Hegel Viking CD Player

June 15, 2023

HEGEL LAUNCHES VIKING THEIR NEW REFERENCE CD PLAYER

The Hegel Viking CD Player was shown to us at AXPONA, but we were sworn to secrecy, now the secret is out!

Some years ago Hegel had to discontinue their Mohican CD player because key components were no longer being produced. Since then, says Hegel: “We have been working on a replacement that would be even better. Improving on perfection is not easy, but we did it, and we are proud to introduce Viking. The best CD player we have ever made”.

HEGEL VIKING CD PLAYER

The Hegel Viking is a true native 16/44.1 CD player developed from the ground up for optimal performance on standard (Redbook) CDs. It is designed to deliver the most faithful sound reproduction possible by optimizing its components to deliver a high-quality output that is true to the original recording.

NORSE FOREFATHERS

Hegel say,: “We have called our CD player Viking because, much like our ancient Norse forefathers, we are improving on existing technology. When the Viking era began, boats had been around for thousands of years. What the Vikings did was perfect the design. Their longboats could not only sail near the coasts but also traverse the open oceans. The improvements they made took the Vikings to new shores and even new continents. The CD technology might be old, but we believe that when perfected, it is still the best digital medium available”.

OPTIMAL DATA READING

Viking uses a dedicated laser and CD drive to ensure optimal reading of the data. It is also equipped with a DAC that delivers high-quality digital-to-analogue conversion with minimal distortion. The Viking does not upsample or tamper with the signal in any way. Because by leaving the signal as it is on the disc, the DAC is optimized to perform at its absolute best.

HEGEL VIKING CD PLAYER MASTER CLOCK SYSTEM

The drive and the DAC are directly controlled by Hegel’s Master clock system, ensuring perfect timing between the two. Using a quartz crystal with very low phase noise and our patented SoundEngine technology, the Hegel-designed discrete clock in the Viking has been designed to reduce jitter to an absolute minimum. The Viking CD player also features an OLED display that is specifically selected for its low noise, resulting in a clearer and more detailed sound. The analogue stage in Viking is developed specifically for this model. It incorporates both Hegel’s analogue low pass filter and Line Driver technology, ensuring fully balanced and noise-free handling of the signal all the way to your amplifier.

HEGEL VIKING CD PLAYER CASEWORK

One of the most notable features of the Viking CD player is its casework design. The sleek design of Viking matches the P30A and H30A for a modern and cohesive look. But the design choices are not only aesthetical. A very reliable slot in drive and a well-engineered and solid build means this player will last for years and years, says Hegel.

XLR & RCA

The Viking CD player has one pair of balanced XLR outputs, one pair of unbalanced RCA outputs, and one BNC digital true 75 Ohm output, making it easy to operate and integrate into any audio system. The player also has an auto-standby feature for greater convenience, and it comes with Hegel’s solid aluminium RC8 remote that can also control all other Hegel products.