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About the Hegel P20

For listeners who care more about musical flow than feature lists

The Hegel P20 is a stripped-back, transparent preamplifier designed for people who want to hear more music and less equipment. It brings balance, depth and authority to any system – without adding noise, colour or distraction.

Built with premium components and a layout optimised for signal purity, the P20 strips the experience back to what matters: timing, dynamics and emotional engagement. With RCA and XLR inputs and outputs, a home theatre bypass, and a beautifully machined RC8 remote, it’s a flexible, elegant control hub for serious two-channel systems.

Hegel H20 power amplifier and P20 preamplifier
Hegel P20 preamplifier and H20 power amplifier

Pair it with a Hegel power amplifier – or a model from another brand – and you’ll unlock the full resolution of your sources while keeping the noise floor vanishingly low. It doesn’t try to impress with specs or features. It just gets out of the way and lets the music through.

Features

  • Silicon-germanium transistors for ultra-low noise
  • Balanced (XLR) and unbalanced (RCA) inputs and outputs
  • Home theatre input for seamless AV integration
  • Short signal paths and low-output impedance for better control
  • RC8 solid aluminium remote included
  • Over 130 dB signal-to-noise ratio

Why Choose the Hegel P20?

  • It’s for listeners who don’t want their gear to get in the way
    The P20 removes noise and distortion so you can hear more of what matters.
  • It’s ideal for building a modular, future-proof system
    With its clean analogue design and flexible connectivity, it’s a great match for many power amps and DACs.
  • It works beautifully with the Hegel H20, H30A or other high-end power amps
    You get tonal balance, timing precision, and deep dynamic control – no glare, no grain, no hype.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the P20 include a DAC or streaming features?

No. The P20 is a pure analogue preamp, with no digital circuitry or unnecessary processing. Pair it with your preferred DAC or source. Hegel’s own D50 DAC works beautifully.

Does the P20 include a phono stage?

No. The P20 is a line level analogue preamplifier. For vinyl playback, you will need a separate phono stage. Hegel own V10 phono stage is an excellent match, and supports both MM and MC cartridges.

What’s the benefit over a Hegel integrated amp?

Separating the pre and power stages allows for better performance, greater upgrade potential and more flexible system design. The P20 is quieter, more transparent and more revealing than the preamp section in any Hegel integrated.

Can I use it with a non-Hegel power amp?

Yes. It has both XLR and RCA outputs and performs superbly with many high-end amplifiers. That said, it’s sonically matched to work especially well with Hegel’s H20 and H30A.

What’s the home theatre input for?

It allows you to pass a fixed-level signal from an AV processor straight through the P20. That means you can use your stereo speakers for both music and film, without constantly adjusting volume levels.

Can I demo it or try it at home?

Yes. We offer a 30-day return policy and in-person demos by appointment. Contact us to arrange a home trial or to discuss system matching.

Specifications

Attributes Value
Brand

Hegel

Colour

Black

Audio Inputs

1 x balanced XLR, 4 x RCA unbalanced and Home Theatre inputs

Audio Outputs

1 x balanced XLR (variable), 1 x unbalanced RCA (fixed), 1 x unbalanced RCA (variable)

Signal-to-Noise Ratio

>130 dB in balanced mode

Crosstalk

<-100 dB

Distortion

<0.005%

Intermodulation

Less than 0.01% (19 kHz + 20 kHz)

Dimensions (W x D x H)

430 x 300 x 80 mm

Weight

10 kg

Colour

Black