So I just bought a Hegel H390 and


I am building a new system and I just bought a H-390.  It should arrive by the end of the week.  I want to get new to me speakers to go with it. So if you’ve have or have had a Hegel H-390 or a H-590,  what speakers under $10.000 sounded the best.  And I guess I should probably get some wires also.  Nothing crazy, but not zip cord.

Thanks.

JD
curiousjim

Showing 2 responses by surfcat

We went from the H360 to the H390.  You should really like the Hegel.  A few points, if I may.  
It needs to break in.  So don't be flipped out if is sounds dull and un-engaging when you first set it up.
It needs to be on for about an hour, even after break in, to sound its best.  Cold it's a little "dull".  We leave ours always on.  We're bad people.
In our system it drives a pair of Focal Sopra 2's.  The music is effortless.  Mostly orchestra, chamber, rock n roll like phish, .moe, Dead etc.  It loves to play loud but is also very accurate at low volume too.  The amp is very "neutral", clean, fast and pretty flat.
Based on that I'd recommend that you not concentrate on what goes best with the amp but, rather, focus on what speaker will give you the kind of sound you want, warm, bright, hot, laid back etc.  The Sopra 1 would be a great speaker but you'll want a sub to go with it.  We have a Rel S/510 that's not absolutely needed with the Sopra 2, but is a nice a addition.  With the Sopra 1 you'd def want it, however.
Maybe consider a pair of Martin Logans?  This amp is smooth and easy and fast and while it sounds crisp it never sounds harsh or "shiny" so I think it'd be an interesting match with the lightening fast speed of an electro.
Haven't heard the KEF Blades, but in the right room, i.e. they're adjacent to room sidewalls to work with their side firing woofers, I think they'd be some magic.  I lived with a pair of LS50W on stands for a while and was completely shocked.  An excellent point source is always kind of arresting when you hear it.  KEF is doing something fabulous with their Uni-Q driver.  However, the Blades will seriously blow your budget.  With a pair of the new generation LS50's you'd have money for a pair of nice REL subs too.  They may seem like, "going cheap", or going small but I suspect they fit very well.  I wonder if anyone in here has them hooked up in a nice system??