The Norwegian company Hegel presents the H390 amplifier. The new integrated device has developed network functions with software upgrade capabilities. It replaces the H360, but don’t consider it just an improvement on a successful model. According to Hegel, none of the H390’s PCBs are made the same as its predecessor.
As for the sound of the new product, the developers themselves described it as “smoother and more authoritative.” On the rear panel of the device there are a pair of balanced XLRs and two pairs of analog RCA inputs. They, like all other inputs, can have a variable or fixed level. As for the digital part, all digital inputs are routed via DSP USB. This allowed the H390 to play MQA and DSD over SPDIF, and also further reduced jitter.
The USB Volume function, accessible through the menu, can allow a connected USB device to control the volume of the H390 remotely. The Hegel H390 has a built-in DAC, albeit in a somewhat simplified version. The new proprietary streaming platform integrated into the amplifier is similar to that found in models with the H190 and H590. The developers promised software updates to its functionality in the very near future. The list includes Airplay 2, Roon, Control4 SDDP, etc. The Hegel H390 will support internet updates through the menu.
As for the actual “amplification” capabilities of the new product, using the proprietary Sound Engine 2 technology, which minimizes unwanted distortions, the Hegel H390, according to the developers, demonstrated a damping factor value of more than 4,000, delivering 250 W per channel at a load of 8 Ohms.
