Интегральные усилители — Hegel H390

Hegel of Norway built the H390 as a dual mono integrated amplifier that combines a power amplifier, a preamplifier, a DAC and network streaming in one case. Hegel positions it as a product offering much of the performance of its Reference models at a lower price, and it now appears among the discontinued products on the maker's website. Its British list price was GBP 4,900.

Key specs that matter

Rated output is 2 x 250 W into 8 ohm at 1 kHz and 1% THD. Distortion is below 0.005% at 50 W into 8 ohm and 1 kHz, intermodulation stays under 0.01% with a 19 kHz and 20 kHz test signal, and crosstalk is lower than -100 dB. Hegel gives the signal to noise ratio as above 100 dB and frequency response as 5 Hz to 180 kHz. The damping factor of the main power output stage exceeds 4000. Analogue sources connect through one balanced XLR input and two unbalanced RCA inputs. Digital inputs comprise one BNC coaxial, one RCA coaxial, three optical, one USB and one network connection. The amplifier stands 14.5 cm high, 43 cm wide and 44 cm deep, and weighs 20 kg.

Engineering and use context

The amplifier section is built on SoundEngine 2, a patented Hegel technology. The company compares it to a noise cancelling headphone, since it samples the signal and subtracts the distortion it detects. The digital section is described as bit perfect, meaning the music signal is not altered whichever input it arrives on, and the digital clocks down-clock when a low resolution file is received. The digital board is based on the one in the H590 and uses the same AKM AK4490 converter chip with a minimum phase, fast roll-off filter. MQA is decoded on the USB, BNC, optical and coaxial inputs, DSD64 is accepted over S/PDIF and the USB port goes up to DSD256. Network playback covers Apple AirPlay and UPnP, and Spotify Connect arrived through a free update. The H390 has neither a headphone amplifier nor a phono stage, and the mains section is configurable for 100, 120 or 230 V AC.

Pairing

Line level outputs are provided on RCA sockets in two forms, one fixed and one variable, next to a BNC coaxial digital output. Hegel lists IP Control and Control4 among the supported control protocols, both delivered as free updates, so the H390 can be operated from home automation systems.

Alternatives

The Hegel H590 is the larger integrated amplifier in the range whose digital board served as the basis for the H390, and it is built in a full aluminium chassis.