About The Hegel C54 4 Channel Power Amplifier
A multi-channel amplifier designed for sound performance... not priced like diamonds, and tailored to your needs. Sound too good to be true? Well, it used to be, but not any longer. The Hegel C5 series: 3, 4 or 5 channel power amplifiers are rack-mountable, configurable, specified to your needs and will - most importantly - blow you away with their sound performance. Up to 5 channels of 150w/pc analogue amplifier power, with enough oompf to boogie with almost any loudspeaker on the market. Meet the Hegel C5 series.
Introducing the most versatile high-performance multi-channel amplifiers on the market - the Hegel C5-series. The C5 is available in 3 different versions, tailored to your needs. You can choose to have it as either a 3-channel, 4-channel or 5-channel configuration. Meaning you can build a 5.1 or Dolby Atmos home theatre system using one or more C5's. Perhaps you want to bi-amp speakers or use active crossovers? You could also use it to power multiple speakers in a mastering studio, in a restaurant or in a home. In short, wherever you need high-performance sound with dynamics and ultra-low distortion.
As flexible as it is, the C5-series of amplifiers still maintains the full Hegel Sound. C5 uses the patented SoundEngine2 technology with its many benefits. One of them is the possibility to run low bias, meaning the high power class A/B amplifier does not run as warm as normal, allowing you to install it in a 19" rack. Another benefit of the SoundEngine2 is the very high damping factor (more than 2000). A higher damping factor means deep, deep bass and complete control of the bass drivers. It is one of the reasons people are talking about the dynamic Hegel sound. Yet the most important aspect is its low distortion. Hegel's patented SoundEngine2 amplifiers work almost like a noise-cancelling headphone. All distortion elements created within the amplifier circuits are dynamically cancelled out, by being played back in a negative phase. So no matter how you choose to configure, the C5-Series will deliver a spectacular soundstage. Never hard or unpleasant. Always natural, smooth and with incredible dynamics.
Versatility stretches further than the number of audio channels and ways to use. The ability to switch phase individually for each channel or selecting between different gain settings for each channel makes it so much easier to integrate into a larger system. The trigger input and output allows daisy chaining and means you can place it in a separate room and never worry about switching it on or off. The C53 is 3u tall, with massive rackmount ears that are an integrated part of the amplifier shell. When installed in a rack, Hegel recommend 1u spacing on top and bottom. There are also adjustable and detachable rear mount ears. If you do not choose to install it in a rack, feet are supplied in the accessory box which means the C5-series can fit in any application.
Organic Sound: Good recordings are best enjoyed naked. The organic sound of Hegel means that all parts of a dynamic recording are reproduced exactly like the original. The quality of the sound coming out of your speakers are only limited by what happened in the recording studio. Nothing added, nothing taken out - no artificial ingredients.
Music enjoyed on a Hegel system is the closest you can get to the live studio session. The company is proud to present The Hegel Concept - the first music system in the world that utilizes the very latest technology from all related fields, like integrated circuitry, broadcasting technology, and telecommunication. More than 10 years of research and development have made it possible to reproduce music in a more natural way than ever before.
The goal is to give music lovers the most natural and engaging listening experience possible. Real-life sound from acoustic instruments and voices from known artists were the preferred reference point while developing Hegel because nothing else would do.
SoundEngine: It's a common fact: As a story is told from person to person, details change. Things are added, others lost. At some point, the story has changed. When a music signal is passing through an audio amplifier a similar effect will take place. As the signal is passed from stage to stage within the audio amplifier, the music signal will be changed by every single amplifier stage.
When the music signal finally reaches your loudspeakers, the signal is different from the original music signal from the signal source. The Hegel SoundEngine local error cancelling system prevents distortion in the audio amplifier circuit stages, preserving the original details and the dynamic range in the original music signal. The end result is a much cleaner music signal with a larger dynamic range and lower distortion. The unique and patented Hegel SoundEngine audio technology combines the advantage of class AB and class A amplifiers, without having the drawbacks of class A and class AB-amplifier technologies.
The SoundEngine Technology cancels the crossover distortion found in all types of class-AB amplifiers. The human ear is very sensitive to high-frequency distortion components in the music signal. The Hegel SoundEngine technology will cancel high-frequency distortion components found in normal types of audio amplifiers. The Hegel SoundEngine technology is not using any kind of global negative feedback, it is using local and adaptive feedforward technology if there should ever be any need for cancellation of distortion within the audio amplifier stages.
DualAmp: All Hegel audio amplifiers are using a new kind of distributed amplifier technology called DualAmp Technology. This technology is used in all integrated amplifiers and power amplifiers from Hegel. In normal audio amplifiers, the voltage gain stages and current gain stages are combined in the same amplifier module.
