Reinventing Audio - Hegel

Reinventing Audio

The beginning 

It’s hard to tell exactly when the Hegel adventure started. It may have been 

the day Hegel founder Bernt Holter’s father gave him an electronics set for 

children. Holter was 12, and enthusiastic about his new hobby. Making circuit 

boards in the family home irritated his mother, it got rather messy… 

Besides his interest in electronics the young Holter also took interest in music. 

He played the clarinet in an orchestra in his small home town of Gjoevik 

in Norway. When he got a bit older he leaned towards rock music – playing 

in local rock bands, influenced by 70’s groups such as Black Sabbath and Pink 

Floyd. 

He was eager to study electronics, but knowledge wasn’t easily available in 

a small town in Norway in the late 70’s. So he went to the library where he 

tried to get hold of drawings that described the construction of audio (musicelectronic) 

equipment. 

After finishing high school, doing National Service in the army and working for 

a year as a service technician, Holter started a four year degree in engineering 

at the technical university in Trondheim in 1986. “I joined the voluntarily 

run student community, and after a short while I was in charge of getting the 

equipment for the concerts held in ‘The Society’ (a student run concert venue). 

I was also responsible for the concert sound mixing. This was an incredibly 

useful experience for me – perhaps as much so as my formal education. 

This created a local demand for his amplifiers, and he financed the last half of 

his studies with them. The studies ended up in an a master degree in micro 

electronics and a patented amplification design called a SoundEngine. Little 

by little the brand started to develop into what we see today.

Hegel amplifier technology 

SoundEngine 

Our patented SoundEngine module is really the backbone of a Hegel Amplifier. 

Without using any sort of feedback loop, we are able to actively correct all 

distortion in the output stages of our amplifiers. The SoundEngine is especially effective 

when it comes to high frequency distortion, where the human ear is the most 

sensitive. SoundEngine is the main reason why Hegel amplifiers are considered the 

most neutral sounding ones in the world. 

DualTech power supply and circuit topology 

DualTech is about using separate power supplies for the sensitive input 

stage of the amplifier. Technically we have totally separated the voltage gain 

stage and the current gain stage. In layman’s terms it means that in different parts of 

the amplifier, the signal gets amplified more and more. The stronger end signal can easily 

influence and distort the less powerful input signal. By separating we further reduce 

distortion. 

New FET - technology 

New J-FET and MOS-FET transistors are used in selected Hegel products. The 

use of these minimizes higher order harmonic distortion, giving you a more 

defined sound, and a better bass response. 

Hegel player technology 

CD DecoderBoard servo system, designed by Hegel 

In a CD-player the laser pick-up needs to carefully follow a track about 1/100 

the width of a human hair. To do this it uses high current servo motors that 

can easily influence the fragile signal read from the CD. Hegel has carefully designed 

new boards to separate these servo motors from the music signal. 

Low jitter MasterClock generator, designed by Hegel 

For the same reason as above, Hegel has moved the master clock away from 

the big servo motors. The clock controls timing between the laser and the 

D/A-Converter, and is a vital part of any CD-player to keep from loosing information. 

High Performance SyncroDAC system, designed by Hegel. 

1 0 1 1 0 0 1 

1 0 1 1 0 0 1 Hegel has designed its own D/A-Converter boards with a new type of 

synchronous upsampling that is reducing the chance of digital noise influencing 

the analog output signal. 

Linear Phase LineDriver , designed by Hegel. 

Funnily enough the rate that the laser reads from the CD, 44.100 streams pr. 

second, can be heard... So there has to be a cross-over to remove that. Hegel 

has designed its own low pass filter with extreme phase control. 

Timing is everything

HEGEL DAC 

HEGEL is one of the very few audio companies in the world that does real engineering in both 

the analog and digital domain. Most older companies work analog, and most younger companies 

work digital. The challenge is that modern music reproduction need wisdom in both domains. 

The first HEGEL DAC came in 1997, shortly after our first amplifiers. Since then we have developed 

several advanced circuits that reduce jitter and high frequency noise. The DAC’s we manufacture 

today is the fruit of more than 10-years of innovation. 

The benefit of reducing jitter and high frequency noise may seem obvious, but in short the soundstage 

will be painted more precise. You can compare it to a photograph vs. an oil painting. It is 

about as dramatic as that. 

