Your knowledge is refreshing and your delivery is engaging! I hope this channel continues to grow, we need more like you on KZread!

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you Harry, I appreciate your support.

@evowhite777

4 жыл бұрын

I'll 2nd that, keep up the good work man! #hifi4ever

Best audio review I have seen anywhere so far. Great explanations of concepts and experience and bench marking.

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you P W 👍

Excellent video - I love the level of technical detail and matter-of-fact, honest observation and description. Well done!

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hi zenscape, thank you for taking the time to watch and comment on the video.

An excellent review. It’s interesting to go back and see your earlier videos. I love your work and appreciate how far your reviews have evolved.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you kindly 😊👍

I really enjoyed watching your review. Especially the technical insights on damping factor. I definitely learned something on what to look out for in future gear to create synergy.

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Simon, you are absolutely right, it is all about synergy. Tricky thing to get right without a lot of research and listening. Thank you for watching and commenting.

I appreciate your knowledge and professional experience reporting about Hegel masterpieces. I’m about to buy the newest Hegel 120 and now I’m very committed to do this. Many thanks!

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Pierangelo, thank you for watching and commenting. I really appreciate it. I am sure if you get the system matching right the Hegel H120 will be a great amplifier.

Thank you for the most informative review I have heard online. Your explanation of the Hegel is spot on.

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Brian. I really appreciate you taking the time to watch the video and comment.

This is the most informative review of this amp I’ve seen. Thank you!

@abritishaudiophile7314

6 ай бұрын

Thank you. Much appreciated 😊👍

Love your videos and reviews. Really interesting an informative. Thank you for that. Subscribed at first sight. All the best for your channel!

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you Joe. Sorry for the late reply.

I have just discovered your vlogs and I'm interested in your approach and comments. This is a great review for this amplifier and your cross references with JD and HR. I'm very impressed with Hegel products especially the H390. I feel that Hegel really know what they are doing. Please keep your reviews coming.... excellent.

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the support Paul. I really appreciate it!

Precious information and sincerity. I learned a lot. Thank you!

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hi TCC, thank you for watching and taking the time to comment 👍

I am considering purchasing a used Hegel H120. Your reviews are outstanding and well delivered.

@abritishaudiophile7314

2 ай бұрын

Thank you. Much appreciated 😊👍

Terrific review! Nice to see a real review and not one gushing with fluff.

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you 😊👍

Thank you for such a considered well explained review.

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you robn7777777 😉👍

I bought one a month ago. I certainly lives up to it's hype. Great sounding amp! Makes my 16 year old Paradigm speakers shine!

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing Paulo

Thanks for taking time to explain the design goals and how Hegel tackled them, Tarun. I recall Sansui flying the feedforward flag with their 1980 range of amps (just before they tumbled downmarket) - I guess what goes around, comes around... Talking of older equipment, I was glad to hear that your 25-year-old Exposure amps are still holding their own against modern designs. Often vintage gear receives dismissive comments from reviewers as "nostalgic" or having "that vintage sound" - but design philosophies haven't really changed over the decades, and it's interesting to have old vs. new comparisons!

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Thisisnew. I didn’t know that Sansui had a feed forward range back then. Worth finding out more about as they had a reputation for producing some excellent receivers back in the day. I couldn’t agree with you more, some of the vintage gear still sounds great. I don’t think too much has changed in class AB amps and speaker tech in the last 20 years. I was prepared to sell my Exposures if the Hegel bettered them and I half expected this to be the case so was genuinely surprised as to how well the Exposure XXI pre and XVIII Super monos held up. Needless to say, they are going nowhere!

@parisstromatias637

4 жыл бұрын

I also have a Creek evolution 2 from 2011 what an amplifier 75watt I must say that Hegel copied the sound signature of Creek amplifiers which is a good thing still the British sound of their amplifiers is always the most neutral sound Creek audio Exposure audio and Sugden but the Sugden is very expensive and also quad and Musical Fidelity imo

@parisstromatias637

4 жыл бұрын

Creek evolution 2 from 2011 700 pounds and reliability still my target is Creek evolution 100A but I am not selling the Creek evolution 2 do they making reliable equipment today or not thank you very much gentlemen

Excellent review. Than you for an honest review. Finally someone in hifi that can give as much negatives as positives about a product.

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Alex. Much appreciated 😊👍

The synergy from my Denon 1500AE, Pioneer N50A & Epos M16i still puts a smile on my face.

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Bertram, I have always liked Epos speakers. Thank you for sharing.

I just borrowed home a H190 today, paired with ny Dali opticon. I was blown away. Really a nice piece. Like the design and the new screen. No clock radio look on the screen. Minimalistic.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Cool 😎

I feel it's a beautiful piece of engineering. Love the curves on it.

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching and commenting Paulo 😉

Love your reviews! It’s hard to describe sound; and you do a GREAT job of covering all aspects of how the H160 sounds like, and how it compares to other integrated amps or separate combos. I wonder if you will review more Hegel products? We shall see!

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching and your kind words of support Edmund. I am hoping to review more Hegel products. The new H95 is probably what I would go for next 😊👍

Man! You really surprised me with Bootsey! I love your videos I've been learning a lot. I'm glad I ran across your channel, I believe you save me from making some costly mistakes in upgrading my system. NUFF SAID Is the way Stan Lee use to finish the Marvel comic books at the end of every issue, every day I look to see if you left some audio knowledge for me. Yes! I get tickled every day when I get on U Tube and I see Oliver Twist from the old movie in my mind eye saying"May I have a little more please sir., lol, tomorrow may I have a little more. Your American brother, take care.

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you Willie. I really enjoyed reading your comments and I greatly appreciate your support 😉👍

I love the music you listen to.. great intro!

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you 😊👍

One of the best reviews out there! Definatelly a big fan of the channel.

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you AMC RO, I really appreciate your support 😉

Excellent as always.👊🏽

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you 😊👍

Always interesting and instructive,thanks

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you Henry

Stretching out in Bootsy’s Rubber Band. Nice. I’m a big Hegel fan. Thanks for your review.

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Eric 😊👍

I was really wanting to get the H190, but the near $6000AUD was going to eat into my system budget. Was fortunate to come across a hifi store with a H160 trade-in that came fully boxed and with store warranty for $3300AUD. I have paired this with Martin Logan Motion 40i and am really impressed. At the start the ML were a little fatiguing to listen to, but now after around 50hrs run-in it is sounding superb and enjoy to listen to for longer. I find the high damping factor for the H160 really works well with the ML's aluminium drivers.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

That is great Aaron 👍

An impressive piece of kit and again a very high quality review! Still when I saw inside I had a minor heart attack. When investing serious money in Hifi I need to know that it will be rocksteady reliable for 10 to 15 years. I see all those smd components, the extreme close proximity between Psu and sensitive digital circuits, difficulty to maintain and interaction with complex software. I feel quite sure that something is going to go wrong and I won't be able to fix it without spending significantly more money. I was considering this for my bedroom system but after looking inside I am definitely going the diy route and not all in one box. I feel there is not enough attention for long term reliability in consumer electronic products. Guarantee periods are short for a reason and we end up paying for it along with unfortunate electronic waste. I fear I have gone DIY only now and won't be looking back no matter the hype for the product. Nothing beats discrete designs and good separate power supplies that I can fix/upgrade myself. Sorry for the rant! What is your experience with long term reliability of comparable equipment?