DualAmp Technology from Hegel separates the voltage gain stage and the current gain stage into two completely different stages. First, the music signal goes to the voltage gain stage, amplifying only the voltage level of the music signal. By doing only voltage gain in this first stage, Hegel can use amplifier building blocks that are specially designed to do voltage amplification. After the separate voltage gain stage there is the current gain stage, doing only current gain and nothing else. This way Hegel can use amplifier blocks that are specially designed to do current gain. The current gain stage is needed to deliver a lot of current to the loudspeakers connected to the audio amplifier. By separating these two stages, we can keep the sensitive parts of the voltage gain stages away from the large speaker currents in the current output stage.
The output of the voltage gain stage is connected to the input of the current gain stage. There is no feedback from the current gain stage to the voltage gain stage. The Hegel DualAmp technology gives lower total distortion and a higher dynamic range than normal audio amplifiers. The Hegel DualAmp technology is developed in-house by Hegel and is only found in Hegel products.
DualPower: Normal audio amplifiers use the same power supply for the different amplifier blocks within the audio amplifier. The amplifier output stage driving the loudspeaker is using the same power supply as the crucial input stages and voltage gain stages of the audio amplifier. The large currents flowing in the connected loudspeakers will disturb the sensitive input and voltage gain stages of the audio amplifier.
Hegel integrated amplifiers, power amplifiers and sources are using completely separate DualPower power supplies for the input and voltage gain stages, and for the current output stages of the audio amplifier. The custom-designed Hegel power transformers have got separate DualPower windings feeding independent high-speed rectifiers and high capacity power supply capacitors.
By using the DualPower power supply technology Hegel amplifiers prevent disturbances from the high currents flowing in the loudspeakers entering the sensitive input gain stages and voltage gain stages. The Hegel DualPower technology gives lower total distortion and a higher dynamic range than normal audio amplifiers. The Hegel DualPower technology is developed in-house by Hegel and is only found in Hegel products.
Our Take
The Hegel C5 series multi-channel amplifiers redefine the expectations of sound performance without the extravagant price tag typically associated with high-end audio equipment. Crafted to meet the diverse needs of audiophiles, these amplifiers offer a range of configurations - 3, 4, or 5 channels - allowing for versatile applications, whether it's building a home theatre system, bi-amping speakers, or powering multiple speakers in various settings. With up to 150 watts per channel, the Hegel C5 series delivers robust analog amplifier power, capable of driving even the most demanding loudspeakers on the market. Engineered with patented SoundEngine2 technology, these amplifiers boast remarkable features like low bias operation for efficient heat dissipation, high damping factor ensuring precise bass control, and dynamic distortion cancellation for a natural, distortion-free soundstage. Whether integrated into a rack or placed standalone, the Hegel C5 series amplifiers offer unmatched flexibility, ensuring an immersive and authentic listening experience.
Beyond its configurable design and advanced technology, the Hegel C5 series amplifiers embody the essence of organic sound, faithfully reproducing every detail of a recording with unparalleled accuracy. Utilizing innovative features like the Hegel SoundEngine and DualAmp Technology, these amplifiers preserve the integrity of the original music signal, eliminating distortion and maintaining dynamic range. The DualPower system further enhances performance by providing separate power supplies for input/voltage gain stages and current output stages, preventing interference from speaker currents and ensuring pristine audio quality. With over a decade of research and development, Hegel has perfected the art of music reproduction, offering music enthusiasts an unparalleled listening experience that closely mirrors a live studio session. From acoustic instruments to vocal performances, the Hegel C5 series amplifiers deliver a captivating soundstage that remains true to the artist's vision, making every listening session a truly immersive and unforgettable journey into the world of high-fidelity audio.
Main Features & Specifications
- Design: 4 Channel Power Amplifier
- Power Output: 4 x 150/300/600 Watts into 8/4/2 Ohms
- Minimum Load: 2 Ohms
- Analogue Inputs: 4 x balanced XLR, 4 x unbalanced RCA
- Control Inputs: 1 x mini-jack 5-12 V trigger
- Control Outputs: 1 x mini-jack 11.9 V trigger out
- Gain Control: Switchable between 23 dB or 29 dB (individual)
- Phase Control: Switchable 1/180 (individual)
- Frequency Response: 5 Hz - 100 kHz
- Signal-To-Noise Ratio: More than 100 dB
- Crosstalk: Less than -100 dB
- Distortion: Less than 0.01% @ 100W 8 Ohms 1 kHz
- Intermodulation: Less than 0.01% (19 kHz + 20 kHz)
- Damping Factor: More than 2,000 (main power output stage)
- Special features: Balanced and unbalanced inputs, Trigger in/out, Modular design, Adjustable rear rack mount, Gain & Phase selectors
- Removable Power Cable: Upgrade to a Premium Power Cable for better performance
- Included Accessories: User Manual, Power Cable, Feet With Screws, Rear Rack Brackets
- Finish: Black
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 482 x 132 x 520mm (including handles, excluding feet)
- Dimensions Note: For precise installation dimensions, refer to user manual
- Weight: 33 kg
- Manufacturer's Warranty: 2 Years
Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE.