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 mu-
sic. 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 (music-
electronic) 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 engineer-
ing 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 Hegel player technology
SoundEngine™ CD DecoderBoard™ servo system, designed by Hegel
Our patented SoundEngine™ module is really the backbone of a Hegel Amplifier. In a CD-player the laser pick-up needs to carefully follow a track about 1/100
Without using any sort of feedback loop, we are able to actively correct all the width of a human hair. To do this it uses high current servo motors that
distortion in the output stages of our amplifiers. The SoundEngine™ is especially ef- can easily influence the fragile signal read from the CD. Hegel has carefully designed
fective when it comes to high frequency distortion, where the human ear is the most new boards to separate these servo motors from the music signal.
sensitive. SoundEngine™ is the main reason why Hegel amplifiers are considered the
most neutral sounding ones in the world. Low jitter MasterClock ™ generator, designed by Hegel
For the same reason as above, Hegel has moved the master clock away from
DualTech™ power supply and circuit topology the big servo motors. The clock controls timing between the laser and the
DualTech™ is about using separate power supplies for the sensitive input D/A-Converter, and is a vital part of any CD-player to keep from loosing information.
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
1011001
High Performance SyncroDAC™ system, designed by Hegel.
the amplifier, the signal gets amplified more and more. The stronger end signal can eas-
1011001
Hegel has designed its own D/A-Converter boards with a new type of
ily influence and distort the less powerful input signal. By separating we further reduce synchronous upsampling that is reducing the chance of digital noise influenc-
distortion. ing the analog output signal.

New FET - technology Linear Phase LineDriver ™ , designed by Hegel.

New J-FET and MOS-FET transistors are used in selected Hegel products. The Funnily enough the rate that the laser reads from the CD, 44.100 streams pr.
use of these minimizes higher order harmonic distortion, giving you a more second, can be heard... So there has to be a cross-over to remove that. Hegel

Timing is everything
defined sound, and a better bass response. has designed its own low pass filter with extreme phase control.
 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 Hegel HD10 - USB and SPDIF D/A-Converter
work digital. The challenge is that modern music reproduction need wisdom in both domains. 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
The first HEGEL DAC came in 1997, shortly after our first amplifiers. Since then we have developed so, and with flying colors too. The secret to the HD10 is that HEGEL is one of the very
several advanced circuits that reduce jitter and high frequency noise. The DAC’s we manufacture few manufacturers that can design both analogue and digital circuits. The HD10 use
today is the fruit of more than 10-years of innovation. 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
The benefit of reducing jitter and high frequency noise may seem obvious, but in short the sound- using the best FIFO-circuits available, and a clock mechanism
stage will be painted more precise. You can compare it to a photograph vs. an oil painting. It is designed in-house by Hegel. This leaves a more silent back-
about as dramatic as that. ground and more natural as well as dynamic sound.
 The mirror image
Hegel CDP2A Hegel CDP4A All the electronic circuits inside the HEGEL CD-players are designed in-house by HEGEL. In this
Imagine a CD-player with only two control buttons. It does the same thing other CD- The reference model CDP4A is the true music source in the Hegel reference quality way we can make sure that all the different parts in the CD-player are working together in an
players do, but it does it much better! From its award winning design, simple controls system. The CDP4A is using a very advanced soundcard with true balanced multi level optimal way, to give the best possible sound quality.
and outstanding sound, it is a piece of art. A funtional sculpture, if you want. CDP2A is 24 bit 352kHz D/A converters with syncronous upsampling, and a unique CD front-end
using true balanced multi level 24 bit 192kHz D/A converters with syncronous upsam- servo system designed in-house by HEGEL. The CDP4A is equipped with a high perfor- Only HEGEL CD-players are using the new technological solutions Direct MasterClock™, Low
pling, and a unique CD front-end servo system designed in-house by HEGEL. The CDP2A mance digital filter. The CDP4A has got true balanced and unbalanced analog audio Jitter CD DecoderBoard™, High Precision SyncroDAC™ and Linear Phase LineDriver™. All these
is also using HEGEL SuperClock with an extremely low jitter level. The CDP2A has got outputs. The CDP4A is using a much more advanced audio board than the CDP2A with individual technologies are designed to work together from the beginning, to give the best
true balanced and unbalanced audio outputs. The sleek remotecontrol RC2 is included even more precise components and a more complex power supply. The CDP4A is also possible overall sound quality.
in the player. using the new and very precise HEGEL SuperClock 2 with an extremely low jitter level.
1011001
Altogether the CDP4A will have a larger dynamic range, a lower colouration and an All this to reproduce a mirror image of your favourite CD’s
(functionality equal on both)
1011001 even better output drive than the CDP2A. RC2 remote is included.
 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
Original Conventional SoundEngine 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
Distortion
All amplifiers create distortion. When amplifying the music signal, the amplififcation stages will make small copies of the music. These cop- 3. More dynamic
ies will be in different frequencies, and will therefore “blur” the signal. With a Hegel SoundEngine this effect is dramatically reduced and the The Hegel SoundEngine increases the damping factor - the control of the loudspeaker - and gives a more dynamic, precise and detailed bass response.
sound will be much more natural and precise.