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you GD. Check out my review of the Sugden A21 Signature or the Exposure 2510. Both much more serviceable from a longevity point of view 😊👍

Helped me to make up my mind about the H190. The price increase versus H160 in sterling must reflect the decrease in value of the £ post Brexit versus a very strong currency of the manufacturers country. I will stick with my Krell KAV-400xi driving Castle Howard S2's. I enjoy your programs. Stay well. Daniel Cramer, Welwyn

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you Daniel. I appreciate your support. I would probably still with your Krell KAV-400xi too😉👍

Awesome review.

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hi jimp164, thank you for watching and taking the time to comment.

6:06 SMD are surface mount devices. They are opposed to through hole (TH) components. SMD components are not of lesser quality than TH but are usually much smaller. Both types can be discrete or integrated. Discrete components have a single basic function. Examples are a resistor, capacitor or transistor. Integrated components have combined several of these basic components in one package. An example is an integrated circuit (IC). An IC can contain a whole amplifier, or a display driver.

@johnhodgson5313

4 жыл бұрын

You are correct, from what I could see of the power amp circuit he showed it is completely discrete, no I.C.'s in sight.

@tonybalm1513

4 жыл бұрын

Ease and cheapness of manufacture is why manufactures went down this route. It's not meant to last and from a servicing point of view they would rather sell you a new one!!!!

Great in depth review! Would be great interesting if you could review the Simaudio Moon 600i V2 who got a soft more fuller tone with huge control and real "High End" sound characteristics. Probably the best sounding 10.000 Euro amp there is, but would be great fun and hear out what you thinks vs the Naim , Hegel etc

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Vaioll, thank you for commenting. I would love to be able to review the Simaudio Moon 600i V2. It is a dual mono powerhouse, built like a tank by a well respected Canadian brand. Unfortunately, I am currently limited to reviewing equipment I own or can borrow from friends. I hope that will change if the channel grows and I can approach dealers and manufacturers to review products. Love to hear your comments on the 600iV2 if you have any experience of listening to it.

Heck yeah ! I'm a new reviewer to the scene and been thinking about buying a hegal !But over all its the pairing of speakers that make the total SYNERGY not just the amp 😆

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Tee-Jay, absolutely! I will check out some of your videos. Thank you for watching and commenting.

@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120

4 жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 great job don't make fun of my accent my scottish friends love it 😆

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Tee-Jay, love the accent and that you have your own unique way of doing things. You are a welcome addition to the hifi reviewing community.

@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120

4 жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thank you !

I have had h190 for nerly 2 months its just incrediable, the control in bass is amazing and with good depth, sounds is very open and detailed, it has very good reviews and its easy to understand why, great vid and review by the way

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Andreas. If my H160 is anything to go by I am not surprised you love your H190 so much.

@andreasmoller9798

3 жыл бұрын

A British Audiophile thanks, what speakers do you like with hegel, right now i use b&w 683 s2 floorstanders, i know that the hegel deserve more, but i think they match pretty well together, i am going to upgrade in the future but i don’t know what speakers will go best with the hegel h190 in the $5000 range, i am intrested in B&w 702 s2 Dynaudio evoke 50 Focal aria 948, I heard that dynaudio offen is a great match with hegel amps,

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Andreas, as always it comes down to personal taste. Me personally, I like the Dynaudio’s, they work well with Hegel amps. I have heard the Hegel/Dynaudio combos a number of times and always been impressed. Slightly warmer presentation than the B&W’s or Focal’s.

@andreasmoller9798

3 жыл бұрын

A British Audiophile thanks, the 3 floorstanders i am intrested in to upgrade to is either B&w 702 s2 Dynaudio evoke 50 Focal aria 948, I heard the b&w 702 in a store and they sounded very good to me, my 683 s2 is my first hifi speaker for 2 channel listening, and i am very happy with them, but It feels almost time To upgrade to something even higher, and when spending that much on a speaker, it feels important that It will suit you, and sound good in the room you are in, in my experince speakers sounds so different from room to room,

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

You are right. A decent dealer will allow you to return them within a period if they don’t work in your room.

Great video..I have the Hegel H80 and been wondering if going to a used160 made any sense, or if I should ditch the Hegel system and go another route.. With all the positive reviews on Hegel, its hard to tell what combination at that price range can give all the positives and handle the bass in a way that allow for flexibility in speaker selection into ones' audiophile future.

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the feedback Hooman. I recently had the Hegel H90 in my system to demo. Similar sound signature to the H160 as you would expect, clean sound with good pace and detail. The H160 is more powerful and this shows itself in a bigger, more dynamic sound and better control in the bass frequencies. I guess it all comes down to speaker matching and what you want to achieve by upgrading. Good luck and thanks again for commenting.

Hi Tarun, great review. I too have a similar setup in terms of audio lab. Currently my setup is the ATC SCM19, audiolab M-Dac powered by the Roksan Caspian M2 Power Amplifier. Looking to simplify and upgrade my setup and love the Airplay streaming mode in the Hegel. Interested to hear your views.

Hello Tarun. After months doing my research and deciding for an amplifier, I finally decided for the Hagel H95. The nature of its sound is just as you describe it here. I am really enjoying it. But one thing I feel is that the sound is “there” in front of me, and because of that it has to be played loud. Above 50 is where the fun begins, that’s when I just can’t stop listening to music. It impressed me how clean it is at high volumes. But at low volumes it’s like if I have to reach for the music. Because of that, at low-mid volumes, with music like that of Vangelis, Mike Oldfield, Tangerine Dream or Harold Budd, I rather listen my very entry level Marantz PM 5005, it is more, how to say... atmospheric?...The sound floats and reaches my ears. And to be honest, I was quite pleased to realize how good this PM 5005 is once compared with the Hegel. Of course, it is not as refined as the Hegel, it’s another league, but man... for the price point, for me, it’s an excellent amplifier. For music like jazz, blues or rock the Hegel is much better: Van Morrison, B B King, Stevie Nicks, Grace Mahya, you name it. I was quite impressed how the Hegel mastered the bass in Grace Mahya’s “Last Live at DUG”; Toto’s “Rockmaker” blew me away, the bass was very fast and very clear, it was like a new song for me. Oh! and by the way, this review of yours and the Soundstage’s H95 review helped me decide for the Hegel, and I am quite happy with it. Thanks!

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing your experiences my friend. I have found that, as good as the Hegel amps are, a characteristics of them is that they are not as dynamic as some other amps at low listening levels. They are super clean and dynamic at mid and high levels as you described. Naim amps would be much more dynamic at lower levels but won’t play as loud if you are comparing amps at the same price point. Thank you for watching and your kind words of support 😊👍

@gergelykiss1142

Жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 that is an interesting state. I have demo the Hegel h390 and Supernait 3 and the Supernait just was better in every way. Dynamics, details, timings and what was very strange naim rated 80watts the Hegel 250watts but the Naim just felt same as the Hegel.

I just subscribed to your channel today and this is the second video I have watched. I have to say I am very impressed with both your knowledge of audio equipment and with how well you can explain things without loosing people in technical jargon. I am curious about amplifier damping. How much is enough and can you have too much damping? I have had the impression that anything over 100 is adequate damping and more doesn't hurt but gives diminishing returns. From this video now I am questioning the "too much damping" question. Does it make an audible difference to the sound once you get above 100? Your listening test seems to imply that too much damping might be an issue at low listening levels with highly damped speakers. This sort of reminds me of amplifier warmth where a little bit of harmonic distortion can enhance the listening experience (Ie tube amps). Not the same thing of course but it has me thinking that accurate signal reproduction may not be everything in an amplifier. Maybe an amp can be too dry?? Food for thought (and futher research), Thanks for the video!

