Hegel H590: Reference or Illusion?
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- Опубликовано: 26 авг 2024
- The Hegel H590 according to several aufiophiles and professionals is a reference integrated amplifier. Is this true or is it simply an illusion? Here is my take.
John Darko video: • Why do Hegel amplifier...
Small Room Audio: • Hegel H590 Review - No...
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I had several Luxman gears, amplifiers class A, A/B and tube amps, CD players and dacs . The consistency of the house sound is incredible along the product line. This is one of the reasons that made me admire this brand. Your description is perfectly in line with my experience. Great review
Yep same as me................Luxman forever...............
Which Luxman compares to Hegel 390 or Accuphase E-480?
Excellent reveiw, love the articulation and expression of your own personal findings and experience - valuable, helpful and insighful - thanks!
You nailed it man - absolutely hit the nail on the head. Two thumbs up !!!
Hegel is good kit. Very well designed, decent materials and manufacture and a signature sound. Like Naim, they have a vocal fan base that champion their sound style and both companies are producing good products that are very popular. I tried Hegel and Naim and I went with Burmester. Astoundingly well made and a beautiful sound. My dealer told me that many or most of his Burmester customers are musicians and I can see why. There is no lack of detail, but music is played effortlessly and musically. I would never tell someone they bought the wrong equipment if they enjoy the sound and the user experience, but it can be difficult to know and hear all the possible options before spending money.
Which Burmester did you get?
At this range of amplifiers it all comes to taste, what you prefer. I still love my h120, I think is one of the best all-in-one amp/dac/streamer on the market right now.
Me too, i also own a Hegel H120. Fantastic amplifier!
J'en possède un H120 depuis maintenant 2 mois et suis extrêmement satisfait . Dispendieux pour moi mais aucun regret !
I bought the H390 last month and paired it with Vandersteen TreoCT and stream 100%. I can only say good things about them both. Great bass, not boomy, awesome soundstage and a clarity that is very refined. My wife and I can listen at loud volumes all night long as the crossover of the loudspeakers match nicely with the Hegel which a little more laid back and not sitting in the front row, which I like.
I enjoyed your review as you didn't have to blast the brand to make you point, I respect that
Thanks Denis!
get some Harbeth Super HL5's, a Benchmark front end and a PASS or Conrad Johnson pre/pro and put your Hegel in the pool room like mine resides........ you can listen at really low volumes because finally your gear is good ........
Thanks for taking the time to create this review! I have been tempted by the H390 and H590 now that they have added Roon, but keep remembering my experience with the H90 and H190 where they both sounded great but didn’t sound “natural” or “analog” as you mentioned in your review. I am now convinced that I would end up in the same dissatisfied spot where I would appreciate what the Hegel can do, but not something that I want to commit to long term and therefore will look elsewhere for my next upgrade.
Thank YOU!
To each his own. I love the Hegel sound for the same reasons that you don’t (great separation of sounds, very revealing, amazing bass control). I understand why some people like the melting together or intermingling of sounds of vintage amplifiers, but it’s not for me. :-)
Of course! I agree and respect that. 👍
Like that commend. I am glad there are tolerant people out there. We are all in the same boat
He is driving efficient speakers with an amp that is meant to drive inefficient speakers
I auditioned the H190 and H90 for a period of time and I think that’s pretty spot on regarding the sound characteristic 👍 Regarding damping factor, I used the Exposure 2510 (75w/40 damping factor) with B&W Nautilus 805 and it managed it without a sweat. The H90 (60w/2000 damping factor) definitely did not. The H190 was fine though (Note that I listen at low/mid volumes exclusively).
The high damping factor figures Hegel indicates are pure marketing - just check the test in Germany's Stereo magazine 11/2022:
Dämpfungsfaktor an 4 Ohm bei 63Hz/1kHz/14kHz: 50/48/34
By comparision and also tested by the same HiFi magazine (5/2018), the Luxman L-509 X:
Dämpfungsfaktor an 4 Ohm bei 63Hz/1kHz/14kHz: 250/299/125
Luxman L-590 AX II (from 2016):
Dämpfungsfaktor an 4 Ohm bei 63Hz/1kHz/14kHz: 199/87/55
Personally, I feel that Hegel is quite a bit overrated and overpriced...
It's great to see that kind of a brave review, where ones own taste is decisive. The soft-spoken style clearly helps to avoid conflict 👍
No because a review should not be decisive on what someone likes, but how a brand performs at price within the taste and preference catergory (sound and features) of what the product does.
