard at Montreal show. 590 sounded bright and harsh. Again, It may have been a new unit not burned in. But literally the whole room cleared out and the dealer made a bunch of excuses why it wasn’t sounding it’s best. Who knows, that’s just what I heard. I owned 360 and 390 but in my set up I didn’t like 390 either. Sounded better at the Montreal show though. I prefer Simaudio over Hegel
I've always been somewhat intrigued that you guys seem to really love McIntosh ( I do too!) but, haven't given the McIntosh Tannoy combo a whirl? Some Ardens or Cheviots maybe?
I have B&W805D3, planning to upgrade the amplifier. I moostly listen to pop music.
Which of the following amplifier would be suggested?
1.) GRYPHON Diablo 120
2.) Hegel H390
3.) Used Classe CP-500/CP-800 Pre Amplifier + CA-2200 Amplifiers
Appreciate any opinions
Interesting thoughts but nothing new. Have the 390 and love it … refused to listen to the 590 as I knew it would likely make me buy it! The 390 was expensive enough. But no regrets the 390 is a great performer
The DAC’s are very capable on both 390 and 590.
What speakers is your 390 driving, cheers
I have 87db 4 ohm
@@tigertiger1699 I‘m not Andrew but if your speakers are 87dB sensitive there shouldn’t be any problems whatsoever
@@bikemike1118
Cheers, fur sure… no concerns with the 390… it’s the wallet & paying in NZD.. is like $11k
I’m thinking the 190 should be enough…, but the 390 sounds like a real step up….
All about the $ as well…😂👍
@@tigertiger1699 sure, mate 😉👍🏼
Would love the hegels compared to the McIntosh integrateds
They said during the review that generally the McIntosh's were more forgiving, which might be good for lessor quality recordings, and that the Hegel 590 is more detailed and revealing.
this was fun to watch.
I am wondering if the 590 would be a better choice than the 390 for the KEF Blade 2 as they DO like power.
Goal - not have a budget that makes this price point feel like "Stupid Money". Enjoyed this Gents.
Don't stress yourself out over it. so called hi end is a scam, just get what you can afford and still pay your bills. it's not worth the difference
Agreed with Adrian, Hegel need to reappraise their industrial design - both from an aesthetic and value for money vantage. Also agreed they're nice builds and feel quality but it doesn't quite hit that Nordic aesthetic they're perhaps aiming for.
I own the H300 from a few years back. The case design is pretty much same as today but the display on the 300 is not good at all. The new displays are much more attractive and easier to read what is going on. I really like the sound of my unit and frankly I can't see upgrading especially at the current cost.
Everyone has their own preference in this regard (aesthetic design). I personally don't want be looking at VU meters and other lights while listening to music.
@@mark9118 Hegel 90 line is great and the display is really good and it dosen’t disturb your music listening, and way you control the volume is fantastic, i have used analog amps that always have the problem that the volume steps are to big
Hegel sounds great but the fact that incorporates a DAC and Streamer puts off a significant percentage of audiophiles ! They would be much more successful ( sales wise ) if those features would come as optional modules instead.
Best Regards
Hegel H20 and H30 exist for them
@@aceofspades6667 those are power-amps !
I’m referring to the integrated-amps, which are all other amplifiers offered in their catalog.
Best regards
You don't have to use the integrated DAC and streamer. Personally, I like the fact they are built-in. If you can afford a H590, the price would not be much cheaper to be buying factor without those.
@@mark9118 not so sure about your last statement. The price of a really good DAC can be quite expensive (especially when you don’t really want it)
@@bikemike1118 What I am saying is that the H590 costs at least $11,000 USD and if they sold it without the DAC it would still cost $10,000 USD, even though a separate DAC might cost more than $1,000 USD. What people are paying for with the H590 is the SoundEngine2 technology of the amp (that creates the low distortion and what Vilip calls the "extremely dark background") and the extremely high damping factor.
People who can afford a $10,000 USD integrated amp, are probably not going to balk at $11,000 even if they use a separate DAC. Personally, I think there is too much fuss made about DAC's, and the ones that supposedly sound really good are manipulating the signal in an artificial way, sort of like the way some solid-state amps manipulate the signal to make them sound like tubes. I don't think that the H590 DAC manipulates the signal as much as many high priced separate DAC's.
The inclusion of the DAC and streaming device (although the streamer is still somewhat lacking in compatibility at this time) is part of the minimalist design of the Hegel integrated amps. It is for people who are "incognito" audiophiles, those without the desire for a large number of components and flashy meters, etc. Also helps out with the WAF also, or those without a lot of space.
'MORE!' Hat tip to the editor of this video..
May I ask what are the major upgrades of the firmware coming?😋😋
Airplay 2 & Roon
@@vilipmak3973 finally, for real this time?💕
@@filmalchemistfish472 They're talking about in time for Munich next year. It will be a staggered roll-out. H120 & H190 first. H390 & H590 later after firmware shakes out in the field.
@@vilipmak3973 WOW! Thanks a lot for the heads up!
Great video! Can you say how the H190 compares to the H390, with regards to sound quality?
It’s a bigger jump for sure
@@themosyannakou6893 More neutral and a little less.
@@vilipmak3973 Hi Vilip, can you please explain what you mean here?
@@zaoria123 H390 has a smidge more warmth especially in the midrange. And more of everything else the H190 does well.
@@vilipmak3973 Thanks, Vilip. Have you heard the H390 with any of the B&W speakers? Are they a good match?
H590 VS MA12000?
Whichever one strikes you the best - both are beyond excellent.
@@vilipmak3973 what’s your end game integrated amp?
@@rumporridge1 There is no endgame. But I am dying to hear an Ongaku.
@@vilipmak3973 this journey I’m on has endless roads indeed. Thanks for getting back. Looking hard at the Rotel Michi X5 too.
@@rumporridge1 We gave the X5 a hard listen - comparable in some ways to the H390. Definitely not as good as the H590.
U forgot to mention MQA support in the specs
did you guys use the hegel dac ? and what do you think of the apple music with airplay ?
Absolutely with I was wanting from this review
We used the DAC. Zen Stream into Innuos Phoenix USB Reclocker into Hegel internal DAC. The only device in the store with access to Apple Music is the the Node which, although is quite good, is not as good as a digital streamer as the Zen Stream. So, no Apple Music - and additionally Airplay is limited to 16-44, so, no Airplay.
@@vilipmak3973
Hi Vilip, really appreciate your insight and context in your reviews.., and your efforts to explain your thoughts
@@vilipmak3973 thank you for the reply.. i use a h390 with a metronome le dac.. (in dac loop setting). fyne audio f703's. with decent cables. but where i am from apple music is the only option. so now my situation is, i think , h390 being so good at its price ... its next thing to upgrade .. i like the tight a controlled bass h390 provides .. and the voice too .. but i think i am missing a bit up top .. what would you recommend for me ma12000 or h590. or i should go separates . please suggest ..
sorry for the long question...
@@riyad7272 As we found, the H590 would give you what you're missing. Give it a listen.
Thanks guys for another interesting gear review. I have the H390 with Focal Sopra No2 speakers, as well as a Holo Audio May DAC and an Antipodes Server. I'd like to upgrade from the H390 which, like both of you, I have loved and appreciated. Do you have a recommendation given I don't need the DAC and server function of the H590, but like the Hegel sound?
As a Focal lover for more than 10 years: How would you rate the combination of the H390 being a match for the Sopra 2 (scale 1-10)? What stands out, what is (maybe) lacking, in your opinion?
@Roger
Well, I have actually upgraded since that post and replaced the H390 with a Vitus RI-101 Mk II. However, what I loved about the H390 was the dynamics and missed this to some extent with the Vitus. But I found that if playing loud the H390 became a bit "honky" with the Sopra speakers. A bit underpowered in my opinion. The Vitus is definitely more detailed, more powerful, still dynamic and a better match for the Sopra's. I would recommend the H590 or comparable amp to drive Sopra No2's.
Cheers
@@ericbriggs3328
Wow, congrats on that major upgrade! With 2 x 600 watts at 4 ohms, that must be a different ball game altogether! So for me the message is clear: The Hegel 390 does not fully exploit the sonic potential of the Sopra 2's - good to know since I am evaluating my next premium hi-fi system where the the Focals definitely play a role.
@Roger
Yes that's exactly my advice. I also love the Sopra No2's. They seem so "natural" sounding, easy to listen to for long sessions. But they are capable of delivering a lot more detail than the H390 can provide. Happy listening!
As the official arbiter of who is interrupting who, I have ruled that Adrian did not interrupt Vilip in this video, Adrian was merely clarifying for the benefit of the viewers an obscure acronym used by Vilip. This judgement is final and cannot be appealed.
Well, you could spell my name correctly - so, your ruling is disqualified.
@@vilipmak3973 I have corrected the spelling, so the ruling is reinstated. The decision of the judges is final. No refunds or exchanges. Void where prohibited by law.
@@mark9118 All that would be well and good if only you were the moderator of the AE youtube channel - unfortunately, that is not the case - and all decisions resides with yours truly. Sigh…
@@vilipmak3973 The ruing has nothing to do with the comments section of this video. It refers to the video itself. Are you saying that Adrian interrupted you? It seems to me that he just clarified the obscure (outside of Toronto) acronym you used, in order to make your video comments clearer to the audience.
@@mark9118 And essentially but unequivocably he "interrupted". You can comment but you cannot rule on "decorum". You may not like it and yet at the same time these interruptions are part of the ongoing dynamic within at the very least, my existence - if it becomes a matter for Adrian and Angus, then it becomes an internal matter.
Wondering why no one ever talks about the Streamers in Hegel amps? Are they bad?
Being an all in one unit … you would think streaming would be a selling point?
The issue is that Hegel does not have their own software - Roon would be an ideal solution except no Hegel is Roon certified yet. The DAC is very good. The Streamer could be but is currently under-supported.
@@vilipmak3973 thanks so much for the reply.
Can I at least use airplay to stream from my phone or IPad?
i use h390, apple music via airplay, compering with bs node .. its lot better. BS node is dry and clinical, but hegel h390 airplay is natural and little warm .. thats my experience ..
So not a good amp for Bose 901s VI - with Martin Kreisler V1B sub - I had my heart set on the MA352
How much would you need to spend on bettering the Hegel dac?
If it helps, I watched one video where the 390's DAC is close to the CHORD QUTEST. That is high praise as I have MOJO, QUTEST, TT2 and M SCALER.
Hegel’s philosophy is that it isn’t about the first watt, but is all about the last watt.
Is the source you use in your reviews one of the online streaming services or a local music/file server? I have wondered why you don't use good quality CDs or SACDs played locally. Is it a matter of convenience or efficiency moving from track to track or is it intended to reflect how you believe most of your customers get there music?
We use Tidal through Roon. No doubt that a physical media player would be better - but the convenience of having hundreds of files instantly available makes these reviews possible.
Just tell me if it can beat gryphon diablo 300
thanks!
Sadly both of these are outside of my budget. Can you continue the Hegel comparisons toward the more affordable models? How much am I giving up with a H120 or H90? Thanks!
@@TuanMinh-sv2gq Thank you very much for that information. Taking the step up is great for peace of mind.
@@HD-su9sq what did you end up getting?
@@TuanMinh-sv2gq I haven’t. I’m still procrastinating, but my short list is Hegel 120 or Heaven 11 Billie 2. It looks like I’ll be sweating another summer with my tube amp.
How would it compare to the h20, anyone?
Im thinking about getting the Focal Kanta 1s to go with my Hegel h390. Would this be a good match?
yes, I have the H590 with the Focal Kanta 2 and i love it.
I would go for the Kanta 2 for a fuller sound.
@@frankygoossens955 Thanks for the reply. Yes i would have gone for the kanta 2 but unfortunately its a room size issue.
Is the Hegel H590 worth the money? Are you kidding me? The H590 is absolutely world-class and is probably the best pound-for-pound, for the money, and it's not cheap, integrated amp on the market!!!
How does the H590 compare to the pathos inpol 2?
Do they sell Pathos as well at their store?
We're going to have a listen to the new Pathos Inpol. And then we'll decide and hopefully share our impressions.
@@vilipmak3973 ooh naise! Thanks Vilip! Looking forward to your impressions! :))
We were just having lunch today with some friends, and one of them commented about the number of boxes in my system. Every now and then, I wonder if there is an integrated amp that I could just live with.
?
Yes, and this is the one.
Yeah man, like Nike said, just do it!
Hegel needs speakers with soul like: Harbeth, Spendor, Sonus faber
Your test environment deserves a better source.
