Integrated Amp Reviews

Hegel Music Systems H160 integrated amplifier Manufacturer’s Comment

Editor: We are really happy to read this review, our first in Stereophile. We are particularly happy to have the quality of our DAC confirmed. We have worked really hard on designing a DAC with very low noise and very low jitter levels, without going through the roof on cost. Obviously, we needed to make a few sacrifices; eg, as John Atkinson mentions, on 88.2kHz over USB to meet the price target. But the lack of asynchronous USB is intentional, as we believe we can achieve even lower jitter levels with our solution.

We also read that Herb Reichert was missing an extra analog input. We are happy to inform you that you can actually change the Home Theater input to a regular analog input. You can do this from the menu settings. Unfortunately, this was not explained in the early manual that accompanied Herb's review sample, so he couldn't possibly have known.—Anders Ertzeid, Director of Sales and Marketing, Hegel Music Systems

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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