That can be related to high damping factor, some, most of speakers do not like it, their crossovers, their diver/enclosure tuning can interact with high damping factors and start to ringing due high Q states in loudspeaker system.
Try to put 0.05-0.1R power resistors in series with loudspeaker
I appreciate your opinions. You are right on the dot. This amplifier is voiced using digital.
You are totally right.
I have the H390 and I have the same sensation.
But I really enjoy it.
In robotics, the term "uncanny valley" is used to describe androids that are so real they are creepy to look at. It sounds like what you are describing about the audio being to precise out of this amp. People prefer vacuum tube amps specifficaly because it does color the sound output, even from a DAC.
Too
Youre spot on IMO. This is why this “neatness” sounds great with speakers like dyns. Dyns, are imo, at the end of the spectrum in teams of tighter woofers and the way they are voiced being that they sound warmer…and in a sense, sloppy. You throw very good grippy amps to it and thats when they are popular with this crowd.
Nice combo!
Before some of you poop on what he said.. What he is saying is REAL. There are other audiophiles who often talk about amps that do this where the sound is not COHESIVE within the track, but SEPARATE sounding within the track. If you got good ears, this will irk you to no end with the former.
I see so many reviews of amps where they don’t test the analog, especially running a TT, so it was very refreshing and interesting to see your review. Great job - This is one of my favorite of your videos (another is the Axis Bold as Love LP comparison)!
You like demolishon videos! ;-)
Hegel is like have sex with a robot and it's ugly too.....NO THANX! Analog = REAL Digital = FAKE That's simple!
I get what you hear and I heard it in other amps, too. Music is emotion and some tech is not able to reproduce that. It is almost the other way around. Such amps are harder to find. Tx a lot for your opinion on this amp. I am shure there are still many people out there that will be impressed by it but it won’t be for me. I love my tube amps 😀
Excellent critical review, as always. Every time an amplifier puts the emphasis on the spectrum extremes instead of the mids you loose the coherence and the naturalness ( the soul) of the music 🎶
True!
I auditioned the Hegel and wanted to like it. In the end I went with Naim. Now Naim is different sound flavour than the Luxman but I like it better. It is good to have different sound flavours to choose from. The interweb crowd cheers can sometimes make you think that audio is a like olympic disciplines. The Hegel might take a gold medal in many disciplines but that is not the point of audio reproduction in my view.
Good point!
Interesting take....I haven't found the same. For example, listening to Stevie Ray Vaughn's version of Little Wing...the rich and buzzy tone of his guitar/amp, along with the rest of the band, is goosebumps good on my system (driven by the Hegel h390). But, that's what's great about HiFi...lots of options for people to choose to suit their interpretation of "natural" sound.
I love Hegel sound and you are absolutely right about h 590. After a week evaluation on both h590 and h390 in my home, I picked h390 every time when i did A B testing between the two( money was not deciding factor) . I mean h590 sounds good, but it's way overrated. I totally agree with your findings. It matched mine. Hegel h590 went back, happy with h390 in my second system.
Interesting
Which differences do you find between the H590 and the H390?
I have a hegel h190 1nd it needs a bit of volume to sound better hope it helps
I agree with your assessment of the Hegel sound…I owned the H90 and H190 and they exhibit the same characteristics that you described in the H590…I believe it’s called spotlighting of instruments and detail…I too also prefer a more cohesive sound.
what are you running now?
You lack the necessary information to formulate any such projections. The 390/590 are voiced differently from the lower-tier products.
Hi, nice review. I have the Hegel H360 for about a year now and i think i see your point. First of all, I don’t use the internal dac, i have the holo spring 1 wich is far better than the internal dac. What i feel with the internal dac is the midrange focus. It just isn’t there or not feel natural and i try it with different speakers but i was always locking for the Voice “death center” but it isn’t there. Another thing that i notice independent of the type of dac using is that the soundstage is a litle low, like the voice came from beneath the eye level….the 4000 damper factor is real amazing and can drive any speaker but maby you are right about the sound not sounding natural. Is something there that i don’t like so i’m considering selling it and return to valve amplifying.
Cheers
What you are writing is exactly what I found in the H590...so strange, so unnatural...
Thank you for your honesty. I watch different audiophiles to see if any A/V receiver could compare to my sweet sounding SONY STR-DG1000. I thought the HAGEL would, especially for records. Thanks again for the save.
