You can take what you please. I am not all analog or all digital. I have many formats supported in my system. But on the subject of separates over integrated, there is no contest. Separates whoop tail in my system and is what I’ve had from the start. I don’t believe in kicking what others use and could care less as it is up to each individual what is important to them. Vinyl, cassette tape, and CD are equally and supremely represented in my system. I’ve been in audio since 1974. Been involved in building audio gear and modification of same. I’ve no regrets for what I have. Each must seek their own pleasures in this hobby. Mine come from helping others extract all they can get from what they have. This pleasures me greatly. This hobby is my own personal therapy from a world full of hostility and a total lack of grace. This hobby is sanity and happiness rolled into one immersive experience. I love it and so should you! Great review Tarun! Poo on the haters, full speed ahead!
@@CarlVanDoren61, that’s correct given my level of involvement. Most see this as a hobby, but I see myself as very passionate given my level of involvement. Hope you are happy in your journey.
"a world full of hostility and a total lack of grace". A bleak worldview, and one with which I disagree, but I do agree that music restores balance and offers solace during difficult times.
Not a bleak worldview. Realistic to those who can comprehend reality for what it is and call it so. It doesn’t make it any better to call it elsewise. It isn’t negative, just realistic. Only if you have your head in the sand or live in delusion can you not see it for what it is. According to one in particular it is a lost and dying world. Even more reason for prayer and having faith in God. Some will never get it, but we can hope and pray for them.
Being very visual , my favorite part of the video/s is when the camera is moving over the parts being explained . couple that with your soothing voice and it keeps me interested until the end . 👍
I’m really glad you’re the first person out with the h400. It means I don’t have to watch any of the other ones when they come out. First and last word great video.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 can I ask, do the h190 and h400 have a system to easily change the unit so it can go from 120w to 220w or the other way. Ie for someone that spends months in Europe and then months in North America do these Hagel work. I ask because I do go back and forth I have the h190 but now want the h400. Thank you
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I haven’t gotten a clear answer from them. They sent me to an authorized repair shop, which is since closed. They thought it was a fairly simple transition that wouldn’t damage the sound which of course the key point. But then other audio files that I know were sceptical of that . But actually, (having slept on it ) I think your video has solved the problem for me. I think what I’m going to do is I’m going to sell the h190 while I’m still in Canada and buy the h400 in Spain. The only thing I’m waiting for is the separates that you said you would do . I’m just not remembering the company name right now but they’re the ones that you had for years they have a new pair of separates ie preamp and amp that’s higher-powered. It’s a little bit more money but they got my eye as well and I think I will wait for your review on that before making a final decision on the 400. I just can’t remember the name of the company, but you talk about it every single video. It’s the separates that you have the app and preamp that you have had for years. . You said you would do a review of the companies, currently being built amp and preamp which is more high-powered..
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I still need to hear your review of the new Exposure amp preamp combo before deciding on the h400. I expect that to be a great comparison?
You are 100% right, I have dismissed Hegel products in the past because it had an integrated streamer and DAC. I like separates and I already have too many redundant features I don’t use in some components. I have started to buy products that only have what I need and nothing else.
Answering to your question, living space in modern life is an issue. Having a reference of system setup based on small, medium and large spaces could be a nice topic to cover. Of course this is really on the convenient side of the HIFI discussion.
As a very happy Hegel H600 owner, I can confirm the quality and ease of use of the new Hegel streaming platform and DACs. For people that want a fantastically simple system, just plug in the H400 or H600, add speakers, and load up Tidal connect. Great sound made easy!
Do you think Hegel will still be supporting these amps in 15 to 20 years though, or even 10......or do you think the streamers and DACs will be redundant?
@@rog86 I suspect that Hegel will support their streaming app for a long time, but 15-20 years may be a stretch. However, not sure whether their streaming app or streaming hardware would become obsolete. If streaming technology did change enough to make the included streamer obsolete, then simply add a new outboard streamer. DAC's are unlikely to need any updating, since the included one already supports fairly high bit rates beyond which most people or services even use now.
