- Posted by JBen (A) on February 14, 2017 at 10:29:03
In Reply to: RE: 3.7i Parasound A-21 underpowered, need advise - posted by finbad on February 12, 2017 at 08:36:53
My first encounters with the 3.7 & 3.7i were, in short, always spectacular when the Magtech was driving. (Disappointing, comparatively speaking, when even big Krell's were driving.) It delivered all the power & the glory. These, in an impressive 3D-imaged soundstage like what I am used to, were delivered for the first time and even in demo rooms. And the ribbon tweeter's sweetness and clarity got properly served. A hybrid or full tubes pre stage was always the best helper and I gather that you already have this. I'd say you'd do great with the Magtech, and their service is top notch.
I also like Satie's input about the JC1. These demons, which I've heard only heard on high-end cone speakers, always are very impressive by themselves. Of particular meaning they sound like more mature brothers of my own amps, which are old Parasounds of John Curl's design. His 2 MOSFET power amps that drive my modded MMG's deliver tube-like smoothness all by themselves and imaging attributes to die for. I would expect JC1's to do much better on the 3.7i For perspective, you and I know the how good the A21 really is within its power rating. Next to it (as heard on cone speakers only), the JC1 goes somewhat beyond in smoothness and clearly further in heft and control. In fact, the A21, which visits my place at times, is what sold me on JC's approach.
Your Pioneer, which is a most capable pre-processor on its own, can do a terrific job with room correction. (LOL, let the purists fry in their own sauce.) Still, I would also propose that you try driving your A21, or its replacement directly from the source(s) (or via passive-pre switching). If you like the result, you can always keep the option to switch. That's what I do at home between the receiver, (which can do movies and decent music) and the real "music system", which is more "straight-line" from the source. This is how I've also set up friends' systems and they love having the best of both worlds.
I do hope that you have a chance to try the Magtech. It is worth every penny and then some. If it is not your cup of tea, at least the A21 will have given you a character reference on the JC1.
Follow Ups:
- RE: 3.7i Parasound A-21 underpowered, need advise - - finbad 14:53:03 02/14/17
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- In Reply to: RE: 3.7i Parasound A-21 underpowered, need advise - posted by JBen on February 14, 2017 at 10:29:03
Hey Ben,
Love the back story(s) you recount for both my , and other future readers, as I address this systems issues .
Greatly appreciate your input for further consideration giving weight to suggestions and my own intuition .
Some mention was made to "Tone", I believe by Satie re: Magtech vs JC1s , though I do suppose both have nuanced, subtle, audible differences by some integer count of strength when A/B line level tested .
I am incline to believe the sanders being more sterile vs a slight degree of relative fatter tone along with a degree of greater detail retrieval with the JC1 monos - perceptible in a most perfect room , which is one issue I'm in process to address least all else upgrade differences beyond the point of more power,may be lost to only potential differences ...
-Best regards
- RE: 3.7i Parasound A-21 underpowered, need advise - - JBen 23:47:44 02/14/17
(2)
- In Reply to: RE: 3.7i Parasound A-21 underpowered, need advise - posted by finbad on February 14, 2017 at 14:53:03
Thanks! You mention a couple of items, at least one of which I missed when I read the thread...my young eyes, of about your same age, I guess :)
First, about the tone, which I'll take as NOT meaning "coloring", at all. I may have mentioned the tube stage as helping the Magtech, and yes, I liked it better with tubes than without. In no case, however, did the Magtech sound sterile, or bad at all; just different. (And this was without the benefit of direct comparison...memory can be tricky.)
In referring to the JC1's "tone" -- which I loved -- I am limited to extrapolation from dynamic speakers. Now, if you connect the A21 directly to a source like the Oppo 103 or 105 using their volume control -- I just saw your profile -- I suspect that you are going to flip. More so if you can get a good SACD or DSD album or two. This way you'll also have a taste for the true tonal personality of the A21, which is enhanced in the JC1. More importantly, if you get to try the Magtech at home you can compare them in this manner. Of course, the Magtech will have the edge on power but, if you can endure the relatively low volume, the A21 has about 10 watts of class A on tap. With the right program material, this may tell what the JC1's 25 watts could do even better. In an "efficient room" this will be plenty, which leads me to the second item.
It is second, but perhaps more important: yes please, invest time and effort on the room's acoustic environment. Most folks over-dampen their rooms when in fact they should be looking for a more reflective setup for planars. To put this in perspective, after the first stage of modding my cheap, ancient MMG's I still could only afford a "supposedly underpowered" Denon receiver, late in 2008. Yet, already, that "puny" thing could deliver impressively clear SPL, SQ and imaging because the room helped it. For the first time, a friend lost a bet on telling if the subwoofer was on/off...and soon after also stopped saying that Maggies are not dynamic enough. So, who knows what gold nuggets you may find by fooling around with the room! The great thing is that not much money may be needed...just a bit of patience may do.
Lastly, DSP room equalization is a great thing. But, it is yet another thing in the signal path. Not needing it is...priceless!
- RE: 3.7i Parasound A-21 underpowered, need advise - - finbad 11:08:25 02/15/17
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- In Reply to: RE: 3.7i Parasound A-21 underpowered, need advise - posted by JBen on February 14, 2017 at 23:47:44
Very good, Ben !
*Starts checking off boxes*
Will do !
I have run balanced direct to the A21 from the A10 server and its DAC and Both Oppos (the 103 does SACDs digital out) to the Vega DAC out without the Tube hybrid LS17se , and agree both are a sharper presentation which is interesting as another voicing though with the LS the air around pieces and a taller, more holographic presentation though with only a slightly softer LFreqs which is a presentation I have grown to be astonished by too.
Fun,fun,fun ... Though this presentation seems to necessitate greater volume for fullness - And you are right I'm sure (digesting your experience), the room here is over damped which I shall address , requiring less power from my preamps & A21 for the somewhat same presentation , but different too .
Thanx,
- Bill
- RE: 3.7i Parasound A-21 underpowered, need advise - - JBen 11:26:58 02/15/17
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- In Reply to: RE: 3.7i Parasound A-21 underpowered, need advise - posted by finbad on February 15, 2017 at 11:08:25
LOL, I envy you. Do share as you go along. The 3.7i became the main replacement candidate for my modded MMG's. However, there are other priorities for now, and no budget to speak of. Having heard them, I can still enjoy vicariously as other have their fun. Then again, these 15+ year old MMG's have not yet crumbled as they "should have". From the audio perspective, they still delight me. Thus, I am in no hurry to retire them...and, damn, they keep enduring my experiments, which is part of my fun!
- RE: 3.7i Parasound A-21 underpowered, need advise - - JBen 11:26:58 02/15/17
(0)
- RE: 3.7i Parasound A-21 underpowered, need advise - - finbad 11:08:25 02/15/17
(1)
- RE: 3.7i Parasound A-21 underpowered, need advise - - JBen 23:47:44 02/14/17
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