The H95, H120, and H190 all share the same DAC that was reviewed by ASR - it is certainly not the most up-to-date device. The DAC in the H390 and H590 is an entirely different entity. Having had an H190 and now an H390 I can confirm that the DAC in the H390 is definitely superior, although it is not as good as that in my Lumin T2 (as should be the case given it cost almost as much as a H390). However, I did not find the DAC in the H190 to sound in any way bad when using it with an ultraRendu (USB) and Cambridge Audio CXC and CXN v1 (optical/SPDIF). It will be interesting to evaluate the H390 as a Roon Ready device.
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I read 60+ pages of that review and what a huge waste of time as the tester did not re-test after the test was pointed out as being flawed. I was hoping you would point me in the direction of other tests that would collaborate that test.
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Having done various solid state amps and DACs over the years and dabbled with Tubes and vinyl I am moving towards a ābest measured, best valueā approach.
I am happy with my speakers still (Triton 2+) and am using a Topping D70s feeding the H120 which is all the DAC I will ever need.
I have just ordered a Purifi Eigentakt based power amp from BoXem which will replace the H120 when it arrives and - when I sell the Hegel - should work out about cost neutral.
I am happy with the Ropieee setup and the D70s and the new power amp should provide all the power I could need from here on in should I choose to try different speakers again down the lineā¦
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I also went the measurements route & replaced the H390 with X2 Benchmark AHB2ās a Benchmark LA4 Line amp & Denafrips Terminator 2 DAC.
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This good news. I have a Hegel H390 and just ordered the Focal Kanta 2. I was concerned about the pairing so this is excellent feedback.
@Anders_Ertzeid
Just curious: has Hegel stopped issuing Roon trial codes for their customers?
Canāt find how to send the request.
About half a year ago Iāve seen there was a special form on the site. Now itās gone.
https://www.hegel.com/en/roon/
Yes, but hopefully only temporarily. Our codes has expired and we have been working on getting new ones from Roon.
If/when we get new codes we will reactivate the offer. 
Anders
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Iāve had my 390 a while now, and the DAC is definitely not its strongest component. Itās well enough implemented from a usability perspective, but its highly coloured. It literally sounds like itās had a series of tone controls ad EQ put in front of it. Really significant treble roll off and a sound thats too smooth to actually be fun to listen to. It is a very good āamplifierā, but iāve since bypassed the DAC entirely.
Reality being that I might swap it out for an amp that doesnāt contain a DAC, as its functionality is wasted on me.
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Thanks for this excellent description of the H390 DAC. You nailed it. I am almost exclusively using the DAC on the Lumin T2 with my H390. Great combo.
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I would agree in general - the DAC is not the H390ās strongest feature, and I donāt use it (it is hooked up to my Reavon disc player for emergency use in the event of network issues, and sounds perfectly acceptable, if not outstanding). I have briefly compared the H390, as a Roon endpoint, with my Lumin T2 connected via XLR, and the T2 is substantially better - the H390 direct sound is much as you describe, whereas the T2 is much more open, punchier, and with much better soundstage.
If I absolutely had to have a one box Roon Ready solution in that price bracket though, I reckon I could live quite OK with the H390. I certainly will be keeping it in combination with the Lumin T2 however - a fantastic combo, as @Atanarjuat99 said, and excellent value for (admittedly not inconsiderable) money.
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I replaced my Hegel 190 with a Luxman 595 Class A. the Hegel is now my DAC/AMP for my Mac Mini 
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The H190 is the same, the DAC is to smooth. Its bas reproduction has a ācanned soundā, as we say in swedish, or āboomy soundā. All this got me into trying out different network players. The Matrix Audio Mini-i Pro 3 was a really good match with its neutral sound.
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I ended up getting a Luxman L509x
All of the smoothness, none of the dullness. I use a chord TT2 dac into it.
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