Parasound

[Techno Commander]

Does anyone have any experience with Parasound (http://www.parasound.com/) amps? Once my CD player is sorted, I am considering "doing something" with my systems amplification. One option is going for a high end integrated, but I am also considering a new power amp to go with the Audio Note pre amp I currently use.

The Parasound HCA 2200 and HCA 3500 appeal to my primal desires of owning some heavy metal muscle :) and appear to be relatively well priced on the second hand market. The "lb per £" ration also seems unbeatable. Do they measure up in the audio stakes as well?


http://www.stereophile.com/images/archivesart/100para2.jpg

[Reid Malenfant]

Do they measure up in the audio stakes as well?
Very much so :)

I could name a whole lot of power amps that wouldn't perform as well as a Parasound :eyebrows: They do run pretty warm as well, you'll get a few watts of class A power out of the bigger stereo amps which you appear to be interested in.

Great VFM imo & excellent kit.

[ClasseAudio]

Does anyone have any experience with Parasound (http://www.parasound.com/) amps?

The Parasound HCA 2200 and HCA 3500 appeal to my primal desires of owning some heavy metal muscle :) and appear to be relatively well priced on the second hand market.

Well, I have owned Parasound amps and can second that they run hot. You will need a good 8-10 inches of space above the amp so it can breathe. In terms of musicality the amps are only ok imo. In terms of raw power the amps have it in spades. I made the switch to Classe (after many in home trials of different amps) and noticed an immediate improvement in almost every area. Don't get me wrong, Parasound is ok for music but better suited for movies imo. I tend to like my sound on the warmer side of neutral btw. Simaudio,Classe, and a few other amps made the cut. The price is what was the final deciding factor for me.

If you are looking for amps for their musical ability Parasound does not come to mind (if you are on a budget Parasound will come to mind though maybe). Don't get stuck on watts.....does not mean much. A 25wpc Class A amp will sound a heck of a lot better than a 200wpc class a/b amp with a few exceptions of course. Just my .02:)

[Effem]

I had a Parasound pre/power combo a few years ago and they do have a marked lack of refinement, although in power terms they are not lacking. I bought another power amp which certainly did tidy things up at the bottom end so I kept the pre for a while longer and paired it with a Rotel Michi.

To date, my two favourite power amps have been a german built Aaron Millenium and the Classe 10 that I have now.