SoundEngine Damping factor

Conventional

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 pic-
ture. If the damping factor is low, you can not see the details in the deep grey. SoundEngine
Hegel H70 Hegel H100 Hegel H200
The new H70 integrated amplifier sets a new standard for sound quality in its price The new and groundbreaking integrated amplifier H100 lets you have a complete The extremely powerful integrated amplifier H200 fills the gap between the H100 and
class. It has both digital and analogue inputs, including a USB DA-Converter. The HEGEL HEGEL system at a much lower price than ever before, as you can use your computer as the P4A/H20 combination. With its powerful 2*200W in 8 ohms and a dual mono power
H70 is also our first ever integrated amplifier with a fully balanced pre amplifier stage. a player. It is also an entertainment centre for all digital audio on your computer. With supply it is much more dynamic than the H100. It has also got a Home Theatre RCA
The front panel is as always made out of one solid milled aluminium bar and makes a its powerful 2*120W in 8 ohms, more powerful transformer and twice the number of input for use with external surround sound systems. The H200 is using a basic version
high quality expression. The H70 gives you 2*70 watts per channel into 8 ohms and has output transistors, it sounds more potent and detailed than the H70. It has also got a of the technology from the P4A/H20 combination
the latest version of the HEGEL SoundEngine. Home Theatre RCA input for use with external surround sound systems.
 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 Hegel P4A Hegel P30
The HEGEL P4A has got both balanced and unbalanced inputs and outputs. Internally The HEGEL P30 pre amplifier is the first pre amplifier ever to use the SoundEngine
They are fully balanced from input to output, including the crucial volume control stage. This the P4A is using true balanced signal processing from input to output. The volume con- technology, and thereby reducing dynamic distortion. The P30 is fully balanced from
makes sure the distortion is the lowest possible and keeps the dynamic range as high as possible. trol and the input source selector can easily be adjusted by the accompanying RC2 input to output, and there are only two FET-transistors in the entire signal path. In this
remote control. way we have eliminated higher order harmonic distortion. The P30 has two balanced,
These new and innovative technologies are designed to give each separate amplifier block the XLR, inputs and it is the first HEGEL pre amplifier to have a Home Theatre input. But
best possible working conditions, and to prevent the different amplifier blocks from having any the “elephant on the sailboat” is the volume control. The P30 has an extremely precise
influence on each other. This gives the best possible overall sound quality. volume attenuator using discrete metal film resistors.

