REVIEW
UPDATES
– Single polarity FET buffer stages in input and output, which is had a bit lower distortion and improve on the sound quality. The Single polarity FET stages have non feedback design (Toshiba K170)
– Power supplies imporvements; lower noise floor resuluting in a darker background.
– Users can enable/disable the “shorten” input signal now.
KRELL CAST
- A cable is available to connect HE-1 ACSS outputs to a KRELL CAST amplifier input. KRELL amplifiers have lower gain versus audio-gd HE series amplifiers when using the CAST connection, so customers can custom order the HE 1 to have higher ACSS output gain if expecting to connect to KRELL amplifiers.
SUMMARY
- Built-in top class discrete regenerative power supply
- Fully balanced design built by discrete analog stages without any OPA or coupling caps in the signal channels.
- Non- feedback ACSS analog output stage .
- Uses three R-core transformers (135W total), separate power supplies for the digital components, right and left channels.
- More than 50,000uf audio grade NOVER capacitors are used to ensure ample and smooth power supply.
- A total of 9 groups class A PSU’s are used to purify the power supply. To achieve a high S/N ratio, the control circuit is powered with separate regulators.
- Uses high-grade parts and exactly matched transistors.
- Four channel 99 steps digitally controlled relay-based volume control avoids channel imbalance and improves sound quality.
INPUTS
- 1. XLR balanced
- 2. RCA single ended
- 3. XLR balanced
- 4. RCA single ended
- 5. ACSS balanced (mini xlr)
OUTPUTS
- Balanced (XLR)
- Balanced ACSS (4-Pin XLR)
- Single ended (RCA / Cinch)
HIGH PRECISION VOLUME CONTROL
Volume control consist of relay-controlled attenuators. Fully-independent, fully-balanced stereo volume controls. The volume controls feature consist of high-precision 0.05% tolerance film resistors and golden contact relays. Buffered inputs and outputs.There 4 channels volume boards are built in the unit to achieve ultimate balanced volume control. They are controlled by a digital signal controlling the high quality relays switching the precision resistors in analog area.


Quality of volume control is very important in balanced applications . It have to effectuate the four channels to work as synchronous as possible to keep the balanced signal in perfect shape. In traditional volume controls the balanced output will introduce distortion which will negatively influence sound quality and performance and might even get worse than a single ended setup and waste the advantages of balanced designed solution.
REGENERATIVE POWER SUPPLY
An integrated regenerative power supply is a proprietary electric generator built into the unit to avoid any noise from main power and deliver ultra-low noise and clean AC wave to feed the preampIt will regenerate the main power and block noise from the power line, this way the preamp is able to reproduce the most neutral and analog sound you can imagine.First a transformer converts main voltage. DC conversion is done by class A PSUs power supplies.A discrete balanced regenerative wave generator produces the new ultra-low noise wave form at 400Hz. The 400Hz frequency was chosen because they have better efficiency compared to traditional 50Hz and at this frequency, 400Hz, it will boost the sound to reproduce real and pleasant analog sound.
The balanced gain amps with powerful output stages are driving the regenerative transformers to produce the extreme clean AC power. The extreme regenerated clean AC power is send to separate class A PSUs power supplies for both left and right channel.The discrete class-A DC power supply with high input impedance will avoid any noise and allow the amplifier stages to have low output impedance at very high speed and linear at frequency spectrum.
Jorg (verified owner) –
The HE-1 sound was not good: Too much bass and not muddy dark sound. After two days leaving it turned on I did not understand what happened. The sound completely transformed in open transparent sound and tight bass. Really fantastic! Warm up time is now about 20 Minutes and then it sounds great! Very open and detailed with exzellent room and not harsh! Best preamp ever!
Eric –
Bij Magna HiFi de Audio-GD Master 3 en HE-1 gekocht en ik ben zeer tevreden met deze producten. Na sluitingstijd bij Jos thuis op kunnen halen wat op zich al een prima service is natuurlijk. Beide apparaten zijn super degelijk gebouwd en na het uitpakken en plaatsen kun je gerust even gaan zitten om je rug rust te gunnen 🙂
Wat een gewicht en wat een bouwkwaliteit. De degelijkheid spat er aan alle kanten vanaf.
Ben je op zoek naar een high-end combinatie is dit denk ik de voordeligste keus.
Verwacht geen overbodige knopjes of fancy displays want daar zijn ze niet van bij Audio-GD. Nee, muziek! Dat is waar het om draait en het lijkt nu al dat al mijn muziek een compleet andere en betere soundstage heeft. En dan moeten ze nog ingespeeld worden!
De Master 3 heeft voldoende reserve om de meest kritische luidsprekers aan te sluiten.
Al met al een zeer tevreden klant, deze set gaat niet meer weg.
Andrew L. –
I am very satisfied with my new set! The HE1 is a significant improvement compared to. my other preamplifier that was a lot more expensive! Unprecedented sound quality.
Nandor –
After the burn time I am very satisfied with the MagnaHifi equipment. The Mano Ultra player, the HE1 preamplifier and the Master 3 power amplifier are of high quality.
Although my Dac and speakers are lower class, the music is very enjoyable.
The spatial effect is by far the best I’ve ever heard 😀 The sense of presence of musical instruments and singers is unique.
I only wish the HE1 was not so big 🙂
Nandor –
HE1 arrived on Tuesday. After listening music for a few hours, I have to say it’s amazing. With Master 3.
More details, more energy, more bass, richer in everything. Spatial and accurate all the sounds and micro details are magical.
I can’t imagine how much better the sound could be with a top Audio-GD Dac and a top loudspeaker 🙂