Hegel H120 Integrated Amplifier

DESCRIPTION

Introducing the H120 

The Intelligent Amplifier from Hegel

Standing on the shoulders of GIANTS, the H120 carries forward the proud history of HEGEL amplifiers. The multi award winning designs that over the years have dazzled listeners with their combination of raw dynamics and delicate naturality. The H120 carries that legacy with it, but in a smaller and more affordable package.

"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants" - said Isaac Newton in 1675.

Without comparing themselves to Isaac, Hegel would like to make the claim the same for the H120. It is a relatively affordable integrated amplifier that would not have been possible, were it not for its brothers leading up to its design.

The Hegel H120 is a small step up from their entry level amplifiers in terms of price, but it is a solid step up in features and performance. The significantly larger power supply creates a more dynamic sound and for combining with large loudspeakers presenting more challenging drive loads. The digital section is taken directly from its bigger siblings, and this is really the core of the H120. Typical user of the H120 as people are into digital music streaming. Bang for buck, the H120 does that better than anything else.

The digital-to-analog conversion is of the highest quality in the H120, with technology crafted from the ground up by Hegel. Taking full control of the digital data stream, using technology developed from their reference products, ensures digital music delivery in its purest form.

The result is perfectly natural sound, without any artifacts that make you want to turn the volume down. The H120 has Apple Airplay, Spotify Connect, IP Control, Control4 and upnp streaming. More features are already in progress and will be offered at no cost, using the easy software update functionality. All inputs are configurable for volume bypass, so you can integrate in a home theatre or with (for example) a Bluesound or Sonos.

Whatever you want, you can do it with the H120.

The H120 uses the Hegel SoundEngine 2 amplifier platform allowing a damping factor higher than 2000 together with extremely low distortion levels. Details about the SoundEngine can be found on hegel.com. In many ways it works like a noise cancelling headphone. It compares the output of the amplifier with the input. It detects all the sound pollution (distortion), and plays this forward into the speaker output, but in reverse phase. Like 1 minus 1 equals 0. It cancels out all pollution in real time, leaving you with only the most natural sound. 

About Hegel Music Systems

Hegel's story began in 1988. Bent Holter, then  a student at the Technical University in Trondheim, Norway decided to do a thesis under the original design of the transistor used in amplifiers, that would cure the problems of traditional hi-fi systems. 

The early 90s were a period of initial prosperity for the brand. First, they ensured the patented solution known today as SoundEngine. Later a DAC was developed (1994) and the first CD Player came (1996). Over the next eight years, the company steadily improved its product range and generated more profit year on year. When the financial crisis came, most companies immediately took a defensive strategy which meant cutting costs. Hegel played differently. He hired new engineers to design devices. Sometime later, brand new D/A converters were born.

Today Hegel is one of the best-established brands in the hi-fi market, producing integrated, pre and power amplifiers as well as some of the most modern and sophisticated DACs. The company has dealers in 53 countries and its products are sold all over the world. Awards and press reviews speak for themselves.

Technical Specifications

Power output
2 x 75 W into 8 Ω

Minimum load
2 Ω

Analog Inputs
1 x balanced (XLR)
2 x unbalanced (RCA)

Digital Inputs
1 x coaxial (RCA)
3 x optical
1 x USB
1 x Network

Line level Output
1 x unbalanced variable (RCA)

Frequency response
5 Hz - 100 kHz

Signal-to-noise ratio
More than 100 dB

Crosstalk
Less than -100 dB

Distortion
Less than 0.01% @ 50 W/8 Ω/1 kHz

Intermodulation
Less than 0.01% (19 kHz + 20 kHz)

Damping factor
More than 2000 (main power output stage)

Dimensions including feet (HxWxD)
10 cm x 43 cm x 35 cm 

Shipping weight
12 kg

Finishes
Black
White

 

*This information has been obtained from Manufacturers website. We advise that Features & Specifications are subject change from Manufacturer without notice.

E&OE

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