One of my favourite parts of this VERY well put together video was someone "admitted" that it's "OK" to aspire to listen to, and ENJOY an expensive system ("5k speakers, 6k amplifier and 6k front end"). Taurun, I applaud you 😁👍😁
Its OK to aspire to listen to a system as high in fidelity as our situation permits. When I was married and raising a daughter, that circumstance naturally limited what common sense allowed us to spend on a system. Now, single and retired, I can and do devote considerably more resources to my system(s).
@@geoffreydebrito7934 I couldn't agree more! 😁😁 From what you say, this/your hobby provides you with a great deal of pleasure. I too am fortunate enough to be able to (just) afford the "higher end" of the market. For me, I think it's worth it, although "mistakes" are expensive too.. 🤷
Love Hegel products they are some of the best hifi components at doing everything well. I had a Hegel h160 + Maggie LRS combo for several years and it was fantastic. I’ve since sold for a Maggie 1.7i + Anthem STR integrated but remember Hegel fondly.
Tarun, you are spot on regarding Hegel's inclusion of DAC & streamer modules...I too will not consider such given I have already invested in a top quality dedicated streamer (Rose 130) and DAC (TT2 and MScaler). I use a 'vintage' Krell KSA 100 to drive my Magnepan 3.6R...and I reckon this Hegel would be fabulous 😏
for someone who started upgrading from very cheap system this is different. I had a dac that was 400 new and and audiolab 8000a. Bought a second hand Hegel H80 (and sold the dac and audiolab). The amplifier section is the big upgrade, I am very very pleased to what i discover in the music I already new and how more natural it sounds with the Hegel. Next upgrade for me are my Dali suite speakers. I stream music with an Moon Mind 180.
I use TT2/Mscaler as well; and TT2 is used as the Preamp for my Integrated. This finally provided the sound I've been after! It might be interesting to try the H390 with TT2.
If I bought a Hegel I considered the internal DAC and streamer moduls as a backup in the case my separates are down or not available for whatever reason. They could also be used as a reference for testing the newest and latest highly praised gear in the sub 2000$ range.
I’ve never heard a Hegel amplifier but they do seem wonderful. Glad they made the new version a nice step up! Sounds like an integrated that can stop the shop so to speak!
Great review Tarun. Many of our customers love that Hegel integrated amps have a built-in DAC and streamer for a high quality but simple system. And when those aspects of performance become dated, the internal ones don't have to be used if they upgrade those components. If it is as good or better than bare-bones integrated amps at the same price, then the inclusion of DAC and streamer isn't an issue, but they are very welcome features for many. Internet critics generally are much more vocal than those that are super satisfied, so that's why the complaints seems more prevalent. Keep up the good work.
I share Tarun's point of view. It makes sense for manufactures to limit the options available to the buyer for components at lower price points but less so for ones at higher price points. The higher the price category, the more particular the knowledgeable buyer is likely to be on the components in their system. NAD's modular construction addresses this situation.
@geoffreydebrito7934 totally get where you're coming from. It works if it is a plug-in module. That way there aren't inventory issues with stocking two different types of the same integrated.
Haven't watched a more entertaining Hifi video in a while. Seriously. Solid advice. My Tradutto is on fire after more than two years in my rig. It's the least expensive piece. It is punching so far above its weight it knocks me out. Less than 13k all in and rocking. Room is wood and cloth.
