Hegel vs Pass - can anyone describe the differences?

[MDP]

I personally think that the H30 will pair perfectly with your Magico speakers. The Hegel has a way of bringing much needed 'soul' to music. It's a very,very special amp !

[Mike]

I had a good chance to listen to the Hegel H30's last night and I still plan on doing the stereo vs mono test later this week. After about 6 hours, they were sounding damn good. I switched from the Classe CP800 preamp to the VAC Preamp and it was a different presentation: more roundness to the instruments, increased texture, vocals were more forward, etc. It was good evidence that tubes in the chain somewhere (if not everywhere! ) can produce some positive results.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[just dave]

I prefer this Heigl.

[the professor]

I won't tell. But a couple weeks ago, I hooked the Lumin straight into a Parasound A21 and i was shocked how good it was. Absolutely shocked.

Thanks! I'm already enjoying them in a (very) less than ideal setup. Lumin direct into the Parasound A23...shh don't tell the audio gods.

[AVjim]

Thanks Mike , glad to see traffic picking up on here . Keep up the good work !

[bthomas9]

I had a good chance to listen to the Hegel H30's last night and I still plan on doing the stereo vs mono test later this week. After about 6 hours, they were sounding damn good. I switched from the Classe CP800 preamp to the VAC Preamp and it was a different presentation: more roundness to the instruments, increased texture, vocals were more forward, etc. It was good evidence that tubes in the chain somewhere (if not everywhere! ) can produce some positive results.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Yah...but what speakers were you using Mr. Secretive?!?!?

[Mike]

Yah...but what speakers were you using Mr. Secretive?!?!?

Strads

[joeinid]

Strads

[bthomas9]

Strads

yah...those are OK looking. Pictures required.

[Dafos]

Strads

Hi mike, you have the Strads again? Btw, let me chip in my 2 cents worth. I was able to hear a direct comparison of the 100.5 vs H30 driving Dynaudio temptations. Preamp was a ref 5 SE. The Hegel was definitely faster, more open, and bass was tighter and better controlled. But I have to say I preferred the the warmer and more seductive midrange of the pure class A Pass amp. So it's really a matter of taste. At the end of the day though, both amps were, IMO, outperformed by the d'agostino monoblocs and the Krell 402e which my friend ended up buying to replace his XA 100's.

[Mike]

Yes, and to be honest, I should never have sold the first pair. I thought the Aida's would be better and they weren't (in my room) and I moved to Raidho D3 v1's, Alexia's, etc ) and all were problematic in my room because of my room). The Strads are back and sounding better than I remember.....and no bass issues!

[Mike]

I understand. I wouldn't worry about having just the one H30. The sound will probably be purer in stereo and there's plenty of power. I know I wouldn't be considering the monos!

Ok, Ian, you were asking about one H30 vs two. Well, there is no contest. One is better. It doesn't even sound like the same amp. I just can't explain it. Robert Harley was right. Everything he said about one vs two was spot on.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[bthomas9]

Ok, Ian, you were asking about one H30 vs two. Well, there is no contest. One is better. It doesn't even sound like the same amp. I just can't explain it. Robert Harley was right. Everything he said about one vs two was spot on.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

how are the Strad's liking the Hegel? The Elipsa SE's were on my hit list before I came into the S1's...who am i kidding they still are on my list.

[Mike]

how are the Strad's liking the Hegel? The Elipsa SE's were on my hit list before I came into the S1's...who am i kidding they still are on my list.

With one H30, it's a terrific match. I'm also noticing little to no difference in SPL measurements vs preamp volume setting (for what that's worth) comparing one to two. Quite frankly, I'm surprised at the difference. Night and day. All the magic goes away with two. With one, it's there in spades. I have found that sometimes, stereo amps sound better than their mono counterparts.....but I wasn't anticipating this dramatic of a change.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[bthomas9]

Dumb luck by Hegel designers that their mono amp sounds great (better) as a stereo amp?!?! Or we meant to do that...lol. Makes me feel good that it seems to mate up well with a decent range of well regarded speakers Raidho, Magico, Sonus Faber, etc. Now to find me a pre-amp.

[madfloyd]

Thanks for the update, Mike!

[joeinid]

Love the way you think.

how are the Strad's liking the Hegel? The Elipsa SE's were on my hit list before I came into the S1's...who am i kidding they still are on my list.

[Mike]

Thanks for the update, Mike!

I'll obviously give the monos a little more time and continue to A:B. Who knows? But first impressions favor the stereo.

The monos have a more dynamic attack and I felt better spacing around the instruments. The stereo is softer, smoother on top, warmer with more midrange bloom. I haven't noticed a big difference between monos and stereo as far as bass is concerned. Perhaps tighter and more controlled with the monos - which is what you would expect.

[bthomas9]

I'll obviously give the monos a little more time and continue to A:B. Who knows? But first impressions favor the stereo.

The monos have a more dynamic attack and I felt better spacing around the instruments. The stereo is softer, smoother on top, warmer with more midrange bloom. I haven't noticed a big difference between monos and stereo as far as bass is concerned. Perhaps tighter and more controlled with the monos - which is what you would expect.

which preamps have you used? Still prefer tubes? Do you still have the Classe (again)?

[Mike]

which preamps have you used? Still prefer tubes? Do you still have the Classe (again)?

Classe CP800 and VAC. I'm trying both. To further confuse things - I prefer the cp800 with one H30 and the VAC with two!

I have some other audiophiles over listening now. They are as confused as me. The difference is quite substantial. There are things the monos do better (so far the group feels the monos sound bigger), the stereo sounds smaller, but more focused.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[bthomas9]

Classe CP800 and VAC. I'm trying both. To further confuse things - I prefer the cp800 with one H30 and the VAC with two!

I have some other audiophiles over listening now. They are as confused as me. The difference is quite substantial. There are things the monos do better (so far the group feels the monos sound bigger), the stereo sounds smaller, but more focused.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

How'd the rest of the listening go Mike? What sources did you use or like?

[Mike]

How'd the rest of the listening go Mike? What sources did you use or like?

The consensus was the stereo had a warmer tone, better imaging and was smoother on top. The monos sounded slightly bigger and more dynamic.

The winner: the stereo

Sources: Lumin S1, Kronos Sparta/Benz Micro LP-S/ARC REF2SE

[the professor]

Thanks

You just never know until you try things in your system.

[msommers]

Hi all. I'm at a bit of a crossroads for no other reason than audio curiosity and itchiness

I have a Hegel H360 but tossing around the idea of changing that to a Pass INT-60. The move would cost me about $5,000CDN.

Heard my Hegel on some very nice Tannoys, seem to really like their sound. But most of these are semi-efficient which has me thinking more class A as the H360 seems like overkill.

Thoughts on these two amps?

Sadly there is no way to audition without paying expensive shipping once I get serious.

[steve59]

BUMP, thread killer! Bring an int to the party and everybody walks away being nearly a year later I doubt you're still around but, I demoed the H190 last weekend and if you don't need the 250 wpc of the h360 I would say give this new int a listen.