Digital at Its Best | Hegel Viking Bit-Perfect CD Player

Check Out Viking: listenup.com/products/hegel-v...
The Viking CD Player exemplifies Hegel’s philosophy on sound and design. It’s all about being natural. Or in this case, all about what a CD player is naturally meant to do-take the music from a CD and transport it to your ears in the best way possible and nothing more. There are no additional built-in functions like streaming or pre amp capabilities. And therefore the Viking is able to do that one thing, play the music, extremely well-naturally you could say.
In this video, ListenUp sits down with Anders Ertzeid from Hegel to talk about the Viking and Hegel’s Philosophy on source components in general. He talks about what makes Viking unique from the Master Clock to the AKM4493SEQ DAC and how Hegel was inspired to build a CD player in this age of streaming because it was the one way to completely control a digital signal from back to front. In short, because there is no streaming service serving up the music you have complete control. Complete control to perfect it and make it the best, most pristine digital music available.
In addition, Anders discusses Hegel’s philosophy on aesthetics and why all Hegel products are deliberately stripped down and simple looking-the epitome of Scandinavian design. Something, at least with HiFi products, that has taken some getting used to in other parts of the world where the trend has been lights and meters and dials-all sorts of audio bling.
We found ourselves beyond intrigued by Hegel’s approach to audio. The simple, natural approach to reproducing the music is pretty refreshing in our opinion. Especially in this age of hyper complexity. We were left feeling enlightened. We hope you will be too.
Hegel Viking Specifications:
Supported Discs: 12 cm Redbook CDs
Line Level Output:
1 unbalanced fixed (RCA)
1 balanced fixed (XLR)
Output Voltage Analog: 2.5V RMS
Digital Output: 1 BNC true 75 Ohm
Frequency Response: 0Hz-22 kHz
Distortion: Less than 0.0015%
Finish: Black
Dimensions/Weight:
Metric: 9.9 cm x 43 cm x 30.5 cm (HxWxD), 7.3 kg
US: 3.54" x 17" x 12" (HxWxD), 16.1 lbs
0:00 Intro
0:35 Source Component Philosophy
2:23 Viking CD Player Origin
5:05 Master Clock
5:48 Viking DAC
7:00 Inputs/Outputs
7:50 Scandinavian Design

[@ajay55556]

I love my Viking cd player. Bad news is my 12k vinyl is being challenged musically. The Viking is a Ferrari and my basis turntable is like a Bentley.

[@timothyfreeseha4056]

I love Hegels design. Simple and smart.

[@branmabonkaesgard8167]

Run an optical into a WiiM Pro Plus which has the same AKM DAC chip?

[@johnratcliffe6438]

Why bother? Just take the analogue signal out the back to your HPA or Pre.

[@asokthiagu131]

Why slot in!

[@anhy10ful]

How many people would buy a CD player nowaday. I would buy a streamer from Hegel.

[@ListenUp]

Streamers have come a long way and are pretty amazing, but this player will edge them out.

[@tikilord66]

Sorry I am not spending 5k to play something I usually get at thrift stores for a couple of bucks

[@ListenUp]

Pretty amazing digital playback with the Viking-just sayin.

[@user-ge9fh5xm2k]

Even Best Buy stopped selling music CDs so what all the fuss is about.

[@linda5381]

But Walmart sells them for cheap.

[@ListenUp]

They are the less costly alternative to physical media. Most shops that offer vinyl also offer CD and for quite a bit less.

[@dan-sc7fm]

Vinyl pricing is a joke (a scam) compared to CDs, and CDs are far superior in sound quality. While I would not purchase a cd transport over $1000, the price of an antiquated turntable is ridiculous, not to mention having also to purchase a stylus. So keep shouting that vinyl and streaming are the way to go so that I can scoop up a resale deal on CDs.

[@user-ex9zm7bg3x]

now you tell us

[@thelonewolf666]

overpriced garbage--- as if it sounds any better than a yamaha, panasonic, sony, samsung, $5000 hahahahahahahaha

[@johnratcliffe6438]

You haven't listened to it, so perhaps reserve your scorn until then...