The Parasound Halo A 21 and A 51 amplifiers are top rate amplifiers at a great value. It’s as though the company has made a genuine attempt to build a high quality unit that’s as flexible as possible. Thank you for signing up to What Hi-Fi?. Unusually, this also features a (high pass) crossover that can be switched into circuit. There was a problem. In the Parasound power amplifiers this lead to 10dB to 20dB more distortion since less open-loop gain, and thus less feedback, is available. The question is: Do you really want to? A serious and masterful effort.Â, As a long-time user of various Shunyata Research AC power […], With the increasingly widespread streaming of digital music content to […], What does it really mean to say that a luxury […], Rogue Audio needs little introduction in TAS. A21+ Power amplifier. Designed by the legendary John Curl, the A21+ is universally recognized as a world class amplifier. DSD is also on the menu, with the amp’s module happy to accept anything up to DSD 256. Parasound JC2 preamp $4495 - Stereophile Class A rated. It’s certainly better than most built-in phono modules we have come across. I am acquainted with Parasound, as my first audiophile quality CD player was a Parasound CDP-1000, and later I bought a Parasound DAC-1500 to upgrade the overall source quality. A couple of years ago, Parasound introduced the Halo A 31 ($3295 USD), a three-channel version of their top-of-the-line stereo and multichannel amplifiers, and the subject of this review. The Absolute Sound team is proud to highlight Martin Logan and Paradigm, known for loudspeaker innovation. Rated "A class" by Stereophile. Benchmark AHB2 $2995 A very low-distortion, 100Wpc solid-state amplifier that is virtually flawless when driving stable loads within its somewhat narrow power limits. The ST-10 did a superb job of driving a variety of speakers with authority and control. We use a range of headphones, from Beyerdynamics’ T1 right the way through to a pair of AKG K550s, without issue. Parasound calls the Halo Integrated a 2.1 channel amplifier. Yes, you can buy better. The circuit is based on Class A input and driver stages and a switching output section. It’s clear and consistent with the amplifiers performance through the speaker outputs. Wyred 4 Sound ST-500 mkII/ST-1000 mkII $1499–$1999 These high-efficiency power amplifiers—delivering 250 and 500Wpc respectively—have got to be among the great bargains in audio. It’s a dedicated module built around a Texas Instruments TPA6120A chip. It's hard to see the offsetting benefit from use of the JFET's. As far as reviewer SS can tell it’s because this stereo amplifier only puts out 150 watts per side into an eight-ohm load. We’re pleasantly surprised by the Halo Integrated. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer, We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices, High-resolution audio: everything you need to know, Best hi-fi deals – CD players, amps, DACs and more, Masters snooker live stream: how to watch the snooker for free in 2021, Bears vs Saints live stream: how to watch the 2021 NFL Playoffs for free, Harman Kardon brings 3D spatial audio and live music concerts to your car, A clear, dynamic and entertaining performer. But if sound quality and solid-state reliability are your primary purchasing criteria, the STA200 should be on your radar. Instruments are precisely positioned and focussed with care. Think of every feature you could reasonably expect to find in a premium stereo integrated – and the Halo probably has it. I never thought I would be lacking the power in these units. These beautifully built, affordable, and “hassle-free” 70Wpc monoblocks will alter your preconceptions about tube gear. Build quality is as good as we’d expect for the price. I haven't done the same review (Outlaw 100-watter vs the A51's 250) on my new speakers, but I'm happy to report that I love my new speakers (Focal BE 1027) and they have wowed everyone who has heard them. I currently own 4 x parasound amplifiers, a21, a31, a23 x2. While its perspective is not as romantic as that of its “godmother,” the Dynaco Stereo 70, it is far better focused, clearly more dynamic, and in general a higher-resolution device. The built-in phono stage can cater for both moving magnet and moving coil designs, but here too, Parasound has offered more than you’d expect. Indeed, their transient quickness and ability to drive difficult loads may fool you into thinking you’re listening to a very good hybrid. STEREOPHILE PARASOUND on display: PARASOUND HALO A23+ stereo power amp, 160-240W/ch JC1* Power amps, 400- 1200W/ch JC3jr* Phono preamp P6* Stereo preamp with built-in DAC Stereo Integrated Amp with built-in DAC PARASOUND CLASSIC 2100 Stereo preamp 2125 stereo power amp, 125-200W/ch PARASOUND Z - Only 9.5" wide! Additionally, Parasound's A21 just won a… We can’t remember the last time we reviewed a product such as this with bass and treble controls. Hi-Fi News December 2018. PrimaLuna ProLogue Six $2799/pr. At first look the Parasound Halo A 21 and A 51 are appealing and robust amplifiers accented by brushed metal finish and a "Halo" aqua blue light around the power button. The Halo’s accommodating nature builds on this ability to drive speakers well. It has outputs for a subwoofer and the option to set the crossover frequency. We’re impressed by the peak current output figure of 45amps, too. We put Parasound’s HINT 6, a powerful and seriously versatile stereo amplifier, through its paces. MORE: High-resolution audio: everything you need to know. Take the lid off the amp and you’ll find a generous power supply, shielded toroidal mains transformer and plenty of heatsinking. All rights reserved. I find that the sound is not powerful enough. We move to Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture and the Halo sounds right at home. Positive Feedback January 2019. Echo Pick. It supplies a surprising amount of understandable technical … The ST-10 is a very quiet, extremely low-noise power amplifier that, as long as it isn’t pushed into clipping, sounds exceedingly neutral and uncolored. They can be switched out of the signal path when not needed, giving a slightly clearer sound. A categories where most amps cost 10 000 - 100 000$ or more. Its replacement, the Halo A 21+, is priced a little higher at $2,995. Digital is well catered for. Wyred 4 Sound SX-1000R $3598 While many amplifiers use Bang & Olufsen’s ICE output device, the SX-1000R combines it with its own direct-coupled, balanced, dual-FET input stage, designed by Bascom King. Marley’s vocals come through with subtlety and passion. The headphone output is another well-engineered circuit. The STA200 will never be accused of looking sexy or especially stylish unless you’re into stark minimalism. As with Parasound power amplifiers the JC-2 uses JFET's which have a much lower transconductance than bi-polar transistors. Parasound A21+ Silverline SR17 Supreme Speakers Mcintoch D150 Digital Preamp Auralic Aries G1 Dirac Live We plugged the Parasound into our usual reference set-up of Naim NDS/555PS streamer, Clearaudio Innovation Wood turntable and ATC SCM50 speakers and it sounds right at home. Audio Alchemy DPA-1 and DPA-1M $1995 and $3990/pr. “A precision instrument designed to perform the precisely defined task of reproducing music and sound accurately, which it does essentially to perfection,” says PS. NuPrime ST-10 $1595 The NuPrime ST-10 amplifier is what NuPrime calls “near reference class.” Why only “near” reference? A powerful amplifier capable of effortlessly delivering copious amounts of power and detail. We can’t imagine this amplifier getting caught short in a conventional two-channel context. If you are in the market for an integrated amplifier/DAC with AV sweetners then pay attention to Paul Rigby who gives the Parasound Halo a test Bit of an Swiss Army knife, is the Halo. Parasound A21+ Parasound's more powerful and refined successor to the John Curl-designed A21, boasting 300wpc into 8ohms and remarkable stability. Yet they still have that wonderful tube magic. Audio Science Review July 2020. Frustrated, and for the sake of this review, I was forced to speculate about the nature of accurate and neutral. If you’re looking for a well-equipped integrated, but aren’t prepared to sacrifice performance, give this Parasound serious consideration. It goes deep, exploring more of the dynamic contrasts and harmonic complexities that define the timbre of a bass drum or skin of a tympani or the drumhead of a tom-tom. Visit our corporate site. After 15 years of devoted service, Parasound has retired its beloved Halo A 21 amplifier. There’s also a ‘home theatre’ input that bypasses the amplifier’s volume control and feeds the signal straight