Connecting External DAC's and Pre-Amps to Hegel Integrated Amplifiers?

I owned the H590, but can't remember the connections.  My simple answer is you should be able to do everything you want.  Fire off an email with your questions directly to Hegel.  They are quick to respond and will give you the correct advice.  Cheers.   

@bassdude  Giving this some more thought, if you are using an external DAC, the output from that device comes out as an analogue signal, using an RCA or XLR cable.  Using the appropriate input, you will be bypassing Hegel's internal DAC.  If you have a straight CD transport for example, you would be using a coax cable and the Digital Input option.  Now you're back to Hegel's DAC.  

Thanks for your suggestions.

After experimenting a bit - I was able to do the following:

1. Connect an external DAC to the Rt and Lft channels of the H590 - which did improve the sound quality over the internal DAC, quite a bit (a Schitt Yggdrasil OG).

2. Connect the Bryston BDP 3 to the H590 via a BNC cable - which sounds good, but not as great as the Yggdrasil OG (which has more of a live "tube-like" sound).

3. Connect the ARC 5Se Tube Pre-amp to the analog XLR connections of the H590. However - that seems to function with both the external pre-amp and internal pre-amp operating simultaneously (the volume controls function for both at the same time). While it sounds good... It doesn’t seem to sound as clear as with just the internal SS pre-amp of the H590, or as the ARC 5Se Tube Pre-amp does with my other speakers.

I’ll confirm with Hegel in Oslo.

By the way... the H590 seems to enhance the quality of the sound from the Maggies by a factor of 100% - just amazing clarity and control, improving the resolution, dynamics, bass, soundstage, imaging, etc. Improving the bass to the point that you can feel it, and it rattles the windows - very deep, tight and big - very much like box speakers.  And... that's just with the LRS+, which now sounds like the OCD HiFi Guy described them on YouTube - as good as some of best speakers at any price.  I'll have to see if they do the same for my Magnestand 1.6 Maggies.

@bassdude  My last three amps have all been Hegel.  Currently running a pair of the H30 Mono Blocks.  I don't think Hegel gets enough credit for building great equipment.  I've put them up against some very high quality, and much more expensive tube amps, that couldn't beat the sound of Hegel.  The H30 will be with me til the end.  Cheers.

@bassdude  -  You are very close to what you want to setup.  You need to use the Hegel in Home Theater (HT) mode.  According to the manual you can configure it this way.  That way you are only using the Hegel's power amp side.

1.  Connect all your digital sources to the external Yggdrasil DAC

2.  Connect the external Yggdrasil DAC's output to the ARC preamp.  You will have to select/change between the digital inputs using the Yggdrasil DAC's selector.

3.  Connect any non-digital sources to the analog L/R connections on the ARC preamp.

4.  At this point, your ARC preamp is handling ALL source inputs.

5.  Connect the L/R outputs of the ARC preamp to the analog inputs on the Hegel (use either XLR's #1 or Analog #1)

6.  Configure the Hegel for Home Theater (HT) mode.  I believe all you have to do it select the input connection the ARC preamp is connected to and turn the volume knob to full output (i.e. max).  BUT CHECK WITH HEGEL THAT THIS IS ALL YOU NEED TO DO FOR HOME THEATER MODE.

7.  Use the ARC preamp to adjust the volume, etc.  And that should do it.  You are now using only the amp section of the Hegel.

- Jeff