Why not review some Hegel amps?

[watchnerd]

you are probably in it for very silly reasons

I am in it for silly reasons.

Perhaps not those particular silly reasons, but definitely for silly reasons.

After all, I have reel to reel tape decks as part of my equipment.

That's just silly in 2020.

(My desktop DAW is my non-silly, serious, workhorse rig. But it's not as amusing.)

 

[direstraitsfan98]

When I expressed my displeasure on the deceptive marketing practices of Hegel it was to basically respond to the thread title. Personally, I have no interest or desire to see Hegel stuff measured when there’s other, more interesting companies Amir can spend his time on.

Besides, there already exists very detailed measurements. The amps aren’t anything special and would actually place on the low end of the list when stacked up against other amps Amir has already reviewed. And lest we forget, the absurd price tag of this thing. They’re going for $14,000 CAD last I checked, before the “standard” 1/3 dealer discount. To say nothing of the build quality of the units. I’m sure the Hegel amps are well made, made in China or not. Just don’t charge me an arm and a leg and pretend it’s manufactured in Norway when it’s not.

Here is the measurement from soundstage. Note how miserable the dac section measures: https://www.soundstagenetwork.com/i...ac&catid=97:amplifier-measurements&Itemid=154

 

[BikeSmith60]

I'd be comfortable paying a low to modest amount of money for a DIY / Purifi amp. It's cheap and light.

I'd also be comfortable paying lot more for a Luxman, Accuphase, Levinson, or Nagra. They're hefty and built like tanks.

The Hegel, though, gives you the build quality close to the Purifi, and the price of the Levinson.

That's something I have a hard time reconciling.

And...no tone controls, EQ or DSP possibilities. WORSE YET, no balance control. So the Hegel will throw a perfectly centered image on only "perfectly centered recordings" and in all our various home/domestic listening environments? Not for me, thanks anyway.

 

[Helicopter]

When I expressed my displeasure on the deceptive marketing practices of Hegel it was to basically respond to the thread title. Personally, I have no interest or desire to see Hegel stuff measured when there’s other, more interesting companies Amir can spend his time on.

Besides, there already exists very detailed measurements. The amps aren’t anything special and would actually place on the low end of the list when stacked up against other amps Amir has already reviewed. And lest we forget, the absurd price tag of this thing. They’re going for $14,000 CAD last I checked, before the “standard” 1/3 dealer discount. To say nothing of the build quality of the units. I’m sure the Hegel amps are well made, made in China or not. Just don’t charge me an arm and a leg and pretend it’s manufactured in Norway when it’s not.

Here is the measurement from soundstage. Note how miserable the dac section measures: https://www.soundstagenetwork.com/i...ac&catid=97:amplifier-measurements&Itemid=154

Plus, you could just get an Opera Consonance for less money.

 

[BDWoody]

Based on the measurements I've seen that John Atkinson took of my DAC I'm not the least bit worried that it would rank in the top, my fear isn't that it might be out done however, as it would be any damage or loss during shipping, never mind the time without it, and the hassle of removing it from my system and being with out it for a week or more.

What could go wrong?

https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...-200-amplifier-dac-and-streamer-review.12286/

Not sure if you'd stumbled across that thread yet, but that was fun.

 

[watchnerd]

And...no tone controls, EQ or DSP possibilities. WORSE YET, no balance control. So the Hegel will throw a perfectly centered image on only "perfectly centered recordings" and in all our various home/domestic listening environments? Not for me, thanks anyway.

You better stay away from most tube amps, too, then.

 

[watchnerd]

What could go wrong? .

https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...-200-amplifier-dac-and-streamer-review.12286/

Not sure if you'd stumbled across that thread yet, but that was fun.

Things like this make me want to hold on to my Devialet because it's so polarizing.

 

[DSJR]

Plus, you could just get an Opera Consonance for less money.

I'm seriously not chllenging here, but can we guarantee a Consonance (A100?) is similar or the same insifde?

 

[watchnerd]

I'm seriously not chllenging here, but can we guarantee a Consonance (A100?) is similar or the same insifde?

Well this is the A120:

Oh, look....a random vacuum tube.

 

[watchnerd]

no balance control

Who needs balance control when you can set it at the cartridge or the tape deck?

 

[TimF]

You gotta love this image from their website. A picture of an amp, on the floor, not connected to any speakers, next to a Bauhaus book. Can't get much more Scandinavian than that.
View attachment 76080

Regarding the ad showing the Hegel amp on the floor with the books and painting also on the floor, is that a big neti pot to irrigate the nose also on the floor?

 

[watchnerd]

Regarding the ad showing the Hegel amp on the floor with the books and painting also on the floor, is that a big neti pot to irrigate the nose also on the floor?

I thought it was a bong.

 

[MDAguy]

What could go wrong?

https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...-200-amplifier-dac-and-streamer-review.12286/

Not sure if you'd stumbled across that thread yet, but that was fun.

yeah, I'll pass on that potential drama.... stuff looks, sounds and works good sitting right here in my over priced, Italian made audio rack!

 

[direstraitsfan98]

yeah, I'll pass on that potential drama.... stuff looks, sounds and works good sitting right here in my over priced, Italian made audio rack!

Going to upgrade to HRS one day?

 

[MDAguy]

Going to upgrade to HRS one day?

oh? is that the overpriced German stuff? lol...

 

[MDAguy]

oh? is that the overpriced German stuff? lol...

oh, never mind, mixed it up with another over priced brand... this stuff is made in the USA!

 

[DSJR]

Well this is the A120:

Oh, look....a random vacuum tube.

I have to say I did a double take with the A100 front panel...

 

[Helicopter]

I'm seriously not chllenging here, but can we guarantee a Consonance (A100?) is similar or the same insifde?

No, we are just assuming (reasonably) because the cases and functionality are the same. For Chinese made gear, I like the Chinese designs and brands better anyway, so that is what I would do. We know how much talent there is in China.

Why involve a Western firm at all if they can't even make things themselves?

Why would they make the Western market version better?

I know there are possible reasons, but personally, I would rather just get a 120V version of something initially designed for the Asian markets.

 

[carlob]

Seven pages of trashing a brand without any evidence, just based on assumptions or personal idiosyncrasies. (Almost) everybody knows that a number of Consonance products are designed by Bent Holter.

BTW I don't own any Hegel product and have no plans to buy one in the future.

 

[watchnerd]

(Almost) everybody knows that a number of Consonance products are designed by Bent Holter.
.

Who is Brent Bent Holter?

And, no, I didn't know that and have never heard of the guy.