 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.
Hegel H20 Hegel H4A
The HEGEL H30 have the new SoundEngine modules with even
The HEGEL H20 was the first power amplifier with the FET-technology, that went into The HEGEL H4A is the cornerstone of HEGEL amplifier history. Upgraded several times
less distortion than the H4A and use FET-technology in more
regular production. With this the H20 has far lower levels of higher order harmonic it represents all of the core values. Amazing dynamics from 2*300 watts, and stability
stages of the amplification than the H20. It does also have
distortion, giving you a more natural sound. Another benefit is increase detail and drive down to 1 ohm. Perfectly natural with the laser trimmed SoundEngine and very low
double transformers to be more silent. All in all it is one of the
capability in the lower frequencies. The H20 gives you 2*200 watts into 8 ohms. More distortion levels. Colossal bass control with a damping factor of more than 1000. If the
best audio amplifiers on the market today. Period.
than enough for most speakers on the market. H4A is not enough to drive your speakers, there is only one
thing left to do... Look 6 centimetres to the right.
Technical specifications
Integrated Amplifiers HEGEL H70 HEGEL H100 HEGEL H200 Power Amplifiers HEGEL H20 HEGEL H4A HEGEL H30 (fall/winter 2010)

Output power : 70W + 70W in 8 ohms 120W + 120W in 8 ohms 200W + 200W in 8 ohms, 350W + 350W in 4 ohms
Output power : More than 200W + 200W in 8 ohms, Dual mono More than 300W + 300W in 8 ohms, Dual mono More than 1200W mono in 8 ohms.
Line inputs : RCA unbalanced and XLR balanced, selector for 6 inputs 4*unbalanced, 1*XLR balanced and home theatre input 3 unbalanced, balanced (XLR) and home theatre input
Line inputs : RCA unbalanced and XLR balanced RCA unbalanced and XLR balanced RCA unbalanced and XLR balanced
Digital inputs : 1*USB, 1*Coax (RCA) and 1*optical (toslink) 1*USB No digital inputs
Speaker outputs : Two pairs of heavy duty gold plated terminals Two pairs of heavy duty gold plated terminals Heavy duty gold plated terminals
Line outputs : No line outputs 2 pcs pre out (RCA), Tape out (RCA) 2 pcs Pre Out (RCA), 1 pcs Recording output (RCA)
Trigger input/output : 5-12V trigger in + passthrough output
Speaker outputs : Heavy duty gold plated terminals Heavy duty gold plated terminals Two pairs of heavy duty gold plated terminals
Frequency response : Less than +/- 0.2 dB deviation 20Hz-20kHz Less than +/- 0.2 dB deviation 20Hz-20kHz TBA
Frequency response : Less than +/- 0.2 dB deviation 20Hz-20kHz Less than +/- 0.2 dB deviation 20Hz-20kHz Less than +/- 0.2 dB deviation 20Hz-20kHz
Phase response : Less than 2 degrees deviation 20Hz- 20kHz Less than 2 degrees deviation 20Hz- 20kHz TBA
Phase response : Less than 2 degrees deviation 20Hz- 20kHz Less than 2 degrees deviation 20Hz- 20kHz Less than 2 degrees deviation 20Hz- 20kHz
Signal to noise ratio : More than 100dB More than 100dB TBA
Signal to noise ratio : More than 100dB More than 100dB More than 100dB
Crosstalk : Less than -100dB Less than -100dB TBA
Crosstalk : Less than -100dB Less than -100dB Less than -100dB
Distortion : Less than 0.006 % at 100W i 8 ohm Less than 0.004 % at 100W i 8 ohm TBA
Distortion : Less than 0.005 % at 50W in 8 ohm Less than 0.005 % at 50W in 8 ohm Less than 0.006 % at 100W i 8 ohm
Intermodulation : Less than 0.01 % (19kHz + 20kHz) Less than 0.01 % (19kHz + 20kHz) TBA
Intermodulation : Less than 0.01 % (19kHz + 20kHz) Less than 0.01 % (19kHz + 20kHz) Less than 0.01 % (19kHz + 20kHz)
Damping factor : More than 1000 More than 1000 More than 1000
Damping factor : More than 1000 More than 1000 More than 1000
Power Supply : 1000VA dual mono, 90 000uF capacitors 2400VA dual mono, 320 000uF capacitors TBA
Power consumption : 20W in idle mode switched on 30W in idle mode switched on 60W in idle mode switched on
Output stage : 20 pcs 15A 150W high speed bipolar transistors 56 pcs 15A 150W high speed bipolar transistors TBA
Dimensions/Weight : 8cm x 43cm x 41,5cm (HxWxD), 12kg 12cm x 43cm x 42,5cm (HxWxD), 16kg 12cm x 43cm x 38cm (HxWxD), 25kg
Power consumption : 60W in idle mode switched on 100W in idle mode switched on TBA
Dimensions/weight : 12cm x 43cm x 37cm (HxWxD), 25kg 21cm x 43cm x 55cm (HxWxD), 45kg TBA