Hegel HD10 - USB and SPDIF D/A-Converter 

The HEGEL HD10 DAC was developed with one single purpose - to set a new standard 

for sound quality from DAC’s in it’s class. Reviews confirm that it has done exactly 

so, and with flying colors too. The secret to the HD10 is that HEGEL is one of the very 

few manufacturers that can design both analogue and digital circuits. The HD10 use 

HEGEL’s FET-technology in the analogue stage reducing harmonic distortion. But most 

important is the jitter reduction, where we totally re-generate the digital data stream 

using the best FIFO-circuits available, and a clock mechanism 

designed in-house by Hegel. This leaves a more silent background 

and more natural as well as dynamic sound.

Hegel CDP2A 

Imagine a CD-player with only two control buttons. It does the same thing other CDplayers 

do, but it does it much better! From its award winning design, simple controls 

and outstanding sound, it is a piece of art. A funtional sculpture, if you want. CDP2A is 

using true balanced multi level 24 bit 192kHz D/A converters with syncronous upsampling, 

and a unique CD front-end servo system designed in-house by HEGEL. The CDP2A 

is also using HEGEL SuperClock with an extremely low jitter level. The CDP2A has got 

true balanced and unbalanced audio outputs. The sleek remotecontrol RC2 is included 

in the player. 

1 0 1 1 0 0 1 

1 0 1 1 0 0 1 

(functionality equal on both) 

Hegel CDP4A 

The reference model CDP4A is the true music source in the Hegel reference quality 

system. The CDP4A is using a very advanced soundcard with true balanced multi level 

24 bit 352kHz D/A converters with syncronous upsampling, and a unique CD front-end 

servo system designed in-house by HEGEL. The CDP4A is equipped with a high performance 

digital filter. The CDP4A has got true balanced and unbalanced analog audio 

outputs. The CDP4A is using a much more advanced audio board than the CDP2A with 

even more precise components and a more complex power supply. The CDP4A is also 

using the new and very precise HEGEL SuperClock 2 with an extremely low jitter level. 

Altogether the CDP4A will have a larger dynamic range, a lower colouration and an 

even better output drive than the CDP2A. RC2 remote is included. 

The mirror image 

All the electronic circuits inside the HEGEL CD-players are designed in-house by HEGEL. In this 

way we can make sure that all the different parts in the CD-player are working together in an 

optimal way, to give the best possible sound quality. 

Only HEGEL CD-players are using the new technological solutions Direct MasterClock, Low 

Jitter CD DecoderBoard, High Precision SyncroDAC and Linear Phase LineDriver. All these 

individual technologies are designed to work together from the beginning, to give the best 

possible overall sound quality. 

All this to reproduce a mirror image of your favourite CD’s

Original Conventional SoundEngine 

Distortion 

All amplifiers create distortion. When amplifying the music signal, the amplififcation stages will make small copies of the music. These copies 

will be in different frequencies, and will therefore “blur” the signal. With a Hegel SoundEngine this effect is dramatically reduced and the 

sound will be much more natural and precise. 

SoundEngine 

Real technology HEGEL SOUNDENGINE 

The Hegel SoundEngine came about thanks to a research project that finished in 1990. The research ended up in a patent that turned amplifiers upside down. The SoundEngine 

make several improvements to the sound quality. 

1. Environmentally friendly 

An amplifier with SoundEngine use up to 65% less power when in idle. 

2. More natural 

SoundEngine eliminates distortion. Distortion happens when amplifiers make small copies of the music in different frequencies. This makes the sound appear less precise 

and less natural 

3. More dynamic 

The Hegel SoundEngine increases the damping factor - the control of the loudspeaker - and gives a more dynamic, precise and detailed bass response. 

Conventional 

Damping factor 

An amplifiers damping factor describe the amplifiers ability to start and stop the bass 

driver of a loudspeaker. The higher the damping factor, the better the bass control. 

Amplifiers with SoundEngine typically has 5-10 times higher damping factor than 

conventional amplifiers. This leaves more detail in the deep tones. Much like a picture. 

If the damping factor is low, you can not see the details in the deep grey. 

SoundEngine

Hegel H70 

The new H70 integrated amplifier sets a new standard for sound quality in its price 

class. It has both digital and analogue inputs, including a USB DA-Converter. The HEGEL 

H70 is also our first ever integrated amplifier with a fully balanced pre amplifier stage. 

The front panel is as always made out of one solid milled aluminium bar and makes a 

high quality expression. The H70 gives you 2*70 watts per channel into 8 ohms and has 

the latest version of the HEGEL SoundEngine. 


