{"id":122575,"date":"2020-11-25T10:22:07","date_gmt":"2020-11-25T10:22:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.techweekmag.com\/?p=122575"},"modified":"2023-10-18T07:27:12","modified_gmt":"2023-10-18T06:27:12","slug":"hegel-h390-review-expensive-but-worth-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stereoindex.com\/tech\/hi-fi\/hegel-h390-review-expensive-but-worth-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Hegel H390 : Expensive but worth every penny"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hegel H390 features advanced network functions with software upgrade capabilities. It replaces the H360, but you shouldn’t consider it just an improvement on a successful model.<\/p>\n

According to Hegel, no H390 PCB is made exactly like its predecessor.\u00a0As for the sound of the new product, the developers themselves described it as \u201csmoother and more authoritative.\u201d On the rear panel of the device there are a pair of balanced XLR and two pairs of analog RCA inputs.<\/p>\n

They, like all other inputs, can be variable or fixed level.\u00a0On the digital side, all digital inputs are routed via DSP USB.\u00a0This allowed the H390 to play MQA and DSD over SPDIF, and further reduced jitter.<\/p>\n

\"hegel<\/p>\n

The USB Volume function, accessible through the menu, may allow a connected USB device to remotely control the volume of the H390.\u00a0Hegel H390 received a built-in DAC, albeit in a somewhat simplified version.\u00a0Integrated into the amplifier, the new proprietary streaming platform is the same as the H190 and H590 models.\u00a0The developers have promised software updates to its functionality in the very near future.\u00a0The list includes protocols Airplay 2, Roon, Control4 SDDP, etc. The Hegel H390 will support internet updates via the menu.<\/p>\n

\"hegel<\/p>\n

As for the actual “amplifying” capabilities of the novelty, using the proprietary Sound Engine 2 technology, which minimizes unwanted distortions, Hegel H390, according to the developers, demonstrated a dumping factor of more than 4000, delivering 250 W per channel at a load of 8 Ohms.<\/p>\n

Hegel H390 Review\u00a0<\/b>from Hi-Fi News<\/b><\/p>\n

Hegel Integrated Amplifiers and Preamps usually have a spartan black case and a bezel containing only the input selector and volume control knobs.\u00a0In the Hegel H390, they are located on either side of the black and white OLED display, which shows the selected input, the set volume level and the sampling rate of the incoming digital signal.<\/p>\n

\"hegel<\/p>\n

Another feature of this company’s equipment is its exceptional reliability.\u00a0The Hegel H390 has a metal body, a thick aluminum bezel and large rubber feet.\u00a0The range of functions of the Hegel technique is also designed for its long-term use.\u00a0When developing a networked streaming platform for their integrated amplifiers, the company’s engineers chose AirPlay to wirelessly connect to Apple technology.\u00a0But instead of using a standard solution, the company has developed its own software to support AirPlay, in order to increase the speed and improve the sound.<\/p>\n

Along with AirPlay, Hegel H390 supports Spotify Connect and music playback from PC or NAS via UPnP.\u00a0DSD 2.8 playback is provided through DoP (DSD over PCM), and the amplifier can decode MQA format.\u00a0The H390 currently has basic IP control with support for Control4, Crestron, and Savant used in installed systems.\u00a0Finally, an upcoming software update will make the H390 compatible with the Roon platform (and it may have already happened).<\/p>\n

\"190725.hegel-h390.1b.jpg\"<\/p>\n

The Hegel H390 amplifier features a dual mono design and operates in class A \/ B, delivering 250 watts (8 ohms) per channel.\u00a0Hegel claims that the unit is also capable of handling a 2 ohm load, making the H390 capable of driving the most sophisticated speaker systems, including electrostats.<\/p>\n

The rear panel of the Hegel amplifier provides coaxial (BNC and RCA) and optical inputs, as well as a USB type B port for direct computer connection.\u00a0There are also two sets of analog (balanced and unbalanced) inputs, each of which can be configured as an external source input or used as pass-through when using the H390 in a home theater.\u00a0Fixed and adjustable analog RCA outputs and a LAN port for wired Ethernet are also provided.<\/p>\n

\"190725.hegel-h390.4.jpg\"<\/p>\n

The remote control has a metal body and minimalist design, perfectly matching the Hegel H390 amplifier.\u00a0The small buttons are conveniently located, with the most commonly used – input select, mute and volume up \/ down – grouped at the bottom.\u00a0Most of the other buttons are for DACs and the Hegel CD player.\u00a0There are also buttons to control music playback when using the media server software via UPnP.<\/p>\n

Customization and use<\/b><\/p>\n

To get started with the Hegel H390, I first connected it via the LAN port to my NetGear Orbi wireless router.\u00a0Along with starting UPnP streaming, this was necessary for AirPlay to work with Tidal and Apple Music using my iPhone since the H390 does not have Wi-Fi.\u00a0While some users may find the need for a wired network connection inconvenient, my experience has shown that it provides more stable and reliable performance than wireless.<\/p>\n

\"190725.hegel-h390.9.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Next, you need to enter the Hegel setup OSD and check for available firmware updates that can be downloaded over the Internet.\u00a0In the same place, I configured one of the analog RCA inputs of the amplifier to connect the Cary Audio network audio player \/ streamer, which I used during testing.\u00a0I found the Hegel OSD to be a little confusing – the control buttons on the remote for use with the media server are also used to navigate the menus, and you need to refer to the manual to see how.\u00a0Fortunately, I only had to go to the setup menu once during my testing of the Hegel H390.<\/p>\n

