Hegel A200 integrated amplifier - overview

While developing the H200, Hegel were secretly working on something else at the same time. Among Hegel's growing user base here in the U.K., many were wanting a simpler amplifier, without the DAC board and streaming options. Pure analogue.

Enter the new A200.

Visually, the A200 looks identical to the H200, retaining the OLED display that runs through the entire Hegel integrate amp line.

The A200 removes the DAC board and digital streaming board of the H200, making the A200 a purely analogue integrated amplifier. This makes the A200 ideal for those with existing music streamers and DACs, or highly competent digital sources such as Compact Disc players and turntables. Or even just those who want the option of choosing their own 'one box for one job' type front end.

INPUTS AND CONNECTIONS

The Moving Magnet phono stage is based on the award winning stand alone V10, and will cover vinyl lovers who want to minimise box count. This will easily accommodate any turntable likely to be added to the H200 at it's price point. Four other analogue inputs are present - two unbalanced RCA and two balanced XLR. As well as a pair of fixed stereo outputs, there's also a pair of variable pre-outputs to connect external power amplification or subwoofer/s, if needed.

SOUND QUALITY

As with all amplifiers, there's always going to be some benefit to removing all the digital circuitry, no matter how well everything is shielded. That's no criticism from a quality point of view, but it does allow the power supply to focus on less aspects of the amplifier. I've recently been using an old pair of KEF Reference 201/2 standmount loudspeakers (which I really like the sound of), which is a range that was notorious for careful amplifier matching - the wrong amp wouldn't bring out the bass of the 200 Series, and they'd sound too lean, making them sound bright and forward. The right amp - with plenty of power and control - told them what to do and made them sound nicely balanced. This usually took pre/power amps or higher end integrated amps. I had been driving them perfectly with a Hegel H400. I thought it'd be a nice test to swap the H400 out for the A200. The result obviously didn't sound quite as good overall, but the A200 did a great job driving this demanding speaker. This bodes extremely well for the A200 in my opinion. Which, after all, is the A200's sole job. Sound quality could've been improve with a better source.

With 150wpc on tap - which doubles to 300wpc into 4ohms - the A200 will drive pretty much any speaker you care to partner it with. This isn't a common thing at the £2500 price point, even if some manufacturers make those claims.

CONCLUSION

The H190V was already an extremely competitive integrated amplifier at £3250, as demonstrated at a number of U.K. shows over the last few years, and now for only £250 more, you get a completely new streaming section with its own additional features, pitching it directly against many compromised all-in-one lifestyle systems - the advantage the H200 has is that it's an excellent quality Class AB amplifier first and foremost. So why not pop along to your local dealer (or to the little audio company!) and hear what the H200 has to offer.