The Hegel H390 is an incredibly powerful integrated amplifier capable of providing its users with exceptional sonic performances and also packed with features. With its very high-powered amplifier, the H390 can drive most loudspeakers with ease including those which are difficult and demanding. For listeners who want more bass output, you can always go for floor-standing speakers and match them with your Hegel H390. If you want even more output and deeper bass reproduction, you probably will need an active subwoofer.
Adding an active subwoofer into your sound system will be beneficial for listeners who are using bookshelf speakers as well. The sub can deliver very low frequencies which the stand-mounters and floor-standers couldn’t. Furthermore, it is one of the most affordable ways to have a full-range sound system without breaking the bank. Usually getting a pair of high-end full-range speakers will cost a lot more than the Hegel H390 itself. To find the right subwoofer for the job, we must first learn more about the Hegel H390 sound characteristics and also your subwoofer requirements. Once we have gathered this information, we can then prepare a list of the best subwoofers which you can go for and pair them with the Hegel H390. This subwoofer list will be shared with you later on.
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Sound Characteristics of Hegel H390
As mentioned earlier, the Hegel H390 is extremely powerful, it has a power output of 250 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms and 490 Watts per channel into 4 Ohms. With this level of power, the Hegel H390 effortlessly projects a spacious soundstage and large-scale sound. Having a wide and deep soundstage is great but the overall performance is even better. The vivid music performance of the Hegel H390 has a sense of realism where it makes you feel as if the musicians are here together with you. The stereo imaging and separation are amazing as well, ensuring each musician is precisely where they should be with distinction.
The bass reproduction is taut and accurate, with plenty of details to boot, providing us with a nice musical presence. The low frequencies have weight and are very agile, ensuring the bass frequencies do not muddle the upper registers and don’t overstay their welcome. The Hegel H390 is a musical-sounding amplifier and has class-leading refinement with a hint of warmth. It also possesses a wide dynamic range and can smoothly deliver a very detailed music presentation. We highly suggest going for sealed cabinet subwoofers as they are better for music playbacks and agile enough to keep up with the Hegel H390 pacing. It is time for us to find out more about your subwoofer requirements.
Hegel H390 Specifications
- Power Output: 250 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms, 490 Watts per channel into 4 Ohms
- Frequency Response: 5Hz-180kHz
- DAC: Bit-Perfect
- Inputs: 1 Balanced XLR input, 2 RCA inputs, 2 Coaxial inputs, 3 Optical inputs, 1 USB input, Network
- Outputs: Coaxial output, Fixed output, Variable output
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 145mm x 430mm x 440mm | 5.7″ x 16.9″ x 17.3″
- Weight: 20kg (44lbs)
Your Subwoofer Requirements
Allocating a budget will probably be the first and foremost task to do as it will heavily influence the number of subwoofer choices which you can go for, not to mention, the quality of the subwoofer as well. We will suggest allocating a comfortable amount that you are willing to invest on a subwoofer and with a little headroom just in case. The size of your room will influence your choice as well, the bigger your listening room, the larger and more powerful of a subwoofer you should go for. There are subwoofers that are compact but still have plenty of amplifier power in them and can dig very deep into the bass extension.
Based on the frequency response of the Hegel H390, you might want to get subwoofers capable of reaching down to a minimum of 20Hz or even further below. As mentioned earlier, we suggest going with sealed cabinet subwoofers but if you are a bass fanatic or watch movies with your sound system most of the time, you might want to consider going for a ported subwoofer. A ported subwoofer has higher bass output and max SPL, it is not as agile and accurate when compared to sealed subwoofers in the same price range. Usually, sealed subwoofers are more capable of rendering instruments realistically.
You should have enough space in your listening room to accommodate the potential subwoofer you will be getting. Even though some listeners tend to place their subs at the corner of the room which is fine, still, we will recommend doing a subwoofer crawl to find the optimal subwoofer position though. As the subwoofer will take up a permanent spot in your home, you might want to discuss with the people staying together with you such as seeking spouse approval or asking for their opinions if they are sharing the sound system, etc. These are just a few of the usual main subwoofer requirements and you should add in a few of your own so as to have a thorough checklist. Once you have gone through the checklist and are confident of what you want, then please check out the subwoofer list we have prepared for you.
