Hi-Fi Choice

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5
ust as I’d got accustomed
to the idea of Hegel’s H190
or H360 being the ‘go-to’
powerhouse integrated
ampliers (reviewed HFC 394 and
401 respectively), along comes a
beast of a big brother in the form of
the H590. Rated at just over 300W
per channel into 8ohm, it’s really not
unfair to think of the Oslo-based
company’s agship design as a total
control freak that likes whatever
loudspeaker is attached to do exactly
as it’s told. On paper it looks to be 20
percent more powerful than its closest
DETAILS
PRODUCT
Hegel H590
ORIGIN
Norway
TYPE
Integrated ampliier
and DAC
WEIGHT
22kg
DIMENSIONS
(WxHxD)
430 x 171 x 445mm
FEATURES
l
Quoted power
output: 2x 301W
(8ohm)
l
32-bit/384kHz
PCM/DSD256 DAC
with MQA support
l
Analogue inputs:
3x stereo RCAs; 2x
stereo balanced XLRs
l
Digital inputs: 1x
BNC; 1x coaxial; 3x
optical; 1x USBB;
1x Ethernet port
l
Outputs: 1x ixed
stereo RCAs; 1x
variable stereo
RCAs; 1x digital BNC
DISTRIBUTOR
Hegel Music Systems
TELEPHONE
00 47 22605660
WEBSITE
hegel.com
Master and
commander
Promising irresistible power and total
connectivity, Chris Ward checks out
this potent reference integrated ampliier
sibling – the H360 integrated – but
when you appreciate that the power
reserves can increase to around
2.2kW into tougher loads, you realise
it ranks as one of the most powerful
integrateds available. Under the lid
are 12 ultra-fast, high-power output
transistors per channel delivering a
remarkable sure-footed grip, and with
Hegel being one of the manufacturers
that extols a very high damping factor
(over 4,000), the amp is unfazed by
even the most challenging loads.
Hegel’s design aesthetic can be
considered understated compared
with some, but the H590 possibly sets
a new benchmark with its ‘less is
more’ appearance. Many high-end
agship component designs often
include an element of visual ‘bling’
to indicate their top-dog status, but
if anything Hegel has gone the other
way with a stark monument to
performance over frippery. I love this
unassuming ‘Q-car’ approach, which
underlines a devotion to music over
hi-. In short, if you favour racing
stripes and uffy dice on your
‘wheels’, this sort of Norwegian
restraint may not appeal. Lifting the
hefty 22kg integrated into place
conrms the engineering excellence,
yet it’s not actually all that much
heavier than the H360 – thanks to the
use of a new all-aluminium bodywork
chosen to reduce any potential
magnetic interference.
The front panel is completely
uncluttered with just a simple logo
and clear white OLED display anked
by twin control knobs for source
select and volume level adjustment.
Inputs can also be cycled through
using the purposeful metal remote
that also controls volume as well as
some digital playback. Where the
front is spartan, the back positively
bristles with connectivity with three
RCA unbalanced inputs alongside
twin balanced XLR ins and an
extensive array of optical, coaxial,
USB and network connections, as well
as digital out and line level output
options. The H590 enables AirPlay or
Spotify Connect via its network input
and will act as a media renderer with
any suitably equipped UPnP/DLNA
media player.
As with the H360, there is no
headphone output or phono stage.
Speaker connections are super sturdy
and accept any cable termination and
are connected to my Cadence Arca
loudspeakers via Black Rhodium
Foxtrot cables (HFC 412). Sources are
Métronome Technologie’s Le Player
2S (see p50) connected via balanced
XLRs and RCAs using Black Rhodium
Sonata VS-1 interconnects (HFC 398)
and a MacBook Pro via Chord
Company’s USB SilverPlus (HFC 407).
The system is left to warm up before
any listening starts but despite having
what seems like enough power to
heat my whole house, it remains
Nordic cool throughout the process.
Sound quality
Playing Work Work by Clipping from
the Tidal Masters streaming service
via USB, the Hegel’s clear display
instantly registers the MQA signal and
sample rate. Some high-end DACs
feel like they demand a degree in
programming to work, but the H590
refreshingly plays immediately, with
the minimum of fuss.
The introductory metallic chimes,
samples and percussion are simply
mesmerising. This track positively
sparkles with detail. Vocals have extra
body and presence and a real three
dimensionality that seems to let you
hear around the performance in a
new way. The bass line drops in and
the H590 shows who’s the boss. My
Arca loudspeaker is an easy load, but
even so the extra control of the bass
drivers is noteworthy. Bass is properly
deep and luscious with lashings of
texture as it presses the lowest notes
1
2
3
4
5
6
Fixed and variable
RCA outputs
BNC digital input
and output
1x coaxial and
3x optical
digital inputs
USBB port
3x stereo RCA
analogue inputs
2x stereo XLR
analogue inputs
into every corner of my listening
space without any sense of
uncontrolled ab. This is a big track
that can excite any room, but here
I’m getting all the bass depth and
muscle, seemingly without any extra
fat. The dynamic chorus lls out a
vast soundstage with such a spatial
image I feel I could wander through
the group and add a solo. Hegel’s
audio designers have always blazed
their own trail to reduce distortion
and increase dynamics in novel ways,
but the H590 sets a new benchmark
and although I know this track very
well, I don’t think I’ve ever heard
it sound quite so good.
Shifting down a gear to Love Will
Tear Us Apart by June Tabor and
Oysterband on CD into one of the
H590’s analogue inputs, the picked
acoustic guitar exquisitely conveys
every tiny, fretted nuance and ringing
harmonic detail. Tabor’s breathy voice
is completely compelling and utterly
three dimensional, full of expressive
texture yet without any dryness or
grain. The H590 feels so composed
it effortlessly teases out the quietest
details that other ampliers might
leave in the noise oor. The H590 just
feels like it has more contrast, more
resolving power, more light and shade
and a richer palette of colours to mix
from. John Jones’ pure voice joins the
mix and his words are projected with
such clarity, body and presence that I
can place his assured delivery to the
CONNECTIONS
The H590 is one of
the best integrated
ampliiers at this or
any price point
J
HEGEL
H590 £9,000
EXOTICA
HEGEL
H590 £9,000
EXOTICA
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