Mr Peabody
Well-known member
I assume the 590 is better overall than the 360 but is the character the same Hegel house sound, or, is there some actual departure??
Hegel 590
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steve59
Member
The h360 really made the mids in my salon1's come alive compared to the parasound a21 and several other amps that I couldn't tell apart from each other. I would probably be smarter buying an h20 to bi amp my speakers since sometimes it really is power that brings out the most in speakers.
Mr Peabody
Well-known member
Steve, my local Hegel dealer carries Revel, that is his favorite combo as well. He sold the Salon2's and is using the new 228b for now. Before that he used the Salon2's and really liked the synergy there.
Just my opinion, I personally liked the Performa 2 series better than the 3, the Ultima is more like the 2. The 3 series to me has a more full or less controlled bass that I believe benefits from the Hegel.
Just my opinion, I personally liked the Performa 2 series better than the 3, the Ultima is more like the 2. The 3 series to me has a more full or less controlled bass that I believe benefits from the Hegel.
steve59
Member
I bought a PAIR OF F52'S after demoing the f208 and them side by side even though i conceded the f208 was more open and the drivers better integrated i still preferred the f 52 and if I owned the hegel at that time I probably would have been set. The salon2's are overkill for my room and income.
Mr Peabody
Well-known member
I heard the 590 today. It was driving Revel 228b where a 360 had been. In my opinion the 590 is a departure and pretty big improvement over the 360.
Where is it a departure, larger sound stage, the high end is more in the mix where it should be, most older Hegel models seem to have the cymbals pulled back a bit. man does the 590 have some clout in the bass, it's not intrusive but it hits hard, sound stage is more open and airy. Don't go thinking the 590 went all warm & fuzzy, it's not, however, I found it to be better tonally balanced with somehow smoother mids & highs. I say "somehow" because the highs are more prominent than in older models yet easier to listen to.
I brought my DAC the HD30, I compared it to the built-in DAC of the Levinson 526 and the 590. Really the main differences between the 590 DAC and HD30, the HD30 is old school Hegel with a bit more condensed sound stage and highs were more back in the mix, the 590 DAC even had better bass control.
I know the 590 isn't a budget unit but it is a bargain at the price, considering the DAC, IMO, edges out my HD30 which retailed at nearly half the 590 cost, and, the amp section is a monster. I was impressed.
Maybe not exactly relevant to this thread, I also heard and know there's a difference in renders. During this listening session we tried a couple of streamers feeding the same external DAC and one was clearly better sounding.
Where is it a departure, larger sound stage, the high end is more in the mix where it should be, most older Hegel models seem to have the cymbals pulled back a bit. man does the 590 have some clout in the bass, it's not intrusive but it hits hard, sound stage is more open and airy. Don't go thinking the 590 went all warm & fuzzy, it's not, however, I found it to be better tonally balanced with somehow smoother mids & highs. I say "somehow" because the highs are more prominent than in older models yet easier to listen to.
I brought my DAC the HD30, I compared it to the built-in DAC of the Levinson 526 and the 590. Really the main differences between the 590 DAC and HD30, the HD30 is old school Hegel with a bit more condensed sound stage and highs were more back in the mix, the 590 DAC even had better bass control.
I know the 590 isn't a budget unit but it is a bargain at the price, considering the DAC, IMO, edges out my HD30 which retailed at nearly half the 590 cost, and, the amp section is a monster. I was impressed.
Maybe not exactly relevant to this thread, I also heard and know there's a difference in renders. During this listening session we tried a couple of streamers feeding the same external DAC and one was clearly better sounding.
rrwmd
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DaViD Boulet
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From what I'm reading from everyone who's had the chance to compare, the amp section sounds comparable to Hegel's already-great amps (H30 etc.) but it's really the DAC that's improved notably... and from what you say... better than the HD30.
Since the HD30 is their stand-along statement-DAC... it seems odd that it would remain out there as-is while the built-in DAC of their new 590 integrated ups the game. I wonder if Hegel has plans to release a new stand-alone DAC using the new architecture (eliminating pre-ringing and gaining MQA capability etc).
I've got an H30 amp and HD30 DAC... and if Hegel has plans to bring their new DAC architecture to a stand-alone product... it might make sense to keep the H30 amp and later pair it with the better DAC... otherwise... I'm tempted to swap out that combo for a 590 integrated
What do you think?
Thanks!
-Dave
Welcome to the forum Dave, thank you for joining.
From what I'm reading from everyone who's had the chance to compare, the amp section sounds comparable to Hegel's already-great amps (H30 etc.) but it's really the DAC that's improved notably... and from what you say... better than the HD30.
Since the HD30 is their stand-along statement-DAC... it seems odd that it would remain out there as-is while the built-in DAC of their new 590 integrated ups the game. I wonder if Hegel has plans to release a new stand-alone DAC using the new architecture (eliminating pre-ringing and gaining MQA capability etc).
I've got an H30 amp and HD30 DAC... and if Hegel has plans to bring their new DAC architecture to a stand-alone product... it might make sense to keep the H30 amp and later pair it with the better DAC... otherwise... I'm tempted to swap out that combo for a 590 integrated
What do you think?
Thanks!
-Dave
- Thread Author
- #30
Hi Dave - welcome. We have the 590 and it’s terrific. The DAC in it is no joke. It’s the real deal. It’s like getting a $10k sounding DAC and only paying $1k more for the amp/preamp!!
I think we have the best selection of integrated amps in the country and the Hegel 590 is right up there with the best of the best.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I think we have the best selection of integrated amps in the country and the Hegel 590 is right up there with the best of the best.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I heard the H590 Wednesday on Vivid Audio Kaya 45s.
It was so good that I might buy it in the near future.
It bettered a 30K stack of separates by a large margin.
Hegel H590 + a pair of good speakers and you have a terrific system for 25-30K!
It was so good that I might buy it in the near future.
It bettered a 30K stack of separates by a large margin.
Hegel H590 + a pair of good speakers and you have a terrific system for 25-30K!
Hi Dave - welcome. We have the 590 and it’s terrific. The DAC in it is no joke. It’s the real deal. It’s like getting a $10k sounding DAC and only paying $1k more for the amp/preamp!!
I think we have the best selection of integrated amps in the country and the Hegel 590 is right up there with the best of the best.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Mike, an awesome trio!
The Hegel, T+A and Gryphon are also my top 3 integrated amps in the 10-25K range.
Mr Peabody
Well-known member
I've not heard the H30, just compared DAC'S. The 590 could be a good move. I have a friend who drives KEF ref 5's with the 590 so I believe the 590 should have plenty of power.
Nice line-up there Mike! I'm looking for a new integrated to drive my KEF Ref 5s and the 590 comes highly recommended, it seems the Hegel is a good match with KEF. I'm also considering the Gryphon Diablo 300, but not able to demo it with the speakers. How do you think it compares to the 590?
bluegrassphile
Member
Hi Dave - welcome. We have the 590 and it’s terrific. The DAC in it is no joke. It’s the real deal. It’s like getting a $10k sounding DAC and only paying $1k more for the amp/preamp!!
I think we have the best selection of integrated amps in the country and the Hegel 590 is right up there with the best of the best.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
That rack of amps is extremely impressive. All heavy weight stuff figuratively and literally.