The new and groundbreaking integrated amplifier H100 lets you have a complete 

HEGEL system at a much lower price than ever before, as you can use your computer as 

a player. It is also an entertainment centre for all digital audio on your computer. With 

its powerful 2*120W in 8 ohms, more powerful transformer and twice the number of 

output transistors, it sounds more potent and detailed than the H70. It has also got a 

Home Theatre RCA input for use with external surround sound systems. 


The extremely powerful integrated amplifier H200 fills the gap between the H100 and 

the P4A/H20 combination. With its powerful 2*200W in 8 ohms and a dual mono power 

supply it is much more dynamic than the H100. It has also got a Home Theatre RCA 

input for use with external surround sound systems. The H200 is using a basic version 

of the technology from the P4A/H20 combination

Separate cool from uncool 

All Hegel pre amplifiers use completely separate power supplies for the left and the right channel. 

This makes sure the crosstalk between the Left and right channel is lowest possible 

They are fully balanced from input to output, including the crucial volume control stage. This 

makes sure the distortion is the lowest possible and keeps the dynamic range as high as possible. 

These new and innovative technologies are designed to give each separate amplifier block the 

best possible working conditions, and to prevent the different amplifier blocks from having any 

influence on each other. This gives the best possible overall sound quality. 

Hegel P4A 

The HEGEL P4A has got both balanced and unbalanced inputs and outputs. Internally 

the P4A is using true balanced signal processing from input to output. The volume control 

and the input source selector can easily be adjusted by the accompanying RC2 

remote control. 

Hegel P30 

The HEGEL P30 pre amplifier is the first pre amplifier ever to use the SoundEngine 

technology, and thereby reducing dynamic distortion. The P30 is fully balanced from 

input to output, and there are only two FET-transistors in the entire signal path. In this 

way we have eliminated higher order harmonic distortion. The P30 has two balanced, 

XLR, inputs and it is the first HEGEL pre amplifier to have a Home Theatre input. But 

the “elephant on the sailboat” is the volume control. The P30 has an extremely precise 

volume attenuator using discrete metal film resistors.


The HEGEL H20 was the first power amplifier with the FET-technology, that went into 

regular production. With this the H20 has far lower levels of higher order harmonic 

distortion, giving you a more natural sound. Another benefit is increase detail and drive 

capability in the lower frequencies. The H20 gives you 2*200 watts into 8 ohms. More 

than enough for most speakers on the market. 

Hegel H4A 

The HEGEL H4A is the cornerstone of HEGEL amplifier history. Upgraded several times 

it represents all of the core values. Amazing dynamics from 2*300 watts, and stability 

down to 1 ohm. Perfectly natural with the laser trimmed SoundEngine and very low 

distortion levels. Colossal bass control with a damping factor of more than 1000. If the 

H4A is not enough to drive your speakers, there is only one 

thing left to do... Look 6 centimetres to the right. 

HEGEL H30 

The HEGEL H30 is the absolute pinnacle of our technology today. 

Giving you well over 1200 watts per channel into 8 ohms it will 

drive any speaker on the market. With ease. The H30 can also 

be used as a stereo amplifier, but is designed as a mono block 

and will operate optimally as such. 

The HEGEL H30 have the new SoundEngine modules with even 

less distortion than the H4A and use FET-technology in more 

stages of the amplification than the H20. It does also have 

double transformers to be more silent. All in all it is one of the 

best audio amplifiers on the market today. Period.

Technical specifications 

Integrated Amplifiers 

Output power : 

Line inputs : 

Digital inputs : 

Line outputs : 

Speaker outputs : 

Frequency response : 

Phase response : 

Signal to noise ratio : 

Crosstalk : 

Distortion : 

Intermodulation : 

Damping factor : 

Power consumption : 

Dimensions/Weight : 

CD-Players 

System : 

Jitter level : 

Analog outputs : 

Digital output : 



Noise floor : 

Crosstalk : 

Distortion : 


Signal level : 

Dimensions/weight : 

HEGEL H70 

70W + 70W in 8 ohms 

RCA unbalanced and XLR balanced, selector for 6 inputs 

1*USB, 1*Coax (RCA) and 1*optical (toslink) 

No line outputs 

Heavy duty gold plated terminals 

Less than +/- 0.2 dB deviation 20Hz-20kHz 

Less than 2 degrees deviation 20Hz- 20kHz 

More than 100dB 

Less than -100dB 

Less than 0.005 % at 50W in 8 ohm 

Less than 0.01 % (19kHz + 20kHz) 

