Upgrading to a Hegel H590


My current system for the past few years has been great so far..

Macbook USB to a $150 Audio Engine D1 DAC going directly to a $600 used Parasound A23 going to used $600 Kef LS50’s, $100 Transparent speaker cables and cheap USB and RCA cables.

That’s good enough to hear the difference between 44k and hi-res and also good enough to hear the difference between MQA and hi-res.

I’ve been lusting after a better experience after checking out the Parasound Hint 6 as a replacement for the above. (it was significantly better). Well, after a couple of months of manic youtubing and reading reviews etc. I slowly kept finding something better than the last thing I saw. So I splurged and got what I think will keep me satisfied for years to come and not continually hunting for something better. Famous last words I guess.

Just got a new H590. Haven’t opened it yet. But can’t wait to start experimenting and comparing with my old stuff. I also have Kef R500s and better cables.

I suspect the next thing will be looking for is better speakers; both floor standers and desktops

I’ll try to post observations here later
bataras

Showing 2 responses by bassdude

Yes... Harbeths are special when driven by the H590, or the H390, H360, H300.  They need the power these amps produce to control their drivers, and add clarity and resolution to the sound.  Their high damping factor really clears up the bass and mids.  

I would not have kept my M30.1's and M40.2's had I not found the H590, which totally changed their sound from muffled and too warm... to... very balanced sound with amazing clarity and detail resolution, as well as superb bass and soundstage.  

I doubt any tube amp can drive them as well.  I've tried the ARC 150SE, and it does not.  I doubt any others can either.
They also sound great with the McIntosh MA252 and MA352.  But these are not tube amps.  They are tube / SS hybrid amps with sufficient power to control the drivers of the Harbeths to add the clarity and resolution they cann present... IF... they're driven by the right amp.