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Parasound has long been recognized for world-class sound & great value. Audio reviewers in the U.S. & Europe praise Parasound for exceptional sound. STEREOPHILE rates Parasound amps in the same class as amps costing 8 times as much. Writers for STEREOPHILE & ABSOLUTE SOUND own Parasound amps & use them as their reference units.
All Parasound Halo amps are designed by John Curl, "an audio design genius, arguably the greatest one of our generation. He designed & built the electronics for Mobile Fidelity's Super Master & David Wilson's Ultramaster tape recorders, two of the three best analog recorders in the world. He designed the Marc Levinson JC1 head amp & JC2 preamp." STEREOPHILE 3/11
He designed electronics for the Grateful Dead over 30 years ago. Parasound's best power amp, the JC1, best preamp, the JC2 & best phono preamp, the JC3, all bear his initials.
The JC1, JC2 & JC3 have 10 year parts & labor warranties. Other Halo models have a 5 year parts & labor warranty. Many more expensive competing amps only have a 3 year warranty. The Classic models have a 3 year parts & labor warranty; Z series, 2 years.
At the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, Richard Schram, Parasound's president, presented a complete Halo system. STEREOPHILE's 10/4/09 blog said, "with Parasound's universally praised Halo JC 2 preamp ($4000) & JC 1 monoblock amps (a steal at $9000/pair), this system delivered great highs, ear-opening depth & three-dimensionality & excellent midrange. With the volume turned way up, there wasn't a hint of strain. The sound was sensational enough to live for."
Listeners' Iove Parasound's sound quality, its detail, super-quiet & natural imaging. Every Parasound has superb construction & impeccable build quality. Here's audiophile quality at an affordable price.
PARASOUND on display:
PARASOUND HALO A23* & A21* stereo power amps P3* Stereo preamp PARASOUND CLASSIC 2100 Stereo preamp 2250 power amp PARASOUND Z - Only 9.5" wide! Z Amp Stereo power amp Z Speaker selector switch Z Phono preamp* PARASOUND, the Choice of the Pros
MOVIE STUDIOS & DIRECTORS
LUCASFILM acknowledged the role that Parasound power amps & surround processors played in the sound production for STAR WARS EPISODES I, II & III by giving Parasound screen credits for all three movies. This honor is unique among audio companies. PIXAR SONY PICTURES UNIVERSAL PICTURES 20th CENTURY FOX WARNER BROTHERS RIDLEY SCOTT OLIVER STONE
SOUND DESIGN & RECORDING
SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY SKYWALKER SOUND BEN NURTT LESLIE ANN JONES ELIOT MAZER GARY RYDSTROM RANDY THOM
RECORDING ARTISTS
MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS has made over 60 recordings while conducting the following orchestras: Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbia Jazz Band, English Chamber Orch., Hungarian State, London Sinfonietta, London Symph. Orch., Los Angeles, New World Brass, New World Symph. Orch., St. Luke's, Philharmonia, Royal Concertgebouw [Holland], San Francisco & Utah. MARY J. BILGE PETER FRAMPTON KANYE WEST SEAL
PARASOUND Z Custom The Z series provides true high-end performance in an ultra-compact size. Every Z component is only 9.5" wide, 1.75" high [2" with feet]; & 10" deep. They sound better than many larger, more expensive components. The Z series includes a power amp, line level preamp, phono preamp, speaker selector, AM-FM tuner, cooling fan & an HDMI switcher. All have gold inputs & outputs, plus built-in power supplies with IEC cords. The line level preamp, tuner & HDMI switcher all include remote controls & two-way RS232 connectors. The preamp remote control also controls the tuner; the tuner remote control also controls the preamp. The Z series intregates with popular control systems such as Crestron, Niles, AMX, Control 4 Russound & Netstream.