As usual a great an balanced review- thank you sir! Interestingly, when I bought a new Integrated Amp a few years ago I already was on Hegel, but compared many amps as I wanted to have at least buyers remorse as possible. We all know there are always compromises. So I tried the Hegel 390, NAD M33 and others, at home. It was a close run between the NAD and the Hegel, with some concerns on how the NAD might age - concerning SW-compatibility. I always sniffed at Yamaha. Too less power, huge company nothing boutique high-end, etc. pp. But a dealer asked me to just try it. So I tried the completely analog AS-3200. Big room with luckily great acoustics (not perfect but really good) and large stands. And the AS-3200 got me, it surpassed the others for my ears. Only when making the music really loud, the NAD and the Hegel had more authority and easiness. But stage, correct bass and mids where just better and nicer to listen over all- with a very simple streaming DAC and my existing very sufficient RCA Phono set-up. Yes, I had to buy a proper DAC afterwards (ended after a bit back and for with a Denafrips Pontus II and love it). Without the AS-3200 the Hegel would finally have been my choice over the others, the authority in the lows is insane, but stage width and depth is no match for the Yamaha AS-3200. Ah and yes, in the end I of course ended up payed a lot more than planned and not having a nice and simple single Amp with integrated DAC and maybe integrated Bluesound, but again more equipment than before - luckily I have a very understanding wife 😊
I have to add: The Hegel minimalstic design is great and is my absolute favorite. The difference were also not huge, so my text is potentially a bit overstating that. Hmm, maybe I should try this new Hegel … 😉
Hi Tarun, I am pleased to hear your correct pronunciation of the letter 'H'. I can remember my parents instructing me how to pronounce it properly in the !950's. I have been a very keen Audio enthusiast since 1970 and have owned some amazing equipment since then. I had a huge pile of stuff at one stage. An amazing Electrocompaniet CD player. Parasound pre amp, two big Parasound stereo power amps bi-amping a big pair of TDL transmission line loudspeakers, a DVD player and Lord knows what else. Oh yes, a projector and a drop down screen. In a way such a plethora of boxes would now be seen by myself as an embarrassment. To watch the videos of viewers systems where they have so many boxes on display makes me wonder are they sad lonely fellows because what partner would want to live in a definite Man Cave. I really appreciated and enjoyed the Hegel H400 review and the idea of a really good integrated amplifier combined with a good DAC and Streamer is brilliant. I know that in the end the different main components separated into separate boxes is ideal but surely with today's technology these components can be isolated from each other successfully in one box. I find the H400 an attractive proposition as a future purchase. One box instead of three and less cable tangles which are so unsightly. Is it a bloke thing where they feel happy owning and playing with grown up toys. As far as Im concerned, I just want to listen to the music with the minimum of fuss and fiddling around. I think I had better employ a security company now.
I have a h190, and love the fact that i have just one box in my room, and I am fully Roon Ready. If I'd get new speakers I'd definitely consider this amp.
What I'd really love to see is an update to their old H20 and P20 amp and preamp. The H30 and P30 got completely new overhauls but they are astronomically priced compared to the integrated models. The H20 hits a sweet spot but its a very old design by now.
On the other hand I use an upgraded Audio Research Ref 9 CDP as a cd player and as a separate DAC. In one system matched to the Michi X3. In the second system I use an Audio Research D240 MKII as the power amp. These two ARC products are the keys in the audio chain that have stopped me looking much further. I stream digital from a MXN10 to that Ref 9 CDP and get wonderful results. I stream from an upgraded AV8805 to the D240 and get stupendous results. Cable upgrades made another stopping point. No where else to go but listen to the music. The two rooms are very different one and open living room the other is an office. Both are amazing.
I could live blissfully contented with the H400's built-in DAC and STREAMER without feeling ANY need to upgrade to separate components! Nevertheless, an excellent review, Mr. British Audiophile.
Excellent review as always, Tarun. Hegel has always intrigued me sans the price 😂.You asked if we were happy with our systems. I have a few and I like them all very much. It’s a combo of vintage McIntosh, and Rogue Audio. A mix of vintage, and modern speakers, modern dacs.
never heard a Hegel amp so can't really comment but they are well reviewed as is your own review, me, I have to be satisfied with what I have as now i'm some years in retirement the days of swapping gear and upgrading are over...but now my enjoyment comes from listening to the music library I have and streaming via Qobuz...
Excellent review. A friend of mine has the H190 paired with the Q accoustics 5050, and the sounds is breathtaking, especially considering the system is way below $10k. Hegel definitely makes good equipment.
In answer to your question Tarun, I'm quite happy with my system right now as I feel it has reached the point of being well-balanced. That is to say that every component - streamer, DAC, power amp, and speakers - works well with the others with no obvious weakness in the chain, and together they produce a great sound. Of course there's potential for upgrades. The current pace of DAC development is amazing with a new "killer" device appearing in the market every few months. The LAiV Harmony and Gustard's new X30 spring to mind. Either of these or whatever comes out next would no doubt be a significant improvement over my modest-by-comparison Chord Mojo 2 but I can’t see myself shelling out €2,999 for a new DAC in the short-to-medium term. More likely, in the next year, I’ll get a pair of vacuum tube input buffers for my Purifi 1ET-400A based class D power amp. At around €1,335 that’s still by no means in the “no-brainer” purchase category but the promise of “a warmer and more tube-like presentation that showcases smooth, warm mids along with a holographic sound stage” is something I’d like to experience. In the shorter term, I’ve very recently been contemplating the addition of an Ethernet noise isolator. I can’t say I’m conscious of hearing network noise but, on the other hand, my streamer is connected to my Internet router via a couple of HomePlug AV2 powerline adapters, so the steam could well be subject to noise at it transits the household power cables. I need to do more research into cost/benefits as it appears an Ethernet isolator can be had from anywhere between about €50 and €1,850. Such is the nature of Hi-Fi!
Yet another great review, still love your delivery. Calm and informative. Well done. My next upgrade being considered is going active with my PMC 25.23’s upgrade kit. Still being mulled over. Cheers Steve😊.
I have a great system BUT, and there's always a but in audio, I love playing with audio just for fun. Right now I'm listening to Dynaudio Heritage Specials through my own designed tube preamp and ICE class D mono blocks. It's very good and took years to achieve but I'm experimenting with low power single driver speakers which open the door to 300B amps and some of the Nelson Pass amps that just don't drive the Dyn's well. The 400 is probably not going to be on my list, as good as I expect it sounds I really don't like integrated amps especially with built in DACs. The problem is they limit the ability to refine systems especially with DACs that keep improving and getting cheaper. No, I'll play with different configurations, that's the real fun if you ask me and once you have a fully integrated like the Hegel it's severely limited if not over. Thanks again Tarun, still the best reviewer around!
@@rog86 Quite good IMHO, well balanced yet understated, the esotar tweeter is exceptional. Drive them with enough power if you like extra loud or rock.
Great review as usual thanks Tarun. I haven't yet tried Hegel, but probably will do one day. They seem to be shooting for the stars with performance, with the latest pricing too. Hegel is a mass producer, I think it would be quite difficult for Hegel to offer all options, ie DAC, streamer, phono, bluetooth etc, without requiring some assembly/disassembly at the AD or extended waiting times. I for one wouldn't like that. So, as long as DAC, phono, Bluetooth, Streamer etc is of very good quality components, well implemented and shielded I think most people would be happy with that. Plus you have more potential buyers for used examples. Seperates to me do sound better...usually, but there is still the synergy aspect, you can end up in a money pit, purchasing another DAC for instance, because your new fantastic amplifier doesn't quite gel with it. So, personally I am with Hegel on this one. As always, you have to home demo at this price point. Keep up the excellent work! 👍
I agree, dont need inside dac, streaming options if I paid that kind of money, prefer seperate dac-streamer. I like Hegel outside but prefer Yamaha , Accuphase's , Luxman inside. But they are much more pricier.
Even on products I'm not heavily interested in listening to your reviews is best I can describe as a "Verbal symphony of imagery and expression". By the end of the video I find myself now curious about this when I initially had no interest to start lol. Well done as always!
Well done review, Tarun. I had heard that the Hegel's were a bit on the dry side, and from this review it sounds like this particular amp is not. Interesting to see how you place this unit in the pantheon of devices. Also, while the device is certainly expensive by some measures, I know of many who spend more money on boats, convertibles, and other luxuries that eventually cost many times more. I like your matter of fact approach, where good is good, and outstanding is.. well outstanding, and the cost is what it is. Refreshing in a time of endless reviews of cheap audio.
Personally I have come a long way in the last few years in terms of my audiophile journey. I am significantly more knowledgeable mainly cos of tubers like yourself. I now find myself in a very opportunistic situation presently in that in a few weeks I will have a whole new room to play with. Start from scratch. Interestingly, the kit I am looking at is nothing like anything I would have looked into 2 or 4 years ago. The likes of the Qualio IQ speakers and AGD Audion Monoblocks. Long gone are the days I drool over Focal KEF or B&W. Those days are long gone.
I'm in agreement with you...prefer separates. The performance of dedicated streamers and Dacs are impoving so rapidly, not to mention for less money, it does make more sense to have a purist integrated with minimal bells and whistles. That's what I have. I own the Atoll IN300. Nothing fancy inside it other than lots of power to drive just about any speaker on the market. That's good enough for me. I have Arendal 1723 Monitor S speakers on order and looking forward to listening how the two get along. Fingers crossed.
Looks like you got ahead of everyone with the review. Well done! Hegel 400 just got the EISA award for the best premium streaming amplifier alongside Rotel RAS 5000. By the way Tarun, when can we expect a review of a Rotel product?
Another comprehensive review Tarren . Thanks . I also find the fixed inclusion of DACs,disc stages and streamer stages (not available as options) as disappointing . For some a one box solution of a high quality source and amplification will be ideal but as you outline the benefits of going down the route of separate power supplies etc produces better results or can do . Hegal's approach is not uncommon as I have found recently trying to find a pre-amp without an integral DAC and disc stage. You do end up buying capabilities you are never likely to use .
Really good review, Tarun. Ironically, as a purist I shouldn’t want an amplifier with a built in DAC and streamer, however, as I listen to records almost exclusively, buying the H400 would save me the trouble of buying a digital front end and also space in the rack. In answer to your question, I have spent far more on my turntable/arm/cartridge/phono stage combo than I have on any other part of the system and my speakers have recently been upgraded too. So logically, a new amp is the next move. Weeellll, nope. The amp is far from disgraced in the elevated company and hence I’m going to build a custom external housing for the turntable PSU and then upgrade to the top spec main bearing. After that it’s Auva speaker feet. Cheers, Mark
Hegel H190 was lifeless with rock and pop. (Absolutely, mind-blowingly fantastic with Jazz quartet music !) I hope they rectified this issue of lackluster performance with rock and pop on the 400. They are asking $7K in the USA.
Another very enjoyable review to watch and learn. I am considering a separate analog preamp to bypass the one in the Eversolo DMP-A8 for the sake of possibly better sound, although I really value the convenience of having one remote for all.
Congratulations Tarun, this was a great video. Thanks for your work and getting this out 👍🏻 After watching this it’s made it clear that my digital front end needs work, something to look into in the future at some point. Back to the noodles again 🫤😆
Very good review Tarun of this promising H400. As a Hegel fan (started with H190 and now using H95 and H590) I am looking for a next step. I had a demo of their H600 last week, but it didn't make my feet tapping. Maybe the setup at my dealer was not good, but I want more details and get closer to the music. I am currently looking at other brands or just an external dac to combine with the H590. I still hope Hegel adds a pre/power H20A/P20A …
I would suggest to try an external DAC - trust me, if you find a DAC that matches your taste, you will be amazed how much more you can pull out of your H190 ;o) [edit] H95 and H590
Having gone to the cost of buying 11 matched speakers, 2 REL 15" subs and mounting the 4 height I love what I have. I also have the great room for it and that is important. The purist's out there can love their preamp and mono-blocks; I will stick to my delightful system!
Excellent, thanks for confirmation biasing me on my H390 😂 ...I have had more exciting amps, more toe tappy amps, richer more buttery amps etc. which might make the Hegel feel a touch boring on first listen. But over time I've really come appreciate just how damn fine of integrated it is. Now if you could so kind as to get the H590 / H600 in for review please 😛
I have a McIntosh MC-152 Power Amp. It is in the price category of these products…with a rated output of 150wpc@8omhs. (It has been tested to actually put out ~250wpc@8ohms by respected sources!). I drive mine with a Schiit Freya+ Pre-Amp with upgraded (by me 😅) audiophile capacitors and resistors in the tube circuit. NOS tubes. I LOVE the sound of this combo. HINT…HINT… It would be a TREAT to see the British Audiophile review this very American power amp and see what he thought of it "chops" compared to his favorites ! 👍🏼
Wonderful review, really enjoyed it. I'm currently a satisfied H190 user but have had my head turned by an upgrade. The question is whether an H390 at around £3500 is better value than the H400 at £5900. I would welcome any comments on that please.
Sigh, the upgrade I ought to perform, is not something as simple as a new box, but finding out how to get uncompressed files played without Apple's compression when streaming to the amplifier (Hegel 90) - without lots of work and intricate new programs. The second upgrade is to play records more often.
thinking exactly the same - certainly doesn't look like a fully optimized layout - and for me an amp with an integrated DAC at this price point is just ridiculous - who of those already having a better DAC would even consider this amp? - only people that have a Hegel already I guess - imo these people can probably get better performance getting a proper DAC, instead of upgrading their Hegel.
Superb review. I’m one for being put off with built-in DACs. If you’ve spent $7000AU on an outboard DAC, you don’t want to pay for another if you choose the H400. Opening the box shows the beautiful architecture of the better arranged components in the H400 than the H390. There’s a local shop I can visit who are Hegel retailers. Will go and have a listen with a few Desert Island discs.
Thank you. I appreciate you sharing. By the way, the ribbon connectors are not in the audio chain, they are part of the system logic. The Soundengine system dictates are more complex architecture 😊
@@vpmm1832 thank you. I believe they made some internal tweaks to the V model. It is not just an added phonostage. I may get it in at some point depending on how significant the changes are 😊
Another aspect of internal stages is that they can date rapidly particularly DACs and streamers which seem to be developing at a pace but much less so with dusc stages. A separate DAC which has fallen behind can be replaced which is not possible with a DAC contained in pre-amp for example .
As far as upgrades go, I'm pretty much set. Several preamps, a couple of DACs and virtually every type and topology of amplifier available. But.........I can't seem to stem the urge to get another set of speakers, even though I have all the bases covered there as well. The Mofi 888 and the Pearl Acoustics Sibelius continue to call out to me. So far I have resisted. 😎
I'm a bit surprised they've not added an hdmi port, after all it seems these days that nearly every other manufacturer is doing so. Off-topic question for you, where did you get that rocking cow?, he's brilliant! As always another great video.
Thank you for for another outstanding review. Those 75% of the time I listen through speakers, my hifi upgrade journey has led me to a new pair of focal headphones and the wiim ultra streamer; for a computer & gaming workstation and small TV room where I sometimes listen to music.
Does seem like separating the left right channels to monoblocks makes all the difference, be good to see if you can review more like this , and compare to your exposure , which sounds like is a winner , even after all these years 😊
@@Desmodronicus thank you. It is all about implication. The biggest surprise to me was how relatively minor changes to the power supply and preamp circuits elevated the sound quality over the old H390 😊
Interesting i wonder if the power supply changes were not made if the new separate left right monoblock design would have been so much better ? …and it goes on , which is what makes this a great hobby …..just a question is your old set up used monoblocs to bi wireable speakers so left and right to one monobloc treble and the other to base ?
Hi! I think everybody have their favorite brand because of performance, price and reliability. I am an ARCAM fan for these reasons even if other brands sing their siren song. In the past I had some trouble with some components, so reliability was certainly an issue. Great video! Thanks a lot!
IMHO, speakers count most followed by DACs and amps -- I'd never buy the Hegel at the price. Recently had a modest windfall and bought three things for a total of £1400 -- with a trade-in for the Revelas. The last two have yet to arrive but have been well reviewed by the guy (he's a fan of yours) at the Hifi zone channel, so fingers crossed: Pair Quad Revela 1 Cloned Musical Fidelity A1 power amp OCXO 10Mhz external clock for my Gustard DAC I'll use my Beresford TC220 switch box to connect both my existing XTZ edge A2-300 (and also my new A1) power amp, as well as to the Revela 1's and my DIY cloned pair of Decware ZF15M open baffles. I'll add a pair of Van Damme splitters to the preamp's output RCA to feed the DAC signal to the power amps and thence to both speakers. That'll allow four system combinations to select according to mood. So far, I've listened to the Revelas and my open baffles with the XTZ A2-300 and can hear the merits of both, though IMHO the latter get me more involved with their lush presentation and grander soundstage. Why 4 combinations? Because I can -- and it doesn't cost that much extra. Hopefully it increases the chances of an endgame solution for my main system. I want to get off the merry-go-round, and if I do for less than 1/4 the price of the Hegel, that'll be a win for me!
