Hello, having only briefly listened to a Hegel amp, I was impressed. This was at a dealer, paired with some big PMC's. But these two units must be compared by their versatility and appearance too. Any piece of stereo gear that's this expensive should be considered on all its merits; and the Accuphase just does so much more than the Hegel. My E-470 has an option board for digital inputs as well as a phono board, and in all respects it is a lovely yet powerful integrated. The Hegel is handsome, and I'm sure some would prefer it. I, however, find the Accuphase to be a gorgeous stereo component.
~Regards
Oran
~Regards
Oran