Other signal sources I used during testing included a Cambridge Audio CXUHD universal disc player connected to a coaxial digital input and a MacBook Pro with Roon software connected to a USB input.\u00a0I also used the GoldenEar Technology Triton Five and\u00a0Polk Audio Legend L800<\/b>\u00a0speakers in my system\u00a0.<\/p>\n

Sound quality<\/b><\/p>\n

Even before I started seriously evaluating the Hegel H390, I appreciated the sound improvement it would bring to my system.\u00a0The GoldenEar speakers literally came to life, as if these floor standing speakers had received a vitamin B12 injection.\u00a0This was undoubtedly due to the increase in power from 150 watts, which gave my integrated amplifier to 250 watts from Hegel.\u00a0I also found that the AirPlay streaming from my iPhone, which I usually only use for background music listening, produced better sound than usual.<\/p>\n

\"190725.hegel-h390.12.jpg\"<\/p>\n

I started testing the Hegel H390 by listening to Ray LaMontaine’s CD Till the Sun Turns Black and listened to a very pleasant song Three More Days.\u00a0I was amazed by the transmission of the hi-hat, which sounded clear but not annoying.\u00a0The Hegel H390 managed to faithfully reproduce this multi-layered mix, even when the volume and richness of the sound reached their climax.\u00a0I could clearly separate the sound of the electric guitar, drums and wind section.\u00a0The bass guitar, whose line held the entire track, also retained its clarity and fullness, while Lamontane’s energetic vocals took center stage in the mix.<\/p>\n

Next up was the Super Deluxe Edition of the Beatles Abbey Road.\u00a0Streaming Because 24\/96 with Tidal over Roon on my laptop provided rich, warm and tight vocals with very good polyphony.\u00a0The soundstage on this track was also impressively wide, with keyboards and guitar sounding far beyond my room.<\/p>\n

\"190725.hegel-h390.11.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Along with Abbey Road 50th, Ken Burns’ documentary Country Music has become another interesting musical novelty of recent times.\u00a0Previously, my exposure to this genre was mostly limited to Hank Williams, Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash.\u00a0But after watching the series, I learned about the work of The Carter Family, Jimmy Rogers, Lefty Frizzell and many others.\u00a0Listening to the modern version of The Carter Family Single Girl, Married Girl (16-bit \/ 44.1 kHz on Tidal), played by jazz bassist Charlie Hayden from the album Family & Friends: Rambling Boy, with acoustic guitars gave a rich and natural sound, while the harmonica sounded clearly, but not high-frequency focused.\u00a0What impressed me the most about the Hegel sound on this track was the exact reproduction of the singers’ disposition.\u00a0It was perfectly clear\u00a0that they were standing around one microphone while recording this song on the radio station.\u00a0At this point in testing, it was clear that the main advantages of the Hegel amplifier were a clean and transparent soundstage, as well as accurate speaker reproduction.\u00a0Both of these qualities remained in place when I listened to Prayer for Passive Resistance with Mingus at Antibes.<\/p>\n

\"190725.hegel-h390.10.jpg\"<\/p>\n

The acoustics of the room in which the composition was recorded was almost perceptible, with an accurate transfer of the characteristics of the sound of musical instruments and vocals.\u00a0They were clearly rendered against a background of complete silence, which created an impressive dynamic contrast when the drums came into play.<\/p>\n

Most of the comments above refer to the Hegel system and the GoldenEar Tech Triton Five.\u00a0However, at the end of my testing, I switched to Polk Audio’s new Legend L800 floorstanding speakers, which use two 10-inch woofers and range in impedance from 2.8 to 4 ohms.\u00a0Listening again to the tracks of Ray Lamontain and Charles Mingus, I noticed that the Hegel amp was able to control the sophisticated Legend L800 speakers effortlessly, and in both cases the sound was natural and balanced even at low volumes.\u00a0In addition, when playing the Midas Tongue of Sam Beam and Jesky Hoop, the percussion was conveyed tangibly and powerfully, with the necessary drive.<\/p>\n

\"190725.hegel-h390.3.jpg\"<\/p>\n

At its cost, the Hegel H390 may be too expensive for many music lovers.\u00a0But on the other hand, according to Hegel itself, it has almost the same features and the same sound as its flagship integrated amplifier, the\u00a0Hegel\u00a0\u00a0H590.\u00a0 And in this sense, the H390 can be seen as a bargain.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hegel H390 features advanced network functions with software upgrade capabilities. It replaces the H360, but you shouldn’t consider it just an improvement on a successful model. According to Hegel, no H390 PCB is made exactly like its predecessor.\u00a0As for the sound of the new product, the developers themselves described it as \u201csmoother and more authoritative.\u201d […] More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10404,"featured_media":122579,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[642],"tags":[778],"class_list":["post-122575","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-hi-fi","tag-reviews"],"acf":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stereoindex.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/122575","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stereoindex.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stereoindex.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stereoindex.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10404"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stereoindex.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=122575"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.stereoindex.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/122575\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stereoindex.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/122579"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stereoindex.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=122575"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stereoindex.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=122575"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stereoindex.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=122575"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}