Borrowed the Hegel on a ‘ try before you buy’ but I couldn’t get along with it either for pretty much the same reasons. Still looking for something to replace my Exposure gear and am currently trying Icon Audio valve amps and like what I hear so far.
Nice...keep us updated on your choices!
Spot on . I have a h390 for 1 month, comming from Moon product, and the precision and separation plus bass authority, sound control freak, I like it. Very controlled but exactly , my phono sound digital. You are very good Best description I saw so far
Superb Review !! Appreciate your Forthright approach ! Keep it up .
Thanks man!
Tried the new beauty Luxman L-595ASE agains the Hegel H590. It was no comparison with the Hegel and I fully agree, there is just something off with the Hegel. It feels like all the individual instruments are taken apart and amplifier separately to create this huge soundstage. However, at the cost of feeling connected and integrated. The Luxman felt, organic, connected, warm but not without losing high end clarity, the warmness of connectedness if that makes sense.
Second shoot out was the Luxman against the Audia Flight FLS 10. First using digital only as input, then using phonostage (for FLS 10 this is an additional module). I've listened for four hours trying to convince myself the Luxman was better, however it was not. The clarity, openness and air between the instruments was just way better with the FLS 10. Not night and day, you can even argue that if you're more into upbeat, rock, metal the Luxman would give you more pleasure and less fatigue (if you turn the knob up..;). With vinyl the differences were larger and this, imo, has to do with the phono stage and not the amp. The FLS 10 module at EUR 1100 is just way better than the Luxman integrated. A pity, especially when using MC.
So my ranking would be
Audia Flight FLS 10: fantastic, ordered.
Luxman L-595ASE: great and very close,
Hegel H590: not my kind of thing, maybe for other. Tip: go and listen and compare against fully balanced Class A or A/B
Love the channel, keep it up and order a cassette deck to try the FLS 10!
I have no doubt that your comment and preference are spot on. Audia is amazing and soon I will reveal why...congrats!
thank you for this take, ...actually I was planing to buy hegel, but I feel very simmilar to you, while everybody pracing hegel and me wanting good sound quality hegel obviously is shortlisted but I am all the time wondering about the music presentation of hegel, and I have to say when I hear it i miss there something and I do not/did not know what it is...
Thank YOU!
Finally an opinion that's not in favour of the Hegel brand. Everybody else seem to love 'em... Just checked your channel, especially liked the 'why cassettes should stay...' video. Great stuff, I'm not surprised that you do not get along with the Hegel. I had to wait 3 months for my 390 to arrive from Norway, just can't get the bloody things anywhere... Maybe for a reason or just an illusion?
😆
I saw the video and I read through several of the comments, interesting. When Hegel came out touting the high damping factors, I asked myself, how are they doing that? All other major manufacturers pale in comparison. Anyway, you hear all these great reviews of the Hegel amps, and this little question just stuck in my mind. Did you notice that their power amps have a much lower damping factor? I wonder if they might sound better because they are doing less sound engine "magic"? The H20 with 200 wpc is "more than 1000" and the H30A 1000 watt mono is "more than 500" damping factor? Kind of strange. Thanks for the great content!
True!
Love your truth , our boy lover (Darco and Jay’s) could not express your depth and understanding of the sound characters 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
I recently got a JET TC-905B to do immediate a/b amp switching helps a lot with short audio memory, of course only to test which amp sounds better and then it get removed out of the chain.
The same issue described jay from 'thenextbestthing' when he talks about high end turntables. "They Sound too Digital" too clear..
Therefore he preferes vintage turntables
to get the analogue sound.
I never heard a high end Transistor amp.
I User a high end tube amp for my BBC speaker laid back Sound chain.
And a sansui 331 vintage receiver for my "exciting, sparkling" klipsch Quartet forward chain.
Both Systems Sound like everything fits together almost perfekt. No issues.
Dual 1219 + Dual 1226 😉
Nice!
Interesting video. This amplifier is way above my budget but none the less I like this kind of evaluations. Also going back in my memory, RUclipsrs who are sincere AND like this amp very much are mainly in to digital music sources. I guess that people who swear by analogue sources are sensitive to the trickery that is going on in this amp.
As always Guido an interesting review! Also, love your new intro!!!
Thanks Fred!
I always enjoy your perspectives Guido!@@anadialog
Thank you, can you review Yamaha integrated AS Line.
