Harmonic distortion was also vanishingly low, revealed by plotting the JC 2's THD+noise percentage against its balanced output voltage (fig.2; the top trace at 5V output was taken into a very low 600 ohm load; the lower trace was taken into 100k ohms). 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). (Left channel blue, right channel red.). Both unbalanced and balanced outputs preserved absolute polarity (ie, were non-inverting), with the blue front-panel Polarity LED off. Payment … Warranty: Ten years parts, five years labor. Parasound Products, Inc. 2250 McKinnon Avenue San Francisco, CA 94124 Phone: (415) 397-7100 … 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. (The XLRs are wired with pin 2 "hot.") The JC 2 itself starts to clip in a "soft" manner, the beginnings of the flat top of the waveform having rounded edges. B-Stock gives audiophile enthusiasts the opportunity to purchase Parasound products at a discounted price. 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). These are still usefully low values, however, and remained constant across the audioband. "ABX testing doesn't work". Priced at $1500, $1100 and $895, and with many more features, how much do you sacrifice if any? Free shipping. The others mentioned are more modern - has pre-amp design changed much in 10 years? And here's an exact quote from an online forum: "ABX testing doesn't work". Fig.4 Parasound Halo JC 2, balanced spectrum of 1kHz sinewave, DC–10kHz, at 3.5V into 200k ohms (linear frequency scale; left channel blue, right channel red). Current amplification is a single Parasound A21, in stereo mode. High end von edelmarke parasound vorstufe in schwarz, model parasound halo p5 mit zubehör, siehe bilder. System 1: Mac Mini running BACCH4Mac Pro, RME Babyface Pro, Dutch & Dutch 8C, Sennheiser HD600. 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. The JC 5 is available in silver or black. The Parasound's voltage gain into 8 ohms, set to Normal, measured 29.2dB from the balanced inputs, 29.4dB from the unbalanced inputs. Needless to say, I cannot recommend the Parasound JC2. //WE R RESTLESS. 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. 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 … This is a review and detailed measurements of the Parasound JC2 Preamp. Parasound Halo JC 2 Preamplifier Price: $4000 USD. This wide bandwidth was maintained into low impedances. Switching the gain to Low reduced both gains … It loses the high end grain the A21 has and controls speakers with much more authority. 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. 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, … Why waste money on middling gear if the cheap stuff is about as good? Second is supposedly the nice one? At this time if I would go Parasound: Parasound JC-1 Parasound JC-2 Wadia 830 CD Player or possibly a tubed player PS Audio GCPH phono pre The other would be: Pass X250 Pass X-2 PS … That’s why we’ve had decades of purist amplifiers that have sported little more than source selection, a volume control, and a remote if you’re lucky. However, there was some interdependency of the bandwidth and the volume-control setting. 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. 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. Neither will have any subjective consequences, however. ¦å³æŽ¨å‡ºçš„立体声后级。 在考虑 EXB7 升级的时候翻阅了 Stereophile 和 TAS 历年的榜单， … Get it as soon as Mon, Jan 11. 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. Is my understanding flawed, thought thrid harmonic is the one you don't want? 1V output) of 96.7dB. F ig .3P arso u ndH JC2,b ce t(%)v f q y 5V in to:2 0k hms ( b) ,6 p. L ef c a lu g ch n elr d.) THE HALO JC 2 IS MANUFACTURED, LIKE THE JC 1, IN TAIWAN. wait, it just pre-amps and has a score this much low?! The results are shown in fig.3. But thanks to better technology and improved design, things are changing. Great design, creative motion and interactive experiences for people. This is a review and detailed measurements of the Parasound JC2 … That original Haloone-box proved an extensive feature list and a great performance weren’t mutually exclusive, an… The JC2 is replaced with JC2 BP. It was kindly sent to me by a member. According to Parasound’s Richard Schram, the original JC3’s design began as a phono preamp retrofit for the JC2 … 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. 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. It was kindly sent to me by a member. Both unbalanced and balanced input impedances were close to specification, at 27k ohms at low and middle frequencies. 