Hegel D50

At first glance, the D50 appears understated, with its minimalist black design. No flashy details or unnecessary features distract from its purpose. Like the raven, it may seem plain, but this DAC is a master of its craft. Beneath the sleek exterior lies a remarkable ability to decode and deliver digital audio with breathtaking precision. The D50 unveils a soundstage so expansive it feels as though you're soaring high above the music, revealing every intricate detail with stunning clarity. Whether you choose to focus on the smallest nuances or simply let the music carry you, the D50 offers an unparalleled listening experience.

Hegel has been perfecting the art of DAC design for more than two decades, and the D50 represents the pinnacle of that expertise. At its core lies the latest model DAC chip - a sophisticated tool with immense potential. But like the raven, one of the few animals capable of using tools with precision, the D50's genius lies in how it wields this technology. Every detail of the circuit design and layout has been meticulously crafted to extract the full potential of the DAC chip, transforming it from a mere component into a masterful instrument. The result is a design that uses this tool to its fullest, unlocking extraordinary sound reproduction.

The D50 takes extraordinary measures to ensure the purity of its sound reproduction. Its power management is designed to silence noise and deliver clean energy to every part of the device. Advanced filters on the power input eliminate noise from the mains, and when connected to a grounded power outlet, this filtering can even enhance the performance of other equipment in the same circuit. To eliminate electrical noise even further, the D50 employs two low-noise toroidal transformers. One delivers power to the noisier digital processes and standby functionality while the other is dedicated to the sensitive analog and digital components. Both transformers are shielded by thick steel and placed far from any sensitive electronics and their output is also filtered, ensuring the D50 operates with the purest power, allowing its performance to take flight.

At Hegel, we approach circuit board design with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring the best possible performance. In the D50, even the routing features rounded corners to minimize impedance drops and reduce radiation, reflecting our commitment to precision. However, the real innovation lies in how the D50 processes incoming digital signals before converting them to analog. The AES/EBU input features a unique RS422 receiver balanced by a transformer, allowing it to handle both weak and strong signals flawlessly, free of jitter and time delays.

Technical Specifications