Long faithful to the “shoebox” format, Hungarian manufacturer Heed is now revamping its Obelisk range of electronics by switching to conventional formats.
Now, only the Asterisk and Elixir ranges are still in half-size format, as the two new Obelisk I (Integrated) and SI (Super Integrated) integrated amplifiers join the Lagrange in terms of chassis dimensions – which, incidentally, was discreetly redesigned two years ago as the more musical Lagrange S.
The main reason for this change is the need to integrate more components, as buyers of integrated amplifiers now often want them to also have a DAC or even a streamer. And while these digital options are available in two different packs, Bluetooth and an MM phono input are standard on these new devices.
Another reason for the change is that certain miniature components are now difficult to find or much more expensive than before. So, in order to avoid increasing costs, the Budapest-based manufacturer has opted to increase the size of the case and integrate larger components. In addition, while the small format is particularly popular on the French market, it is a hindrance on others, which already prefer larger and more luxurious chassis in these price ranges.
Thanks to its dimensions, the Integrated can accommodate a more powerful power supply: it is advertised as being as powerful as the old Si3 with separate X2 power supply. Although not yet officially measured, the Integrated should deliver around 2 x 50W, while the Super Integrated, with a more powerful output stage and a larger power supply, is advertised as delivering 2 x 100W into 4 ohms. Its preamp section allows it to integrate four analog sources, and it has a 6.35 mm headphone jack on the front panel. The optional DAC card is based on one of the latest AKM conversion chips, which the brand uses for all its DACs, including the Abacus S, soon to be discontinued (test VU#43; Essential).
The Obelisk I is priced at 2 490 €, plus 500 € for the DAC (with 1 coaxial, 2 optical, and 1 USB) or 1 200 € for the DAC + Streamer version. A separate power supply will also be available in the near future to further enhance the performance of these new powerhouses, which will soon be reviewed in our magazine!
26/09/2025
