Hegel H-590 Integrated Amp $11,000 (301×2)
(6.75h, 17w, 17.6d, 50 lbs)
Good gravy, is this integrated a STAR or what?! Rated at 301×2 into 8 ohms, double into 4, and double that into 2, H-590 has a frighteningly fine & powerful amplifier section. 300/600/1200!
You also get a state of the art DAC and preamp in the same box. It has Ethernet in for streaming options.
H-590 started as a power amp project. Designer Bent Holter went innovative as he dove in and decided he could put these 3 components on one chassis- and save a bundle compared to doing
it in 3 separated boxes. He decided to make a KILLER integrated, to deliver a knockout punch. In short, I would rather own H-590 than a stack of any 3 boxes to try to accomplish the same thing.
H-590 has Hegel’s SoundEngine 2 design. You can read about the technology at the Hegel
tab near the bottom of our home page. When you watch Bent’s 2:30 discussion on SE2, you’ll learn how he accomplishes the magnificently open sound- without being bright or zingy.
H-590 goes to great depths to sound unparalleled in dynamic performance. It’s a dual mono design. Hegel spends copious time hand matching transistors in the preamp section to achieve superlative resolution. H-590 excels in subtlety, dynamic range, sonic texture and transient attack.
In comparison with $30k integrateds, H-590 won the face off! H-590 delivered a stronger left hook and never sounded harsh- thanks to SE2. Piano keystrokes were cleaner, tighter and there was more air around them. H-590 won in soundstage and depth perspective. The $30k Danish guy sounded “crispier, brighter and less natural.” And these comments in a nutshell, describe Hegel’s sound compared to much more costly competitors.
Double Lintons! $2700 Including Stands
(62h, 11.8w, 14.17d)
Everybody knows the Wharfedale Lintons are among the very best speakers in our biz for $1500 per pair including stands. Available in Walnut or Mahogany. We have a tough time keeping them in stock!
Everybody also knows that once you get the hi-fi bug, it continues to come back and bite again- HARD.
The typical scenario is, you buy speakers you like for about $1500 per pair. When the bug bites to upgrade, you trade them in and take a big hit in the process. Why not avoid that?
Might we tempt you with DOUBLE LINTONS?!
Yup, buy a second pair, turn them upside down and place them on top of the first pair. Now you have a good sized TOWER OF POWER and didn’t lose a dime on a trade in. You did it as you could afford it, not all in one gulp, although that would be OK too.
Lintons are book matched in their real, wood grain. When you put one atop the other, the grain pattern is close.
A single pair of Lintons runs as a 6 ohm load. The lowest impedance Linton ever hits is 3.5 ohms. Since it only touches 3.5 ohms for a NY minute in its frequency band, any amp worth its salt
can drive Lintons with ease. When you run any speakers in parallel the impedance halves. If your amp can drive down to two ohms, you’re good to go. Hegel anyone?
Another alternative is to run a PAIR of amps, one amp on each pair of speakers. How about running two NADs? Or… perhaps consider a Marantz 5ch amp where two of the channels run the top Lintons and two other channels run the bottom Lintons! The options are endless.
The musical advantage of Double Lintons? You get more efficiency, dynamics, power and scale. The image is HUGE and palpable. Yep, the image is taller, broader and yet more focused. The bass easily doubles. Double Lintons are ABSOLUTELY double the fun! You don’t believe me? Visit to hear it for yourself! Yep, we have them on display.
Another characteristic of Double Lintons is… with the tall image of the driver alignment the stage is massive. You’ll have four of the fast/powerful Kevlar 8s working for you. There’s a unique benefit because the Lintons are on stands and do NOT couple with the floor. It’s great fun to hear bass that is powerful yet not rumbly. Decoupling the speakers from the floor, employing the stands, works to achieve this.
I’m Seeing Red!
No, I’m not angry. I’m seeing RED as beautiful! The Rega Planar 2 is now available in red which makes it uber cool on your stand. It comes with a generic white cartridge called the Carbon.
Sorry boys, that won’t do! We’re spiffing up the Planar 2 in red with the Ortofon Red MM cartridge.
Now HERE is something to lust for, a lovely looking and high performing table/cart combo for a mere $775. Escape your house and come see it!
Dolly Puts Her Wallet Where Her Mouth Is
Many musicians have donated to the cause of beating C-19. The inimitable Dolly Parton sent a million buxx to Vanderbilt U’s Medical Care Center in Nashville. That’s what I call putting your money where your mouth is.