More than 1000 

20W in idle mode switched on 

8cm x 43cm x 41,5cm (HxWxD), 12kg 

HEGEL CDP2A 

24bit 192kHz multilevel DACs with synchronised upsampling 

Less than 14ps (Hegel SuperClock) 

RCA Unbalanced and XLR balanced 

75 ohm SPDIF RCA connector 

Less than +/- 0.1dB deviation 20kHz 

Linear phase filter 



Less than 0.002% 

Less than -110dB (19kHz + 20kHz) 

2.3V for balanced and unbalanced outputs 

8cm x 43cm x 29cm (HxWxD), 10kg 

HEGEL H100 

120W + 120W in 8 ohms 

4*unbalanced, 1*XLR balanced and home theatre input 

1*USB 

2 pcs pre out (RCA), Tape out (RCA) 






Less than 0.005 % at 50W in 8 ohm 




12cm x 43cm x 42,5cm (HxWxD), 16kg 

HEGEL CDP4A 

24bit 352kHz multilevel DACs with synchronised upsampling 

Less than 10ps (Hegel SuperClock) 

RCA Unbalanced and XLR balanced 

75 ohm SPDIF RCA connector 

Less than +/- 0.1dB deviation 20kHz 

Linear phase filter 



Less than 0.002% 

Less than -110dB (19kHz + 20kHz) 

2.3V for balanced and unbalanced outputs 


HEGEL H200 

200W + 200W in 8 ohms, 350W + 350W in 4 ohms 

3 unbalanced, balanced (XLR) and home theatre input 

No digital inputs 

2 pcs Pre Out (RCA), 1 pcs Recording output (RCA) 

Two pairs of heavy duty gold plated terminals 





Less than 0.006 % at 100W i 8 ohm 





Hegel RC2 Remote Control 

The RC2 remote control can control any Hegel components. It 

is supplied together with all pre amplifiers, CD-players, H1 and 

H200 integrated amplifiers. 

Power Amplifiers 

Output power : 

Line inputs : 

Speaker outputs : 

Trigger input/output : 




Crosstalk : 

Distortion : 


Damping factor : 

Power Supply : 

Output stage : 

Power consumption : 


Pre Amplifiers 

Remote functions : 

Line inputs : 

Line outputs : 

Remote inputs : 




Crosstalk : 

Distortion : 



HEGEL H20 

More than 200W + 200W in 8 ohms, Dual mono 

RCA unbalanced and XLR balanced 









1000VA dual mono, 90 000uF capacitors 

20 pcs 15A 150W high speed bipolar transistors 



HEGEL P4A 

Volume, source and mute 

5 unbalanced, 1 balanced (XLR) 

1 unbalanced, 1 balanced (XLR) 

Less than +/- 0,05 dB deviation 20Hz - 20kHz 

Less than 0,5 degrees deviation 20Hz - 20kHz 

More than 115 dB balanced mode 

Less than -100 dB 

Less than 0.0005 % 

Less than 0.001% (19kHz+20kHz) 


HEGEL H4A 

More than 300W + 300W in 8 ohms, Dual mono 










2400VA dual mono, 320 000uF capacitors 

56 pcs 15A 150W high speed bipolar transistors 



HEGEL P30 (fall/winter 2010) 

Volume, source and mute 

3*unbalanced, 2*balanced (XLR), 1*Home Theatre 

2*unbalanced, 1*balanced (XLR) 

Direct IR in - 3,5mm jack, 12V trigger output 

TBA 

TBA 

TBA 

TBA 

TBA 

TBA 


DAC 

HEGEL H30 (fall/winter 2010) 

Digital inputs : 

Line Outputs : 



Noise floor : 

Distortion : 

Power supply : 


More than 1200W mono in 8 ohms. 



5-12V trigger in + passthrough output 

TBA 

TBA 

TBA 

TBA 

TBA 

TBA 


TBA 

TBA 

TBA 

TBA 

HEGEL HD10 

2*coax, 1*optical and 1*USB 


0Hz-50kHz 

Linear Phase Analog filter 

minus 140 dB 

Less than 0,001 % 

Torodial transformer, 30.000uF capacitors 

6cm x 21cm x 26cm (HxWxD), 2,8kg

Forskningsveien 1 

NO-0373 OSLO 

NORWAY 

Phone: +47 22 60 56 60 

Fax: +47 22 69 91 56 

Mail: info@hegel.com 

Web: www.hegel.com 

Copyright Hegel Music Systems AS Concept Design: Hegel Music Systems Photo: Nina Reistad Foto AS and istockphoto.com Specifications are subject to change without notice

Reinventing Audio - Hegel

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