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Hegel P30A & H30A
The P30A preamplifier and the H30A power amplifier replace the P30 and H30 reference amplifiers that have been on the market since 2011. "For several years we have known that the P30 and H30 amplifiers were living on borrowed time because the extremely good transistors they used were being discontinued. This was a problem because they were so good that finding something that could even come close proved to be very hard. So, for years we have been looking for replacements that could not only match but also improve upon the performance of our amplifiers. We have been testing and listening and testing again, and finally, we are able to launch our new reference products." - the Norwegians say, commenting on their new flagship pre/power combo.
With a new design and vastly upgraded sound qualities, the P30A and H30A sets a new bar for what Hegel amplifiers can achieve. We have given the P30A and the H30A the nicknames “The Conductor” and “The Orchestra”. They of course work best together, but both can also be great individual upgrades to existing systems. Speaking of upgradability, the H30A is designed as a mono power amplifier and performs best when used as such. We do however realize that some do not need that much power, and some want to try one before going for the full package. That is why the H30A can also be used as in stereo mode. The P30A is a fully balanced preamplifier with an attention to detail that is really something else. With a host of unbalanced and balanced analog inputs and outputs it will satisfy the needs of even the most dedicated stereo collector.
The P30A also uses Hegel’s patented Sound Engine technology. This actively monitors the music signal for corruptions and corrects for intermodulation distortion using a feed forward design. Sound Engine effectively removes distortion in real time as the signal is amplified. All these steps make for a preamplifier that is very quiet and handles the sensitive low amplitude music signal as delicately as possible. Even so, distortion of the signal can still happen, but the P30A has one more feature that takes care of this. The P30A is fully balanced all the way through. This means you have two separate amplifiers, volume controls, and sound engine modules per channel. With this design, almost all leftover distortion is cancelled out, and what you are left with is a signal that is as close to the original source material as possible.
The P30A offers a wide array of inputs and outputs. It features 2 balanced (XLR) and 3 unbalanced (RCA) inputs and a fixed level Home Theatre input that allows you to integrate it into a Home Theatre system. This input can also be configured to act as a normal input. On the other end you have one balanced (XLR) and two unbalanced (RCA) variable outputs that are all active, allowing you to connect several devices at the same time. One of the unbalanced RCA outputs can even be configured to be a fixed volume output. The P30A also has a 3,5 mm IR-direct input and a 12V trigger output connector. When you add it all up you get a highly versatile, extremely quiet, and natural sounding preamplifier that can be the heart of any high-end audio system.
The H30A is an absolute powerhouse of an amplifier. In its mono state it delivers a truly astounding 1100 watts in 8 ohms, and it is completely stable even with 1-ohm loads. To achieve this, we have applied all our skill and knowledge in amplifier design and combined that with the best electronics. The H30A power supply uses 2 separate 1000 VA toroidal transformers for fast response and minimized transformer hum. With a power bank of 270,000 μF capacitors, the H30A can handle even the most challenging piece of music at any volume, it always has enough power in reserve. On the output stage we use 56 pieces 15A 200W high speed, ultra-low distortion bipolar transistors. With so much power ready at any given time, things like speaker sensitivity and variation in loads no longer come into play. With the H30A you can confidently drive any speaker you like. The H30A is designed as a mono power amplifier, but it can also be used as a stereo power amplifier. It has both balanced (XLR) and unbalanced (RCA) inputs and a 12V trigger input. For the best possible connection, the H30A features high quality, gold-plated speaker binding posts. Products will begin shipping fall 2022. Info and photos by Hegel Music Systems.