CD-Players HEGEL CDP2A HEGEL CDP4A Pre Amplifiers HEGEL P4A HEGEL P30 (fall/winter 2010) DAC HEGEL HD10

System : 24bit 192kHz multilevel DACs with synchronised upsampling 24bit 352kHz multilevel DACs with synchronised upsampling Remote functions : Volume, source and mute Volume, source and mute
Jitter level : Less than 14ps (Hegel SuperClock) Less than 10ps (Hegel SuperClock) Line inputs : 5 unbalanced, 1 balanced (XLR) 3*unbalanced, 2*balanced (XLR), 1*Home Theatre Digital inputs : 2*coax, 1*optical and 1*USB
Analog outputs : RCA Unbalanced and XLR balanced RCA Unbalanced and XLR balanced Line outputs : 1 unbalanced, 1 balanced (XLR) 2*unbalanced, 1*balanced (XLR) Line Outputs : RCA unbalanced and XLR balanced
Digital output : 75 ohm SPDIF RCA connector 75 ohm SPDIF RCA connector Remote inputs : Direct IR in - 3,5mm jack, 12V trigger output Frequency response : 0Hz-50kHz
Frequency response : Less than +/- 0.1dB deviation 20kHz Less than +/- 0.1dB deviation 20kHz Frequency response : Less than +/- 0,05 dB deviation 20Hz - 20kHz TBA Phase response : Linear Phase Analog filter
Phase response : Linear phase filter Linear phase filter Phase response : Less than 0,5 degrees deviation 20Hz - 20kHz TBA Noise floor : minus 140 dB
Noise floor : Less than -120dB Less than -130dB Signal to noise ratio : More than 115 dB balanced mode TBA Distortion : Less than 0,001 %
Crosstalk : Less than -100dB Less than -100dB Crosstalk : Less than -100 dB TBA Power supply : Torodial transformer, 30.000uF capacitors
Distortion : Less than 0.002% Less than 0.002% Distortion : Less than 0.0005 % TBA Dimensions/weight : 6cm x 21cm x 26cm (HxWxD), 2,8kg
Intermodulation : Less than -110dB (19kHz + 20kHz) Less than -110dB (19kHz + 20kHz) Hegel RC2 Remote Control Intermodulation : Less than 0.001% (19kHz+20kHz) TBA
Signal level : 2.3V for balanced and unbalanced outputs 2.3V for balanced and unbalanced outputs The RC2 remote control can control any Hegel components. It Dimensions/weight : 6cm x 43cm x 30cm (HxWxD), 10kg 6cm x 43cm x 30cm (HxWxD), 10kg
Dimensions/weight : 8cm x 43cm x 29cm (HxWxD), 10kg 8cm x 43cm x 29cm (HxWxD), 10kg is supplied together with all pre amplifiers, CD-players, H1 and
H200 integrated amplifiers.
 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