Justin & Jerry's Hifi Blog

[Effem]

I had the Parasound Halo P3 pre-amp around 6 years ago

Very nice pre and one day when I switched it on there was a loud hum from it. Sent it off to the UK distributor for repair and they sent me a brand new one in return

[jandl100]

Coo, that sounds like rather good service, Frank.

I'll wait for the A21 to get a bit dusty then send it off for a new one.

Lots of listening today - what a lovely, lovely amp it is. Most pleased, I am. I may even keep it longer than a fortnight.

[Spectral Morn]

I had the Parasound Halo P3 pre-amp around 6 years ago

Very nice pre and one day when I switched it on there was a loud hum from it. Sent it off to the UK distributor for repair and they sent me a brand new one in return

Sadly (and someone correct me if I am wrong) but I am pretty sure that CSE the distributors for Parasound closed their doors lasts year, victims of the downturn. Nice guys and I had know Ian Servers for very many years, though in fairness better in the early 90's, than more recently as when I was in the Trade awhile ago I had nothing to do with custom install which is the path CSE had mostly gone down.

Yes I am correct http://www.companycheck.co.uk/company/03551500


Regards D S D L

[jandl100]

Ah, that's a shame.

... looks like I am going to have to get my duster out after all.

According to the Parasound website Invision UK Limited is now the UK distributor. Ever heard of 'em? http://www.invisionuk.com/product-brands
"Invision UK, the leading trade-only distributor of integrated AV solutions for residential, commercial and marine applications".
Distributors for Parasound, Polk, those transparent Waterfall speakers, Furman power conditioners, Logitech. And all the other AV guff.

[jandl100]

It's very sensitive to power cables - I used Musicworks to start with ... I was very worried with the scratchy and thin treble - OMG I'd just driven 400 miles to buy a lemon ... then moved on to QED Qonduit, which sorted the treble thinness but lost the sparkle
... then went on to my usual fave, the £20 Audio Friendly mains cable from eBay. Yes!

Cables; eh? I don't think I've come across a component that was so sensitive to mains cables / mains quality as the Parasound "Halo Hal" A21 power amp.

I had been thinking of getting a valve pre-amp, just to relax the sound a bit. But I tried a Silver High Breed Accord 8AWG Plus mains cord that has been lurking in my spares bag, and a pushiness and excitability that was beginning to get a bit tiresome has been vanquished. It seems more naturally musical and 3D as well.
Then I tried Halo Hal straight into the wall socket rather than thru the Belkin PF40 mains filter, and a forward brightness came back a bit and the 3D focussed imaging flattened out again.

You really can tune Halo Hal to whatever sound you like just by fiddling with the mains feed. But it always retains the hi-rez, heft and control that I like so much.

Anyway, I'll be staying with the SHB cable for a while and see how that goes. I would like to try a few pre-amps with the Parasound, though. Currently I am using the pre-amp section of my Morgan Audio s300 integrated amp. I tried my trusty Evo2 LDR passive pre, that had a tad more transparency but insufficient gain on some recordings and also a noticeabley reduced feeling of impetus in the sound.

[Macca]

I had been thinking of getting a valve pre-amp, just to relax the sound a bit.
You really can tune Halo Hal to whatever sound you like just by fiddling with .

have you tried a Croft Micro basic or Micro R yet Jerry? I'd be interested in your thoughts.

[jandl100]

Nope, the only Croft I've ever owned is a 4SA power amp. That was my very first venture into tubes, ooo must have been 25 years ago. It was fab!

Must admit that I have couch potato tendencies, and would much prefer a remote controlled pre!

[Marco]

Hi Jerry,

I had been thinking of getting a valve pre-amp, just to relax the sound a bit.

Not sure what to say to that.... ...other than GOOD valve preamps shouldn't produce that effect!

Marco.

[jandl100]

Hi Jerry,



Not sure what to say to that.... ...other than GOOD valve preamps shouldn't produce that effect!

Marco.

Yes, I know where you are coming from, of course, Marco.
But let's face it - all equipment has its particular sonic signature - no piece of kit is perfect - you just have to strike the balance over the whole system which gives you the sound that you want. It's called synergy.

But I am now in the situation where I have more carefully 'optmised' the cabling and support for the Parasound amp, and the overall flavour of the sound balance is more to my long-term liking. It's now more 'musical' rather than 'impressive'.
Although having said that, a hifi friend is visiting on Sunday and he says he will bring a rather nice valve pre-amp along, so we'll what that adds to (or subtracts from) the party!

[Marco]

We are in agreement, Jerry

I simply find it difficult to resist the temptation to correct anyone seemingly perpetrating the myth that (quality) valve equipment softens/relaxes or [insert your stereotypically euphonic assumed trait here] the sound of a system.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the valve amp that your friend is bringing. Do you know what it is yet?

Marco.