[kurt-de-keersmaecker]

Thanks Arkmann! It’s a real beast of an amplifier. Just trying to figure out if I should connect my sub 1V to the Hegel or keep it connected to my Yamaha RX-A2080 receiver. Listening to Limit to your Love at the moment via Qobuz and I think I don’t really need more bass for 2-channel listening 🤔

[kurt-de-keersmaecker]

Hi guys, I finally pulled the trigger on the Hegel H190. First impressions WOW! Musical! Broad soundstage, clean separation, fast, tight and powerfull bass, fantastic mids, airy treble, micro details… A real musical treat with my Arendal 1723 Tower S’s! Norway 12 points 🇳🇴

[kurt-de-keersmaecker]

Hi guys, I finally pulled the trigger on the Hegel H190 too. First impressions WOW! Musical! Broad soundstage, clean separation, fast, tight and powerfull bass, fantastic mids, airy treble, micro details… A real musical treat with my Arendal 1723 Tower S’s! Norway 12 points 🇳🇴

[kurt-de-keersmaecker]

Hi Luis, after posting the photo I reached out to Arendal to fix the image problem but apparently it couldn’t be rectified. I had the cabinet custom made by a guy an odd 20 years ago for my previous HT setup but I had to cut out a piece of the top shelf to accommodate the Arendal 1723S center.

[kurt-de-keersmaecker]

Hi Christopher, I used the packaging foam to angle the center up.

[kurt-de-keersmaecker]

@Arkmann I guess it was a big step up from the Denon AVR to the Rotel combo? Which Denon did you use? I’m all digital too, primarily streaming Tidal and maybe upgrading to Qobuz in the near future. In my current setup I have a Yamaha RX-A2080 Aventage. It performs great for HT but for 2-channel stereo I’m looking for an integrated amp with HT bypass like the Yamaha A-S2200. The R-N2000 is on my wish list too because it has a better SABRE ES9026PRO Ultra DAC. Would this be a mayor upgrade to the SABRE 9007S Premier Audio DAC in my current AVR? Or would I be better of with the A-S2200? Choices choices… 🤔

[kurt-de-keersmaecker]

Ok guys, I’m curious to know what kind of amplification you are using for 2 channel stereo? Class AB amplifier? Class D? Tubes? And why?

[kurt-de-keersmaecker]

Hey Neil, best thing would be to buy all four and a/b/c/d them at home in my room driving the Arendals 1723S😁

When streaming music from Tidal on the Yamaha or on my headphones there is a considerable difference in quality, dynamics and volume between newly released music and some earlier recordings, so I guess I would be needing a neutral amp like the Hegel for new releases and a NAD for lower quality recordings. I’m afraid my wife wouldn’t accept this though 😬

I guess the quest for audio nirvana is part of the fun of this hobby but at one point, we’ll have to be happy with what we have.

Have you reached that point with the Hegel190/Arendal combination?

[kurt-de-keersmaecker]

Hi Neil, thanks for your feedback, very helpfull. I currently have a 5.1 system powered by a Yamaha RX-A2080 receiver. It sounds amazing for HT but for music listening I feel it could benefit from a dedicated amp for the L/R channel. So I’m looking at the Hegel 190, the Musical Fidelity M6si, the Yamaha A-S2200 and the Gato AMP150.

[kurt-de-keersmaecker]

@Neil, I’ve also been looking at the Hegel 190 for stereo listening. Do you use your system only for music or is the Hegel combined with a receiver for HT?