OK-- I think I get it, now...

@ozzy:

Congratulations! Just remember there are some here that will tell you (brow beat) that all amplifiers sound the same. Crazy, ain’t it…

Yeah; just like "all DACs sound the same" !  

@russ69:

"Just be sure to enjoy the ride."

You mean,  now that I'm experiencing a "new high" , there may be be "new lows" , as well?   Darn. . . didn't think about that !    ;o)

@jerryg123:

Yessir-- no point in denying it, now !

@rocray:

Good one!

@bjesien:

Excellent suggestion!

@tooblue :

"Just remember that it was the music that led you to better gear, not the other way around and you will be fine and rewarded"

Words well worth keeping in mind! 

@ghdprentice:

 "To me, what my system does best is communicate the music. I seldom listen to my system… I am engrossed in the music, the emotional content". 

Now that's what I like to hear from guys who've been at this a long time!

@decooney:

"... hopefully after you are past the point of listening to components and sound, you'll get back to being a music lover. A great place to start and end". 

Well, I 've never stopped being a music lover-- it's just that now I understand that "audiophile" and "music lover" can be like the ying/yang symbol-- each one present within the other as portions of a greater whole.

@fuzztone: 

Thanks for the positive vibes! 

@nonoise:

Patience is not one of my strong points but I'm pretty good when it comes to obssession  ;o)  or, "persistence: (a less pathological term).

I've had quite a few guitars in and out of my hands over the course of 45 years or so and I guess that same  drive to find satisfying tonality got transferred over to audio.  Still need to get the interconnects right but yes, this is indeed, lots of fun

@jafant:

Always good to hear from you, J. A.!

 @noromance:

No. I haven't, because I know it's bound to be more forward than my Aqua. The Hegel can sound a bit lean in the mids with some CDs, using my current A. Zen silver ICs. I'm expecting delivery tomorrow of some A. Zen Absolute Coppers that should provide fuller mids and will try the on-board DAC with those in the system. 

I'll be very surprised if I prefer the on-board DAC, based upon reviewers comments but we'll see...

Do you mean listen to the on-board DAC without eq...or ???

.. 

@sgreg1:

I appreciate your thoughtful observations. This is by far the most I've ever spent on a component--- even though its open box status lowered my cost. There is a lot of discussion here about fairly pricey gear. This can lead to a feeling of alienation for those of us who might come to believe we are merely beggars camped outside the castle walls who'll likely never have the means to  acquire the "keys to the kingdom". It's easy to forget that the real "key" is, as you assert, focusing on enjoyment of the music, not on shiny metal boxes or depth of sound-stage. At the same time, it's not productive to dismiss those who have the resources to chase the nth degree of resolution as merely gear-whores who are deaf to the music. Looking back, I see now that I fell into this as a sort of coping mechanism. 

It's becoming increasingly evident to me that this hobby (such a benign word for something that can so easily get so out of hand) requires a fairly delicate mental balancing act, if one is to remain sane. 

And of course, the degree of sonic revelation I'm now experiencing is very much relative to my own experience. I have little doubt that many here, were they to hear my system, would be a good deal less impressed, simply because they've heard better, which leads nicely to your final point about your ears being the only ones you need to impress. 

I've found your comments helpful-- thanks!  

@knotscott:

"There’s a certain level of realism we each need to convince our brain and ears that there’s music in the room".

Yes-- and this is a lot clearer to me, now that I'm actually experiencing that sense of realism. 

@erik_squires:

"I'm definitely on the opposite spectrum.  Being an audiophile brings along a series of expectations others want to put on me and I could not care to be bothered". 

Not sure exactly what you mean, here, Erik, by "opposite spectrum". 

I believe the healthiest approach is for each person to define for themselves what "audiophile" or "music lover" means or doesn't mean. For a long time, I viewed these as polar opposites. I'm a creative person and stubbornly independent in terms of trusting my own esthetic perceptions. In terms of gear, I've never had large amounts of cash to spend, so I've typically had to go with gear from smaller, lesser-known manufacturers. The Hegel is an exception-- I simply could not find another piece that fit my criteria, so when I found the open box unit with a return policy, I jumped on it.  

@artemus_5:

"In the pursuit of more excellent sound, it’s easy to want to upgrade which can be as much a side ways move without good research".

Yes. In this regard, I have two limiting factors working in my favor: 1) I find upgrades exhausting and 2) I can't afford to upgrade often ;o)

@sgreg1:

What you describe, about familiar music sounding "new", is indeed what I'm experiencing with the Hegel. It's as if I got a new set of speakers as a free bonus with the Hegel. The benefits of well matched amplification and speakers are clearly on display every time I listen. 

Happy Holidays to all !

@hshifi:

"Very smart purchase"

Well, it was for me anyway-- not necessarily for everyone. It's not the most detailed amp nor is it as warm as First Watt or some tube gear. My goals were improving bass control and resolution (without the unwanted side-effect of fatiguing highs) and the Hegel dishes up both, in spades. I honestly had no idea that an amp upgrade, by itself, could result in such dramatic results. It's always nice when a piece of gear exceeds one's expectations, right? 

@millercarbon:

Thanks for the "reality check" !

@mahler123 :

"So different strokes for for different folks"

This is true among ardent audiophiles, let alone the uninitiated, no? .

@hshifi:

"What I have learned about Hifi is that the amp can be very important. What is more important is the preamp. It is the heart and soul of your system"

Having never owned separates, I can't comment but I'd guess Hegel would say it's all about their proprietary Sound Engine technology that compares the signal coming out of the amp to the signal coming into the amp and using phase-inversion, "cancels out" the difference (distortion). 

"I hope you keep enjoying it for a long time"

Thanks!  Unless I win the lottery -- in which case I might be tempted to buy the H590 -- I can easily visualize the H390 being my last integrated. 

Hah!  

Here is a summation from the designer. . .