Z PHONO phono preamp, $199 "An impressive showing," EXCEPTIONAL VALUE, favorably compares to $600 model, STEREOPHILE 10/07 "Excellently built & makes very nice sounds: large sound stage, excellent layering & bloom with remarkably good balance, dynamic range & detail." ABSOLUTE SOUND 3/10 "Remarkably high neutrality; superbly built. ONLY RECOMMENDED PHONO STAGE UNDER $500. BUYER'S GUIDE, ABSOLUTE SOUND Spring 2010 RECOMMENDED, SENSIBLE SOUND 12/07
Z AMP, v.3 stereo power amp, $399, 45W/ch, 8 ohm; 60W/ch, 4 ohm, 90W/ch, 8 ohm, 20-20k "One helluva 45 watt amp, regardless of price tag & chassis size," THE AUDIO CRITIC "The smoothness & naturalness of the Zamp's midrange was exceptional: clean, sweet, realistic & musical. If you're in the market for an inexpensive amp, run - do not walk- to check out this amp. It's a fabulous value for the money." audioXpress
PARASOUND Classic Amps 2100, $649, Stereo Preamp, "I don't know of another preamp with all these features - Subwoofer output with variable crossover; Phono input, switchable to moving magnet, coil or line; Remote control; Tone controls; & Front panel MP3 input. The sound is clean, transparent, airy highs, tight & controlled bass. Distortion is so low we couldn't measured it." 11/07 ENJOY THE MUSIC .COM "High-end stereo preamp with unique capabilities for integration into home theater systems & custom installs." EXCITE AWARD, CUSTOM RETAILER 10/07
5250 II, list $2850, now on sale here at $2299!!!THX Certified. 250-385W x 5 channels BEST AMP UNDER $3000 "Parasound has always offered terrific value. Packs a tremendous punch with one of the best $ to watt ratios." HOME THEATER VISION 2007 annual
PARASOUND HALO POWER AMPS
A21, power amp, $2299 "Very fine amp at exceptionally fair price. Midrange & bass excellent; sounded fundamentally similar to $20-40,000 amps." ABSOLUTE SOUND 1/07 "Excellent amp, 250W/ch/8 ohm, 400W/ch/4 ohm." ABSOLUTE SOUND EDITOR'S CHOICE 3/11
A23, power amp, $949, 125-200W/ch "Reasonably priced amp, musically quite involving." ABSOLUTE SOUND EDITOR'S CHOICE 3/11
JC1 Power Amp $8998/pr, 400W, 8 ohm; 800W, 4 ohm; 1200W, 2 ohm, EXCEPTIONAL VALUE, A RATED; "Powerful, refined, smooth, dynamic, transparent; rated at 400W, does 586W." PRODUCT OF THE YEAR; IN SAME CLASS AS $55,000 AMPS. STEREOPHILE RECOMMENDED 4/11 "The build & sound quality of my JC1 mono amps, my reference amps, is first rate. If they were made in America or Australia, it would cost a lot more. Thirty grand for a pair of Halcros? I'll take Parasounds. I heard both & I did." STEREOPHILE 12/05 "I [Sam Tellig] own a pair of JC1 amps. They're a steal. I've used the JC1's with 24 different speakers & never ran out of power. In a large room - especially one with cathedral ceilings & open space - you need increased power." STEREOPHILE 12/07 "A revelation; impressively coherent; transparent & detailed soundstage." STEREOPHILE 3/08 "Effortlessly powerful, silky smooth, crystal clear abundantly detailed." ABSOLUTE SOUND EDITOR'S CHOICE 3/11
PARASOUND HALO PREAMPS P3, preamp, $849 "Should be celebrated. Parasound has a solid reputation by offering high-value products that compete well with more expensive products." AVguide.com RECOMMENDED
A23 & P3 "A winning combination! Sexy in appearance, easy to use; sound solid & satisfying. Their sleek cases & glowing blue lights will make them showpieces in your living room & should earn them easy spousal approval." GOOD SOUND.COM 12/1/04
JC2 Preamp, $4000, PRODUCT of the YEAR 09, ABSOLUTE SOUND GOLDEN EAR AWARD; EDITOR'S CHOICE 3/11 "Neutral & natural, transparent, quick & delicately detailed; a masterwork." BUYER'S GUIDE, ABSOLUTE SOUND Spring 2010