I am a fan boy of the Hegel. I think it is one of the best pieces of technology out there. Owned an H120 for about two years, and if your are into copious amounts of detail, supreme delineation of every instrument/note played, and a sense of the hyper-real. There is not much out there that can top that brand. Alas, it was not the amp for me, my tastes leans towards things that give me some romance to the sound. I like components that give a sense of warmth and moisture to a singer's breath, almost as if Dianna Krall is setting in my lap singing in my ear. Putting flesh on their tongue, cheek, and palate that you can hear the gums smacking as they phrase a song's lyrics. So I traded it in for a EL-34 based tube amp that did costa a little more, but leaned to providing a more natural versus scientific type of sound.
Interesting! I want Diana on my lap as well! ;-)
Subscribed. Great video, looking forward to watching lots of your back catalogue.
Welcome!
Here's what I think is happening. Most studio production these days is not a band playing all together, it is the result of individual tracks recorded at different times and perhaps even in different rooms. If Hegel is able to separate those features, then it is revealing the truth. Any unification of everything into one pot is a distortion. Kudos to Hegel for being able to even reveal such discontinuities in the recording process. I have an H95 and an H190 and I think they are wonderful.
That is irrelevant because then the tracks are mixed and summed for the final master.
Ears are **ALL** that count... Bloody awesome video mate and a wonderful and fascinating and fully understandable explanation : ) It's just always nice to see an 'Audiophile' who truly appreciates analog...
I love your channel, your videos are so engaging and awesome - and you referenced my Hegel video and linked to it - thank you 😊 🙏
I’ve just bought a Luxman 595 - it’s excellent, but the Shindo Pass combo makes me very jealous!
Keep up the great work!
Thanks colleague! You too!
I had to sell my H390 as it was soundings soulless to me. Also, the built quality isn’t that great for money. Always trust your ears! Great video!
You need to learn about amplifier design and parts cost. There are very few amplifiers in the H390’s price range that use as many high quality output transistors. It wows you with internal build quality and sound. It doesn’t bother trying to grab your attention with extruded aluminum, glass, or meters on the front.
@@toucheslapper fully agreed and H390 is an excellent amp. I just got better results for my ears with the cheaper separates. In this price range, separates are still unbeatable. I have also sold my moon 600i for similar reasons.
@@novicatoncic6908 so you would still get the Hegel separates instead of the H590?
I use Hegel 390 with Heritage Special speakers. I agree with this review i.e emotional coherence (midrange) ain’t the best .
I have the same rig as you. Try playing with the speaker position. The good news is there is a perfect place for those speakers in the room, bad news is you have to hunt for it one centimeter at a time (my experience). I find more musical coherence using the H390 with Roon, Tidal and AirPlay than I have ever heard from any hi-fi outside a recording studio. My point is I encourage you to play with it more before giving up.
I've had the HS now for 2 years and completely agree with the positioning point. I am still finding myself trying to move them an inch here or there 😂 But generally I am super happy. I came here because I am also looking for an amp upgrade currently. My Atoll IN 300 is great, but somehow I think I might be missing something in the upper mids. The H390 seemed to be the natural companion for the HS.
I haven't heard the 590 but I own the 390 and I haven't experienced what you describe with this component. I did once experience what you describe from an ultra-detailed COS DAC and if the Hegel had reproduced the same sense of breaking the fabric of the music apart into many disembodied "bits" strewn across the sound-stage, I surely would not have kept the Hegel, because I hate that sort of unnatural presentation that prioritizes detail above all else. I would describe such a presentation as clinical or analytical. This is not what I hear from my Hegel at all! For one thing, the highs are somewhat rolled off-- the sound is in no way "tipped up" or "forward". And while there is detail aplenty, it never "shouts" at me or calls attention to itself. The detail is always subservient/secondary to my sense of the music as an integrated, emotionally-involving whole. I don't know what other gear you paired with the Hegel; synergy is, obviously, always an issue to be taken into consideration. I use mine with a Sim transport feeding an Aqua La Voce 2 DAC. If the 390 sounded to me the way the 590 sounds to you, I wouldn't like it, either!