Best Subwoofers to match with Hegel H390
The Rythmik Audio F15HP is one of the best subwoofers to match with the Hegel H390 integrated amplifier. It is a 600 Watts RMS high-powered 15″ subwoofer and is capable of digging deep down to 10Hz (LFE input) which is really incredible for a sealed subwoofer at this price point. The F15HP uses the company’s patented Direct Servo technology, enabling the subwoofer to provide its user with powerful, articulate, and agile bass performance. Filling the room with immense sonic energy and able to keep up with the Hegel H390 music pacing. Rythmik Audio F15HP is certainly well-match with the H390.
The HSU Research ULS-15 MK2 is another amazing 15″ sealed subwoofer to pair with your Hegel H390 and has a more modest price tag. It is very powerful as well, with a whopping peak power of up to 2000 Watts (short term), and has a frequency response of 20Hz-200Hz (+/-1dB). The ULS-15 MK2 has 2 operating modes and one of which is to use it as a mid-bass module. This is an impressive sealed subwoofer with a flat bass response down to 20Hz and can go really loud too. The HSU Research ULS-15 MK2 is worth every penny invested and will be a suitable match for your Hegel H390.
The SVS SB-2000 Pro will be one of the best subwoofers to go with the Hegel H390 amplifier. When compared to the above 2 subwoofers, the SB-2000 Pro has a smaller driver which is 12″ but still can pack a punch and land a thunderous impact when it needs to. This 12″ sealed subwoofer has 550 Watts RMS and peak power of up to 1500 Watts, capable of delivering bass frequencies of down to 19Hz (+/-3dB). It has a modest price tag as well and has garnered plenty of accolades over the years. SVS is a subwoofer brand that is well-regarded by both audiophiles and HT enthusiasts.
More Info at Amazon – SVS SB-2000 Pro 550 Watt 12″ Sealed Subwoofer
If you require a compact size subwoofer and do not want to compromise the sound quality, the JL Audio Fathom f110v2 will be an excellent choice for you and your Hegel H390 integrated amp. This is a high-end 10″ sealed subwoofer with up to 1100 Watts of peak power and can dig deep down to 19Hz (-10dB). One of the most notable features of the Fathom f110v2 will be the Digital Automatic Room Optimization (D.A.R.O.) technology where it will automatically optimize the sub’s in-room frequency response. With D.A.R.O., the JL Audio Fathom f110v2 will be able to perform optimally in any given listening room.
Another high-end sealed subwoofer for listeners who have space constraints will be the Ken Kreisel DXD-808. One of the absolute best sealed subwoofers on the market, the Ken Kreisel DXD-808 uses dual 8″ long-throw drivers to produce fast, powerful, and articulate bass frequencies. It has a peak power output of up to 2200 Watts and can deliver subterranean frequencies of down to 15Hz. You can further improve the bass performance by stacking the DXD-808 on top of each other, enabling them to deliver exceptional and holographic bass which will fill the room with incredible sonic energy. A worthy subwoofer match for your Hegel H390 amplifier.
For listeners who are looking for ported subwoofers to match with their Hegel H390, you might want to take a look at the SVS PB-3000. This is an extremely powerful ported subwoofer and will be suitable for a large listening room. It has an awesome 2500 Watts of peak power and can reproduce bass frequencies of down to 16Hz (+/-3dB). The SVS PB-3000 will provide an exhilarating bass performance and will excel in a home theater environment. If you need a ported subwoofer for a small listening room and/or don’t want to break the bank. You can check out the SVS PB-1000 Pro, a 12″ entry-level subwoofer.
More Information at Amazon – SVS PB-3000 (Black Ash)
More Information at Amazon – SVS PB-1000 Pro (Black Ash)
To Sum It Up
We will suggest selecting one or more subwoofers from the list and arranging an audition with them before making your final decision. By auditioning the subwoofer, you will be able to tell if you like the bass quality and performance. If possible, try to test the subwoofer sonic prowess in your own listening room as this will give you an accurate result. You might want to use bass-heavy soundtracks that you are familiar with during the subwoofer auditions.
