That original Haloone-box proved an extensive feature list and a great performance werenât mutually exclusive, an⦠'Geddes is a bit of a blunt Toole really', Amplifiers, Phono preamp, and Analog Audio Review, Stereo and Multichannel Amplifier Reviews. And here's an exact quote from an online forum: "ABX testing doesn't work". Parasound's new $2995 JC3+ is a significantly upgraded version of the already high performance original JC3 phono preamplifier, though outwardly it looks identical to the handsome original. It cost US $4,000 when it first came out ⦠Current amplification is a single Parasound A21, in stereo mode. Great design, creative motion and interactive experiences for people. Main: Computer -> USB-C -> SMSL Sanskrit 10th mkII -> SKW single crystal copper RCA ->. Free shipping. You must log in or register to reply here. This wide bandwidth was maintained into low impedances. Switching to the JC2: It appears the best way to get good specifications for the JC2 would be to use a low noise, low distortion, low voltage, low impedance input from the AP gear, with A-weighted measurements, and set the JC2 Thatâs why weâve had decades of purist amplifiers that have sported little more than source selection, a volume control, and a remote if youâre lucky. With the volume control at its maximum but the input short-circuited—very much the worst case—I measured an unweighted, wideband signal/noise ratio (ref. Surprisingly, it offered 20dB gain with an unbalanced input and measured ⦠(The XLRs are wired with pin 2 "hot.") It was kindly sent to me by a member. The input impedances dropped a little at 20kHz, to 22k ohms, though this difference will be inconsequential. The JC5 has a very low noise floor, especially when paired with a Parasound JC2 preamp. There were some higher-order sidebands evident with the demanding HF intermodulation test (fig.6), but the difference component at 1kHz was very low in level. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Halo is our premier line with a reputation for going head-to-head with the most expensive equipment on the ⦠Why waste money on middling gear if the cheap stuff is about as good? //WE R RESTLESS. I assume it was all the audiophiling of this JC2 that made it worse relative to the "budget" P5. This is a review and detailed measurements of the Parasound JC2 Preamp. At our standard definition of clipping as being when the signal is suffering 1% THD, the Parasound preamp in balanced mode clips at 10.5V into 100k ohms and 7.2V into 600 ohms. In the near-er future, I would like to upgrade to either one of the following two amplification choices:-choice #1: a (new) ⦠If Parasound's Halo division has been able to come up with such a preamp (the JC 2), and with such a monoblock power amp (the JC 1), and with such an FM-Tuner (the T 3), then I 'd say these guys are ⦠The magenta and green traces in fig.1 show the preamp's response at the same output level, but with the volume control set to unity gain (1:00). In the world of hi-fi amplifiers, lots of features often means a compromised sonic performance. This is a review and detailed measurements of the Parasound JC2 Preamp. The unbalanced figures were 10V and 6.2V, respectively. ALL B-stock items are all professionally inspected by Parasound technicians and, most ⦠Parasound Halo, ZoneMaster, Z Custom, and NewClassic are four distinct product families. Priced at $1500, $1100 and $895, and with many more features, how much do you sacrifice if any? This is a review and detailed measurements of the Parasound JC2 Preamp. The A 21 amplifier is loaded with usable features above and beyond most other ⦠What more is there to say? The THD does rise slightly in the top two audio octaves, this presumably due to the decreasing amount of corrective feedback available in this frequency region, but the absolute level of the distortion is very low. Neither will have any subjective consequences, however. Fig.1 Parasound Halo JC 2, balanced frequency response at 1V into 200k ohms with volume control set to maximum (left channel blue, right channel red) and to unity gain (left channel green, right channel magenta). The level of the second harmonic increases only slightly into 600 ohms (fig.5), but the third is higher in level, and some higher-order harmonics make an appearance, though the absolute levels are still negligible. The output impedance was higher than specified, at 257 ohms unbalanced and 295 ohms balanced. "ABX testing doesn't work". I recall hearing ⦠With its volume control set to the maximum, the JC 2's frequency response at 1V into 200k ohms was flat within the audioband and down by just 0.6dB at the top of the audioband, with superb channel matching (fig.1, blue and red traces). 