Hi-Fi News
notes that the Viking, like its predecessor the Mohican, has a refined and smooth sound that makes listening a pleasure and reminds us how good the CD format can sound. Build quality and aesthetics are also praised, although an on/off button on the remote would not be out of place.
Stereophile
emphasizes that the Viking presents each CD with ample energy, transparency and natural detail, making each disc sound distinctly different. This shows that the sound of the player does not overshadow the characteristics of the recording. This ability to remain in the background and bring out the essence of the recording makes the Viking exciting to use and is considered a great compliment. The player comes highly recommended.
Hi-Fi+
emphasizes that despite Hegel's success in streaming audio, the Viking was designed with the belief that, when perfected, CD technology is still the best digital medium. The Viking is a pure 16-bit, 44.1kHz Red Book CD player with no upsampling, which is refreshing in today's market. The discrete MasterClock reduces jitter to an absolute minimum, and the LineDriver output stage has a very low output impedance to drive virtually any cable or preamp. The OLED display is chosen to keep noise levels as low as possible. The Viking offers a high engagement factor and makes listening to full albums enjoyable.
Hi-Fi Voice
emphasizes that despite the dominance of music streaming and the resurgence of vinyl, the Viking is a pure CD player focused on delivering an uncomplicated and enjoyable listening experience. The design is typical Hegel, with a slightly curved, sleek front panel and a reliable slot-in mechanism. Its simplicity of operation and focus on sound quality make the Viking an attractive choice for fans of the CD format.
Fairaudio
emphasizes that the Viking is a pure Red Book CD player, optimized for this format without upsampling or other signal manipulation. With a high-quality slot-in mechanism and accurate MasterClock, the Viking offers bit-perfect conversion with a THD of less than 0.0015%. The player features both symmetrical (XLR) and asymmetrical (Cinch) analog outputs, as well as a digital BNC output, and comes with a stylish aluminum remote control.
Area DVD
emphasizes that the Viking is designed to provide pure listening pleasure without the complexity of streaming services and different file formats. The player features a high-quality slot-in mechanism and a specially selected OLED display to minimize noise. The analog output stage is fully balanced and uses Hegel's LineDriver technology for noise-free signal transmission. With both XLR and RCA outputs and a digital BNC output, the Viking is versatile in a variety of audio systems.
StereoLife Magazine
emphasizes that the Viking is designed to be the best CD player Hegel has ever made, with a focus on delivering the most faithful sound reproduction possible. The player is a native 16/44.1 CD player, designed for optimum performance on standard (Redbook) CDs, and is optimized to deliver high-quality output that is faithful to the original recording.
