Hegel
Hegel Music Systems is a Norwegian high-end audio electronics company founded in 1988 by Bent Holter.
Last updated September 1, 2026
Overview
Hegel Music Systems designs and manufactures high-end audio electronics, including amplifiers, DACs, CD players, and phono preamplifiers. The company was founded in 1988 by Bent Holter, who developed the patented SoundEngine technology to reduce distortion. Hegel's products are designed in Norway.
History
Hegel's story began in 1988 at the Technical University in Trondheim (NTNU), where Bent Holter, a student, decided to do a thesis on the original design of the transistor used in amplifiers to cure the problems of traditional hi-fi systems. He developed a project that became the basis of SoundEngine Technology. The company name comes from Bent's rock-metal band called The Hegel Band. Help came from Telenor, a telecommunications company. In the early 90s, they ensured the patented solution known as SoundEngine, later a DAC was developed (1994) and the first CD Player came (1996). The FK250 was the first amplifier designed by Bent Holter in 1988, and the P3, H3, and D3 were the first complete set of Hegel products in 1996.
- 1996P3, H3, D3 products
- 1988FK250 amplifier
Products and positioning
FK250
First amplifier designed by Bent Holter, 250 watts per channel into 8 ohms, only four units built.
P3, H3, D3
First complete set of Hegel products, including preamplifier, power amplifier with SoundEngine, and first DAC.
Flagship businesses
- Hegel A200 integrated amplifier
- Hegel H200 amplifier
- Hegel H150 amplifier
- Hegel D50 DAC
- Hegel H400 amplifier
- Hegel H190v amplifier
- Hegel H600 amplifier
- Hegel Viking CD player
- Hegel P30A preamplifier
- Hegel H30A amplifier
- Hegel V10 phono preamplifier
- Hegel H95 amplifier
Sources
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