In just a few short years, the Hegel H90 has garnered plenty of accolades and has become one of the finest integrated amplifiers in its price range. It is been highly praised by both casual listeners and discerning audiophiles for its solid sonic performance and excellent sound quality. We have absolutely no doubt in its musicality but still, without a matching pair of speakers to partner with the Hegel H90, we won’t be able to bring out their absolute best.
With a sea of worthy speakers to choose from which one of them is truly compatible and will complement the Hegel H90 integrated amplifier. To find out we will first need to gain more knowledge about the H90 sonic characteristics and merits. With a better understanding of how the Hegel H90 sounds, only then we can pick and start sharing with you a list of the best speakers to match with this remarkable integrated amp.
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Sonic Characteristics and Important Specifications of Hegel H90
The Hegel H90 has one of the most minimalistic designs, it has a digital display located right at the center with a dial knob being placed at each side, it is an absolutely clean-looking integrated amplifier. It is certainly easy to aesthetically match the H90 to most modern speakers and will fit in nicely with almost any type of listening room. Hegel H90 has a decent power output of 60 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms and has a minimum load of 2 Ohms. The frequency response is more impressive though which is from 5Hz-100kHz and is wide enough to accommodate almost all speakers available on the market. Still, it is limited by the power output, and based on the specs, the Hegel H90 is more comfortable with driving bookshelf speakers.
Other than being capable of driving loudspeakers, the Hegel H90 does have a few features up its sleeves. It has a USB input enabling you to connect to your PC/laptop and using its built-in DAC, the H90 can support up to 24-bit/192kHz resolution. There are enough digital inputs to cater to most modern-day audiophiles as well. Here are a few more notable features which are AirPlay, DualAmp, DualPower, Direct MasterClock, and others. For listeners who prefer some personal music listening session, you will be delighted to know there is a high-quality headphone output.
The music presentation is clean and rich with details, with plenty of musical nuances and intricacies which really brings out the authenticity of the instruments being sonically rendered. The reproduction of the musical instruments is accurate and realistic, and the vocals sounded natural as well. What really surprises us is how transparent and revealing the Hegel H90 is and yet it doesn’t sound clinical, but analytical enough to satisfy critical listeners. Casual listeners will certainly enjoy the sound quality produced by this amplifier as it is smooth and clear, more importantly, doesn’t sound overly bright.
The Hegel H90 also knows how to deliver an engaging music presentation, thanks to its forward-sounding nature which also makes it excel in reproducing live music performances. The stereo imaging and separation of the H90 are impeccable, along with its lively alacrity performance, you will immediately be immersed into the music. Just to nitpick, it would be better if the soundstage was a tad bigger. H90’s bass accuracy is top-notch, it is fast and taut too, making the percussion instruments sound realistic and organic. Deep bass reproduction is precise as well but does lack weight and power at times.
The overall sound reproduction of the Hegel H90 is very neutral and has a hint of warmth, allowing us to listen to our favorite music for hours on end without feeling fatigued. It is a musical-sounding amp that almost anyone can enjoy listening to and will be suitable for all music genres. Is a pity the H90 doesn’t have a higher power output but then again, we can always pay more and look at the bigger higher-end models. All in all, the Hegel H90 is worth every penny invested. We have the information we need to start sharing with you the best speakers to match with the Hegel H90 integrated amplifier, kindly take a look at the list below.
Best Speakers to pair with Hegel H90
The KEF R3 will be of the best speakers to pair with the Hegel H90. This is an award-winning pair of bookshelf speakers that looks and sounds beautiful. The level of resolution of the R3 is astounding, it is a speaker with insight and has incredible accuracy which matches really well with the Hegel H90 amplifier. The level of scale which these speakers can muster will complement the H90 as well and their stereo imaging is simply amazing, able to remain composed no matter how difficult the music passage is. KEF R3 midrange prowess is impressive and so is its bass performance.
More Details at Amazon – KEF R3 (Pair, Black)
The Wharfedale Evo4.1 is one of the best speakers to match with your Hegel H90. It has a warm sonic characteristic which helps to sweeten the overall sound reproduction but doesn’t compromise the accuracy and musicality. For a bookshelf speaker, the Evo4.1 bass performance is really impressive as it can dig really deep into the bass extension and produce palpable low ends. The smooth music delivery of the Wharfedale Evo4.1 helps to produce a slightly more pleasing sound quality. Hegel H90 sound signature helps to brighten up the music presentation as not to make it sound too dull.
More Details at Amazon – Wharfedale EVO4.1 Bookshelf Speakers Pair Black Ash
If overall accuracy is critical for you, the KEF LS50 Meta will be an excellent choice to go for and partner up with the Hegel H90. It is a pair of revealing and transparent stand-mounters that will dig out a massive amount of details including subtle nuances and produces them out in high clarity. Every single detail can be heard clearly, the precision of the stereo imaging is immaculate and the overall bass performance is surprisingly weighty. The KEF LS50 Meta is capable of delivering a full-bodied and faithful music presentation of our favorite tunes, it is a worthy match to your Hegel H90 amplifier.
More Details at Amazon – KEF LS50 Meta (Royal Blue)
For listeners with tight budgets and who do not want to compromise the sound quality, the Q Acoustics Concept 20 will be a great speaker choice to go for. It is a pair of extraordinary stand-mounters that have won many awards throughout the years not because it is modest in price but of the exceptional sonic performance they possess. The Q Acoustics Concept 20 is musically refined and has the ability to reveal an amazing amount of details without sounding clinical. The sonic characteristics of the Concept 20 bookshelf speakers will match really well with the Hegel H90 and they won’t sound harsh when pushed.
More Details at Amazon – Q Acoustics Concept 20 Bookshelf Speakers Pair (White)
The Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 is another award-winning bookshelf speaker that will be a worthy match with your Hegel H90 integrated amp. The 606 S2 stand-mounters bass reproduction is articulate and has weight to it, providing us with punchy performance. They are forward sounding as well and when paired with the Hegel H90, you will have a very lively and engaging music delivery. The level of clarity is astonishing too, the Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 is a step-up over its predecessor. You might want to hear them out first as they may sound overly bright for some listeners. Furthermore, these B&W bookshelf speakers are modestly priced.
More Details at Amazon – Bowers and Wilkins 600 Series 606 S2 Anniversary Edition
Omega Speaker Systems’ Junior 8 XRS will be one of the best floor-standing speakers to pair with the Hegel H90. It is a pair of highly efficient floor-standers where it can be driven with as little as 2 Watts and they are sanely priced as well. For a compact floor-standing speaker, the soundstage projected is wide and deep, filled with rich music details. The neutrality of the Hegel H90 works really well with the Junior 8 XRS and the pacing of these speakers will help to provide a livelier music presentation that is both engaging and intimate. The overall bass performance of the Omega Junior 8 XRS speakers is deep and taut.
To Sum It Up
It is recommended to arrange an audition with the potential speakers which you are interested in first before making the final decision. This is to find out if you will like what you hear from them. The above-mentioned speakers are some of the best to pair with the Hegel H90 and will be worth your time to have a look or better yet have a listen. You might want to choose the songs and music with which you are very familiar and use them for the speaker’s auditions. This is to make it easier to tell the difference in sound quality when comparing the potential loudspeakers with one another.
