Help me replace my Hegel HD10

[MichaelSa]

My beloved Hegel HD10 is toast and I need to replace it with something. I have had it for about 15 years. I think I paid roughly 1200 EUR for it.

I wouldn't consider myself a high end listener. Maybe above average. I don't know if the HD10 was neutral or maybe "warm". But I do know that I loved the sound. The problem with not being a "high end listener" is that I have a hard time distinguishing good from great on the spot, I need some time. Due to this fact I'm afraid I'll choose a DAC which I will not love over time like the Hegel.

This is my setup:
Preamp: Myryad MP 100
Amp: Myryad MA 240

Speakers: Amphion Helium 520 + REL T5 sub

Roon endpoint:
Raspberry Pi 3, RoPiee XL, Allo DigiOne

I want to feed the DAC with S/PDIF from the DigiOne.

It seems as the DACs has evolved quite a bit in 15 years. I suppose I could get more bang for the bucks nowadays. I would prefer to pay max 600 EUR for a new DAC.

Does anyone have any suggestions for my shortlist?

 

[Doodski]

The problem with not being a "high end listener" is that I have a hard time distinguishing good from great on the spot, I need some time. Due to this fact I'm afraid I'll choose a DAC which I will not love over time like the Hegel.

I am going to leave the selection of a DAC for you to others. I do want to emphasize that a DAC if properly designed (Pretty much all of them are.) does not have a sound and does not have coloration. The frequency response is flat as can be from DACs and so they sound the same if properly designed.

 

[Mr Swing King]

You’re quite right; the recent performance of dacs has indeed gone through the roof. The key thing though is that none of these upgrades are really audible, maybe except for better filters/dsp.
Properly designed dacs don’t have a sound. In fact you’re going to find it hard coming across any that aren’t transparent to the human ear.
You can get transparency for as low as a 100€…but maybe you want something that also looks nice.
Edith: ninja’d by Doodski

 

[Doodski]

I am adding a image of the rear panel so people can see the connections available on the back of your pre-amp.

 

[MichaelSa]

The DAC will live behind my other equipment, so looks is not important at all. Preferably without any buttons. I don't want a DAC which reverts back to the default input source after a power outage. I only have one source.

I was just looking at SMSL SU-1. Can it really be true that a 100 EUR DAC could match the Hegel HD10?

 

[Mr Swing King]

The DAC will live behind my other equipment, so looks is not important at all. Preferably without any buttons. I don't want a DAC which reverts back to the default input source after a power outage. I only have one source.

I was just looking at SMSL SU-1. Can it really be true that a 100 EUR DAC could match the Hegel HD10?

Trust me, if you’ve levelmatched the two and put a blindfold over your eyes, you won’t be able to tell them apart

 

[Matias]

Hegel DACs are AKM based AFAIK. If you want to stick to them, I would suggest one from SMSL or Topping.

 

[MichaelSa]

Thank you!
This is really good news. I thought I was in for a new journey which would land around 1000 EUR. The technology deflation is really great for tech nerds =)

 

[Matias]

Or... Get a DAC with preamp, connect directly to the amp, and sell your preamp?

 

[Roland68]

Or... Get a DAC with preamp, connect directly to the amp, and sell your preamp?

But there aren't many DACs with a real preamplifier function, the first ones that come to mind are RME ADI and Topping DX9, both over €1000.
The usual digital volume reduction via the DAC chip is extremely dangerous for the speakers and not good advice.

 

[vuittion]

What exactly is dangerous about digital volume. And please dont tell me its because of one isolated incident.

 

[Galliardist]

The DAC will live behind my other equipment, so looks is not important at all. Preferably without any buttons. I don't want a DAC which reverts back to the default input source after a power outage. I only have one source.

I was just looking at SMSL SU-1. Can it really be true that a 100 EUR DAC could match the Hegel HD10?

Based on other Hegel DAC measurements, I'd put money on the HD10 not being that good, but with either inaudible faults or maybe noise with headphones.

You have no need to worry about the low cost accurate DACs. I would probably get one with fixed output in your situation, because the preamp appears to be responsible for some gain that may be needed.

It may be a good idea to check that the output numbers for the new DAC approximate those of the Hegel's as well to maintain similar operation, assuming the volume control worked OK before.

 

[DSJR]

Knowing (and loving when I sold them) the earlier Myryad gear (this pre-power was very good indeed I remember) and bearing in mind the dac will be hidden from view, I think you'd be amazed how good the cheapo SMSL SU1 actually is. It's an *appliance to convert digits to analogue* and if bought from a reputable supplier, could always be sent back if you simply can't get on with something so inexpensive

PLEASE don't equate dac performance with the retail costs these days, as up to say £/$250 or so, it's facilities and display functions and so on. Over this with one or two notable exceptions such as RME I believe, one is paying for more luxurious casework and a 'nicely woven story' from the maker. When you bought your Hegel dac, this scenario may not have been as clear cut as it is today...

So PLEASE, try something 'cheap-as-chips' as the SU1 at least to start with, get some short RCA cables to connect it round the back (I bought some custom 25cm Van Damme cables for not much more than it would have cost me to buy the parts and make 'em myself - Schiit Pyst cables would do as well I'm certain)) and a wall-wart to USB-C power supply if not using the computer (the SU1 seems pretty much supply-immune as most dacs are today). For a ton including wires and wall-wart, it may well surprise you as it did me... My SU1 powers up on the input previously set, so you shouldn't have to fiddle all the time.

SMSL SU-1 Stereo DAC Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the SMSL SU-1 stereo USB DAC. It was arranged to be sent to me by shenzhenaudio from the company and costs US $79.99. Despite its simplicity, the SU-1 manages to look elegant with nice fonts and LED indicators for different inputs. Back panel has...

www.audiosciencereview.com

IF the dac is going on show, then obviously, something a bit posher looking may well be in order. Two (why so effin' many in the range) SMSLs have been properly tested just this last week or so and there's more from this make, let alone Topping and I have to say I have a sneaky respect for modern Schiit dacs (the Modi+ is on sale in the UK distributor - a new one coming?).

Schiit Modi + Graded Stock

Buy your Schiit Modi 3e online, directly from Schiit UK, The Authorised EU retailer offering 2 years warranty.

www.schiit.co.uk

 

[Roland68]

What exactly is dangerous about digital volume. And please dont tell me its because of one isolated incident.

This has already been discussed in several threads by victims and the problem is really easy to understand.
Every DAC chip has a default output of 0 dB, which is how it starts when switched on. With the usual suspects, the volume is reduced via a DSP function in the DAC chip.
Guess what happens if the DAC chip resets to default values due to an error, e.g. firmware, voltage fluctuations, EMC/static discharge, etc.?
It's not something that happens all the time, but it can happen.
It's just like if you're in a car pointing a loaded and cocked gun at someone and driving on a bad road, you know Pulp Fiction, right?

Anyone who uses these DACs in this way is responsible if their speakers or headphones are damaged as a result. In the worst case, with headphones, it can even damage your hearing.