Hegel’s latest release, the D50 DAC, is all about simplicity and performance. In an era where many digital-to-analog converters (DACs) double as streamers, preamps, or network players, Hegel has taken the opposite route. The D50 is purely a DAC—no extra features, just high-quality digital audio conversion. At $4,900, it’s aimed at audiophiles who already have a solid system and are looking for a high-performance DAC to plug into it.
At first glance, the D50 is minimalist to the core. It has a black aluminum chassis with a thick, milled front plate that hides physical buttons. The display is bright but can be dimmed, keeping distractions to a minimum. Unlike many DACs in this price range, it doesn’t include a volume control or streaming features—this is strictly a source device, meaning it needs to be paired with an external preamp or integrated amplifier.
That said, the D50 isn’t completely old-school. It has an auto signal sensing feature, which allows it to wake up and switch inputs automatically when a digital signal is detected. This means less time fiddling with settings and more time enjoying your music.
Hegel has put a lot of effort into reducing electrical noise, which can impact sound quality. The D50’s power supply is split into two separate toroidal transformers—one dedicated to digital processing and standby power, the other for sensitive analog components. Both transformers are shielded in thick steel to prevent interference, and the power itself is heavily filtered to ensure the cleanest possible signal.
One interesting claim from Hegel is that the D50’s filtering system can actually reduce noise in other audio equipment connected to the same grounded power outlet. Whether or not this has a noticeable impact in real-world setups remains to be seen.
Inside, Hegel has gone for a modular circuit design, keeping key components physically separated to further minimize interference. The DAC chip itself sits on its own board, ensuring a short and clean signal path.
The D50 supports a full range of digital inputs, including USB, optical, coaxial RCA, coaxial BNC, and AES/EBU, making it compatible with a wide variety of setups. Output options include balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA connections.
Where things get particularly interesting is in its clocking system, which is key to ensuring accurate digital-to-analog conversion. The D50 features three dedicated master clocks designed to reduce jitter and timing errors:
This setup is meant to eliminate inconsistencies that can affect audio performance, particularly when playing high-resolution music.
As for supported formats, the D50 handles:
At $4,900, the D50 enters a crowded high-end DAC market, but Hegel’s approach is different—instead of adding features, they’ve gone all-in on refining the basics.
The big question is: does the D50’s stripped-down, high-precision design translate into noticeably better sound? That’s something that only real-world listening tests will determine.
For those who don’t need a built-in preamp or streaming and just want a pure, high-performance DAC, the D50 might be a strong contender. It’s expected to hit the market in May 2025.
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