1V output) of 96.7dB. The JC2 is replaced with JC2 BP. Payment ⦠Parasound Halo JC 2 Preamplifier Price: $4000 USD. JavaScript is disabled. Fig.3 Parasound Halo JC 2, balanced distortion (%) vs frequency at 3.5V into: 200k ohms (bottom), 600 ohms (top). Operated with either balanced input and output or unbalanced input and output, the Parasound Halo JC 2 offered a maximum gain of 14dB, as specified. These are still usefully low values, however, and remained constant across the audioband. https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/, Parasound sound comparisons A21+ vs Zonemaster2350, Parasound Zphono Phono Preamplifier Review, Turntables, Phono Amplifiers, Cartridges Review. But thanks to better technology and improved design, things are changing. OMG! The others mentioned are more modern - has pre-amp design changed much in 10 years? The response is now –0.35dB at the top of the audioband, and a very slight level mismatch (0.1dB) between the channels is evident. And despite what the purists say, on occasion, for example when playing a poorly engineered ⦠Fig.2 Parasound Halo JC 2, balanced distortion (%) vs 1kHz output level into (from bottom to top at 5V): 100k, 600 ohms. Both unbalanced and balanced outputs preserved absolute polarity (ie, were non-inverting), with the blue front-panel Polarity LED off. However, there was some interdependency of the bandwidth and the volume-control setting. It loses the high end grain the A21 has and controls speakers with much more authority. The JC2 is replaced with JC2 BP. It was kindly sent to me by a member. BUT ITS DESIGN, CIRCUIT LAYOUT, AND ⦠The spectrum of the distortion into high impedances consists almost entirely of the second and third harmonics (fig.4), which would be subjectively benign at much higher levels than are offered by the Parasound preamp. When I recently built some Linkwitz LXmini's and a couple of small, home-brew subs to sit behind them, I decided to go with bargain-basement DSP (MiniDSP 2x4HD and a MiniDSP ICEpower subwoofer plate amp) and amplification (an old Adcom 4-channel amp bought on Craigslist) until some lucky event allows me to get into SOTA amplification and DSP. And to think that the mags held out these Parasound Halo products as examples of superb "traditional" engineering in high-end audio electronics. Reason for selling: Too good for my ears. The Parasound's voltage gain into 8 ohms, set to Normal, measured 29.2dB from the balanced inputs, 29.4dB from the unbalanced inputs. I did that because this site, over the past 2 years, has demonstrated that the well-known manufacturers of old have abandoned pursuit of SOTA in favor of hocus-pocus, puffery, and fancy cases and knobs. Second is supposedly the nice one? Midrange THD+N into 100k ohms is between 0.0008% and 0.0009% (bottom pair of traces), with only a slight increase evident into 600 ohms (top traces). I plotted how the THD+N percentage changes with frequency at a level of 3.5V, in order to be sure I was measuring distortion rather than noise. Overall, the Parasound Halo JC 2 offers superb measured performance, as I have come to expect from John Curl designs.