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Jim, it is not an exact science but you are probably right, 100 might be enough. A few hundred, definitely enough. This obsession with higher being better comes from a lack of understanding. The problem is not so much the higher damping factor but what is required to get it. Normally, more negative feedback which results in a dry and lifeless sound. The Hegel claims to get around this issue by deployment of their proprietary Soundengine technology. Regardless, it certainly has a dry and clinical sound which is a characteristic of amplifiers with a high damping factor. Thank you for watching 😉

Great informative review. Can I ask whether you noticed any transformer hum from your H160? I am thinking of picking up the H190 but have read some reports about Hegel amps suffering from hum through the transformer(s). Thanks.

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Rob. There is no hum at all from my H160... 😉

@robmoores6078

3 жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 thank you for replying.

Nice! I always get nervous seeing so very few analog inputs. Do you feel limited? If you had more, would you use them?

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

I am pretty much a digital these days so I don’t need many analogue inputs 😉

Great video, thank you. Here the 160 is discontinued and the 190 is near $6,000AUD - a fairly high jump from the 160, as you say

@abritishaudiophile7314

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you cobar53 😊👍

Hi Tarun, i have been spending some time with the H120 and H90 on my kef's ls50's, so far i have found the H90 to be smoother and warmer sounding making female voices more easy to listen too, there's definitely more bass output on the H120 but at a cost to higher frequency with added silibance on certain voices. Im actually a little disappointed with the more expensive H120 in this regard. I did read some reports saying that the H90/95 and the H190 are meant to be more warmer sounding than the h120, Have you experienced this?

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Harry, I haven’t heard the H120 properly as yet. If I get one home, I will let you know. The H90 and my H160 I have listened to and neither are warm, fairly neutral if not just on the cool/analytical side. If you want a bit more warmth have you tried the Arcam SA30? Normally a good match with the LS50s. 😉

I had a demo of a hegel h160 and arcam sa30 found the hegel was light in the bass depth smooth In the mids and a tad lively in the high frequency where as the arcam hit hard like a sledgehammer in the bass without being dominant the mids were smooth and the treble was clear and controlled but low volumes the arcam kept delivering the detail in spades where as I found the hegel sounded flat and lifeless, I agree with what you're saying the hegel works well at loud volumes, great video as always

I look for buying the H190 because it seems sound really well. You said the dac is good, but what about dsd? Does it read dsd? I have somes HiRes recordings that i listen thrue my Astell&Kern AKjunior. I have a tubes amp (Antique Sound Lab AQ 1001DT) driving Focal Chorus 826V. My source is a Sony NS999ES (sacd ). Is it a good choice for me?

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hi pinkyfloydyfan1, I think the H190 just does PCM upto 24/192. Check with Hegel to be sure, they are normally good at getting back to you if you email them directly. As for partnering with the Focal Chorus 926vs the Hegel wouldn’t be my own personal choice of amplifier. Hegel are normally partnered with warmer sounding speakers such as Dynaudio and Harbeth. I suspect they may be a bit bright and analytical sounding parented with the Focals. Of course, Focal will suggest Naim amps as they are from the same company but I also personally find this combo a bit bright. I all depends on what you want to achieve by changing your tube amps. If you let me know what you feel you are missing and what is available where you live I am happy to offer my opinion.

You said, "I hope you got something from this review". I got a used Hegel H160, and it's perfect for my set up. Plus I saved, a fair bit of money compared to buying a new H190. I actually managed to buy a pair of used Martin Logans with the rest of the money. Thank you kindly.

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

That is great! A very nice system you have put together there. Thank you for watching and sharing 😊👍

@petethegreekre

3 жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Oh, my pleasure. You are more than welcome.

Hey, thanks for this video. Very interesting. I’ve just bought the monitor audio silver 500 speakers. Now i’m looking for the best amplifier. I hesitate between the hegel h160 and the Roksan K3 with additional dac (HD11). Can you help me please? WhO is the best in your opinion in terms of audio quality ? Thanks for your help :)

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

Both good amps. I am hoping to get the K3 in for review so will hopefully be able to answer that in a couple of months 😊

Great job! Right on point.

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Paulo 😉👍

Great videos. You've tested H90 - how does it compare to H160. I'm looking for a replacement for my all-in-one Onkyo TX-8270 paired with Dynaudio Emit M30

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

The H160 is significantly better, much more grip, power and control. Thank you for watching Mirszy 😊 👍

Hi Tarun - Great video. I have an H160 and love the sound - it’s a keeper for sure. Had a question for you - I generally play it at a volume of 50-60 for CDs/streaming and at as high as 65-75 for vinyl, I think it’s quite high for a 150w amp. Would you know what the volume and dB relationship is on the H160? I know of lesser power amps which play an equally high volume at lower than 9 o’clock position

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Nandan, I remember reading something like it being two steps per dB so it is not a linear volume control (volume 80 being double of 60 and 60 being double of 40 and so on). I listen to my steamer, TV and CD player at similar volumes to yourself. The amp is not really breaking a sweat at the volume levels we listen at.

@nandansavkur7101

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your reply Tarun! This helps.

@jstoli996c4s

4 жыл бұрын

Best thing to do is buy a dB meter so you know for sure how loud you’re listening. You can then reverse engineer how many watts are being used, or use a wattage tool online.

Just keep the excellent reviews coming...I have a question regarding an upgrade I’m considering, I have a pair of monitor audio gold 100 5G standmount.. they are 4 ohm 86 db . I use a naim uniti atom at 40 watts per channel to drive them . At higher volume the atom struggles a bit so I’m looking at an amplifier with more power.. any recommendations? I know the atom is an all in one but I could move to a separate streamer and a more powerful intergrated.

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Gerald. I can see why the Atom may struggle to drive those MA 100s. It is a great one box unit with a very good built in DAC and user interface. If you have the space I would connect a Naim NAP 200 DR to the preouts of the Atom to power the woofers and use the Atom to power the tweeters. You can even have the power amp out of sight if you want to keep the minimal look. You will get a lot more performance for your money than buying an integrated.

@geraldgreene5563

3 жыл бұрын

A British Audiophile thank you!

@geraldgreene5563

3 жыл бұрын

A British Audiophile I wonder would the smaller nap 100 work.. it’s 50 per channel and much cheaper. I guess you expect to pay for the higher performance of the 200 for sure

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

Yup, it will be am improvement over the Atom on it’s own. Of course, the 200 will have much more power and control. If you aren’t planning any other upgrades to speakers or front end in the near future then the 100 will probably be sufficient.

I bought these to pair with my Maggie LRS and they are wonderful... What are your thoughts on using the H160 to power my Abyss 1266 Phi TC headphones? I can buy a custom cable to run banana plug terminated to female XLR. The 1266 are rated at 49 ohm so power should be < 20 watts per channel. Any concerns using the hagel to power headphones as long as I keep the volume relatively low?

