HEGEL H200 > All-rounder with an emphasis on sound quality, hifi.nl

The HEGEL H200 is a modern all-in-one solution for a home hi-fi system, combining an amplifier, DAC, network player and phono preamplifier in a single device. It is a Class AB integrated amplifier rated at 2 x 150 W into 8 ohms, with a damping factor of 4,000 according to the manufacturer. Low distortion is handled by Hegel’s SoundEngine 2 circuit, and the converter is based on the one from the H590 model.

Connectivity and features

The streamer supports Roon, Qobuz Connect, AirPlay, Google Cast and Spotify Connect, which also allows lossless streaming. Bluetooth is missing. Available are balanced XLR inputs, an optical input for TV sound, USB for playing stored music, and a DAC-Loop function for an external DAC. There is no HDMI. The Hegel Control app provides internet radio, podcasts and USB playback, and the amplifier also responds to a TV remote. The phono input is designed for MM cartridges and is based on the V10 phono stage; for MC cartridges you need an external preamplifier or step-up transformer. The enclosure is minimalist, available in black and white.

How it sounds

The Dutch website Hifi.nl tested the H200 with a Technics SL-1200GR2 turntable, a Nagaoka MP-700 cartridge and Paradigm Premier V2 820F speakers. The review’s author, Jamie Biesemans, highlights excellent control and tight, well-defined bass, especially on fast and complex rhythms. The sound is detailed and dynamic without being harsh or analytical, natural and emotionally engaging, with a sense of space in the recordings. He calls the phono stage one of the highlights and vinyl playback excellent.
Compared with its predecessor, the H190v, the new model does not offer more power but more nuance and feeling, which the reviewer credits to the new DAC and circuit improvements. He stresses that matching with the speakers still matters. As drawbacks, he lists the absence of album art and VU meters on the display.

Price and versions

In the Netherlands the H200 costs 3,995 euros; prices in Slovenia may differ. The A200 (3,295 euros) is the same amplifier without the streamer and DAC, intended for users of analog sources. It was not tested in the review.

Who the H200 is for

For listeners who want a versatile hi-fi amplifier with good streaming and a phono stage, but want sound quality to come before extra features.

Hegel H200
hifi.nl