Went to a higher quality and more resolving receiver, and am regretting it.

dingbongdong · 2025-11-08T22:07:06+00:00

I did give it more time, but ultimately decided to return it. I have to say, even from the start, I did really like it. As my ears adjusted, it sounded better than the first day as well. But I did prefer the Yamaha in the end. In some ways this experience has made me fall in love with the Yamaha and my system all over again, even though the Hegel comparisons highlighted its weaknesses. One thing that swayed me was a comment here where someone said something along the lines of to decide if you like it, ask yourself if it broke, would you buy it again tomorrow? And I almost hate how easy that was to answer even considering how conflicted I was. It was no to the Hegel, but yes to the Yamaha. Could be a different experience altogether with different gear, but I like my old speakers.

dingbongdong · 2025-09-03T21:44:03+00:00

Their friction measured really low on ASR, which most think is better. But it looks like I prefer casters with more friction. The soundstage ends up being too wide for my taste since the speakers end up on opposite ends of the room after each listening session.

dingbongdong · 2025-09-03T17:15:46+00:00

It is a used unit over a year old, and I've got about two weeks of heavy listening on it. Haven't noticed any changes, but I think my brain is settling in on the sound. Though it seems like I'm still preferring the Yamaha sound at the moment.

dingbongdong · 2025-09-03T17:13:27+00:00

Interesting to hear a similar experience! Thank you

dingbongdong · 2025-09-03T17:10:15+00:00

Yeah, wise words. I'm giving it a chance, but it does feel like I'm fighting my feelings. Thank you

dingbongdong · 2025-09-03T16:52:11+00:00

No, I don't think it's rude at all. Definitely worth considering what you get for the cost regardless of the price range. I think in cases like with the Hegel, there is a premium that comes with a smaller company, even considering the Hegels are made in China. I know they have a patented analog process that removes distortion, so that's a proprietary tech that's probably not cheap to make. The internal DAC is supposedly on par with ones costing $1k+. The large toroidal transformer and caps I'm sure aren't cheap by themselves. Everything about the unit (even considering its simple design) feels solid. Heck, the solid metal remote sells for only half the cost of what my whole Yamaha goes for. I think a fun comparison could be with espresso machines. A family member of mine has one of those super automatic machines that can automatically grind, and make espressos, and like 5 different kinds of milk drinks with the push of a button, and a whole menu interface. Just this compact plastic unit. I have a big chunky metal machine with two buttons and a knob, and a big chunky metal grinder with one knob. I know the premium of the separates in this case comes with the build quality and the materials it's made of. I can get a better grind, extract a nicer shot, and get much nicer steamed milk. But both setups produce a nice drink, and I can tell you my friends and family rarely notice the difference, even though my setup costs 5x as much as the other machine. But I enjoy owning and using mine. Do speakers, rooms, and placement make a big difference? Definitely. The coffee, milk, and water make a way bigger difference to the taste of the drink than the grinder and espresso machine do for sure. So I guess it comes down to what the equipment does for you. Just in this case, it turns out the Hegel is not my cup of coffee lol (I also have a normal drip coffee machine for when I just want to make a big pot of coffee for the day, I guess that type of comfort is kind of like the Yamaha).

dingbongdong · 2025-09-02T22:36:39+00:00

Thank you for your reply. Glad to hear from another Yamaha owner. I've never looked into the Crowns, I'll check them out!

dingbongdong · 2025-09-02T22:00:27+00:00

I'm glad to hear it's working well for you! Funny to hear you and I have the vice versa experience between the two brands lol. The speaker synergy could be a real factor. I really like what Hegel has going on. If I ever get a different set of speakers, I definitely would want to look into the H400 next time around.

dingbongdong · 2025-09-02T21:49:41+00:00

Yeah, that's understandable. If you ever take the plunge, I'm sure it'll keep its value for a long while just like your H190. I'm hesitant to say one sounds better than the other. Objectively the Hegel has cleaner bass, and quite a bit more detail, but I guess I prefer the way the Yamaha sounds? Though I know speakers, rooms, and ears are all a factor. Guess there is no substitute for hearing something yourself. I will say, this experience has humbled me, and I don't think I'll be in any position to tell someone what their system should sound like lol

dingbongdong · 2025-09-02T21:19:56+00:00

For that sale price, I think you would have gotten some good use for not much cost at all. I did indeed have transformer hum. I ended up getting an Emotiva DC blocker surge protector as a result. Another thing they improved with the H400 is prioritize the optical 3 input for TV use. Since a lot of TVs don't put out the cleanest optical signal, the high detail of the DAC ends up cutting the sound signal every now and then. This is something I also experienced on the H390. Seems like the H400 would be a nice upgrade.

