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Hegel H120 or H190

Hello!

I’m considering getting an Hegel integrated amplifier. I like their sound, they are in my budget range and they feature the functions I will use. Because of my budget, I’m considering a H120 or a H190, used or new. H390 and H400 are out of my budget I think.

After several tests, I would say the H190 sounds slightly better (wider soundstage, more precision) but it’s not day and night though so I am still wondering what to do because it is also much more expensive, whether used or new.

I’d like to know your thoughts about that, if any of you had the two and used them over the course of several weeks or months.

Speakers are B&W CM1 (bookshelf); I’ll probably upgrade them within 2 or 3 years. I rarely listen to my music above 80 db and the room is about 17 square meters.

Thank you very much for your ideas!

boozendormi
curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
5,987 posts
 

If you can find a H190, then go for it.  Great bang for the buck! 
 

All the best.

aewarren
785 posts
 

@gkelly +1    To avoid the rabbit hole make sure your new amp, whichever one you pick, will play nicely with your future choice of speakers.

grislybutter
3,627 posts
 

Try the Hegel H360 used

no, it would make zero sense

greenngoldcheesehead
102 posts
 

The H190 is overkill for the room - but if you ever plan to move the system to a larger space it would be the smarter purchase.  Looking at a couple of sites - the used H190 sells for $600 to $1000 more than the H120.  There are many more H190s available.  I would spend an extra $6 to $700 to get the H190 now.  I wouldn't spend $1000 more, however.  Put that towards your CM1 replacements.  If you want a small room system now,  I'd get the H95 or H120 and a pair of used canton reference 9k, dynaudio specials or even larger fyne F502's I saw online for sale.  Good luck !

boozendormi OP
20 posts
 

Thanks everyone for your recommendations!

I'm not planning to move anytime soon - so power should be enough with either amps for now. I'm more concerned about the overall sound quality of the two amps, for now given the fact that a future speaker upgrade could reveal more sound qualities than the CM1 are doing now.

So the H190 is overkill for the room and maybe the H120 is too but what about their sound? I can't find any significant information about a design change from one amp to the other that could "objectify" a step forward in SQ.

I know that listening by oneself is the rule of thumb but after several tests I'm beginning to be a little confused so other people opinions could help.

The H190 sounds a little better to me with some tracks but it may as well be placebo effect...

Or maybe the way to go is to upgrade the speakers first, then find the right amp!

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