Hegel C55 5-Channel 150W Rack Power Amplifier, SoundEngine2, XLR, Trigger

The Hegel C55 is a 5-channel rack-mount power amplifier, the flagship model of Hegel's C5 Series. It delivers 150 watts per channel into 8 ohms, 300 watts into 4 ohms, and 600 watts into 2 ohms across all five channels simultaneously, with SoundEngine2 and a damping factor above 2,000. A single C55 handles a complete 5.1 home cinema amplification from one 3U rack chassis. ProHiFi is an authorised Hegel dealer in India.

SoundEngine2 allows the C55 to run in low-bias Class A/B mode, which keeps operating temperatures low enough for standard 19-inch rack installation, while still delivering the very high damping factor and low distortion that Hegel's reference products are known for. The gain for each channel is individually switchable between 23dB and 29dB, and the phase for each channel is individually switchable between 0 and 180 degrees, making the C55 straightforward to integrate into complex multi-channel or active crossover systems.

Balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA inputs are provided for all five channels. A 12V mini-jack trigger input wakes the amplifier from standby, with a looping 11.9V trigger output for daisy-chaining to a C53 or C54 for 8-channel, 9-channel, or full Atmos configurations. The chassis is 3U tall with integrated rack-mount ears and adjustable detachable rear rack-mount support. Feet are supplied for use outside a rack.

Widescreen Review USA called the C55 the amplifier they would go with if creating a home theatre from scratch with a budget of up to $2,000 per channel, with no other amplifier in that range they would even consider. AVSForum gave it a detailed hands-on, confirming its flexibility and sonic quality. Stereophile reviewed the C53, the 3-channel variant of the same platform.

Key Features

• 5 channels; 150W into 8 ohm; 300W into 4 ohm; 600W into 2 ohm
• SoundEngine2; damping factor greater than 2000; distortion less than 0.01%
• Low-bias Class A/B for cool rack-mount operation
• 5 x balanced XLR and 5 x unbalanced RCA inputs
• Per-channel gain: switchable 23dB or 29dB
• Per-channel phase: switchable 0 or 180 degrees
• 12V trigger input (mini-jack); 11.9V trigger output (looping/daisy chain)
• 3U 19-inch rack chassis; integrated rack-mount ears; adjustable rear mount
• Expandable with C53 or C54 for 7.1, 9-channel, or Atmos configurations
• 100/120/230V AC; 482 x 132 x 520mm; Black
• Widescreen Review Highly Recommended; AVSForum Hands-On; Stereophile Reviewed (C5 Series)

Warranty:

1-year manufacturer's warranty

Why Consider the Hegel C55

The C55 is the right choice for home cinema enthusiasts and custom installers who want to power a complete 5.1 surround system with genuine Hegel SoundEngine2 quality from a single rack unit. Five channels at 150 watts each with a 2,000+ damping factor and 2 ohm stability is a specification that very few multi-channel amplifiers at this price can match, and Widescreen Review's conclusion was unambiguous: nothing at this per-channel price competes. Expanding to 7.1 or full Dolby Atmos is achieved by adding a C53 for three additional channels or another C55 for five, with trigger daisy-chaining keeping system management simple. For an Indian home cinema integrator looking to build a reference multi-channel amplifier rack on a Hegel platform, the C55 is the natural starting point.

Ideal for

• Home cinema setups requiring all 5 main channels from a single rack-mount amplifier
• Combined with a C53 for 8-channel or C54 for 9-channel and Dolby Atmos configurations
• 5.1 surround systems wanting the Hegel sound without separate stereo power amplifiers
• Active crossover and bi-amping configurations using per-channel gain and phase control
• Custom and CI installations requiring 19-inch rack mounting with trigger daisy-chaining
• Multi-room installations requiring five independent amplified outputs in one chassis

Technical Specifications