Luxman 509x intergrated best amp in its price range. I'd love to hear the new 595a though.
just do it while the 595 is available...but have a "few" bucks left to buy a present for the "luxury buying commitee" to soothe "it"
I really like your Chanel and reviews. My take on your review is that this is a steal and a good buy. I don’t share the view that all analog sounds better. I think digital is far superior and interpret your remarks as very insightful descriptions of just those advantages being enhanced. You are also the only RUclips reviewer that actual reviews the amp. I couldn’t care less for the combo sound of built in DAC and amp. You also confirms that the internal DAC is hyped compared to really good external ones.
Not sure I can agree. I have the h190 I only listen to digital. I am going to listen again based on your comment.
Okay just critically listen Schubert cheaper music. The first piece was violin and piano, and I have to say is the left and right hand separation is perfect and so realistic the violin pull that my heart.
I think I’m a pretty critical listener . And I just don’t find the presentation from my Hegel to be inorganic. I don’t think that it’s analog, but I don’t think it’s old-school digital either. It’s something new.
I never compare stereos one versus another. I always compare them to live performances. I’ve heard these particular Schuber pieces several times in person and I can only tell you that they are presented as close to as I have heard.
I don’t care if Luxmann a little this way or if accuphase a little that way. How does a sound system sound compared to live performance of actual instruments that are acoustic and human voices? How does this sound versus the real thing?
That incredible damping fast factor allows it to touch out details that virtually no other system does. And the dark background allows you to hear it better I think your mistaken respect. I don’t think you’re right.
Forget about Luxman and go listen to live music and then compare.
This stereo versus that stereo this one has a bit more of this. This one has a bit more that this is an endless rabbit hole that sucks every dollar out of you. You can only attain satisfaction if you compare it to real music it’s not about your taste of music it’s about what’s real.
From what others are saying, the issues I have found mainly regard the technology implemented in the H590. I don’t know because I haven’t listened to the other amps.
Thank you very much for the review with your honest opinion! Hard to find around here! Judging by it, seems a very nice amp for people that like to listen to sound ;
Thank YOU
I like music thank you.
Thank you for your thoughts on the Hegel. My taste would be toward the Luxman!
Interesting! I just had the H190 home on loan, and it just didn’t move me. Vocals and solo strings sounded far away and non-engaging. In fact the whole soundstage sounded too far away for me in my treated room. I found myself leaning in to get closer. Which didn’t work, haha. Will be trying other brands for more engaging (but perhaps less perfect) sound.
Wrong speakers?
the effect that you are hearing is what I call, "too much of a good thing". It's easy to see and hear what the Hegel engineers were going for. But, I am going to keep my Denon pma 1600ne which is 1/8th the cost but has an outstanding dac and a phono preamp that I truly love.
I pray you, try a vintage Sansui amplifier, Japanese 1974-79 like au-517, or au-7900… I’m surprised that all the modern technologies didn’t ever arrive to that levels of quality and sounding!
I am starting to think this in some cases as well...
Ciao Guido avere un 'opinione diversa dalla massa vuol dire essere obiettivo ...nn ho mai sentito il prodotto in questione ma ho sempre ragionato con la mia testa👍
Good for YOU!!! You tell the truth !!! Thank you....
My relatively modest experience with friend's H590 with three different speakers with different music genres in a couple of months period somehow brought together my impressions from the previous listening sessions. In the recent listening session with speakers with active bass unit and passive mid and high unit above (dipolar version) was compared with a copy of JLH 1969, a little class A amp.
This time really showed up H590's achile's heel, that it's strongest point is also the weakest one. I guess it has to do with very high damping or/and some other Hegel's electronical solutions. What do I mean by that?
In short. H590 has a great natural or neutral sound of acoustic instruments and great easy presentation of anything. But for instance classical orchestral pieces, instruments would have a great natural tambre - tonality but all together the sound, the ambient is somehow liveless and has somehow truncated presentation as a whole. Of course the highs are just not airy and open and refined.
Here little class A amp surpasses H590 significantly. True, the instruments reproduced through JLH1969 does not have H590's body and sounded a touch less neutral, but as a whole soundstage is simply alive, much more space ambient, spatial q-es, refinement and even better imaging and 3D presentation.
Of course, you can not play music as loud with JLH as with Hegel and JLH needs more efficient speakers to do it's best through the whole Hz register, but up to 80 db avg it does fine.
And we are talking about comparison of lightweight little 6 kilos, 2x10W amp, for cca 300 USD versus over 30 kilos, 2x300-500W and cca 12.000 USD.