into the power amplifier section. There are five single-ended line-level inputs plus a balanced XLR option. That … What makes this integrated special is that despite being fully loaded, it sounds good too. Odyssey Audio Stratos $2700/pr. Throughout they performed flawlessly, delivering sound of exemplary clarity and control, perhaps fractionally on the cool side of neutral, but not excessively so and never compromising the reproduction of warmth. The ability to optimise performance will usually lead to a better sound. Parasound Halo A21 $2495 An excellent Class AB stereo transistor amp, designed by the redoubtable John Curl, capable of 250Wpc into 8 ohms (400 into 4 ohms). The top end is crisp and has plenty of bite. It’s a clean midrange, perhaps lacking a touch of natural warmth, but brimming with clarity. Parasound A23 Review Stereophile - Unique Gift Ideas - mySimon is the premier price comparison shopping online site letting you compare prices and find the best deals on all the hottest new products! As Parasound defines it, value begins to decline when additional cost provides only marginal and diminishing returns, and increases when a product is reliably functional over decades. "The new JC 5 is a remarkable amplifier that creates a new sweet spot in our Halo product family," said Richard Schram, the president and founder of Parasound. What Hi-Fi? And despite what the purists say, on occasion, for example when playing a poorly engineered recording, they can be useful. It’s packed full of useful features and is easy to match. $2,995: $2,995: NEW. That JV ultimately concluded it did is beside the point. NY 10036. Review>>> Parasound A21+ power amp $3300 - 300 watts of A/B, but stays in class A for most of your listening. Info Review. There’s the usual trio of inputs – USB, coax and optical – with upper limits of 32-bit/384kHz for the asynchronous USB and 24-bit/192kHz for the other options. NuForce STA200 $1299 Basic solid-state power amplifiers are not, due to their essential nature (boxes with parts inside), sexy objects that inspire a lot of audiophile lust. They also excel at throwing a huge and three-dimensional soundstage with precise image specificity. Call for Price: Enquire on Product. Parasound A21 issue Parasound A21 issue. We start off by feeding the amp’s line level input a bit of Bob Marley. By Gambit 1870, September 4, 2019 in Stereo Amplifiers & Pre-Amps. We like the simple button layout, but it doesn’t feel luxurious. The moving coil input (52dB of gain) has two cartridge loading choices – 100 ohms and 47k ohms – that offer a degree of fine-tuning we only usually find in dedicated outboard phono units. Sure, there remains plenty of authority here, how could there not be with all the muscle present, but the Halo proves that it has sophistication to go along with it. Parasound’s A21 dispensed truly sumptuous sound," notes England's Hi-Fi News magazine for November 2011. NAD Masters M22 $2999 The partner to the excellent M12 preamp/DAC, the M22 is a 250Wpc hybrid Class D amplifier that uses the latest nCore amp technology licensed from Hypex. Sign up below to get the latest from What Hi-Fi?, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! Rogue Audio Hydra $2995 Rogue Audio has got something with this hybrid, “tubeD” stereo amp. See pictures, this amp is a beast. This is a big box, spanning 437 x 413 x 150mm and weighing in at (bend those knees first) 15kg. Selected the A21+ based on Kal’s review of the F228Be’s. PARASOUND A21 TWO CHANNEL STEREO AMPLIFIER. is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Changes from the original A 21→A 21+ 250 → 300 Watts (8Ω) 400 → 500 Watts (4Ω) 750 → 1000 Watts (bridged) Filter cap: 88,000 uF → 108,000 uF Audio Alchemy’s DPA-1 stereo amplifier and DPA-1M monoblock deliver superb sound in an affordable and compact package. Considering that all of these items cost a minimum of four times the Parasound’s price, that’s quite some achievement. We’re no strangers to testing high-end integrated amplifiers, but they are normally purist affairs where every feature has been stripped back in the pursuit of sound quality. Two-channel music sounds close to live, and the movies at home feel just like the theater. There’s a good degree of transparency here, and strong, well developed dynamics. Parasound Halo, ZoneMaster, Z Custom, and NewClassic are four distinct