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"Blown away by KEF/Hegel combo!!!!"

The other day, I visited my local Magnolia Home Theater at Best Buy.  At the far  end of a large room, was a very simplified audio system, which consisted of only one component and a pair of speakers.  The speakers were KEF Blade One Meta, and the lone component was the newer Hegel H600 integrated amp.  I have owned a Hegel H590 integrated for several years now (I us an outboard DAC with it), which drives an incredible pair of Revel Salon 2 speakers, with phenomenal effect, so I was fully aware of how wonderful Hegel products are capable of sounding.  But now, I got the chance to hear the H600 (as an all-in-one using it’s internal DAC) with a pair of the world-class, IMHO, KEF Blade One Meta speakers, and I was extremely excited about it.  The source was Roon/Tidal.  As I sat there and the music of  my choosing began to play, all I can tell you is that this was one of the most incredible sounding audio systems I’ve ever heard, and I've heard quite a few in my day!!!!  The sound was super dynamic, wonderfully detailed and transparent, the bass was phenomenal, the soundstage was tall and wide with much depth and separation and coherency, beautifully natural, smooth, lush and full sounding, and it was also easy on the ears, and not in any way bright sounding.  For me, it was pure heaven!!!  I could’ve sat there all day long and listened to that incredible system.  I was absolutely blown away by that simple (but expensive) audio system!!!!  Happy listening.                    

kennymacc
deep_333
2,434 posts
 

Hegel 600, price = 13k to 14k

Hmmm, doesn’t quite look a lot like 13k to 14k, eh?

 

 

Here’s a Michi Rotel, i use in a room from time to time, similar power category and features or more comparable to that hegel, let’s say, but, the price = 8 to 9k these days.  Nevertheless, it came with some of the late Ken Ishiwata’s influence wrt achieved fidelity levels.... in spite of the high power.

(One has to wonder some days about the press and the prose....wait for the "synergy" talk to commence any moment now...)

 

The thread got a confused start because......ya put anything, even a donkey in front of a kef blade and it will still sound good. I am sure the OP’s positive experience at the store was legit.

 

 

 

 The "Snake Oil" comment was directed at the marketing... 4000 damping factor, no nonsense aesthetics, the anonymity of who/where its manufactured. All this mysterious marketing hype is fine until you take the thin cover off the top and you have a replica of GNR’s Spaghetti Incident album cover, build quality must be a cost cutting afterthought for Hegel.

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kennymacc OP
723 posts
 

@deep_333 

It was no coincidence that the Hegel/KEF combo sounded so excellent to my ears, which I trust better than anyone else's, the brilliant Hegel H600 had a lot to do with it.  I absolutely loved the sound, as I do with my beloved Hegel H590 and Revel Salon 2 combo (I us an outboard DAC).  Happy listening.

mapman's avatar
mapman
23,598 posts
 

I’ve heard Michi on the better current day KEF reference meta monitors and was won over there.  I’m sure Blades are even better. 
 

A friend has a very nice pairing of Hegel amplification with comparable Sonus Faber speakers.  Also very nice but like comparing apples  and oranges. 

kennymacc OP
723 posts
 

@dayglow

Obviously, we have differing interpretations and opinions on what musical refinement, musical flow, and what natural and organic music reproduction sounds like.  Some music lovers prefer a more neutral, natural, detailed, and transparent sound with just enough warmth, which is why I opted for Hegel.  Others prefer (I presume your in this camp) a more rolled-off highs, more euphoric, sort of loose bass, less detailed and transparent sound.  Well, who’s right, and who’s wrong?  Certainly not me, and certainly not you Lol!!!  Happy listening.            

 

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