—John Atkinson, Benchmark HPA4 headphone amplifier/line preamplifier, Dan D'Agostino Master Audio Systems Momentum HD line preamplifier, Great American Sound Thaedra preamplifier, Pass Laboratories XP-22 line preamplifier, J E Sugden Masterclass LA-4 line preamplifier, The FTC Proposes Eliminating Its "Amplifier Rule", Re-Tales #5: Pro audio and hi-fi cross over, Analog Corner #289: Ortofon Anna Diamond MC phono cartridge, Moonriver 404 Reference integrated amplifier, Revinylization #14: The Grateful Dead's Magnificent Eight, Gramophone Dreams #45: T+A Solitaire P headphones & HA 200 DAC-headphone amplifier, Acoustic Geometry Room treatments (before & after), My current and likely the last home audio setup, Fascinating wiev by Verity Audio Sarastro, Recording of February 2021: Newvelle Records Season Five, Recommended Components: Fall 2020 Edition. What more is there to say? The preamplifier also offered very low levels of noise. The results are shown in fig.3. Is my understanding flawed, thought thrid harmonic is the one you don't want? The JC 2's channel separation was superb, at >120dB below10kHz in both directions, a tribute to the circuit board and component layout. Few scuff marks on top rear of JC2. This is a review and detailed measurements of the Parasound JC2 ⦠High end von edelmarke parasound vorstufe in schwarz, model parasound halo p5 mit zubehör, siehe bilder. Wasn't John Curl (like Nelson Pass, etc) known to design for a "sound signature" rather than transparency? The true distortion begins to rise out of the noise above 2.5V, which is eminently sensible engineering: this is close to where the partnering power amplifier will start to be driven into clipping. It was kindly sent to me by a member. My Parasound P5's preamplifier functionality seemed to measure very well according to the Stereophile measurements. Parasound Halo JC 2 line preamplifier Measurements Sidebar 3: Measurements Operated with either balanced input and output or unbalanced input and output, the Parasound Halo JC 2 offered a maximum gain of 14dB, as specified. Parasound Products, Inc. 2250 McKinnon Avenue San Francisco, CA 94124 Phone: (415) 397-7100 ⦠Item: Parasound JC2 Preamp Location: Canberra Price: $ 3300 Price reduced Item Condition: Very good Reason for selling: NLR, Have sold the JC1s Payment Method: Pickup - Cash, ⦠A-weighting improved this figure to 108dB, which is superb. As a kid reading those Audio Advisor catalogs, you idolize them a bit and hope to ⦠System 1: Mac Mini running BACCH4Mac Pro, RME Babyface Pro, Dutch & Dutch 8C, Sennheiser HD600. John Curl is very knowledgeable about circuit design. It would be very interesting to see how the current much less expensive Parasound Halo P6 (or even P5) with their smps power supplies measure up. Parasound A31 Three Channel Power Amplifier Parasound Halo P 6 Preamplifier & DAC Reviewed Parasound 275 v.2 Stereo Amplifier Reviewed Parasound Halo Integrated 2.1-Channel ⦠He's also a true believer in many high end audio myths, such as low feedback, which is apparent in this unit. I'm kind of surprised and not surprised by this. Get it as soon as Mon, Jan 11. wait, it just pre-amps and has a score this much low?! B-Stock gives audiophile enthusiasts the opportunity to purchase Parasound products at a discounted price. This amp offers kick ass performance at a price that real world people can afford! Both traces slope down with increasing voltage below 2V, due to the measurement's being dominated by noise rather than distortion; a constant noise level becomes a smaller proportion of the signal as the level increases. The JC 5 is available in silver or black. Fig.6 Parasound Halo JC 2, HF intermodulation spectrum, DC–24kHz, 19+20kHz at 3V peak into 200k ohms (linear frequency scale; left channel blue, right channel red). Knock me over with a feather...a Schiit preamplifier recommended over a Parasound John Curl unit? It cost US $4,000 when it first came out ⦠Spatial resolution is one of the JC 5âs greatest strengths. Warranty: Ten years parts, five years labor. Needless to say, I cannot recommend the Parasound JC2. ¦å³æ¨åºçç«ä½å£°å级ã å¨èè EXB7 å级çæ¶åç¿»é äº Stereophile å TAS åå¹´çæ¦åï¼ â¦ Also, the New Classic 200 Pre as well. Both unbalanced and balanced input impedances were close to specification, at 27k ohms at low and middle frequencies. The JC 2 itself starts to clip in a "soft" manner, the beginnings of the flat top of the waveform having rounded edges. Parasound really hit a home run with the 275.v2 stereo amplifier! 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