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Ace, I am probably the wrong person to ask as I m not much of a headphone listener. I have used the H160 headphone output with my 30 yr old Sennheisers. They didn’t pair well. Could be the headphones could be the Hegel. I know the Sennheisers work well with my Audiolab Q DAC. Sorry I can’t be of more help. Thank you for watching 😉

Really interesting review. I realise I am listening to it years after it was made but it’s interesting never the less. I’m now wondering what other Hegel amps you’ve tested besides the H190, which I’m about to watch. In order to demo any of Hegel’s amps I have just found out I will need to travel interstate.

@abritishaudiophile7314

10 ай бұрын

Thank you. I have reviewed the H95 as well 👍

Hi Tarun, got a question for you. I have the h160 and the USB connection can be a little thin sounding at the mids for my new speakers which has a u shaped sound signature (they were fine with my old speakers which has more mids). Would the denafrips ARES II solve this issue? Basically I’m wondering if the recessed mids could be fixed with a decent DAC? Thanks in advance!

@abritishaudiophile7314

2 жыл бұрын

I would help a little but it is the speakers that will have a much greater influence 😊

Great review. Very fluent

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Em B 😊👍

Very fair and square review. Keep up the fantastic work!

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Dan. Much appreciated 😊👍

Dear Tarun, I'm interested to get your views on including the Hegel 190 in my set-up. I have Sonus Faber floorstanding speakers (Domus Grand Piano), a Michel Gyro with Technoarm and Hana cartridge. I'm purchasing a Trichord Dino Mkk3 phono amp (with scope for upgrades later to the NC power supply). I don't have any other source components though access to Airplay etc is appealing, What's your take on Hegel for this system? Pros/cons? Any others I might consider at this price range. Many thanks, Richard

Like the apparent honesty of the review. 👍 What are the benefits of the salt lamp bathing the stack in a warm glow😂 Love the mood in your room at night - must be a nice listening environment

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Dunk, I find that getting the mood lighting right does have a positive impact on how the listening experience. If you’re getting a salt lamp however, make sure you place a substantial mat underneath it, if it’s placed on top of your equipment. As it can discharge residue that can damage equipment over time. Wonderful warm glow though 😎

Great review. Would this be improvement over my naim superuniti.?

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

I haven’t done an AB but it is debatable 😉

Your videos are superb. Really enjoy watching them. How would you compare this or the 190 to a Naim Supernait 3?. I appreciate you may not have listened to the SN3.

@abritishaudiophile7314

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Kris. Much appreciated. I would have to get the Supernait 3 in to compare. I hope to do that sometime 👍😊👍

@kris308100

2 жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 I'm about to buy one tomorrow. I'm upgrading from my Naim 5si. I'm very much into naim gear but would really like your reviews on it if ever you get the chance to test.

I’ve just sold my moon 240i amp. Excellent amp but I was starting to find it a bit too laidback and soft sounding. I was looking at the Hegel h120 as an alternative but now listening to this review I’m not so sure. My listening is small (12x10ft) and I’m currently using Dali menuet speakers which provide just the right amount of bass in such a small room. I’m now wondering if the Hegel will over damp them and they’ll sound lean I also can’t play too loudly. Do you think the h120 is suitable? And if not are there any Dac equipped integrateds that would work better with my room size/speakers?

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Adam, I haven’t heard that combination. Hegel amps are a little on the dry and analytical side. They are also very fast, revealing with a tight bass and an excellent DAC built in. I attributed the slightly lean and tight bass to the high damping factor. If you don’t like these characteristics maybe try something like the Naim Unity Atom.

@andreasmoller9798

3 жыл бұрын

The new 90 range is not to laidback to my ears

If i remember correctly, a similar solution for eliminating distorsion and noise, was implemented by Philips in a range of active loudspeakers, about 40 years ago

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching and sharing Michael 😊

Great review. Any experience with the Audiolab 8300a? Granted, the Hegel is a great all in one solution, I'm wondering if it would be a clear choice over the Audiolab 8300a if upgrading the Audiolab's dac, adding a streamer (and possibly a power amp if needed). The investment cost might be in the same ballpark or less depending on the components, however, it would allow some flexibility to upgrade incrementally. I realize this is quite the what if scenario. I've heard the Audiolab 6000a and it has great reviews. It's easier to get a demo of the 6000a and Hegel locally for me but not for the 8300a.

@abritishaudiophile7314

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Fizz. I have heard the 8300a a few times. It is a worthy competitor to the Hegel H95 as a straight amplifier. I couldn’t say much more without doing an AB comparison 😊👍

@fizal5112

2 жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thank you so much for your feedback!

About to trade in my Paradigms for a pair of Ohm 3000. Seems like this might be an excellent combination with these speakers. Thanks for your review.

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for commenting Stephen. Heard Ohm speakers many years ago and liked the sound. I think you are right, the Hegel should nicely balance the warmth in the Ohm speakers. Good luck!

Nice review, and obviously u have quite the knowledge, just that those surface mounts are discrete as well, in a way better then through holes as is essentially shorter signal path

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you MrDannydjmix2. I was a bit rusty when I did that one 😉👍

@MrDannydjmix2

4 жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 still not as rusty as other reviewers in my opinion:)

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you Danny 😉👍

Hi Tarun nice review, thinking of buying Hegel myself can’t decide between 190 and 390 or even the older 360, my question is as you have exposure amps did you ever consider evaluating the 3010sd which is one of the front runners in the 2k range. Just wondered how it would compare to Hegel as you obviously know the exposure sound. Has a very good review by deco audio.

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

Both excellent brands. The Hegel will give you a faster, leaner presentation where as the Exposure will be warmer and richer. Hoping that I will get products from both brands in for review soon. Thank you for watching 😊

@jasonj6318

3 жыл бұрын

Can’t wait for the reviews, not sure which would be best with harbeth

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

@@jasonj6318 thank you Jason. Harbeth and Hegel go very well together. In fact, Harbeth use Hegel regularly at shows to demo their speakers. Exposure is generally a very good match with ATC. Just make sure you get something with a decent amount of power. 😊👍

Going back 50 years I worked in a retail outlet that sold electrical goods and stereo amplifiers that were rated at about 6 Watts/channel, and in relative terms they were quite expensive. A customer returned an amplifier that had faulty diodes in the power supply, I replaced the diodes with 1 A 50 V types and it worked as it should. A couple of weeks later the customer came back to the shop and was overjoyed at the improvement of the sound quality. At the time I didn't know why, but having since built several amplifiers I do have some understanding of how the PSU affects the sound of the amplifier. Do you have any thoughts on this and is an explanatory video something you're prepared to do?

