Hegel P30A Preamplifier
The P30A has the poise and control it needs to convey all the details, the grandeur, the feeling, and the complexity of any piece of music. With precise timing and expert understanding of both the score and the musicians, the P30A brings forth the music just as it was intended to sound. It handles low key jazz, stadium rock and everything in between. Nothing added, and nothing subtracted, the P30A is one of the best preamplifiers you will ever meet.
The P30A is Hegel's reference preamplifier and its natural partner is the Hegel H30A reference power amplifier. The P30A's job is to control the power amplifier with a signal that is as true to the music as possible. In our view, the preamplifier is the most critical component in a great sounding system, and it is also the hardest to get right. The very low amplitude signals coming from the source are easily corrupted, so in-depth technical know-how and clever engineering are needed to make sure the signal stays the same all the way through the preamplifier. With the P30A Hegel's engineers have deployed all their skills in doing just that.
First, they use single pair FET transistors that have no higher order harmonic distortion. Within any batch of transistors, there will always be slight measurement variations. This might be within the bounds of what is considered normal deviations, but for sensitive electronics like this, that simply isn't good enough. Therefore, Hegel's founder and chief engineer Bent measures and carefully matches those transistors that have the exact same values. Having perfectly matched transistors is of paramount importance to the performance of the preamplifier, and it makes the P30A sound very smooth and natural, without compromising on the details. Furthermore, the internal layout is designed in a way that makes the signal paths within the preamplifier as short as possible. This reduces the possibility of distortion coming from electrical interference. To further reduce distortion, they also minimize the number of electrical components the signal passes through. In the P30A the music signal only passes through two transistors and an ultra-low noise volume attenuator. The P30A also uses Hegel's patented SoundEngine technology. This actively monitors the music signal for corruptions and corrects for intermodulation distortion using a feed forward design. SoundEngine 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 SoundEngine 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.
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. 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, preamplifiers 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.
Hegel Philosophy
"All Hegel products are based on a simple philosophy: Add as little as possible. We always aim to keep the music signal close to the original recording. We are constantly looking for ways to lower distortion and noise. By lowering noise, we unveil layers of music covered by noise. And by lowering the distortion we can have a better and more precise reproduction of the recording. We work hard to give you the best possible music experience. Our minimalistic Scandinavian design is styled to fit in with any interior. The products are easy to operate and manufactured according to the best quality principles." Bent Holter, Founder Hegel Music Systems
About Hegel
The Hegel story begins in 1988 when Bent Holter, a student at the Technical University in Trondheim, Norway, decided to do a thesis under the original design of the transistor used in amplifiers that would cure the problems of traditional hi-fi systems. Enemy number one was distortion and Holter somehow could not accept the fact that when we supply a simple signal to an amplifier, the output reproduces that signal plus something else; distortion produced by the electronics. Fighting distortion usually means deterioration of other parameters, including damping factor so Holter decided to break free from classic schematics and developed a project that became the basis of what we know today as SoundEngine Technology.
And where does the name of the company come from? Well, during his spare time Bent played in a rock-metal band called The Hegel Band. When they needed amplifiers for concerts, he suggested building them himself. His ideas took on real shape, but it took lots of money to refine the technology and help came from Telenor - one of the biggest players in the telecommunications industry.
The early 90s were a period of prosperity for the brand. First, they patented the SoundEngine technology and soon thereafter released a DAC and a CD Player. Over the next few years, the company steadily developed its product range including their burgeoning range of integrated amplifiers. Today Hegel is one of the best-established brands on the Hi-Fi market. They produce integrated, pre and power amplifiers as well as CD players and some of the most modern and sophisticated D/A converters. SoundEngine Technology was just a start. Today there are six more original technical solutions in Hegel's portfolio. The company has dealers in 63 countries and its products are sold all over the world. Awards and press reviews speak for themselves.
Our Take On The Hegel P30A
The Hegel P30A Preamplifier stands as an exemplar of sonic refinement and engineering prowess within the audiophile community. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, this preamplifier embodies the culmination of Hegel's dedication to audio excellence. Its design seamlessly integrates advanced technologies with a commitment to purity of sound, offering a transformative listening experience that captivates even the most discerning enthusiasts. With a robust construction and an intuitive interface, the P30A elevates the audio journey, providing a gateway to immersive sonic landscapes and a deeper connection to the music.
At the heart of the Hegel P30A lies a philosophy of uncompromising quality and innovation. Drawing upon years of expertise and relentless research, Hegel has engineered a preamplifier that pushes the boundaries of what is achievable in audio reproduction. From its meticulously designed circuitry to its refined aesthetic, every aspect of the P30A reflects a commitment to excellence and a passion for delivering unparalleled audio fidelity. With its ability to reveal the subtlest nuances and convey the emotional depth of music, the Hegel P30A redefines the listening experience, inviting listeners to immerse themselves in the purest expression of sound.
Main Features & Specifications
- Design: Fully Balanced Analogue Preamplifier
- Designed to match the Hegel H30A Power Amplifier
- Inputs: 2 x XLR balanced, 3 x RCA unbalanced and Home Theatre Bypass inputs
- Outputs: 1 x XLR balanced and 2 x RCA unbalanced outputs
- Other Connections: 3.5mm IR-direct jack, 3.5mm jack 12V trigger output
- Signal To Noise Ratio: More than 130 dB balanced mode
- Crosstalk: Less than -100 dB
- Distortion: Less than 0.005 %
- Intermodulation: Less than 0.01% (19kHz+20kHz)
- Remote Control: Volume, Source, and Mute
- Removable Power Cable: Upgrade to a Premium Power Cable for better performance
- Finish: Black
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 430 x 96 x 300mm
- Weight: 7.2 kg
- Manufacturer's Warranty: 2 Years
Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE.