Integrated amplifiers — Hegel H400

The H400 is a streaming integrated amplifier with a built-in DAC from Hegel, nicknamed the Streamliner and positioned between the entry-level H150 and the flagship H600 reference integrated in the brand's Norwegian-designed lineup. This model shares its bit-perfect DAC and dual-mono architecture with the larger H600, bringing much of that reference-tier engineering down to a more accessible price point.

Key specs that matter

One balanced XLR and two unbalanced RCA analogue inputs are provided, alongside two coaxial (one RCA, one BNC), three optical, one USB and one Ethernet digital input. Maximum output power is 250W per channel into 8 ohms in a dual-mono Class AB configuration, stable down to a demanding 2 ohm load. Frequency range is 5Hz to 180kHz. Signal-to-noise ratio exceeds 100dB with channel separation also exceeding 100dB. Distortion is 0.005% at 1kHz, 50W into 8 ohms. Damping factor exceeds an exceptional 4000. The onboard bit-perfect DAC uses the ESS Sabre ES9038Q2M converter, the same chip found in the flagship H600, supporting USB at 32-bit/384kHz and DSD256 via DoP. Streaming covers Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, AirPlay, Google Chromecast, UPnP and Roon Ready, though notably Hegel deliberately omitted Wi-Fi and Bluetooth from the chassis specifically to avoid antenna-induced high-frequency noise entering the sensitive audio circuits. At 430 x 150 x 440mm and 20kg, this dual-mono design uses a custom transformer with dual power windings feeding independent high-speed rectifiers for each channel.

Sound and use context

Expect a detailed, agile sound delivering both punch and finesse - Hegel's SoundEngine technology uses local adaptive feed-forward error cancelling rather than conventional global feedback, a distortion-correction approach the brand says preserves original detail and dynamics more faithfully, and the H400 won the EISA Premium Streaming Amplifier 2024-2025 award.

Pairing

The exceptional damping factor exceeding 4000 suits demanding loudspeaker loads particularly well, and the deliberate wired-only network design rewards a genuine Ethernet connection over any wireless workaround for the cleanest possible streaming performance.

Alternatives

Hegel's flagship H600 sits above this model with 303W per channel, two balanced inputs and the precision volume attenuator from the brand's standalone P30A preamplifier, worth the further investment if this H400's already substantial 250W output still leaves ambitions unmet