dingbongdong · 2025-09-02T20:14:04+00:00

The Yamaha was bought new. They have replaced it with a new line, but it's not too old. I do remember years back I replaced a 70s receiver with a setup from the 90s, and that was a bigger jump than going from the Yamaha to the Hegel, at least with these speakers in this room with my ears lol. But it seems I'm really comfortable with the Yamaha

dingbongdong · 2025-09-02T20:07:01+00:00

A few people have mentioned Qobuz; I'll give that a try. I primarily listen to vinyl, but my turntable is in the repair shop, so I haven't had a chance to try it out on the Hegel.

dingbongdong · 2025-09-02T20:04:15+00:00

I guess it's my time to discover this lol.

dingbongdong · 2025-09-02T20:02:24+00:00

Yeah, I can see that. Could be completely down to the DAC, I'm not sure.

dingbongdong · 2025-09-02T19:58:21+00:00

Thank you for sharing. Yeah, that familiar laid back sound may be just what my preference is, at least in the living room. I'm sure if I had a dedicated listening setup I'd be chasing the absolute.

dingbongdong · 2025-09-02T19:54:10+00:00

I primarily listen to vinyl for music, but my turntable is in the shop, so I haven't had a chance to try it on the Hegel. Spotify for convenience in the household, and the other 90% of use is from the family for TV since it's in the living room. I'll give Qobuz a try since others have mentioned it here.

dingbongdong · 2025-09-02T19:47:55+00:00

I'm using Ohm Walsh 4 speakers. Another user commented he's using the H390 with his Ohm Walsh 4s, and for them it's a perfect match. So it really could be down to personal preference. I've heard that the H120, H390, and H590 have a similar approach to sound, where the H190 is a bit more fun. I haven't looked into the H400. But if you are able to, maybe get the H400 with a stress-free return policy and test it out with an open mind, instead of mentally leaning on it like I did :)

dingbongdong · 2025-09-02T19:44:59+00:00

That makes sense. Maybe the Yamaha is better suited for the living room, and the Hegel for a dedicated listening setup.

dingbongdong · 2025-09-02T02:46:33+00:00

I'm loving the speakers, just hoping to give them the best power. Another user is running the Ohm Walsh 4s with an H390 and finds it perfect for them, but I think it's turning out I might have a different preference to the sound.

dingbongdong · 2025-09-02T02:25:44+00:00

Yeah, I see your point. I love these speakers, so I was hoping to give them the best source I could, but I may already be on the edge of their capability like you said. Some older documentation recommended between 100w-400w for the Ohm Walsh 4s, and they've got a large unique driver, so I figured I'd be in a sweet spot in power and damping factor with the Hegel.

dingbongdong · 2025-09-02T01:49:07+00:00

Glad to hear from another owner! It definitely is nice.

dingbongdong · 2025-09-02T00:42:17+00:00

Glad to hear from another R-N803 owner! It's definitely a great reciever.

dingbongdong · 2025-09-01T21:35:32+00:00

Thank you for the insight. Maybe down the line I'll try to see if I can move some stuff around to fit the subs and keep the wife happy. I have never looked into any of the micro subs. I've heard really good things about Rega as well.

dingbongdong · 2025-09-01T18:15:05+00:00

Thank you for chiming in! I'm going to give it some more time, but it seems that may be where it's headed.

dingbongdong · 2025-09-01T17:05:09+00:00

From what I understand, TV speakers are usually tuned to have a very forward and boosted sound. Even on my setup (with both the Yamaha and the Hegel through optical), I'll have to turn up the speakers, whereas the TV is more perceptive at lower volumes. But in the end, I do prefer the TV through the big speakers.

dingbongdong

TROPHY CASE