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Steve, I’m no expert when it comes to the design of power supplies. I could do a basic video for things to look out for such as the VA rating of the power transformer, the quality and amount of filtering capacitors, how well regulated the power supplies are, the maximum current output capability, how the power output increases as the impedance of the load decreases but that would be about as far as money understanding will allow me to go. Any tips, please share 👍

@stevesmyth4982

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Tarun. The Quad 303 amplifier has a regulated PSU (67 V single rail), it uses a 30 A NPN device that sits in between the -VE side of the bridge rectifier and the 0 V rail. The 303 was designed to drive the Quad ESL 57 loudspeaker and is unconditionally stable into any load, partly because both voltage and current are limited. The ESL 57 is a difficult load and has a transformer that steps up the audio output voltage from the 303 and connects to what is essentially a capacitive load that drops to around 2 Ohms at higher frequencies (you can imagine how this causes a huge phase difference between V & I). The ESL 57 has been known to cause less capable amplifiers to release the magic smoke that's found in most components. Some audiophiles say that a regulated PSU can cause transient peaks to be cramped but the ESL 57 is rather sensitive and fragile and doesn't show much sign of stress until it's too late when it sparks and the damage is done. Power supply components and heatsinks are the expensive parts of an amplifier, a good rule of thumb is to gauge the weight of an amplifier for a given output power, the heavier the better. In my experience of building amplifiers, having plenty of power in reserve will greatly improve the sound quality of an amplifier. My most recent build is a pair of Pass F5 Turbo V3s (the design is available online). The amplifier is a push pull class A design that is very simple but the transistors are quite rare and expensive, it gives 70 Watts each channel output power and the quiescent current can be set as desired (the higher the better). Mine are set at 6 A per amplifier per rail, the rails being +/- 27 V and the dissipation is around 300 Watts per amplifier which requires either a huge heatsink or something smaller with forced air cooling. The PSU has two 750 VA transformers, two discrete bridge rectifiers that use 80 A diodes and a CRC filter that has two 220,000 uF capacitors, two 0.1 Ohm resistors then 48 10,000 uF capacitors (0.92 F total). A choke input PSU filter is under consideration but that requires fast diode rectifiers. The wiring is 4 mm, silicone insulated (it's nice & flexible) and the only fuse is on the primary of the transformers because in effect fuses are low value resistors that will limit transients. Loudspeakers are Quad ESL 57s, four each side wired in series parallel and hung on chains that are attached to a joist in the ceiling. The relatively low voltage rails on the F5s ensure that the Quads are never overdriven. The Quads don't give much bass below about 80 Hz, anything below that is taken care of by a stereo transmission line that's 0.3 dB down @ 10 Hz. DSP takes care of the crossover which currently uses IIR type filters band pass 20 - 80 Hz and high pass 80 Hz and up, when I can get my head around the math I'll change to FIR filters. The Pass F5 amplifiers are fairly low gain and feature an unusual feedback loop and have no Zobel network at the output. A class A headphone amplifier is required to drive the F5s to a decent level. All of this worked very well, until for reasons unknown, one of the F5s went into oscillation (the F5s have a bandwidth of more than 100 KHz, the oscillation was inaudible) and produced clouds of acrid smoke from a charred glass fibre PCB. I have since replaced the F5 and am trying to pluck up the courage to set it all up again. That's what happens when fuses aren't installed on the secondary side!

Please could you give your opinion on the best DAC under £1000 ....I’m leaning towards the audio lab...I’m using the audio lab 6000 transport.. Thank you for time. Thank you for your channel...it’s wonderful

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hi aj, I generally believe that there is no such thing as the best product as everything has its sonic characteristics. What you like depends on your taste and how it works with the rest of your system. Digital electronics is still a maturing technology, the game moves on every 5 years or so. This is not the case with amps and speakers because that is a mature technology where progress happens very slowly. Audiolab set the benchmark for what an affordable DAC could do with the £600 M-DAC back when it was launched in 2011. It was great implementation of a DAC based around the ESS Sabre chip. In 2017, I believe Chord moved the needle again with the Mojo. At £400, it brought Rob Watts filtering technology to the masses. I use this DAC in my system. It is a pain to live with if you need to switch inputs but significantly better than my Audiolab DAC. I would check out the Mojo and if you need extra functionality I would then look at the Chord Qutest at £1,200. Check out my video on why I think the Chord Mojo is probably the most significant hifi product in the last 10 years. kzread.info/dash/bejne/X6Jszbmyns2WedI.html Thank you for the question. I think you have just given me an idea for a new series of videos. 😉👍

I've watched a few of your videos.. Great detail and professionally done 👍 What are your thoughts on the Naim Uniti Atom - or is that blasphemy!!

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Wes, sorry for the late response. I have heard the Naim Uniti Atom in a number of settings but not in my own home. It is remarkable what Naim have done with this one box solution. I think in small to medium rooms it is hard to beat for the money if you want a one box solution. Definitely not blasphemy!

@yantrussart6584

4 жыл бұрын

I recently heard the Atom vs the Hegel h190 and have two observations to share : first, the Naim an Hegel sound are pretty different, the Naim being warmer and more lively while the Hegel have this very detailed and sparkling treble as well as an impressive grip on bass, but ultimately I found it sounding a bit clinical and not as coherent as the Naim. Second observation, at 40w par channel, the Atom will be a bit limited in regards to what speakers it can drive to a satisfactory level, so much so that I decided to go with the SX3 instead, which while keeping the same sound signature as the Atom, will give you more of everything and, at a price tag comparable to the Hegel's offers a more engaging and fun sound, at least to my ears.

The fixed level output can also be used for people (like me) who use cd recorders and/or cassette decks.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you 😊

Hi Tarun, thanks for the review. I have a quick question, why do some of the high end power amp don't have very high damping factor? For example McIntosh MC255 Amp cost $10K USD only has damping factor of 140.. Why??

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Sheng Chen, valve amplifiers traditionally have higher output impedance and hence a low damping factor. There is still some debate as to which point an increase in damping factor becomes meaningless.

@shengchen728

4 жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thanks Tarun, I understand valve power tend to have higher output impedance, but McIntosh MC255 is a class D amplifier, people would expect to have high damping factors like the Hegel (i.e. 2000-4000) for the price that McIntosh charges... wouldn't you agree?

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Sheng Chen, I agree if it is class D it there is no reason for having such a high output impedance. Class D topology lends itself to a high damping factor.

@JimBob_1975

4 жыл бұрын

As soon as speaker cable is introduced damping factors in the order of 100s are rendered a bit meaningless

I currently run my Magnepan LRS that require power with the Parasound HCA 1500A designed by John Curl. The Parasound does 315w with 4 Ohms with a current of 60a. Since the Magnepans require power do you know if the Hegel 160 will work considering it has less watts/current than the Parasound?

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

You would need to AB both to know 😊

Thanks for review Tarun. Very detailed, informative and interesting. The Hegel is probably not so good for Soul, and Funk then. Which is the main type of music I listen to. But listen to Classic, Prog Rock as well. A tad out of my budget target too. Look forward to your upcoming reviews.

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Mike. I think you could use it to listen to soul and funk it really depends on getting the synergy right with speakers. However, it is a little light and tight in the bass and I think you are right most soul and funk enthusiasts will favour a little more “oomph” in the bass.

@oysteinsoreide4323

4 жыл бұрын

Hegel is good for all kinds of music if you like the character of the sound it have.

@paulomontero12

3 жыл бұрын

You know there's other music out besides soul music. I listen to Elvis On my h160 and sounds fab! Nobody has soul like the king!

Any experience with Hegel pairing with Klipsch, specifically the RF7? They have high sensitivity (100dB) but can be very power hungry at high volumes and lots of bass with dual 10” woofers per tower 🔊

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

I haven’t tried this combo but Hegel amplifiers typically have a clean, analytical and dry sound with no obvious colouration. The RF7 is a very dynamic speaker with a slightly forward and bright presentation. As long as you like a combination of these characteristics, I would try to find a dealer who stocks both to demo. Sorry, I could be of more help.

@jstoli996c4s

4 жыл бұрын

@A British Audiophile thank you for the feedback. Hegel might not be to my liking then, but they are gorgeous amps and serious performers. I guess I like warm, rich sound but still has lots of slam and punch. I currently have an Arcam amp which fits that description nicely; seeing what other brands also fit in that mold. Thanks again!

wonderful thank you

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you David 😊👍

Well made good sounding amp.