Reports by German audiophiles says that with appropriate, quality preamp, the JLH1969 plays even on another, higher level, and many of them sell or put in a closet their amps for 10.000 EUR and even more. I put my old Marantz 7200 KI Singnature in a closet. I will certainly test some preamps this year.
I agree. The H590 is a great amp with some great qualities in sound reproduction. I was excited about hearing it for the first time. But somehow it is liveless with truncated highs. And my friend experienced audiophile, theH590 owner agrees with this.
And Hegel lovers say, that even H390 is better - more "musical" and even more are older versions like H300, but I can not comment on this.
You could have done this vedio 3 months ago. Love you Guido!
Man who got a backbone ...👍
We all have different tastes, that’s why we have much to choose from…
We like what we like….
I full agree.....the same sensation listening B&W speakers
Interesting!
Here’s something to look into that no one talks about… Hegal’s preamp and power amp separates
I own both integrated and separates the separates are on a whole Nother level I was on the fence with the integrated until I heard the separates they do everything better that people complain about with the integrated‘s.
Good to know!
Just curious, was this a new unit, if so how many hours of break in did you put on it? I have an H390 and I must say the sound definitely relaxed after about 100 hours on mine. I gotta say right now I am really enjoying the 390 with Harbeth speakers, perhaps because those speakers have a very prominent midrange sound. I’ve heard the class AB luxman integrateds and I did really enjoy them, but I don’t know if I’d like them more than the Hegel. Anyway, if everyone liked the same things life would be very boring.
Bruh, I don't think this is a burn in issue as much as it's a processing issue with the way Hegels do their music output
Good question. Used unit, did get its full burn in.
@@anadialog Maybe they just didnt match well with your speakers?
I doubt that. I have a pair of GoldenEar Triton Reference speakers and Sandy Gross himself, the founder and engineer behind them, recently presented these speakers driven by the H590 at the Rocky Mountain Audio Feat. So they supposed to be a perfect combination. Plus, this type of amp, as commercialized by Hegel themselves, is capable of driving anything.
@@anadialog then its just personal taste, everyone likes different flavours of HiFi
Luxman or Accuphase wins every time! Great as always!
I came to a similar conclusion and went for Yamaha AS2200.
What’s your opinion on Yamaha AS line of amplifiers. I think they have some of that vintage sound behind them.
On my list...
I will choose Vitus ri-101 mk ii over this one and the Gryphon Diablo 300.
Thanks.
I own Hegel H390 and have it paired with Wharfedale Elysian 4. The Amp tends to render bass and transients with great accuracy, but reduces the volume of smooth parts of the audio. For example, in a heavy metal track, it brought the drums so forward that the guitar was hidden. If you listen to music which isn't mastered with a lot of dynamic range (small spikes or transients), Hegel will flatten it out even more and it will pronounce any transients
If that is true, and I believe you, we are clearly facing software issues. An amp should only do that, amplify with less noise possible...that is where voodoo starts..
@@anadialog I don't know if it's software. I believe it's a negative side effect of the sound engine 2, which tries to reduce the distortion with a forward feedback.
I found my old Benchmark LA-4 and AHB2's to be slightly better than the H590 and yet still suffered from the exact same issue. There was an overly cleanly aspect to their sound and a type of homogenization that occurred regardless of source. Very very good sound. But uninspired.
I have upgraded to a Naim SuperNait 3 and HiCap DR with WitchHat HatPin SNAIC cables and WH Phantom speaker cables. Just stunningly organic and natural. Vastly better in terms of involvement in the music. Used the pocketed cash from the price difference to buy a Chord Qutest and LPS (another killer combo).
Nice!
Great review. It’s spot on. I moved from the Hegel H390 to the Luxman 590ax2. The Luxman is an awesome amp so musical and full sounding. Sounds like music. I would describe the Hegel as surgical sounding. Not my cup of tea. Keep up the great reviews.
Luxman is a beautiful kit. Although it’s not made in Japan anymore like Accuphase. Have you tried Pass Labs?
@@morespinach9832 the lower end Luxman are not made in Japan but the higher Luxman like the 590ax2 was made in Japan. Luxman no longer makes the 590ax2.
@@JayLee-zz3ty so which Luxman is made in Japan? Their lower end stuff is way too expensive if it’s not made in Japan.
@@morespinach9832 here are some of the models made in Japan, 590ax2, 595ase, 509x, high end separates. These are just the ones I know.