I felt the 390 was running out of gas a bit on Hegel 30.1's. I asked a dealer if the h590 was better he was like. No if you didn't like the 390 you won't like the 590 it is just a little more powerful 390. Here you go instead look at this goofy looking no volume knob that won't work for me Boulder integrated! UGH Face Palm! Why do they do this? lol
Hello guys. I totally dig what you are saying and i must say that i myself own a Hegel H30 amp, a P30 pre and a HD30 Dac. Sound is absolute. But i would love for Hegel to come out with a Dac upgrade for my HD30. Do you know if Hegel have plans for such a thing
Frivolous conversation, if you only test them digitally, then it is clear that H590 has a better da converter. Test them on analog inputes and let's see if the difference is so big.
Integrity Cubed!!!! Thanks.........
Can the H590 drive the magnepan 20.7s? Thanks
If yes, would you buy one?
@@bikemike1118 would consider definitely! Heard hegel and maggies have good synergy
@@GH-zs8eq okay, so why you’re asking then?
Check out the sensitivity and lowest impedance and if it fits …go for it if you like!
@@bikemike1118 have you bought hifi before? Or popped 30Gs worth into hifi? Hope you dont "check the sensitivity and impedence" and drop the dough just like that!
@@GH-zs8eq then why don’t you go to your/ a dealer and talk once more to them or best: check it out…You won’t find any further information here in UA-cam‘s comment section…especially when you wanna buy 30k speakers. Makes not much sense, does it?!
$11k is an affordable price for an automobile. $11k is not “affordable” for a piece of hifi gear. Vilip???
You’re completely right….the perspective of audio dealers is sometimes different, especially when it’s about customers money 😉
$11k is insane for a piece of hifi gear! 🤣 My chinese EL34 class A singled ended tube amp from 2021 is hand wired with nice, decent transformers and delivers that midrange magic, that nothing else has got to offer. It should be supplemented with two (REL) subs and two "speaker enacoms" from combak for impedance adjustment and goes for CAN$320. My KEF LS50 Metas in a somewhat smaller room are a "match in heaven", believe it or not. It may even drive my Magnepan 1.4 planars properly, but I will have to experiment with that combination in the future ... 🙂 Apart from that, I do like the presentations of Audio Excellence Canada very much, thumbs up!
@@henni1964 well, nice to hear that you’re fully satisfied as it seems. But even though $ 11k aren’t inexpensive I am a hundred percent sure that your 300 bucks amp cannot compete in any sonic way. I don’t want to shatter your world but unfortunately there is no such thing as a „giant“killer - even though I wouldn’t consider Hegel amps as giant - for pocket money…not in this world at least. No offense though. But the joy of listening is the main thing in our hobby and when it’s right for you be happy: you‘ve saved a lot of cash.
@@bikemike1118 Agreed. It all comes down to personal taste. I do love this typical EL34 lush sound in the midrange. Transistor amps can't emulate this special kind of sound, no matter the price tag, because of the law of physics. Hegel amps are amazing for what they are capable of. Many prefer this kind of sound. Regarding tube amps, even a proper KT88 amp can't reach this kind of pureness in the midrange, the EL34, invented by Philips, will provide you, nor a 6C33C, a 300B or a 845 single ended amp. I have heard them all over the years. If you are into Rock and Pop music, especially when it comes to (female) vocals, there is nothing better than an EL34 amp imho. Steve Guttenberg, the "Audiophiliac", reviewed my amp on his channel and found nice words for it's performance. Even if the EL34 tubes begin to slightly distort at higher volume levels, you will love it! Best thing about the price tag is, that everyone can easily test it for themselves. But two subs are a must have, because this amp in single ended class A configuration is way too weak below 80 Hz. Connecting the REL subs via high level 8 ohm output taps is a piece of cake. 🙂
@@henni1964 okay…fair enough. My experience with tube amps is mainly with tube preamps…there I can say that gear that sounds too mellow (in some cases too „warm“ or even blurred) is badly constructed. My current tube preamp isn’t „tubey“ in that kind of way but highly dynamic, immediate, clear and life sounding. IMO this what an amp of any kind should be. But we’re in our hobby here and everything what pleases your ears is „allowed“ cause it all is personal anyway.
like the point with the Germans :)
Great Plains ….with Hegel. Just like the Swedish tundra.
You’ve concluded that the 590 is better integrated amplifier…but it’s twice the cost of the 390!!!
If it isn’t better, then Hegel is really doing something wrong 😑!!!
Hegel sound is bland.
Unless you need to solder your amp, or power crappy speakers, who really needs a 250- or 350-watt amp ? 🥴