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching and commenting.

@parisstromatias637

4 жыл бұрын

And Creek audio equipment are wonderful

I’m sure it sounds good but the display looks like it’s from the early 1980s. Also, how did the headphone jack perform?

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Ted, yeh... it is a bit retro, that display. I did listen to the Hegel with my Sennheiser and Kef headphones and is performed well enough to my ears. I must say that I am not much of a headphone listener so I would be reluctant to offer advice in this area. I am sure there are others out there like John Darko who are more experienced with headphones and therefore better placed to comment about headphone use. Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment on the video.

The real gem is the H90! Heard it driving Magnepan LRS speakers producing stunning sound ! A very reasonable price point too!

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Nigel, I have tried the H90 at home as well, driving my Proac Response 1SC’s, and agree with you that it is a lot of amp/dac for the money. Similar sound to the H160 as you would expect, just a bit less authority and drive. Thank you for commenting.

@nigelgauntlett582

4 жыл бұрын

Tarun A British Audiophile your welcome! An added note the Hegel Rost is being discontinued and can be had at a reasonable price also!

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Nigel.

@2010aloy

4 жыл бұрын

You've got yourself another subscriber Tarun. I'm lucky that I own the H90 paired with KEF R300s and so was curious to know how the H160 compares. I recently purchased my 3rd amp (Marantz PM8005 is my 1st amp), a Primare i35 paired with Dynaudio S40s so I don't see myself going up the Hegel lineup of amps for now but the tube like warmth of the Hegel amp is what i like the most about it.

I just watched this for the 3rd time. If I get you right, due to the super high damping factor; This amp might be best suited to a speaker like a Totem Hawk or Forest-less so a Focal. Am I right?

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hiya, I haven’t tried them with these speakers but I would focus on getting the tonal balance right. I am not convinced that a super high damping factor is of great benefit once it gets above a few hundred. Thank you for watching 😉

@borlach321

4 жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 I agree. I tried a creek destiny with a pair of Totem Hawks for a while and it worked fine. Creek is not even considered very high end. More mid-fi really. I listened to 2 Hegel Amps and was not overly impressed. I wonder if some of these people on KZread are secretly getting paid to rave about the brand.

In the beginning you stated That the h160 can compete with amps that are in the 10000- 20000 pound bracket?

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

It can’t Paulo. Others have claimed that it can. It is just a very good amp for it’s price.

This unit has comparitively few rca phono inputs. Why is this when many users may need up to 6 or more (as I do )?

Tarun, I have a couple of questions. 1, which music genre you think the Hegel suits the best? 2, Just a thought on which speakers you think might natch them for these genres (even if you don't have experience.. just a thought) 3, You mentioned there are much better amps in higher price categories. Which would you mention in cat up to 5k and which up to 10k? And why? (Maybe worth to make a separate video regarding this topic?) And you make excellent reviews.

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Peter, it is all a matter of taste but I will give you my subjective thoughts to your questions. 1. The Hegel is very fast and clean so shows its strengths with music with a lot of fast transients like rock and large scale classical. 2. It will work with a lot of different speakers as it has no obvious colouration . I have tried it with ATC SCM 19s, Proac 1SCs and the Buchardt S400s, Celestion 300s, PSB Imagine Minis. It drove them all well and does a pretty good job of getting out of the way and letting the characteristics of the music and speaker shine through. My favourites were with the ATCs and Proacs as they are both fast enough to make the most of the Hegel strengths. 3. Where do I start. Pretty much any pre/power combo worth its salt at £5k will be better. My favourites are Exposure and Naim pre/powers at this price point. If you are looking at integrated amps, I would consider Sugden or Luxman at £5k. Both will have much more personality than the Hegel. More coloured? Yes, but also more engaging if they suit your taste.

@peterjarunek7949

4 жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thanks Tarun, I appreciate your response. Keep up these great reviews!

Did that mains lead come with the Hegel. Do you have a view on means leads.

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

It is a diy job. I did a video on it... kzread.info/dash/bejne/mZqKu8h8ZtfTk8Y.html

Great vid, cheers

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you 😊👍

@tigertiger1699

3 жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 I’m really enjoying how you go into detail with the tech & basics of hifi.., to improve my setup I need to educate myself and understand the contexts involved..🙏👍

@tigertiger1699

3 жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Your vid on speakers and decibel levels.. very very helpful, I will continue to re watch it for months😂👍

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

@@tigertiger1699 thank you Tiger. I am striving to get a balance between informing without overloading with information. Still learning and improving my delivery. This was one of my early videos 😉👍

@tigertiger1699

3 жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Mate that’s funny.. to us they’re new.😂 I’m in NZ🇳🇿 so unfortunately not great hifi dealers/ ability to demo & discuss..., I find your approach really helpful, I’ve 2016 contour 30 (4ohm)and Yamaha AS3000 150amp 4ohms?,and I never know who to believe and the context of reviews.., which is important on limited hifi budget.., I’ve tried a moon 250 amp 4 ohm what a difference 👍so I can see an amp power upgrade , but without loss of fidelity.., so need to get the purchase current and balance against $ for DAC, cables improvement etc etc😂 So you contexts n comments add to my ability to chose🙏👍 Stay safe up there

I recently bought a Simaudio Moon 340ix which as far as I can tell would be a fair competitor for the Hegel H160. The 340ix has a DAC which also handles DSD files and I also purchased the phono pre-amplifier which can be configured for MC and MM cartridges. When I was auditioning this unit I was comparing it to the Bryston B135 Cubed integrated amplifier. My impression when comparing these two devices was that the Moon 340ix has more damping of the woofer and also that in the upper ranges the Moon had nicer sweeter sound which I have a hard time describing. Please if anyone who has heard both the Hegel H160 and the Simaudio Moon 340ix I would love it if you would say what your impressions of the differences between these two amplifiers.

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Robert, I have heard the Simaudio stuff at a dealer many years ago and I was impressed. I would love to have the Moon amps here to review. Hopefully, one day. However, I have generally found Bryston stuff to be on the bright side but with good power and control. Of course, these are just very general impressions so I can’t really say much more until I get one in my system to audition. Thank you for watching and commenting on the video.

@rwlewko

4 жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 I think my experience of comparing the Bryston and the Moon 340i was probably colored by the speakers we were using, which was the Bryston Middle T. The Middle T isn't that bright which may match the bright character of the Bryston well. By the time I was listening to my speakers I had chosen the Moon so as a result I never had a chance to listen to the Bryston through my speakers. The Moon transformed the experience of listening to my B&W CM5 S2 speakers. It was like I had never heard them before. Some amps have a synergy with some speakers and I found that with the Moon and the CM5's. When I started to upgrade my system my intent was to start with speakers and my budget was 3000-3500CAD for each of a amp, dac, speakers and turntable/cartridge. By buying this integrated with the optional DAC and phono by spending 5500 I got 2 of those pieces while no longer looking for a phone stage. BTW, I don't think I would be able to get that deal now - I think the Moon has gone up in price. Cheers.

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Sound like you have got a great combo Robert!

What's the frequency response? If it's flat to 100 KHz, it will sound good to 20 KHz. What's the THD and phase shift over 20 to 20 KHz?

