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Hegel H80 for KEF LS50? Or other amp?

Hello all,

I am seriously considering the Hegel H80 based on the reviews I've seen and the recommendations of a few people who have heard it. My only concern is that my speakers are KEF LS50s, which drop to 3.2 ohms at their minimal impedance (although overall they are not an extremely difficult load) and have a sensitivity of 85db. The Hegel is claimed to sound more powerful than its claimed 75 wpc and to have a powerful bottom end. However, there is no specification into 4 ohms, and I'm worried that it will not have the dynamics or the bass that a more powerful integrated might have (for example, the Krell S300i is on sale for $1800 new and doubles down into 4 ohms - very tempting).

If any of you have experience with the Hegel into 4 ohm speakers, I'd love to hear about it. And if you have another recommendation for the KEF LS50s, I'd appreciate your input. I LOVE the speakers, but I just haven't found the right integrated yet. My listening room is about 14 x 16 feet, and I listen at moderate levels to a wide range of music.

Thanks so much!
Scott
smrex13
zek4u
44 posts
 
Will be comparing a Hegel H80 to my Croft separates shortly. Also internal Dac versus Benchmark Dac2 HGC balanced. I'll report back. Went back back to Harbeth P3esrs. Just the kind sound I like. I'm in heaven with the NOS tubes I got for Crofts. Just don't know if the Hegel will compare with the midrange and effortless beautiful sounds I'm getting right now. We will see. Adam
zek4u
44 posts
 
Will be comparing a Hegel H80 to my Croft separates shortly. Also internal DAC w. audiophilleo versus Benchmark Dac2 HGC balanced. I'll report back. Went back back to Harbeth P3esrs. Just the kind of sound I like. I'm in heaven with the NOS tubes I got for Crofts. Just don't know if the Hegel will compare with the midrange and effortless beautiful sounds I'm getting right now. We will see. Adam
zek4u
44 posts
 
Also tried a Simaudio Moon Neo 250i. Crofts just have that magic and nothing can compare. Now I just need to save up for the RIAA R phono preamp.
sfjain
4 posts
 
I have the LS50's paired with Audio Research VSi55 I got for 1830 on audiogon. They are an amazing match. I don't think I could do much better. I keep on thinking of ways to change/upgrading the integrated but just in the end don't want to loose the synergy of this setup, its phenomenal, even despite being set up in a fairly large room with 9 foot ceilings.

If I had a balanced source I would like to compare it to a Ayre Ax-7e someday...

Entry level Transparent cabling and a Bluesound Vault as a source using the on board DAC. Soon to be switch to a Auralic Aries Mini.

Sam
dbphd
1,058 posts
 
I've been using a Proceed Amp 2 to drive my LS50s with an Oppo 95 as source. I substituted a used Parasound A23 to check it out in this simple setup. The LS50s sound very good with either amp, but I think I prefer the sound with the Amp 2, a bit more presence and a bit less warmth. I think a used Amp 2 is just a few hundred dollars more than an A23, but they are older amps and don't have the neat audio trigger of the A23, a nice feature given neither an Oppo 95 nor 105 supplies a 12 v trigger for the Amp 2.

db
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