Hegel H100 Amplifier
Understated sophistication. Quality. Substance. In the event the underlying opinions expressed in those phrases appeals to you personally, an integrated amplifier may function as the alternative to some clear-cut system that is though amazing. The prospect of cables and fewer chassis afforded through an incorporated, compared separates, appeals to my inherited mixture of European sensibilities and Quaker. The pure sound and it subtle type of the Hegel H100 integrated amplifier embodies the less is ethos superbly. In this instance, the less is price as well as the more is functionality.
Hegel has been producing specialty sound goods in Norway because the late 1980s. By 2000, CD players, DACs, integrateds, were being exported by it and divides to European and Asian/Pacific markets. Discretionary spending is down for the majority of us, but Hegel comes with a strategy I believe serves it well under the circumstances: Use exceptional engineering options do with parts that are cost effective and pass on the ensuing savings onto the customer.
The look of the H100 is entirely useless. It's really rather pleasant appearing in a understated, self assured manner. The top and sides are manufactured of an anodized aluminum sheet that's considerable ventilation slots when the unit is on, several little LEDs in the amplifier is visible.
For $3000 you get a simple- to-use, pretty strong 120-watt integrated amplifier using a completely balanced XLR input signal and adequate added analog connections to allow it to be useful although not complicated (all RCA): four more input signals, two preamp output signal pairs, a home theater bypass input signal (or power amp input signal). The finish gives its particular remote a glossy feel and the H100, and finger smudges aren't an issue since it isn't glossy. Fine touch. You might be spending for sound quality which is above its price point, a characteristic or not always spectacular casework - interface that is ladened. That's only the sort of precedence set.
Using the H100 is clear-cut. This enables one to choose your desired input signal and verify there is some signal without attacking ears and your loudspeakers. In the event the mute function is activated, upon resumption it'll ramp up the volume to the last volume setting, so likewise preventing a sudden bang in the event you are already playing with a loud passage. The screen reveals two-characters (lower case and upper) to show the input signal that is active. The characters are, nevertheless, somewhat cryptic.
Hegel uses the SoundEngine that signifies a patented circuit's main claim to improved performance was known as by it. This also prevents power consumption and the ensuing heat dissipation of Class A layouts that are typical. Hegel also divides the low voltage percentage of the input signal segment of the power amplifier in the high-current part of the output section with electricity supplies that are distinct. According to Hegel's chief designer Bent Holter,, this reduces distortion caused by current swings and big, simultaneous voltage in both various gain periods.
All of us have read about various firms' "specific" circuits as well as the promotion names related to them, and all of us can be forgiven for seeing such conversation with healthy agnosticism. I embrace a courteous, but down-to-earth approach: "Quite interesting, but how can it seem?" In the Hegel H100's case, it seems quite great. That it's produced in Norway (where labour is expensive) and is moderately priced does appear to confirm Hegel's claims of supplying engineering options that are successful at acceptable price.
Some patience is taken by hearing the H100 at its completest. The H100 includes a liquid, innovative sound that adds up fatigue-free listening on the future. It encourages you through its unforced, natural depiction of details to the music, rather than controlling your attention through sound fireworks. Live music sounds both light airy along with weighty and wealthy. The H100 happily leans only a bit to the side that is lighter. There's no brightness or harshness, only less emphasis on weighty and the wealthy.
I had been initially worried the H100 wouldn't be strong enough to drive my Dynaudio Confidence C1 loudspeaker, which could present some amplifiers with problems. My worries were unfounded. While the C1 gains from more power feeding it, the H100 has speed and great bass expansion, and will manage abrupt dynamic bursts with the ease that came as a nice surprise. Generally, dug deeper in the bass and the H100 seemed more strong. Obviously, more power behind a loudspeaker usually brings a lot more than merely the higher start of clipping.
Recording letting, the H100 areas individual performers in a spatial context that has the hall's sound. This seems reminiscent of live performances when compared to a powerful focus on pictures in the cost of the bigger circumstance to me. The H100 tends to throw a soundstage that is somewhat more narrow than that or my pre-power combo, but the soundstage of the H100 is always layered from front to back and very deep. Pictures are pretty strong with physical existence that is great, as some amps can gather, but they are less weighty. The H100 provides commendable feeling which is not unlike that of tube amplifiers that are great.
Some listeners may hear the picture of the H100 summarizes as soft. I hear the listeners as natural, and contemplate the H100's demonstration to be considerably closer to that of electronic equipment that is way more costly than to the exaggerated shaver-cut picture outlines of some equipment. The H100 definitely will not sound lacking in resolution or limited. Actually, notes look to begin just a little earlier and trail off a little more than the listeners did with the April Music Stello Ai500. The Ai500 left not this sound more definitely than the H100.
The H100 sounded arranged on several studio pop records and incredibly clean. The H100 shows that we are able to listen to the combination of music that is really competitive. Quite pleasure.
Turning the volume up is some thing I found myself doing more than normal, mainly for the sheer joy of it. The H100 can boogie simply great. It made myself flail my arms just like a simpleton as the music's play came through stirring ancient works and so nicely driving rock. However, myself really could never quite shake the impression the H100 lacked immediacy's final bit when compared with my benchmark rig true a tall arrangement or live music. Just as much as I adore the H100's clean, exhaustion-free sound, I must mention its ever so-negligible insufficient existence a quality not unlike several complete Class A solid-stage amplifiers, for example the Esoteric A03 (50W, $12,000). Fortunately, turning the volume up doesn't dramatically boost attendant exhaustion and the electronic haze which come with most amps everywhere near the cost get of the H100.
Myself take advantage of amplification gear that sells as my benchmark scarcely likely to make for reasonable comparisons or to be equipment related to the H100. In other systems' circumstance in which the H100 was added by me, I heard no such reticence. The H100 additionally charged up an NAD Axiom - established system and brought details out accompanied with a feeling of forward momentum that had my buddy and me bobbing our heads.
I am able to confirm that the onboard USB DAC seems rather great, comparable to that of the Stello Ai500 bit files. The different preamp and power amp segments perform fairly good by themselves. Collectively, both segments are well balanced. Hegel has done an excellent job of creating the H100 adaptable by adding pre-out and amp-in links, but the actual bait here is using it. The difficulties of mixing pre-out having many potential interconnect cables and matching power amplifier and different pre amps are solved in a single elegant package.
Myself consider the qualities which make the H100 such a joy to listen to all basically point to its comparatively low degrees of sound. In case you value natural imaging sonic purity, and low listener -weariness, and don't always insist on wall-to-wall soundstaging or a controlling character that is sonic, the H100 may well function as integrated amplifier. At its price point it lets you set a few you saved by encompassing equipment it is possible to put together and forgoing pricey separates into the best quality wiring. Amazing. Just amazing.
