The D50 is Hegel’s reference standalone digital-to-analogue converter, the model the company nicknames The Raven, and it exists to do one job supremely well: convert a digital signal into analogue with as little added or lost as possible. It is a purist design, no streaming, no preamplifier, no volume control, just inputs, conversion and a fixed output, so every part of it is given over to the quality of the conversion. It is the DAC for a separates system built around a dedicated network transport or CD transport, and the natural digital partner for Hegel’s reference preamplifiers and power amplifiers.

Brief product overview

A reference digital-to-analogue converter with a fixed-level analogue output and no preamplifier or volume stage, built around Hegel’s own clocking and filtering. Digital inputs cover the full range a separates system needs, AES/EBU, coaxial on both BNC and RCA, optical and USB, so it accepts a network transport, a CD transport or a computer, and its USB input handles high-resolution PCM and DSD. Hegel’s SoundEngine and synchronous master-clock technology minimise jitter, keeping the conversion clean and precisely timed. Outputs are balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA at a fixed level, designed to feed a preamplifier or an integrated amplifier’s line input rather than to drive a power amplifier directly. The chassis follows the Hegel design language, matching the reference range, and it is made in Norway.

How it sounds

The D50 has Hegel’s clean, neutral, honest character in its purest form: an extremely low noise floor, precise timing and a smooth, detailed, uncoloured sound that lets the recording speak for itself. Because it does without a volume control or preamplifier stage, the signal path is short and dedicated, which is the argument for a standalone DAC of this class over the converter built into a streamer or integrated, it concentrates the whole design and power supply on conversion alone. Fed by a good transport it gives digital sources a resolution, body and ease that reveal how much information a well-made recording holds. It is a component that raises the digital front end of a high-end system to the level of the amplification and speakers around it.

What we’d partner it with

The D50 sits between a digital source and an amplifier, so it needs both. In front of it, a dedicated network transport such as the Aurender N150 handles streaming and network playback and feeds the D50 over a digital cable, since a transport has no DAC of its own; a CD transport or a computer over USB does the same. An Aurender or HiFi Rose streamer with a digital output suits equally.

After it, the D50’s fixed analogue output runs to a preamplifier or an integrated amplifier. It is the natural digital partner for Hegel’s reference pre and power amplifiers, the P30A preamplifier and H30A power amplifier, or the P20 and H20, and it pairs equally with a Hegel integrated used via a line input. Because the output is fixed, the D50 relies on the preamplifier or integrated for volume rather than driving a power amplifier directly.

For speakers, anything the partnering amplifier suits: from the brands we carry, floorstanders and stand-mounts from Focal, Sonus faber, Dynaudio, KEF and Amphion all pair well with a Hegel system.

On cabling, feed the D50 with a good digital cable appropriate to the connection, and run its output to the amplifier on balanced cables where you can; AudioQuest and Chord are the cable brands we stock.

Who shouldn’t buy it

If you want streaming built into the same box, the D50 is a pure DAC with no network functions, so it needs a separate transport or streamer; a streaming DAC would combine the two. If you want a DAC with a volume control to drive a power amplifier directly, the D50’s output is fixed and expects a preamplifier or integrated. And if your amplifier is a Hegel integrated whose own DAC already satisfies you, the D50 is an upgrade to consider rather than a necessity, its case is as the dedicated converter for a reference separates system.

The D50 sits easily on a rack and runs cool. Feed it from a transport, streamer or computer using the appropriate digital input, AES/EBU, BNC or RCA coaxial, optical, or USB for a computer, and run its fixed analogue output to a line input on your preamplifier or integrated amplifier, on balanced cables where you can. Because the output is fixed, set volume on the preamplifier or integrated, not the D50. For USB from a computer, install any required drivers before first use.