Hegel P20
The P20 delivers a naturally voiced, sharply focused performance, combining exceptional transparency, tactile deep bass, and an expansive soundstage that lets instruments breathe. Erich Wetzel found its neutral, lifelike poise and precise separation particularly compelling, while balanced operation, generous analogue connectivity, and robust build make it a persuasive high-value line stage for revealing separates.
WATT RECOMMENDS
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
93/100
Build Quality
89/100
Features Connectivity
87/100
Value for Money
94/100
Pros
Exceptionally clear, natural presentation with convincing instrumental and vocal separation.
Detailed, powerful low bass adds physical impact without smearing or sacrificing resolution.
Large, precise soundstage reproduces room ambience, recording depth, and strong image separation.
Cons
Volume control can be overly sensitive, reaching high levels with very small adjustments.
One listener noted a faint hiss at the noise floor, albeit lower than with their previous preamp.
WATT RECOMMENDS
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 93/100
Reviewers describe a notably clear, natural and involving presentation, with strong bass definition and an unusually spacious portrayal of well-recorded material. Its character is neutral to slightly relaxed rather than forward, while preserving the attack, separation and ambience that make recordings feel alive.
Transparency Resolution
94/100
The P20 is repeatedly praised for removing haze, exposing subtle details and making the whole presentation exceptionally clear. One listener heard a very slight hiss at the noise floor, though it was substantially lower than from their previous Rotel unit.
Tonal Balance Musicality
91/100
SoundStage found singers and instruments natural and nearly lifelike, describing the overall presentation as neutral to slightly laid-back rather than forward. Psyphonyx likewise praised its detail extraction for avoiding a forced or gleaming brightness, alongside weighty, authentic bass.
Dynamics
92/100
Listeners report a snappy, energetic sound with convincing low-frequency physicality, attack and dynamic swing. Kick drums gained prominence, and one reviewer felt the preamp brought added life and piano subtleties to familiar music.
Soundstage Imaging
95/100
Spatial performance is a major strength: instruments and voices are described as clearly separated, with precise venue acoustics and stage width extending beyond the loudspeakers. Reviews also highlight vivid bass depth, strong room cues and a massive soundstage in suitable systems.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
89/100
The 22-pound P20 is described as solidly built, with high-quality construction and smoothly operating controls that feel good in use. The supplied remote was also praised for its more bespoke feel than the generic plastic alternatives often supplied around this price.
Features Connectivity
87/100
The P20 provides four RCA line inputs, one balanced XLR input, balanced and RCA outputs, plus a dedicated record output. Useful practical provisions include remote operation and a Home Theatre input, though it remains an analogue-focused preamp without onboard phono, DAC or headphone facilities.
Value for Money
94/100
At the reviewed US price of $2,900, SoundStage explicitly concluded that buyers receive considerably better sound than the asking price suggests. The review also called the P20's sound more-than-competitive, supporting its appeal against similarly priced preamplifiers.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
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Specifications
- Remote control
- Volume, source and mute controlled by the Hegel RC8
- Inputs
- 1 x XLR balanced, 4 x RCA unbalanced and Home Theatre inputs
- Outputs
- 1 x XLR balanced, 1 x RCA unblanced and 1 x RCA recording outputs
- 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% (19 kHz + 20 kHz)
- Finish
- Black
- Dimensions/weight
- 8 cm x 43 cm x 30 cm (HxWxD), weight 10 kg
- Dimensions/weight US
- 3,2" x 17" x 12" (HxBxD), weight 22 lbs
Manufacturer's Description — Hegel
Entry-Level Preamplifier
The P20 is our entry-level preamplifier and offers an affordable door into the Hegel Reference line of products. Designing the P20 was not a task we took lightly. Many of the ideas and concepts were taken from its bigger brother. Although scaled-down, many of the good characteristics remain - the enormous soundstage, the deep rhythmic bass response, the perfect timing... In short, the sense of being there with the performers.
Crafted with Care
The P20 comes with a high-quality system remote control, milled out of one solid piece of aluminum. It has the same bead blasted and anodized surface finish as the preamplifier itself. You can really feel the quality of each part of the P20; not only hear it. There is a total of 5 regular inputs. Both balanced and unbalanced. In addition, a special Home Theatre input allows integration in Home Theatre systems. Finally, there are both balanced and unbalanced outputs as well as a fixed line-level output.
Delicacy, Dynamics, and Detail Combined
The idea behind the P20 was, as mentioned, to offer a more affordable entry into our line of separates. But most of all, it was to set a new standard of price and performance in preamplifiers. Something we think we have achieved. The preamplifier is perhaps the most delicate unit in a sound system. Because the signal levels are so low, even the tiniest levels of noise or distortion smear the image and mask the small details that enliven the music.
Innovation for Pure Sound
In designing the P20, we achieved the highest quality of sound at such a low price point by using brand new technologies, such as Silicon Germanium transistors. In addition, we implemented high-frequency components that were not originally designed for audio, and use them in ways that had never been done before. The result is an open and natural sounding preamplifier at a very competitive price.
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Authorized dealers for Hegel P20
- Aalen Hifi — in-store — Schwäbisch Gmünd, Baden-Wurtemberg, Germany (website)
- Accessories 4 less — online and in-store — Apopka, Florida, United States (website)
- Ajasom — online and in-store — Amadora, Lisboa, Portugal (website)
- All Elite Audio — online and in-store — Perry Hall, Maryland, United States (website)
- Alpha High End — online and in-store — Brasschaat, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium (website)
- Altitudo Audio — online and in-store — Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (website)
- Anagram Audio — online and in-store — Bury St Edmunds, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Analogue Seduction — online and in-store — Whittlesey, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Area Hifi — online and in-store — L'Eixample, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain (website)
- Aris Audio — in-store — Salt Lake City, Utah, United States (website)
and 156 more verified dealers