product families. Last edited: Jan 20, 2019. Power hungry. It's an easy piece to love. "Doing so has proved that extremely high performance-per-dollar is still possible today when a company leverages decades of experience, and is spearheaded by a legend." Description Since 1981, Richard Schram, founder and CEO of Parasound Products, Inc., has built the brand on making audio components that look and sound expensive, but sell for much less than it appears they should. We like the way this amplifier renders the song’s rhythmic drive: it’s surefooted and precise. The way he saw it, the fact that the Odyssey Stratos monoblocks could give even a picky listener like him pause made them super-amps in their own right. Considering that all of these items cost a minimum of four times the Parasound… 60 amps current. I'm curious about the overwhelming silence on the DRs. But the M22 is not just about the bottom octaves—particularly rewarding was the broader more crisply defined frequency extension, color, and open-window transparency. The pricier, but far less well equipped, Naim SuperNait 2 shows more in the way of momentum and reveals subtle pace changes more easily, but the Halo does well enough to hold our interest. Toward the end of this review, I received the new Parasound Halo P6 preamp that will solve this woe. He tried the Classe amplifier which is a class D like the NAD and found the other 2 amps to be better match with the F228Be so I decided to go with the new Parasound. Parasound JC 5 Stereo Amplifier . This new 160 watt integrated from Parasound is infinitely more musical and dynamic. The DPA-1 offers 125W into 8 ohms, a figure that climbs to 325W with the monoblock. It plays all kinds of music files without issue and delivers a sound packed with insight and enthusiasm. Parasound seems to have attended to every aspect of their design including the excellent build quality internally and externally matched with great looks." New Series 2 version currently under review. The Absolute Sound’s Buyer’s Guide to Loudspeakers 2018. Not merely a tube circuit placed in front of a Class D output section, it creates a sound completely unlike those first Class D amps that bit your ears. The supplied remote splits opinion too. FS: Parasound Halo P5 2.1 Preamp w/ DAC , Yamaha C-4 Vintage Preamp: Audio Equipment For Sale: 0: Nov 28, 2020: P: Should I add a DAC for Node2i + Parasound A21 + KEF LS50 setup? So far the Halo is doing everything right. The component under review, the $2000 Halo A 21 stereo amp, is slotted in further down the Parasound line. That’s a lot of grunt, certainly enough to get good volume levels from just about any speaker this amplifier is likely to be partnered with. If you’re after one do-it-all amp, there are few better alternatives. This is a good performer. Connecting various digital sources reveals the built-in DAC to be a good one. Parasound’s feature-packed high-end amplifier is a knockout. It renders this heart-breaking piece of music with the delicacy it deserves, delivering low-level dynamic shifts with an impressive lightness of touch. Parasound a31 THX Amplifier for Home Theaters | The Review The parasound a31 is a 3 channel amplifier that delivers 250 or 400 watts per channel. We like how Parasound hasn’t just treated the extra features like a box-ticking exercise, but has worked hard to make them perform well. 4 Distinct Product Lines. Design and Setup of the Parasound Halo A 31 Power Amplifier. Daily digest of Parasound Amplifier Reviews by Critics from around the web. The power supply and power amplifier are arranged in a dual-mono configuration to aid stereo imaging. New York, "The Parasound Halo A 21 and A 51 are top rate amplifiers at a great value. It’s nicely judged, though, staying on the right side of aggressive even when provoked by coarse recordings like Bruce Springsteen’s Terry’s Song. There’s a dedicated preamp feed too. This means any tonal character is much more likely to come from your speakers, or to a lesser extent your source or cables. Though not the last word in solid-state amplification, the A21 offers a lot of power at an affordable price. Fast, powerful, and resolving, the Hydra reproduces instrumental tones and timbres with accuracy and texture, has good spectral balance, and creates a consistently broad and vivid soundstage. 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