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Hegel H390 DAC

I hesitate to add yet another DAC related thread but I haven't seen this particular question asked before, so....

After owing an H390 for a year, I just got around to listening to it's onboard DAC. What?  Huh? Why? I was biased -- convinced I wouldn't like because it wasn't described by reviewers as overtly"warm", like my Aqua La Voce S2.

As someone who always advocates making buying decisions based on listening, I feel quite sheepish making this confession but as this is an audio forum, not group therapy, I'll move on to the main point.  

I was shocked to discover I actually prefer the Hegel's DAC to the Aqua. In my system, in my room, it is more transparent, smoother and more effortless. And, to my surprise, it conveys more emotion. 

The only downside is that the Hegel's DAC is somewhat leaner in the mids than I'd prefer.

Question: which outboard DACs have a similar but more fleshed-out sonic profile under 7K, new? 

 

 

 

 

stuartk

Showing 1 response by yage

yage
400 posts
 

@stuartk

I ran across this little tidbit using Google (link)

This a response from Christian Bakken at Hegel when I asked him the same question about XLR and H390.
“Hi Rob,
Please note that there is absolutely no point in using XLR connectors unless the signal path is balanced, all our XLR outputs and inputs are balanced. "Fully balanced" is a pleonasm, a circuit is either balanced or not.
Best regards
Hegel Music System AS – Oslo, Norway
Christian “

The Aqua La Voce S2 specs note ’asymmetric’ XLR output. That seems to imply that it is not a balanced output but a voltage doubled single ended output using an XLR connection. So probably not an ideal situation for the amp’s balanced inputs from Hegel’s point of view.

Here's an article explaining the difference between balanced and unbalanced connections - link.

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