This has probably much to do with taste. Some people like a more blooming sound than you get from Hegel amplifiers. I find my Hegel sound very natural actually. And I have never heard natural sounds being so lifelike in any system before. But there is not much extra. So you would need to match with speakers that bring it into your ballpark when it comes to taste. Hegel isn't for everyone. By the way I have the H390, and am super happy with it. Have had it for two years now.
Had an h390 for a short while. Extremely detailed but too clinical and even antiseptic for me. Went to a Luxman L-509x and have never looked back. I think the first 6-7 watts are class A. Gorgeous natural sounding amp. I've heard the h590 is world's better than the 390. I have friends that swear by it.
I agree!
Wonderful commentary, simply straight forward, as always and as it is. The beauty of High-end is that we have different tastes and hearing, oohh yeah baby...
Preach it brother. 🤜🤛
@@LuxAudio389
Oohh yeah brother ✌
Ciao
I know you like soul and other music. Just wondering when you listened to your Hegel if you noticed the seperation in the Hegel more from recordings from the late 60's and 70's?
On my Hegel I notice that on older recordings you can hear the "mix" more so than on newer recordings. So on Faces-Ooh La La I could literally hear how the track was mixed. Guitar on the Right channel, drums, bass, etc. On the left was more the vocals. It definitely was like from the recording engineers perspective. Meaning if I was at the mixing board I could listen to the guitar, then add in percussion, bass, and vocals. Great song, but it wasn't blended enough. On more contemporary recordings definitely very detailed, layered, and textured BUT more cohesive. I know the Luxman is detailed but smoother and warmer. It also provides a more phantom center image by far. Good fun. I like them Both👍
I didn't notice this difference, I heard it on analog, digital and all types of music...I am quite convinced that we are facing an elaborate signal processing that is separating the frequencies and them putting them back together...but they don't sound "together" anymore!
@@anadialog Thanks. Also thanks for the info on how they hoped to sell the sound engine tech. Very interesting.
What an explanation superb
Tento, mas, não consigo desde a criação do CD, em 1981 ouvir uma música digital, só ruídos estridentes de bits e mais bits, não é música, sim, ruídos elétricos. Depois da conversão, é que vem música de verdade, em um processo que retira as harmônicas de ordens ímpares, só reproduzindo a fundamental.
Hey there, loving your take on Hifi and the way you carefully explain, it really cuts thru a lot of the smoke and confusion out there. You mentioned that the Holo May is great, have you experienced another DAC that blows the May away?
Love to know the best DAC's, in your opinion, that you have experienced
Thanks Anthony, these are the comments that keep me going! I have also tried the Denafrips Terminator Plus, which is also very good but not a winner. I am more an analog guy so I am happy with the May for now. Didn't explore much else. A lot of people are saying that the Mola Mola Tambaqui. This sector as you can imagine is constantly evolving!
@@anadialog thanks Guido, appreciate your experience. I’ll continue on my Hifi journey/rabbit hole 😄
Brilliant! Anything can be taken too far.
Dear Guido,
Ohh boy. Ohhhhhhh boy and ohhhhh boy! You are right! See, I'm a Hegel Fanboy and Focal fanboy too. And oh what a combo. I own an H160 driving my second system with Kanta No2's. I Love it. It's precise, acoustical instruments sound detailed. Female vocals are sexy. I thought it was my speakers ability to seperate instruments. But it's non fatiguing or clinical. But I understand the the Hegel is a surgeon's scalpel compared to a Luxman. My Sopras No3's I heard at my dealer with a Luxman 590AXii and I fell in love. Soo smooth, definitely a different appreciable sound. There that combo with the Sopras superb midrange, beryllium tweeter, and deep bass bring a new expirence that is still precise but more relaxing, and still entertaining. I almost bought an H390 for my Sopras but didn't want a monogamous relationship with just Hegel.😂 Anyhow, my wife and I like the Hegel because it's an integrated that fits in our decor in the family room. We only stream with it using a DAC. It's not too clinical either which is nice. Acoustic instruments, and female vocals have very high detail and revealing. Drums are lightning fast and tight, but, the Kantas are known for this. But again, you mentioned how high the damping factors are too therefore having a tight leash on the driver's. But yes midrange is a bit lacking. No richness in deeper gruffier male vocals, even in male artists with deep voices like, Grayson Capps, Barry White, or Issach Hayes and etc. I think that's where you can really get a sense of how a Hegel may not be perfect. But yes, you are right and the sound engine is essentially a computer with an algorithm. Not in a bad way though because they have done it really well. Oh boy, should I dare show your review to my wife and ask for Luxman and risk death 💀🌺. J/K I still appreciate both Hegel Luxman. Blessings👏👍🥃
🤣 thanks for your input!
