Hegel H190 Amplifier Review

How much difference in performance do you really get when you upgrade something like a Hegel H95 (£1,500) to a Hegel H190 (£3,200)? Also, how much better is the H190 to the previous model, the H160 (£2,450 in 2016)? I find out...

Link to manufacturers webpage

Link to my Patreon

Time stamps:
Start 0:00
Design &features 1:54
Technical insights 3:28
Sound quality 6:28
Setup & partnering equipment 10:02
Conclusion 12:19

[marantz]

Been into high end audio since 1974---- best channel on you tube in detailing the differences among our gear-Thank You

[leonjones]

You explain in more technical terms than U.S. audio enthusiasts. This is better for me.

[HPPG]

Great review and honest reliable opinion on products.

[lights]

Great video, very professionally done. You were one of about 3 reviewers who convinced me to buy the H190 and so happy I did. The Hegel DAC made a large improvement to my otherwise great sounding Marantz CD player. Didn't think it could sound any better but the improvement was very noticeable. I'm using the coaxial cable. When I did an A/B comparison for my wife who does not care about sound quality, she picked the Hegel's DAC every time. I'm using the Hegel on Arendal 1723 Monitors and what a great match indeed. On a side note, I really like your listening room, very elegant looking.

[spark]

Once again, well done Tarun! Please continue with the comparisons. This sets you apart from many audio reviewers. I appreciate the fact that there is no “best” and the gives and takes then allow the consumer to make a judgement call on what’s most important to their system (or budget). Keep up the good work! While I do like to hear a several takes on products, I have found that I listen less to some channels and will keep those that challenge the product and me. Cheers!

[brown-eyedman]

Thank you Tarun for another informative and entertaining review.
And everyone else, this guy provides so much information, clearly presented in an entertaining manner, do the Patreon thing. It's worth it.

[antonchigurh]

Thorough and comprehensive as always! I particularly enjoy your deep dives 'under the hood' as it were. Excellent.

[frankygoossens]

I'm always been a big Hegel fan, i went from H160 to H360 and now H590 with Focal Kanta 2, sounds awesome!👍

[kriswhitman]

Thank you Tarun for your detailed review. I am looking to upgrade my entire system that I have had since 2002. It was good gear for early 2000's but technology has moved on. It is amazing the number of choices in the integrated world. Today a lot of talk about the purify amps that some manufacturers are deploying in their gear like NAD. As an engineer I tend to have analysis paralysis and tend to over research things. One thing I notice is I wind up seeing and hearing a lot about Hegel. I am not familiar personally and have never had the opportunity to audition their gear. No local dealer so it would be a leap of faith. I have watched many Hagel reviews online, yours being very good, and they all have very positive things to say. What I have not heard is a negative review of any Hagel which tends to make me feel better about considering them without being able to hear them. I am looking at the H190, which is how I found your channel, and the H390. My new speakers are a fairly easy load at 8 ohms and 87db sensitivity. Looking forward to your review of the H390. Thank you for your in depth review of the Hagel line.

[doctorbritain]

Love the "deferred gratification" quip at the end...

[korling]

Nice point regarding upgrading and deferred gratification. Young or old, it’s something we should all think about.

[steverees]

Hi Tarun. You stick to the way you do your reviews, as it is by far the best way so the likes of myself can get a better understanding of how something might perform. You are up there with the best of the reviewers. Interesting review and shows that Hegel are listening to their customers. I also like the way you recommend system matching. Keep up the great work my friend. 😁

[marianrevus]

I had bought H190 month ago but it is without second small toroid. They had to redisgn it reacently.

[XanaduAE]

Great review yet again Tarun! 👏👏👏 Your no BS no buttering up views are what makes your channel so very highly regarded I’m certain! You are spot on always and your command over the English language is enviable not that it should matter to most on an audiophile platform but your choice of words and precision diction is the icing on the cake! “To the Manor Born “ kind of polished approach to everything ‘sound’😉…( But hey that’s Y it’s called a British Audiophile right!)besides your in-depth and thorough views it brings that extra to the table…A learning experience nonetheless in so many ways! One can see this channel going only one way … 👍👍👍

Awesome stuff Tarun! Truly 🍻🍻🍻

Keep growing Sir!
Best Regards

[alexherceg]

Thanks Tarun! Interestingly I did an H120 vs. H190 test a few weeks ago. I found the same conclusions as you... I was expected to be blown away but the soundstage expansiveness was maybe 5-7% different (it was there but very slight), but indeed the bass was tighter and more dynamic. I think as you get into these power levels with quality amplification it’s about system matching. Many speakers can deal with an H95 and sound just fine. Many floorstanders need an H190 minimum. It’s really about how much power you need. The digital section of these amps is excellent - hard to beat unless you’re spending north of 1, 000 EUR/GBP/etc. on an external DAC. It’s all about knowing your speakers (current and future) and matching the input. Manufacturers love to sell us much more power than we need, but having enough is important.

[constantin]

My experience with a Hegel Rost (predecessor of H120) in comparison to Marantz receiver with KEF speakers was that Hegel completely removed the 9 to 3 o'clock imaging around and above each speaker, but in it's place it created a dead center powerful soundstage focused on vocal frequencies while leaving bass notes out of soundstage. It's like listening to a 5.1 setup Dolby movie where almost everything is in center but some effects come out of left and right speakers.

[PaulC-tuci]

Hi Tarun, really enjoyed that video, and your channel in general. Very interesting to see the comparison of the amp interiors too. Keep up the good work!

[filipviljamaasvensson]

Early thumbs up to show my appreciation for your opening statement, thank you!

[fts]

Hey Tarun, great videos recently. I haven’t been commenting much, but watching them thoroughly. I’ll be writing more soon.
But you keep topping yourself, congrats!

[goodboid]

I wish you'd have spoken about the headphone outs as well. You'll of course need two sets of headphones to do that. A low impedance phone like the Focal Clears and a high impedance pair like say a Hifiman Arya or a He1000se. A lot of people are ditching headphone amps for these more powerful setups. The headphone world deserves your crystal clear reviews!