Hegel P30A - Reference Pre-Amplifier

The Hegel P30A preamplifier replaces the P30 reference amplifier that has been on the market since 2011.

The Hegel P30A has been given the nickname of "The Conductor".  It is named as such because its job is to control the power amplifier with a signal that is as true to the music as possible. Hegel believe the preamplifier is the most crucial component in a top sounding system, and that it is the hardest to get right.

The Hegel engineers have had their work cut out with keeping the very low amplitude signals coming from the source the same throughout the preamplifier. This is because they can become easily corrupted.

Introduction the Hegel H30A and P30A Amplifiers - Video

New FET Transistors

In the Hegel P30A a single pair FET transistors that have no higher order harmonic distortion are used. However, within any batch of transistors, there will always be slight measurement variations. This might be within the tolerance of what is considered normal deviations, but for sensitive electronic applications like this, it simply won't do.

Therefore, founder and chief-engineer Bent Holter measures and carefully matches those transistors that have the exact same values. Having perfectly matched transistors is of upmost importance to the performance of the preamplifier. This, in turn, makes the P30A sound very smooth and natural, without compromising on the all important details.

Distortion Reduction

The internal layout is designed in a way that makes the signal paths within the preamplifier as short as possible. This reduces the possibility of distortion coming from electrical interference. To further reduce distortion, the number of electrical components the signal passes through is minimised. In the P30A the music signal only passes through two transistors and an ultra-low noise volume attenuator.

Sound Engine Technology

The P30A also uses Hegel’s patented Sound Engine technology. This actively monitors the music signal for corruptions and corrects for intermodulation distortion using a feed forward design. Sound Engine effectively removes distortion in real time as the signal is amplified.

All these steps make for a preamplifier that is very quiet and handles the sensitive low amplitude music signal as delicately as possible. However, distortion of the signal can still happen, but the P30A has one more feature that takes care of this. The P30A is fully balanced all the way through.

This means you have two separate amplifiers, volume controls, and sound engine modules per channel. With this design, almost all residual distortion is cancelled out. Meaning, what you are left with is a signal that is as close to the original source material as possible.

Inputs and Outputs

The P30A offers a wide array of inputs and outputs. It features 2 balanced (XLR) and 3 unbalanced (RCA) inputs and a fixed level Home Theatre input that allows you to integrate it into a Home Theatre system. This input can also be configured to act as a normal input.

On the other end you have one balanced (XLR) and two unbalanced (RCA) variable outputs that are all active, allowing you to connect several devices at the same time. One of the unbalanced RCA outputs can even be configured to be a fixed volume output. The P30A also has a 3.5 mm IR-direct input and a 12V trigger output connector.

When you add it all up you get a highly versatile, extremely quiet, and natural sounding preamplifier that can be the heart of any high-end audio system. You get the P30A – A truly brilliant conductor of all music

Technical Specifications

• Remote Control: Volume, Source and Mute
• Inputs: 2 x XLR balanced, 3 x RCA unbalanced and Home Theatre inputs
• Outputs: 1 x XLR balanced and 2 x RCA unbalanced outputs
• Other Connections: 3.5mm IR-direct jack, 3.5 mm jack 12V trigger output
• Signal to noise Ratio: More than 130 dB balanced mode
• Crosstalk: Less than -100 dB
• Distortion: Less than 0.005 %
• Intermodulation: Less than 0.01% (19kHz+20kHz)
• Finish: Black
• Dimensions/weight: 9.6cm x 43cm x 30cm (HxWxD), 7.2kg

Further Information

Hegel H30A / P30A - User Manual (PDF)

HiFi News Review - Outstanding Product (PDF)

HiFi Plus Review (PDF)