Hegel H-120 Integrated Amp $3000 (75×2)

(4h, 17.25w, 11.75d, 28 lbs)

This amazing integrated amp sometimes gets lost in Hegel’s broad lineup. Let’s take a look.

Hegel Music Systems’ H-120 is a stellar electronics value for $3000. It’s so good it can bring tears to your eyes. There is more heart and soul in this mid sized/price integrated than there has a right to be.

Transients are lightning fast. You can “feel” that leading attack of a guitar pick or piano hammer striking a cord. Bass has a deeper punch to the gut than you can imagine. There is a musical refinement Hegel has- that is a result of LESS DISTORTION than what the other guys can provide.

There are respectable integrated amps from all corners that use some array of traditional output transistors. The problem is that no two transistors are the same. They’re all different. The more you use in bigger and more expensive amps, the more harsh they sound as the mismatching becomes more apparent.

Imagine if your eye glasses were not focused exactly correctly for your eyes. Or, perhaps think of tuning forks that all resonate at slightly different frequencies. The more you have, the louder it is,

but the more distortion you hear. For 50 years audiophiles have complained about a harsh or grainy sound. Most of that is attributable to mismatched output transistors. By nature of the component itself, you’re stuck with the limitation of the device. Until Hegel.

Hegel’s SOUND ENGINE 2 (SE2) is a game changer. Owner/designer Bent Holter, created SE2 to rid his amplifiers of this distortion characteristic- which is endemic to the design. We have a concise video on our site at the top of the LATEST page, where Bent describes what he’s done. In short, there’s an analog computer with comparative circuit that squelches this output transistor distortion. SE2 eliminates the harsh, edgy amplifier signature that we’ve lived with “forever.”

Hegel amp sections are FAMOUS for being overtly muscular. With a damping factor measuring over 2000, the ummmphhh of Hegel is far beyond what you would infer per its modest WPC rating. Take a look at traditional power amp damping factor ratings. Most are 200-500. You might reach 800. But 2000?!!! Nope. That’s very rare. And yup, it’s meaningful. To compare, Yamaha’s A-S801 ($900, 100×2) has a damping factor of 240. Further, it prints right on the chassis, don’t you dare drive speakers that approach 4 ohms. There’s even an impedance protection switch on the back!

Hegel can START and STOP your speakers on a dime. They have the ability to delineate leading transient attacks like nobody else. Drums, guitars, pianos… air around voices, are all exquisitely open and airy. Dynamic contrast comes with the speed and control. Breath and space around vocals is unsurpassed for your investment.

Hegel has more going for it than its SE2 output section. While that is a major calling card, Hegel’s preamp sections are unique as well. Hegel hand matches preamp FET transistors. The other guys invariably use ICs from vendors we’ve never heard of for their preamp gain. The discrete transistor preamp sections of all Hegel integrateds give them the deeply seated musical soul we audiophiles crave.

There’s more. Hegel’s digital technology is more advanced than the main stream evil empire out there.

All Hegel integrateds have its SynchroDAC design. The on board DAC is synchronous, not asynchronous. There is more to the story, but in short, their DACs are CLEANER than your average bear. The other guys upsample or process in the digital domain. Hegel doesn’t. Hegel’s SynchroDAC shakes hands with the native signal to reveal more than fancy processing can.

This is depicted in more clear, dynamic sound. Hence even before we discuss the line stage and amp sections, Hegel has an advantage over “everybody.” Digital inputs include USB-B, 3 OPTs and one Coax.

Yep, I’m promising that if you run a $500 to $1k CD player or streamer into H-120, you’ll hear it sounds significantly more alive and dynamic through the H-120 DAC, than the DAC in the source component itself. And, we have a demo to prove this! You don’t have to just take our word for it. Please visit. I’ll do the comparison for you. You’ll hear the difference in a snap of the fingers.

H-120 has two sets of RCA analog inputs as well as XLR inputs. It has RCA analog outs in case you’re thinking of subwoofers.

H-120 is the latest integrated to take advantage of all these Hegel attributes. At $3000, you’ll find it will drive the vast majority of speakers beautifully, perhaps even MAGICALLY.

H-120 is ideal for getting the most out of high testosterone/smooth sounding speakers like Brystons.