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. OMG! In the near-er future, I would like to upgrade to either one of the following two amplification choices:-choice #1: a (new) … The unbalanced figures were 10V and 6.2V, respectively. Also, the New Classic 200 Pre as well. The A 21 amplifier is loaded with usable features above and beyond most other … The JC2 is replaced with JC2 BP. He's also a true believer in many high end audio myths, such as low feedback, which is apparent in this unit. 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 You must log in or register to reply here. The JC5 has a very low noise floor, especially when paired with a Parasound JC2 preamp. 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 … Few scuff marks on top rear of JC2. Halo is our premier line with a reputation for going head-to-head with the most expensive equipment on the … What more is there to say? For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. This is a review and detailed measurements of the Parasound JC2 Preamp. The JC 2's channel separation was superb, at >120dB below10kHz in both directions, a tribute to the circuit board and component layout. Reason for selling: Too good for my ears. 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. And despite what the purists say, on occasion, for example when playing a poorly engineered … 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 … 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. The input impedances dropped a little at 20kHz, to 22k ohms, though this difference will be inconsequential. JavaScript is disabled. Fig.3 Parasound Halo JC 2, balanced distortion (%) vs frequency at 3.5V into: 200k ohms (bottom), 600 ohms (top). 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. Spatial resolution is one of the JC 5’s greatest strengths. The output impedance was higher than specified, at 257 ohms unbalanced and 295 ohms balanced. As a kid reading those Audio Advisor catalogs, you idolize them a bit and hope to … Fig.2 Parasound Halo JC 2, balanced distortion (%) vs 1kHz output level into (from bottom to top at 5V): 100k, 600 ohms. I recall hearing … This amp offers kick ass performance at a price that real world people can afford! The preamplifier also offered very low levels of noise. It cost US $4,000 when it first came out (2009). It cost US $4,000 when it first came out … 'Geddes is a bit of a blunt Toole really', Amplifiers, Phono preamp, and Analog Audio Review, Stereo and Multichannel Amplifier Reviews. What more is there to say? 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. BUT ITS DESIGN, CIRCUIT LAYOUT, AND … At first look the Parasound Halo A 21 is an appealing and robust amplifier accented by brushed metal finish. 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). 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. And to think that the mags held out these Parasound Halo products as examples of superb "traditional" engineering in high-end audio electronics. I'm kind of surprised and not surprised by this. Item: Parasound JC1s and JC2 Location: Canberra Price: Item Condition: Excellent working condition. Fig.5 Parasound Halo JC 2, balanced spectrum of 1kHz sinewave, DC–10kHz, at 3.5V into 600 ohms (linear frequency scale; left channel blue, right channel red). Parasound Halo, ZoneMaster, Z Custom, and NewClassic are four distinct product families. Parasound really hit a home run with the 275.v2 stereo amplifier! I assume it was all the audiophiling of this JC2 that made it worse relative to the "budget" P5. John Curl is very knowledgeable about circuit design. The JC2 is replaced with JC2 BP. In the world of hi-fi amplifiers, lots of features often means a compromised sonic performance. ALL B-stock items are all professionally inspected by Parasound technicians and, most … Main: Computer -> USB-C -> SMSL Sanskrit 10th mkII -> SKW single crystal copper RCA ->. 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. Surprisingly, it offered 20dB gain with an unbalanced input and measured at the balanced output jacks. Parasound has been one of those brands that, although have a huge following, somehow gets overlooked. 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. Wasn't John Curl (like Nelson Pass, etc) known to design for a "sound signature" rather than transparency? 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. (0.25dB/vertical div.). 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). A-weighting improved this figure to 108dB, which is superb. This is a review and detailed measurements of the Parasound JC2 Preamp. Surprisingly, it offered 20dB gain with an unbalanced input and measured … 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). 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