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SS Amp which betters the Halo A23

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Posted on October 19, 2014 at 01:29:22
RayBan
Audiophile

Posts: 111
Location: Vegas
Joined: February 12, 2009
 I have owned a Parasound JC-2 and a Halo A-23 previously. They were dated but made excellent sound and were reliable and enjoyable. I still communicate with Richard and he offers very sound help in all regards. If Parasound is the recommendation I would be happy as a clam.

I am now building a new system in Bangkok and intend to use my Weiss DAC 202 as the source/pre-amp into a new amp of around 125 to 200 WPC to feed Golden Ear Tritons.

The members here have provided much appreciated advice over the years and I would certainly appreciate additional experienced support now.

Items in Bangkok are not as easily obtained nor priced at US levels, so please nothing esoteric or 5 figure wish list.
RayBan

 

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RE: SS Amp which betters the Halo A23, posted on October 19, 2014 at 19:26:24
Mr Peabody
Audiophile

Posts: 1109
Location: St. Louis, MO, USA
Joined: August 14, 2010
 "Better" is certainly subjective. I think most would agree though that the A23/21 are pretty hard to beat especially considering their price.

I personally favor Pass Labs, hence, that's the amp in my rack.

Which Tritons do you have?

 

RE: SS Amp which betters the Halo A23, posted on October 19, 2014 at 22:20:37
RayBan
Audiophile

Posts: 111
Location: Vegas
Joined: February 12, 2009
 I bought the 3's
RayBan

 

RE: SS Amp which betters the Halo A23, posted on October 20, 2014 at 05:17:06
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15518
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Another vote for Pass Labs.

 

RE: SS Amp which betters the Halo A23, posted on October 20, 2014 at 20:34:57
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 I'm Perfectly happy with my PAIR of A23 and the new P5 pre.

I would have considered other stuff, but at a substantial increase in $$$. Even a pair of pre-loved JC-1 monos and say…..a Wyred STP-SE preamp would have nearly 3x'd what I spent…..new.

In another thread, someone suggested the new Parasound Halo INTEGRATED, which meets your power needs and is a one-box solution.
Too much is never enough

 

RE: SS Amp which betters the Halo A23, posted on October 22, 2014 at 20:51:31
Mr Peabody
Audiophile

Posts: 1109
Location: St. Louis, MO, USA
Joined: August 14, 2010
 How do you like the P5? Is it like some of the other Halo product where it performs beyond it's price? I have another system I may upgrade down the road where the preamp has a built in crossover so the P5 would be great as a drop in.

 

RE: SS Amp which betters the Halo A23, posted on October 22, 2014 at 23:43:27
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 I'm not a person to EVER say 'it is worth 2x what I paid for it'. If cost of product, marketing and performance warranted, they'd GET 2x more!
I WILL say that the P5 is a good value. The relay switching is a little slow and 'clicky', but the accuracy is spot on. And yes, I think compared with more expensive stuff, you'd NOT find the Parasound lacking in any substantial way.
I especially enjoy the built in DAC section which I use with my Small Dish for TV sound. The switchable tone controls? I set a mild bass and treble boost and use that as a loudness control late at nite. The sub level control is Seldom used but available IF I need it. I have NOT tested the phono section.
The built-in high and low pass filtering for bass management while 'only' 12 db per octave is invaluable.
The iPod input? I use it almost every day. Just put on an 'album' and proceed with the chores. Being MP3 is not THAT big a disadvantage.
More critical listening? I use the Balanced input from my external DAC, a Cambridge Audio DACMagic+.

No, I paid a fair price but must add that you MIGHT be able to work a cash deal with your local B+M store for a slight discount as 'sweetener'.

I feel strongly that market forces keep the most egregious excesses of wrong-pricing in check. You can have a 'brand premium', for example. Or just the opposite with budget end Emotiva gear which may be of value to some listeners. I know somebody that uses Emo amps (mono) driving the bass panels of their Magnepans. A killer setup.

One intangible with a good brand like Parasound is access to some real expertise. I've swapped a few notes with Richard Schramm and even spoken to him at some length at a show. Great guy and listening to the Halo stuff driving the KEF speakers was part of my decision as well as simple access to authoratative info about the product.
Too much is never enough

 

RE: SS Amp which betters the Halo A23, posted on October 23, 2014 at 20:04:27
Mr Peabody
Audiophile

Posts: 1109
Location: St. Louis, MO, USA
Joined: August 14, 2010
 Thanks for the good info on the P5

 

RE: SS Amp which betters the Halo A23, posted on October 23, 2014 at 21:35:37
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 I spoke w/the boss about reducing the gain of the amp and replacing the level pots (100k, and probably carbon) with a stepper switched 'ladder' of perhaps 1% resistors.

The reply was their was probably NO room for such a replacement but if you can settle on a vol level, than measure the pot and replace with a couple 'fixed' metal film resistors. A SLIGHT increase in amp clarity might be noted, I was told. I don't know if I was told 1/2 watt or 1/4 watt would work.

Since I don't use the channel level controls ANYWAY, no reason not to do the mod. Save the parts to give to the next amp owner, somewhere a decade or so+ down the line.


Too much is never enough

 

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