Integrated Amp Reviews

Hegel Music Systems H160 integrated amplifier Associated Equipment

Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment

Analog Sources: Acoustic Signature Wow XL, Pioneer PLX-1000, VPI Traveler turntables; Grado M+ Mono, Ortofon 2M Black, Soundsmith Carmen, Zu Audio DL-103 cartridges.
Digital Sources: Puresound A-8000 CD player; Halide HD, Line Magnetic LM 502CA DACs.
Preamplification: Blue Horizon BN:09-11-009, LFD, Schiit Mani, Soundsmith MMP3 phono stages.
Integrated Amplifiers: Line Magnetic LM518 1A, Rogue Audio Sphinx, Simaudio Moon Neo 340i.
Headphone Amplifier: Schiit Asgard.
Loudspeakers: DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/93, Falcon and Rogers LS3/5As, KEF LS50, Morel Octave 6.
Headphones: AKG K812, Audio-Technica ATH-M50x, Grado RS-1.
Cables: Interconnect: AudioQuest Cinnamon & Big Sur & Golden Gate, Auditorium 23, Kimber Kable Silver Streak. Speaker: AudioQuest Type 4, Auditorium 23, Kimber Kable 8TC. AC: Manufacturers' own.
Accessories: Sound Anchor stands, Hunt EDA Mk.6 record brush, Dr. Feickert Analogue Universal Protractor.—Herb Reichert

COMPANY INFO
Hegel Music Systems
US distributor: Hegel Music Systems USA
Springfield, MA 01060
(413) 224-2480
www.hegel.com
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
Allen Fant's picture
Submitted by Allen Fant on June 5, 2015 - 7:33pm

Owners, how are you guys liking this amp?

avanti1960's picture
Submitted by avanti1960 on June 6, 2015 - 3:31pm

Sound of the unit is unfortunately not relevant for me- I have components that need unbalanced analog connections and this amplifier is glaringly short on supply.

John Atkinson's picture
Submitted by John Atkinson on June 8, 2015 - 5:04am
avanti1960 wrote:
I have components that need unbalanced analog connections and this amplifier is glaringly short on supply.

The Home Theater input can also be used as an analog input; see the "Manufacturer's Comment."

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

GQ's picture
Submitted by GQ on June 7, 2015 - 1:50am

I have owned very good and expensive audio equipment’s for over 15 years and I have this amp for few month now and I must say that I am so impress from its sound.

This amp is so powerful and smooth

I using it with commuter and jriver and I forget that I have a big collection off CDs and vinyl

jorgen's picture
Submitted by jorgen on June 13, 2015 - 5:02am

I know that there is no "best" amplifier. But I just read the review of the Creek Evolution 100A and as I am in the buy for a new amp for my Harbeth SHLs 5, start to wonder which one of those (Hegel 160 and Creek) would work best with these nice speakers ?

tiborm's picture
Submitted by tiborm on August 8, 2015 - 1:39am

Hello
This is a beautiful amp indeed. I am looking for a new amp for my Tannoys DC6T SE.
Could you compare it to Cambridge Audio 851A please? Do they have similar sound signature?
I would go for the cheaper model Hegel H80 if you prefer it more, because of the built-in dac.
Thank you guys, I appreciate it much :-)

abuhannibal's picture
Submitted by abuhannibal on August 25, 2015 - 5:57am

I had walked into the shop having barely heard of Hegel, and had really just asked to audition one other amp. When I arrived, they had the Hegel, Ayre AX-7e, and Rogue Pharaoh connected to the Vandersteen Treos. For various reasons I walked in pretty much expecting to buy the Rogue - I ended up with the Hegel instead. The Rogue was very nice and with a different pair of speakers I may have preferred it, but damn, the H160 was doing something very right indeed with the Treos. I do find the 3 analog inputs to be a little limiting - in fact it was really the only thing about this amp that made me hesitate. I would probably have elected to forego the internal DAC, which I likely won't use or will use only temporarily, for another analog input. But the sonics were so spot-on that I decided I'd rather connect up an external switchbox if necessary than go with one of the other amps. YMMV of course. But I think this one is really special.

hififanatik's picture
Submitted by hififanatik on April 26, 2016 - 5:17am

I have this amp for 2 months now, and it plays wonderful! The hifi vendor was nice enough to let me try one for a few days at home, it played with my KEF LS50 extremely well, in my 50 sqm living room the sound had incredible bass, I repeat, with bookshelf speakers, something that my Arcam A19 or Accuphase E211 could never reach, not even close, as if the bookshelf speakers were hooked up with very well integrated & fast subwoofers. After that I decided to order one H160 together with the GoldenEar Triton One, which at first sounded really bad (boomy bass, no sounstage), but after a proper burn-in the sound changed completely (in my own experience the burn in really changes the sound dramatically, they played 10 hours / day for ¬ 40 days), now it sounds wonderful together with the GoldenEar. Speed, soundstage and incredible bass.

I have 2 dacs at home, Arcam Irdac and Audiolab M-Dac and I think the Dac inside H160 works better with the amp than those 2, just better integrated, easier, smoother and non-non fatiguing to my ears.

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