Hegel comparison

US Audio Mart has a 590 rated excellant for $5500. I would not hesitate to buy a Hegel amp used.  IMHO

@cundare2  I have owned both the 390 and 590. While the 390 is an excellent amp, the 590 just took everything to that next level of performance.  The video posted by @stuartk is on point.  From a value standpoint the 390 is hard to beat. 

@avanti1960   It's funny how people obviously hear different things.  I have owned the 390, 590 and currently run a pair of the H30s.  You can see my system in my details.  The sound is warm, luscious and several other superlatives I could throw in.  None of your criticisms have been apparent in my system(s) using Hegel amps.  I have combined them with GoldenEar Triton Reference,  Acoustic Zen Crescendo Mark ll, Focal Sopra 2 and lastly with SoundLab Majestic 745 speakers.  I'm not saying you didn't hear faults in dealer systems, just saying others couldn't disagree more.  That's why I find it so hard for anyone to be giving advice here.  There's just no guarantee the next person or the next system or the next listening room is going to prove a recommendation is correct.  IMHO.  Cheers. 

🤣

@avanti1960   We simply hear different things.  I believe the vast majority of comments on Hegel amps run to the positive.  I have never read a review of Hegel amps that ran to the negative.  I know many put no faith in reviews but that's another story.  You don't like Hegel amps, don't buy one.  I take all recommendations with a gain of salt as the variables are so many.  Cheers. 

@avanti1960  I'm sure we could do this all day.  Here's what The Absolute Sound had to say about the H30

Conclusion

The Hegel H30 is not just a great-sounding amplifier, it’s also a tremendous bargain. I know I’ll get letters complaining that a $15k power amplifier by definition can’t be a bargain. But what else can you call a $15,000 amplifier with massive output power, unflappable stability, and a gorgeous musical presentation that vaults it into a select league of world-class power amplifiers? Or one that is fully at home in the context of my reference system that includes the $54,000 Basis Inspiration turntable and $94,000 Focal Stella Utopia EM loudspeakers?

As adept the H30 is at all aspects of portraying the music, it’s the H30’s rendering of midrange and treble textures that makes this amplifier a standout. The Hegel coupled a warmth and lushness of timbre with tremendous clarity and resolution, a combination that is rare in an amplifier of any price. The sense of timbral realism and palpability was world-class by any measure. Moreover, it’s difficult to overstate just how greatly these qualities induced a sense of ease and deep musical involvement.

If your amplifier budget is anywhere near $15k, the Hegel H30 should be on your short list of products to audition. You may find, as I did, that this unassuming and understated black box contains a Scandinavian surprise.

I owned three different Hegel amps and loved them all.  

@kennymacc   I'm confused by your statement "I have no experience with the H590s internal DAC"   Are you saying in all the time you've owned the 590, you've never run your digital feed through it and compared the sound to whatever DAC you are using?  That just strikes me as rather strange. IMHO

@kennymacc   Ok, I get your point, but aren't you just the least bit curious as to how the 590 DAC compares to your reference DAC?  I have done the comparison with DACs that were supposed to be on a whole other level, only to find I couldn't hear the difference.  Maybe it's just my ears.  I would be interested in your detailed comparison between the 590 and whatever your reference DAC is.  I suspect others who are considering the 590 would also benefit from your comparison.   But hey, that's just me.  Cheers.

Fair enough.