"Like the JC1, the JC2 is up there with the best of them, but down to earth in price. Competes successfully against preamps, solid-state or tubes, that sell for twice the price or more. It excels at reproduction of space; helps the JC1 amps throw a huge soundstage." STEREOPHILE 12/07 EXCEPTIONAL VALUE, A RATED; IN SAME CLASS as $30,000 PREAMPS "Excellent reproduction of space; music emerges intact with body, bloom & dynamics, with definition & detail form an utterly silent background. Perhaps the finest solid-state line stage I've heard." STEREOPHILE RECOMMENDED 4/11 "Remarkably detailed & shockingly realistic sound. Rock solid build quality; parts quality absolutely first rate. JC1 & 2 sound strikes a keen balance between superlative resolution & sounding beguilingly sweet & natural. I'm totally absorbed by CDs that previously bored me. Experience the Parasounds first hand. Bring your favorite music & hear it like never before." HOME ENTERTAINMENT 6/08 "The BEST BUY in a HIGH-END PREAMP TODAY." "The BEST BARGAIN in a HIGH END PREAMP. This is the closest I've heard solid state come to a fundamentally neutral sound. It preserves fine harmonic & dynamic detail, air & bloom in the midband; [plus] the frequency extremes, which is unique in a solid state preamp. EXTREME RARITY - A REFERENCE QUALITY PRODUCT THAT MANY of us can ACTUALLY AFFORD." GOLDEN EAR AWARD, ABSOLUTE SOUND 7/08
JC3 Phono preamp, $2350, JC3 midbass attack is timbrally & texturally ideal; bass tight & punchy; midbass attack timbrally & texturally ideal, performing well beyond its price. Superb musical grip & control. At $2350, the JC3 is a remarkably fine phono that easily held its own against preamps from $10,600 to $26,000. The JC3 represents the best current value in a phono preamp. STEREOPHILE RECOMMENDED 3/11 STEREOPHILE EXCEPTIONAL VALUE, 4/11, in same class as $3900 preamps
PHONO STAGE OF THE YEAR "There's a riveting balance of extremes at play here - a kiss of romance through the mids & an ability to extract & define low-level information in acoustic space. There's a warm breadth of life in every musical image." ABSOLUTE SOUND 1/12
GOLDEN EAR AWARD "Curl's earlier efforts, the Halo JC-1 amp & JC-2 preamp, had been overwhelmingly well received & phono stages are one of Curl's passions. The JC-3 is a dual-mono design. Each channel is housed in its own extruded aluminum enclosure & further isolated from the power supply with thick, low-carbon-steel partitions. The JC-3 is fitted with top-quality parts throughout. What continues to strike me about the JC-3 is its balance of profound silence & kick-butt energy, its kiss of romance through the mids & its ability to extract low-level information & define it in acoustic space. There's a warm breath of life in every musical image." ABSOLUTE SOUND 9/11
Parasound Halo AV Amps A51 Surround sound power amp, EDITOR'S CHOICE "Powerful power amp with impressive sound. Excellent value." HI-FI CHOICE, AWARDS 2008
A52, $2249 "This 5x125 watt amp has warm, natural sound." ABSOLUTE SOUND EDITOR'S CHOICE "Those who prize flexibility will appreciate RCA & balanced inputs & individual channel level controls. Warm, natural, never edgy sound." PERFECT VISION winter 2005
P7 PREAMP, $2000, "Set-up as a straight-through stereo preamp was a piece of cake. Delight to use & listen to. Outstandingly transparent. A superb analog stereo preamp at a realistic price. Icing on the cake: sophisticated control functions, renamable input displays, superb remote control & valuable ability to manage bass via its stereo inputs. A category killer. Nothing else can do what it does & the few that sound marginally better cost many times more." STEREOPHILE, 1/09 STEREOPHILE RECOMMENDED, exceptional value, in same class as $8,000 preamp, 4/11 "Sounds transparent & near silent. When you consider how noisy a receiver can be with the amp & massive power supply next to sensitive audio parts, the P7 makes a lot of sense. Free the music from all that electronic noise & audiophiles can rest assured that all they're getting is the source material, to the best ability their system can muster. Fantastically well built." HOME ENTERTAINMENT 1/09
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