The Basics

From a distance the H90 & H95 look almost identical. They have the same chassis and front panel, same position for the headphone output and the remote is the same RC10 used in the H90.

Inside both share the Hegel H1 platform design. This is essentially a design map of where things sit in relation to each other in the chassis. This conceptual design groundwork plan stems from the original Hegel H1 amplifier and is still in use to this day. While the amplifiers are not the same in terms of complete design, they still share this Hegel proof of concept within their footprint.

The back panel on the H90 and H95 also look identical, sharing analogue pre-out, 2 x analogue line in, speaker terminals for a pair of speakers, one coaxial, three optical a USB and finally a network port.

They also share the same characteristics on the digital input board. The Network, Coaxial & Optical accept signal up to 24/192khz the USB input is limited to 24/96khz. The reasoning behind this is the USB receiver chip Hegel use gives the utmost definition in sound quality, while not costing the earth. So even if the playback in the USB input is ultimately limited, the money saved could then be ploughed into investing into the digital to analogue converter, bringing larger sonic benefits overall whilst maintaining the price point.

Dual Transformers

The new H95 sees the inclusion of a dedicated smaller transformer. The larger transformer still drives the amplifier and digital to analogue converter, but with the addition of the second smaller transformer it enables the amplifier to have a dedicated single transformer for switching the amplifier on and off. This means that the H95 has a proper standby mode in which it only uses 1w in this state. This helps consume less power making it better for the environment, improves safety but more importantly means there is a buffer to stop any minute distortion of the sound during operation.

Streaming & Digital to Analogue Conversion

The largest difference between the H90 and the H95 is in the digital domain. The new H95 has received a brand-new streaming board and a completely new digital to analogue converter. The new streaming board is the same streaming board used inside the reference H590 amplifier. This means on launch the H95 will have Spotify Connect, but most importantly it leaves the door open to add features later. The DAC is also massively improved, and is the same unit utilised in the H190 model, a far more expensive DAC than found in the older H90. The H95 has a far superior analogue stage, which helps shape the sound of the amplifier but there is also a new Asahi Kasei Microdevices DAC chip with far better re-clocking. So, if you are using a digital source, the upgrades over the H90 are significant.

Headphones

Another large upgrade moving from a H90 to a H95 if the headphone output. The principal design is the same. The amplifier re-routes the output from the speaker terminals delivering plenty of power for headphones which require it. Where the H95 differs is how that signal is treated and the signal to noise ratio in this circuit has been vastly improved giving a superb black background for headphone listening.

Power Output

The main power supply of the Hegel H90 and the new H95 is identical as are the basic functions of the power amplifier and will give 60 WPC into 8 Ohms and 107 WPC in 4 ohms.

Sound Engine 2

The new Hegel H95 features the second version of Hegel’s Sound Engine chip and is one of the main reasons why Hegel amplifiers sound the way they do. The Sound Engine 2 is really an analogue computer. The analogue computer takes a sample of the incoming signal entering the amplifier and compares it to the signal exiting the speaker terminals. By comparing the two signals it can subtract the difference, this being the noise generated by the amplifier circuit. Usually this is unwanted distortion. Sound Engine 2 can detect this distortion and play it back in reverse phase effectively cancelling it before it exits the speaker terminals. Leaving you with a mirror image of the signal coming into the amplifier and ultimately, better, cleaner sound.

Conclusion

The outgoing H90 was one or our best-selling products over the last 12 months and we have no doubt the new H95 will follow on from that mantle. The H95 should be with us this week on demonstration. Should you have any questions relating to this article or if you would like to place an order, do not hesitate to get in touch with us directly.