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"Best choice" among Hegel 120, Moon 250i and Rotel 1572MKii

Narrowed my new integrated search down to some good dealer demos among Hegel 120 and Rotel 1572MKii and a new Moon 250i. All seem to be solid Class AB amps with good sound power ratings between 50-75 WRMS and good current and better than the average, i.e. 1 step above entry level boxes. Have heard none as I live in Hawaii. Gon members have variously recommended all 3 before to me or others in same use case. Focused mostly on the analog side, good reliability, better than average sound. I have heard none of these and have no option to do so out here in Hawaii. Will be used in a 14 x 14 room with 8-18 foot soaring ceilings running variously Ohm Walsh 2-100s or Kef R300s for a few years running at lower volume levels 90% of the time. The digital side of things is addressed and listening is 75% CDP 25% streaming via a Wiim Ultra for now to all kinds of electric and acoustic music and voices. These 3 units seem to occupy the neutral to slightly warm sound profile, which is ok with with me. If the DACs are good that is nice but otherwise I will look at buying an outboard down the line if needed. CDPs are Marantz ND8006 or Sony SACD 5400ES, both of which sound good to me. May upgrade speakers down the line as I do like Kef R3 Meta and in a great economy Reference 1s. But, that is 1-2 years out or never. I have read some comments that the H120 is "not true" Hegel and lower sound quality? Very little on the Moon, mostly professional reviews,  though everything seems to indicate their stuff is very good and likely the best of these 3 brands. Rotel seems to be good sounding, lowest in quality of the three,  but has the benefit of higher power and can handle 2 sets of speakers which is a plus. Just curious if there is anything anyone sees as something missed or some egregious fault with the logic. Appreciate all input. Mahalo. 

joekapahulu
thriftyaudio's avatar
thriftyaudio
126 posts
 

Lots of choices. Check out https://www.hifishark.com/search?q=integrated

 

 

rick_n's avatar
rick_n
351 posts
 

Aloha.  I don't know anything about Rotel but there are some functionality differences between the Hegel and Simm amps.

The Hegel has built in streaming capabilities and DAC but no phono stage.

The Simm has an onboard phono stage but no onboard streaming.

I think that you will find the sound signature pretty close between Hegel and Simm.

Good luck.

hgeifman
2,351 posts
 

I suggest you add the Musical Fidelity M6si amp to your list l    The M6si is considered a high-value, high-performance amp that delivers true high-end sound quality.   I own this amp and like it very much.  Please see:

”The Musical Fidelity M6si is widely regarded as a great sounding integrated amplifier. Reviewers consistently praise its effortless, transparent, and dynamic sound, with a balance of precision and musicality that remains impressive even at low listening levels. It delivers high power (220W per channel at 8 ohms), making it capable of driving virtually any loudspeaker with ease.

The amp is noted for its exceptionally low distortion, wide and stable soundstage, and strong, punchy bass. Its presentation is described as open, spacious, and clear, with a neutral midrange and a touch of warmth in the lower mids, making it both revealing and enjoyable for long listening sessions.

Users and reviewers also highlight its versatility, extensive input options (including phono MM/MC and USB), and build quality. Some personal preferences may find it a bit lively or slightly warm, but overall, it competes favorably with amps costing significantly more.

The M6si’s musicality stands out due to several key design and performance features:

• It achieves a rare balance of precision and warmth—delivering detail and dynamics without sounding analytical or harsh, and providing weight without becoming sloppy.

• Its internal architecture uses two completely independent monoblock power amps with a separate preamp, resulting in wide, stable stereo imaging and channel consistency that surpasses typical integrated amplifiers.

• The amp maintains extremely low distortion across all frequencies, including high frequencies where many other amps falter, preserving clarity and musical detail at all volumes.

• The sound is described as effortless, clear, and ungrainy, with a punchy, fast, and controlled bottom end, contributing to its engaging and natural musical presentation.

• Exceptional channel separation and a high signal-to-noise ratio further enhance its ability to reproduce music with depth and realism.

These factors combine to give the M6si a musicality and ease that set it apart from many competitors in its class”.   

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