Hegel H120 Review
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Why This 75-Watt Amplifier Is the Only Box You Really Need

ByRonald

The world of high-fidelity audio often asks you to make a choice: do you want modern features like music streaming, or do you want the pure, uncompromised sound quality that comes from specialist gear? What if you didn’t have to choose?

This is the promise of the Hegel H120, an integrated amplifier from the Norwegian audio experts. It’s designed for two people: the person who wants to declutter their system with a built-in Roon-ready streamer, and the audiophile chasing a more intense, lifelike sound experience. After spending time with it, it’s clear the H120 isn’t just a replacement for its predecessor; it’s a powerful statement for the future of hi-fi.

Built to Last, Designed to Disappear

In true Hegel fashion, the H120 is a masterclass in Scandinavian minimalism. Available in black or white, its curved aluminum faceplate and robust steel chassis feel incredibly solid and premium. There are no flashy lights or unnecessary dials, just two knobs for source and volume, and a clean OLED display.

Check Out: Hegel H590 Review

Hegel’s philosophy, as Vice President Anders Ertzeid puts it, is to “leave out every component that is not conducive to the sound.” This even extends to its three support feet; they found four didn’t sound any better, so three it is. This reduction to the essentials is at the core of what makes the H120 so special.

The Secret Sauce: Hegel’s SoundEngine

What truly sets every Hegel amplifier apart is the patented technology inside called SoundEngine. Now in its latest generation, it’s a brilliant and unconventional way to eliminate distortion.

Think of it like this: your noise-canceling headphones listen to outside noise and create an “anti-noise” signal to cancel it out, leaving you with silence. The SoundEngine does something similar for the music signal. It detects the distortion created by the amplification process and injects a precise “anti-distortion” signal to cancel it out.

The result? An incredibly clean, pure, and dynamic sound. Because it doesn’t rely on traditional methods, the amplifier has a vice-like grip on the speakers, delivering power with astonishing speed and control. This is further enhanced by DualPower technology, where the sensitive input stages get their own power supply, completely isolated from the heavy-lifting output section.

A Modern Hub for All Your Music

A huge draw for the Hegel H120 is its brain. It’s a powerful digital hub built for today’s listener.

  • Built-in Streamer: As a UPnP device, it can play music from a network drive with ease. More importantly, it is Roon Ready (via a simple firmware update), which is the gold standard for many music lovers. It also supports Spotify Connect and AirPlay.
  • High-Quality DAC: The digital-to-analog converter section has been completely upgraded from the previous model, now featuring a premium AKM 4490 chip. This ensures that whether you’re using the optical, coaxial, or USB inputs, you’re getting fantastic sound quality.
  • Smart & Practical: Despite its simple look, the H120 is clever. You can set a fixed maximum volume for an input, making it perfect for integrating into a home cinema system. You can even update its firmware directly from the menu over the internet.

But How Does Hegel H120 Sound?

This is where the Hegel H120 truly comes alive. Forget its modest 75 watts per channel rating. This amplifier has the soul of a giant. It brings back memories of the legendary NAD 3020 amplifier from decades ago, an amp that defied its spec sheet and simply made music sound incredible.

The H120 is agile, lively, and powerfully dynamic. On pulsating electronic tracks like Trentemøller’s “Rykketid,” it sent waves of controlled, deep bass through the room without breaking a sweat. Yet, it never sounds harsh or artificially bright.

Its character is one of stunning clarity and articulation. It doesn’t add a warm gloss or a cool sheen; it simply gets out of the way and lets you hear the texture and emotion in the recording. In a direct comparison with a Swiss amplifier costing nearly three times as much, the Hegel H120 held its ground shockingly well, delivering the same sense of drama and musical engagement.

Hegel H120: Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Sound Quality
  • Build & Design: Classic, minimalist Scandinavian aesthetics combined with a rock-solid build quality.
  • Integrated Digital Hub
  • Powerful Speaker Driving
  • Practical & Flexible

Cons:

  • No Wireless Connectivity
  • Basic Remote Control
  • Limited USB Resolution
  • Initial Roon Glitch

Hegel H120: Technical Specifications

Power Amplifier Section

  • Power output: 2 x 75 W into 8 Ω
  • Minimum load: 2 Ω
  • Damping factor: More than 2000

Audio Performance

  • Frequency response: 5 Hz – 100 kHz
  • Signal-to-noise ratio: More than 100 dB
  • Crosstalk: Less than -100 dB
  • Distortion (THD): Less than 0.01% @ 50 W/8 Ω/1 kHz

Connectivity

  • Analog Inputs: 1 x Balanced (XLR), 2 x Unbalanced (RCA)
  • Digital Inputs: 1 x Coaxial (RCA), 3 x Optical S/PDIF, 1 x USB, 1 x Network (RJ45 Ethernet)
  • Line Level Output: 1 x Unbalanced Variable (RCA)
  • Headphone Output: 6.3 mm Jack (front)

Digital Section

  • Streaming: Roon Ready, Spotify Connect, UPnP, Apple AirPlay
  • Network Resolution: Up to 24-bit / 192 kHz
  • USB Resolution: Up to 24-bit / 96 kHz

Physical

  • Finishes: Black or White
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 10 cm x 43 cm x 35 cm (3.93″ x 16.93″ x 13.77″)
  • Shipping Weight: 12 kg (26.5 lbs)

The Verdict

The Hegel H120 is a complete package. It masterfully achieves its goal of being the perfect amplifier for both the feature-seeker and the sound purist. It’s a powerful demonstration that you don’t need a rack full of components to achieve breathtaking sound. It’s a smart, powerful, and musically profound amplifier that earns our highest recommendation.

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