SQ of Hegel H390 on-board DAC?

It's fantastic.  With the build quality of the H390, why would you look at paying to add another piece of equipment?

i found the onboard dac of the h390 to be excellent, as good as well reputed outboard dacs in roughly the sub $2000 range (think dena pontus, upper soekris, better w4s and so on), sonically it is on the clear and precise side, not romantic or particularly warm, very extended highs with a good amount of treble energy, expansive imaging, a sound most would call ’linear and accurate’ (even though in reality in this pursuit accuracy is never an objective term)

i tried running the h390 with outboard dacs, and it became clear to me that coming into the h390’s analog inputs (whether rca or xlr) the amp section sounded warmer and touch more rolled off and ’forgiving’ than with a digital feed through the onboard dac

this leads me to surmise that bent holter and team optimized the onboard dac to sound very clean, and synergize with the slight softening of the treble they built into the analog section of the amp

the midrange and bass in all cases was absolutely exemplary

@bigtwin, jjss49:

Thanks for your comments!

I found an open box unit I hope to purchase today. 

My Aqua La Voce II DAC was $2700 when new, for whatever that's worth. 

Lately, I've been experiencing a dissatisfaction with the overtly warm sonics of my system. It could be that aging-related hearing loss is to blame. 

It remains to be seen whether a "very clean" DAC will appeal to me but I'm hoping the smooth but more transparent SQ of the amplifier will prove to be a welcome change.  

Just bought it.

It's supposed to ship Monday. 

After all I've read, I'm very much looking forward to hearing it! 

I have listened to the h390 on several occasions and I am quite sure that you are going to be very happy with it presentation and musicality. Speakers used were Harbeth, SonusFaber and Dynaudio C1. Congratulations 🎊 

@tom6897:

Thanks for the positive reinforcement.

Musicality is crucial !   

My speakers are Silverline SR 17.5 monitors and are definitely on the warm side.

I am a Hegel dealer and have had a 390 here. The onboard DAC will be more forward than the very warm Aqua. The clean and precise sound of the Hegel does not add brightness so this will be a good step forward without getting crazy bright.

@verdantaudio:

Good to know. Thanks for your input!  

My speakers are Silverline SR 17.5 monitors

Nice speaks!  Let us know what you find, but it sure sounds like you’re gonna be happy given what you’re looking for. 

So far, I've been enjoying the Hegel in my system.  There is a smoothness and effortless quality that I enjoy. The sound-stage is both taller and deeper and dynamics are improved as well as detail. Bass has improved in terms of clarity but of course, the system is still constrained by the limited frequency response of the Silverline monitors. 

My fears that it might strike me as clinical, cold, dry or overly forward have not, as yet, been realized. 

I'm listening strictly through the Aqua DAC.

Unfortunately, my particular collection of components doesn't afford the capacity to utilize the on-board DAC while also keeping the Schiit Lokius in the chain. And as the on-board DAC is bound to be more forward, this is an issue for me. 

The Hegel has already brought considerably more air and resolution and with some CDs,  I do feel a need to bolster the lower mids with the Lokius. Other times, however, I end up using the EQ to accentuate the highs. This brings up another point: the Hegel appears to reveal differences in sonic presentation between CDs more evidently than the Wells. 

In any event, I cannot envision using the Hegel's own DAC without having access to the Lokius. 

As things stand, the system may provide enough improvement in resolution without upgrading my transport or DAC. We shall see-- I need to do a lot more listening. 

May i ask where you found an open box? I am looking into Hegel H20. I will use Pontus II DAC,  Freya+ Bluesound Node (2021). I have experienced more detail via bluesound-Roon with the bluesound hardwired.