I think for many Uk households, this amp is going to be difficult to accommodate. It's the depth of the thing that is the issue. 44cm (17.3") is 4cm longer than my (what I already thought was a large) hi-fi rack. I'd have to pull out the rack a bit further from the wall and I don't even know if the Hegel's feet would sit properly on the shelf! The rack face would then be flush with the front of my floorstanding speakers. I wonder if the Naim Supernait 3 would compete with the sound quality of the H400 (if not on sheer grunt), as most of my listening is to 70's-90's rock music, or Funk/R+B. 'Guess I could look at the latest Exposure pre-power combo's for this sort of money? Great review btw Tarun!
Presumably they’re sticking with no balance or tone control, I didn’t even bother listening to Hegal for this reason. I got myself a E280 instead. Could not be happier. Damping factor of 500 is plenty fine for me. Have the option of getting a 4000 with double the power and a 800 damping factor in a few months when the next shipment comes in but I think I’m in love with this 280. By the way I think plenty of people actually use the onboard DAC in a amp if it’s good. No need to complicate life with all these Chinese DACs out there. It’s about enjoying the music. One can play around with a different DAC later on when you get the itch.
In Australia the Hegel 400 is 1k AUD cheaper than the Michi. X5 S 2, but to my ears & eyes the Michi is on a whole different level to the Hegel. Better built and extremely musical as well. I would be interested Tarun, on your view of the Michi range from Rotel. Cheers😊
For me, it’s power amp time. I do love separates, but seeing how good integrated amps have been getting relative to cost makes them intriguing again. This review is only adding to that itch. Nonetheless, separates can get into nuance that can be tailored to one’s system and room. I’ve got a Starkrimson duo amp on loan (amp tour) that is really amazing. But is also helping me realize just how tilted in the lows and highs my current amp has been by comparo. Very much look forward to your reviews, always learn so much 🙏🏼👍🏼
How right you are! I automatically scratch an amp with a built in DAC. As it may be a bit short sided, these are luxury products that you find reasons to justify laying out large sums of cash, weather perceived or real. Brand equity is a hugh motivator. The great companies invest a lot of money in the "got to have it factor"
After testing out different combinations, I'm running an H390 with Dali Rubicon 6s. Wonderful soundstage and articulate mids. I must admit that I turn to a REL S/510 when trance music is on the menu.
Been owning H190 for 3 years now. The H400 current price in EU is 7000 EUR. Thats more than twice i paid for H190. I also wish Dac was separate and not included but Hegel built their soundengine2 around dac. I think i will wait until some discount or black friday offers. 6k eur is my limit.
Tarun, a great review and it could not come at a better time, as am thinking about changing from my current PS Audio SGCD and M700 mono's to the H400 (because I have had a failure which is being fixed at the moment), it will drive my Amphion 7LS speakers via Audiomica speaker cable
a lot of people don't like separates , and as he says in the review the sounds quality is very good , it looks to be better than some of the competition at the price range so there's def a market for it, just not you obviously
Tarun your presentation is top notch and your knowledge and insight is commendable! I grade the BA with an outstanding for width, depth, soundstage....the works! Way ahead of the rest of the pack. No rambling no fan boy stuff and the length of your videos though varying are always justified and worth the watch. Keep doing what you do Sir! 🍺🍺🍺
having owned several units I can suggest that Hegel integrated amps offer a lot of value, the H190 is a super sweet spot no brainer within it's intended market space, if you are seeking the highest quality of amplification available at any given Hegel price point look elsewhere
Great review as always. It's an appealing piece of equipment for people who want to keep things simple and still want quality sound. I could be interested if it included streaming access via wifi and native Qobuz, but without it, no.
This as you say seems to be a truly outstanding amp, but I would need a mortgage to pay for this model and all the partnering equipment and having just paid it off I am not in a hurry to take out a new one.
Informative review. I'm looking to replace a NAD C399, so the builtin DAC and streamer are welcomed. Also fits your previous rule of three times the price for an upgrade. A local dealer carries them. Maybe I can borrow a demo unit next year after the newness goes away.
What I am looking for next is a big 3 way ATC SCM 100 active loudspeaker. I can do away with having to worry about amp matching and also get full range sound which i would love to have in my room. I am also looking got a high end streamer that can feed my AMR DAC - something that works great with roon and has a clean USB output.