Are you alive with luxman? Or....
@@IronCan88 Honestly they are both great. Wine or draft beer 🍻
I bought my H390 and Focal Kanta2's 1st of august, just two months ago. After I bought it didnt impressed me much. As a member of Hegel and Focal Facebook page (Thilina Fernando), I am getting lots of feedback to make it better. But still its new I'll wait for another couple of months for season.
@@shemaya4979 yeah the Kantas definitely need break in time. It took about 3-4 months for the bass to really balance things out. The tweeter also has a suspension too What are you not liking or having trouble with?
I have the H190 with Denafrips Ares 2 DAC and it sound... GREAT!
hi it's a bad time to buy any amps as power costs are going up all over the uk i know this will sound so good
I listened to the Hegel h 590, against the Gryphon Diablo 120. The Hegel is a great amplifier, but the Gryphon is clearly better. I chose the Gryphon.
That is another hugely renowned amp...and much better looking...maybe in the future...
@@anadialog The Diablo also more "analog" sounding than the Hegel
I have heard of the H390 and H590 reviews declaring them o be very clinical as well. Have you heard the H190 ? some say it is not as precise as the H390 and H590 and that made the H190 sounds more rounded and analog.
I haven't!
Accuphase E-800 or Luxman L-585ASE are better options IMHO
Gryphon Diablo 120 also
Interesting - i found the H360 unnatural sounding when i tried it out. I could tell right away the voicing wasn’t right.
l think a lot probably depends on the background and personal sensitivities of the designing engineers themselves. If digital is more their thing, this will likely come through in the overall sound of the final product.
For sure. NRD did a video on the voicing if Hegel products that explains this very well.
Great review!
Also a great interview with Hegel @ New Record Day where things are very well explained.
Tarun, the British audiophile has great videos on Hegel as well
you аre right about everything man !
This is a smart review.
Thanks for your valuable video. In my opinion ML 585 develops fantastic natural and pure sound. Have you tested it, what is your opinion? Thanks.
I found that it's essential to have tubes in the system to get the sound to seem natural. For example DOGE DAC 7 (tubes), Kinki Studio B7 power amps (class AB) and transparent preamp like the Wyred for Sound STP-SE.
Most Recordings are “BOOTH” recordings; that is to say that individuals are brought in to a specific area and recorded individually and then mixed as a final recording. This is what you might be hearing.
Why even analog sounds digital is that any analog signal connected gets converted to digital as it enters the amp. It then gets converted to analog to send to the speakers. This would also influence the sound from an external dac as well.
I don’t know what Hegel is doing but clearly what you have written is NOT what happens in a normal amp and DACs world in the exact opposite way…I am missing something?
I hear what you are saying. This came from a review of my H190. I expect Hegel may treat all analogue connections the same. “Incoming analogue signals are converted to digital and upsampled to
24-bit/192 KHz.”
Here’s the link to the article: www.hegel.com/images/reviews/H190theearuk.pdf
For Magnepan LRS what's better the H190, H390 or H590?
Hi, which luxman model do you have? I would like to audition one so I can decide if I should keep my h390 or change to luxman. Thank you.
The Luxman L-590AXII pure class A amp. Here is the review I made: ruclips.net/video/CDK793vUNEo/видео.html
i switched to Luxman 595 which is fantastic....my Hegel 190 still has more bass control...nevertheless most time the Lux is driving my speaker not the Hegel...its so smooth....
I had the same impression of the “separation” until I changed cables. It then all came together. It sounded totally natural and coherent. I’m not a cable guy but the recommendation made all the difference.
What cables if you don't mind sharing?
What kind of cables do you use?
and you didn't mention the cables? Wtf!
Very good and honest review. You have put in words my listening experience of the Hagel. The Hagel was a 'safe' choice for me.
Great review.
Thx!
bellissimo video, grazie! Ho sentito in un negozio h190 e musical fidelity m6si; l'hegel sicuramente colpisce per grande controllo, rigore e trapsarenza ma alla lunga l'ho trovato stancante e meno musicale. Peccato anche per l'ingrsso digitale che non gestisce dsd e non ha airplay2. Amplificatori bellisimi comunque. W la musica