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Jeff, I don’t do measurements myself. If manufacturers are happy to provide measurements, I may use them to explain a characteristic if it is relevant to the design philosophy or a particular sonic characteristic. Sorry I can’t help further but you should contact the manufacturer. Thank you for watching 😉

On my opinion it's great design! I have one at home. The curved front plate is genius! Why didn't the Italians think of it?

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

I is definitely one of the best at it’s price point. Thank you for watching 😉

I have owned my h190 for 4 months now, and i have time to go throw many different kinds of music, there has been times where i don’t have been 100% satisfied, but It comes down to the recording in my experince, a bad recording, while not sound so good, but if you play a good recording It will show on the hegel, and its sounds truely amazing, the amplifier is very transparent, its very good with vocals, but the best part about It is the controlled bass, no matter the volume the bass is very controlled and defined, the weak link for me is my speakers b&w 683 s2, the hegel deserve more, and It will be intresting to try better speakers in the future to see the results, i can’t afford new speakers at the moment, but its not like i am not happy, i enjoy the system more now than i ever have before, i don’t see many reviews on the h190 and hegel amplifiers in general, so its nice to see them getting some love👍

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Andreas, thank you for watching and sharing your experiences. You are right, better speakers will dramatically improve the sound 😉

@andreasmoller9798

3 жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 by the way i have heard the song you played in the beginning of the video, and good song in my opinion

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Andreas 👍@@andreasmoller9798

Any thoughts on how this would pair with Audio Note AN-E speakers?

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

Sorry Allen, I haven’t tried them. Maybe someone reading this may have and can comment 😊

Hello Tarun, You are probably aware that Hegel has released a new H95. I've studied it as much as I am capable of understanding and I would be extremely interested to learn your take on this new unit.

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Charles, it seems to be just a update to the H90. Now with the DAC from the H120 & H190, tweaks to the amplification and better networking capability. Will need to investigate further. May be a good time to get a deal on the outgoing H90 for those who are interested.

Hi Tarun, sorry to be a pain in the ars but you no how i told you i have a Emotiva Flex amp is it normal when you turn the volume knob for it to make a static sound but soon as you stop turning it it stops making noise? i have had a valve amp that always did that as well? i only ever had a couple of power amps so i dont no? its still under warranty if it should not make this sound i could most likely get it fixed or replaced i thought you would no so i will wait to hear from you thanks.

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Jason, a new amplifier shouldn’t really be picking up static when you turn the volume dial. If it is under warranty I would get it sorted out as it could be any one of a number of issues. I could understand it if it was an old amplifier with a potentiometer volume control. As the contacts ware they can start to pick up static.

@jasoncarlson4285

4 жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Hi Tarun, I just plugged the Emotiva amp into my Onkyo cd player and there is no volume dial noise there at all? but when its plugged through my pc and D/A converter the noise is back its not a huge amount of noise but it is annoying all the same, thank you for getting back to me on this, much respect! its hard to decide what to do? because i have got those speakers on there way, and the only other amp i have is a amp receiver its a NAD AV surround T572 and i'm not even shore it works anyway because i bought it second hand of a guy, i tried playing headphones through it , it was ok then a week later tried again and it wouldn't pick up any sound at all? so i haven't had a chance to see if the speaker part of things work yet i hope they do fingers crossed! sorry about the huge reply, O have you had a chance to check out that !!! Patricia Barber cd Companion!!! its such a good Listen you should like it, ok by for now.

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the update. I have checked out Patricia Barber. She has a great voice and some really well recorded tracks. Thank you for sharing 😉

@jasoncarlson4285

4 жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Np she has got a good voice totally.

Have you heard the hegel h120 with kef ls50? I keep reading that its the perfect match, im currently using an Audiolab 6000A with the ls50's and its sounds surprisingly good, theres a lot of talk about the ls50's needed more power and it has got me curious about adding more power? But as it already sounds pretty good im wondering if its worth spending an extra 1.5 grand + on a different amp just to get a slight increase in sound quality?

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Harry, I have heard the older H90 and H160 with the LS50s. Both sounded good. I suspect the H120 will give you a noticeable improvement in sound over the Audiolab 6000A. It is exactly the kind of upgrade you should be considering. Thank you for watching 😊

@hclandscapes

3 жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 would the h90 have enough power for the kef ls50's? I know some people recommend the h120 but i can buy the h90 for £1050 brand new right now. The h120 is over a grand more than this and im wondering if the extra expenses would be worth it?

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

It will drive them no problem Harry. The H120 will just play louder and have more grip at lower frequencies.

@hclandscapes

3 жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 do you think the h120 is worth a £1000 over the older h90? I may add a subwoofer at some point so extra bass on the h21 probably won't be necessary?

@hclandscapes

3 жыл бұрын

Just went ahead and bought the Hegel h120, got a discount of £250 ! Really looking forward to setting it up when it arrives next week. Great review by the way and thanks for the advice 👍

I’m using the H160 with Monitor Audio PL100 II speakers and it sounds amazing. Which coax cable would you suggest (from Node 2i)? Using a 30-40€ Moster cable now. Thanks and keep up the good work 👍🏻

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

If you are happy with the Monster cable, I would stick with it 😊👍

I'd like to see the circuit diagram of the output stage, it looks like a twin push-pull for each channel (8 transistors total) and I'd also like to see the driving transistor configuration (very important). I don't care too much about the pre-amps because it's easy to get pre-amp distortion down to almost immeasurable levels. I built my own Amp with 16 transistor output stage, I couldn't believe the quality. I don't like the idea of microprocessors correcting imbalances, they have to measure the deviation and then correct the deviation and I believe that by the time it is detected ~2-20ms it might already have changed.

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing Tim

Thanks Tarun enjoying your reviews. I live in Sri Lanka so hard to test and import tax is crazy, so planning on Buchardt eventually and maybe iotavx stack. Any other amps that ship easily that you know of? Anyway cheers for the reviews

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Good to hear from you and thank you for watching. Can you get hold of the Schitt gear in Sri Lanka?

@kjbiz

4 жыл бұрын

A British Audiophile Hi Tarun cheers for the reply. Some reviewers haven’t replied at all. I can get Q Acoustic speakers imported through a Yamaha distributor here. For 3030i it will cost me GBP335 in your language. They might be the first stage speakers or I just wait and get Buchardt S300 or S400 as they pay for shipping and tax. I have asked Schmitt and they will ship to Sri Lanka but may pay some tax but still worth it. I have an AV system from a few years ago that I will try to bring in from Australia from my home. I have Paradigm Monitor 7 speakers and a Cambridge sub. I have aYamaha receiver. This will stay in lounge for AV and kids gaming on PS4. So apart from an old Rotel RA-11 and a base level Project turntable as well as Oppo CD player, I am starting again to have the two channel. The idea is to have AV system as is. Build the two channel up again and have some active speakers for desktop that can be used in kitchen dining area if required. I have quite a bit of vinyl to bring over but also getting into streaming. Any ideas and help would be great. Unfortunately for me I cant test, but my listening taste is eclectic. Indie, jazz, singer/songwriter, soul, modern classical (ECM) and electronic so cover everything. I prefer a warmer sound rather than the clinical sound, if that helps. Thanks again for any help. Cheers Kevin

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Kevin, I am happy to give you a steer. You need to get this right because you have limited opportunities to listen in Sri Lanka and you are paying a premium due to import taxes. 1. Do you have access to any new or used gear in Sri Lanka where you don’t have to pay import taxes. 2. What have you heard in the past that you like? This will give me an idea about you taste and expectation levels. 3. What is the size of your room? Where will the speakers be positioned? Is your room carpeted and does it have a lot of soft furnishings or are there a lot of reflective surfaces? 4. Finally, what are you looking to spend in U.K. £ EXCLUDING import taxes?

@kjbiz

4 жыл бұрын

A British Audiophile Thanks Tarun. Can get Yamaha gear but would still pay a premium because it is imported. Yamaha doesn’t inspire me that much. Anything that gets imported takes a hit of anything between 15% and 30%. i have checked out some used gear and it is only vintage and not looked after so too risky. I have owned Luxman and NAD which i liked. My ideal set up by reviews was something like Hegal but maybe too much so the IOTA VX had appeal. Perhaps using the Denafrips Aires 2 DAC, Rega 3 Turntable eventually, Cambridge Streamer, also didn’t mind the look of the Ragnarok. Other reviews that have spiked interest are the Klipsch speakers, Triangle Speakers and PSB. The room is about 6 metres x 67 metres. Floor is concrete and not a lot of soft furnishings so a bit of reflective surfaces. Probably position speakers looking towards window and balcony or rear of speakers would push out to wall - concrete walls. Price range I am looking at is around GBP2000 - GBP3000 and would stagger the build up based on cashflow. Might go up another BGP500 if required. Hoping this would see me through for 5 - 10 years. Thanks again would really appreciate the help.

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Kevin, I assume you meant your room was 6 x 7 metres. I would steer clear of the Klipsch and Triangle speakers if you want a bit of warmth to the sound. Let’s start with the speakers. I think you need quite a large speaker in your room unless you just want an up close and intimate listening experience. If you were in the U.K. I would suggest something like the Wharfedale Linton for a bit of warmth or the new Wharfedale Evo 4.3 is you want something with a more neutral presentation. I would personally partner these with something like an Audiolab 8300A. Both brands a part of the same group, IAG and I think they offer a lot for the money compared with many of their competitors. You won’t go wrong with PSB speakers but I believe their Imagine series has been discontinued and we are waiting for the the replacement to come out. If you can wait for the replacement of the PSB Imagine X2T to come out then this may be worth waiting for. The natural partner to this would be the Nad C368 as both are part of the Lenbrook Group. The C368 comes with a respectable DAC and you could also add the BluOS module to take care off streaming duties. I would go on to their respective websites and ping them an email to see if they can offer any help who to import from. If they are not available or too difficult/costly to import and you have to stick to the manufacturer direct model. I can’t think of too many brands with worldwide shipping. I would go for the Iota SA3/PA3 combo with the Buchardt S300 (I suspect it will be a better match than the S400s). Then look to add a subwoofer from someone like BKelec who have been a OEM subwoofer manufacturer for many brands in the past including REL. The also sell by the manufacturer direct model and may ship to Sri Lanka. Link below... www.bkelec.com/HiFi/Sub_Woofers/XXLS400.htm I hope this helps and good luck 😉👍

I like your series on Hi-Fi it’s helped me to understand Hi-Fi better & I agree moving towards active speakers is the way forward to me. I’m looking at changing from my Naim separates system to cut down the box count & keep the mrs happy. If I need to service my 6 box top of the classic range system I’m looking at £’s a thousand plus. Seriously considering a dcs Bartok & elac navis set up instead. I’ve also started as you’ve said listening to headphones 🎧 more now & the detail I get from a meridian prime headphone amp & grado ps 500 is amazing. Love to see you review more systems & makes like darko. On your music video I thought maybe Anita bakers rapture album should have been included especially it’s now that its on mqa tidal masters. Could I also recommend that you have a listen to rod stewarts new album recorded with the royal philharmonic at abbey road also mqa on tidal masters. Keep your informative & excellent videos coming 👍

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Madds66, I love that Anita Baker album and did have it on tape once upon a time. Don’t know why I never replaced it on CD. I will check out Rod on Tidal tonight. Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences. I appreciate your support. Have you checked out ATC active speakers. My cousin has the ATC SCM19A and they are great! The SCM40A is the best value in the range according to Ben Lilly, ATC Technical Sales Manager. Different price point from the Elac but you could go for a less expensive DAC. Chord Hugo TT perhaps. I just thought it would yield a better overall sound than the Bartok/Navis combo, I hope you don’t mind.

@madds6678

4 жыл бұрын

Tarun A British Audiophile Tarun A British Audiophile Hi Tarun haven’t really looked at ATC but will give them a look, I haven’t heard the elacs yet but was interested after darko & Steve guttenberg gave good reviews I also like the look of them ( I know sound is everything but they do also have to please the mrs ). By the way thanks for introducing me to Carey bell loved that track I really thought it was BB king initially, another album I came across on tidal masters is 80’s symphonica which has a real eclectic mix of 80’s classics reworked surprisingly well & the pretenders 2000 mile is beautiful better than the original in my humble opinion. I really am at a crossroads do I sell my nds 552 300 ovator combo & go active it’s a big decision. I also have the problem of terrible room acoustics with 3 metre of bifold glass & wooden floors so I am also looking at a NAD pre amp with Dirac incl which would help solve my room acoustics hopefully. Regarding the chord have had a demo & almost bought a Hugo tt till I realised chord don’t support mqa which I find really annoying hence why the bartok & elac seem a solution but for the moment I have the meridian prime headphone amp which I do love to stream mqa Would love to see you do a video on some tube amps say like pathos. Just out of interest have you worked in Hi-Fi industry Regards Madds.

@yantrussart6584

4 жыл бұрын

I recently the Navis and, while I quite liked them, I think the DCS Bartok would be a bit of an overkill with them.

One thing I notice on your h160 You have 4 feet on your h160? The one I gave at home has 3 feet, two on The front and one on the back?

@abritishaudiophile7314

3 жыл бұрын

Well spotted Paulo. I changed the feet to sorbothane and a little lower to fit on the rack 😉

This was very informative. have you ever compared this to a Plinius or Audia flight integrated? Or simaudio? Its very difficult to chose at this price point.

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

I have heard the Simaudio Moon products and they sounded good. Not familiar with the other brands you mention. Thank you for watching.

Is Hegel's Sound Engine feed forward topology basically modern day Quad's Current Dumping feed forward topology? How do they compare, as both claim exactly the same thing ... elimination of the crossover distortion inherent in Class B and Class AB amplifiers

@milosdunjic8718

4 жыл бұрын

Quad has held the patent on the same concept from 1976 ... this post is spot on forums.audioholics.com/forums/threads/the-hegel-soundengine-explained.113006/post-1279305

@milosdunjic8718

4 жыл бұрын

THX AAA topology is another one using feed forward to eliminate crossover distortion

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Milos Dunjic, I was aware that there were previous feed forward designs but had not looked into them. Really interesting to learn more about Peter Walker’s current dumping feed forward topology. Learnt something new today. Thank you.

Maybe the Hegel should have an HDMI connection instead of at least one of those digital inputs, as the digital link doesn't support volume control or input switching. Also was wondering about your choice of stand mount speakers, given that your listening room appears to be quite large? Nice to have some information on the technical side, something UK hi fi mags used to do back in the 80s. But, many of the current sites/magazines tend to make subjective evaluations only and I find those unconvincing when they can't be linked to any mechanism.

@abritishaudiophile7314

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Roq Steady