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January 29, 2013 - 2:37pm
#1
Parasound a21 V.S. Vincent sp-331
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You sure you don't at least want to try an Emotiva XPR-2 or XPA-2 before you drop $2300 on a Parasound.
Four grand? MSRP for the A21 is $2299.
Thanks.
The XPA-2 is unavailable, and the XPR-2 interests me but it seems like overkill. What is your opinion? I am not crazy about having to put in a 20amp circuit for the XPR-2. I only started looking at the Parasound while at my local audio dealer. I had the Vincent in mind and the salesman started pushing the a21.
Do you need the headroom to justify the A21? If not the A23 would be a good fit to get the Para-Sound... I've heard the A23 and P3 Pre-amp many times, driving Focal towers. Very impressive with good imaging, separation, and grip on the mid-bass drivers.
Another option would be the Odyssey Khartago built in Indiana by Klauss and crew.
30 day money back trial period and a 20 yr warranty.
http://www.odysseyaudio.com/products-khartago-stereo.html
Odyssey amps don't get mentioned enough around here. I have a friend bi-amping with a pair.
IMO the Vincent is a much better-sounding amplifier than the Parasound A21. It will be a perfect match for your speakers.
It has enough power to drive almost any speaker you can buy for under $10,000.
The Parasound A23 is a lousy amplifier. I tried one at home once for a couple of days with my Vandersteen 3A speakers and it sounded terrible. A NAD C326 is a better amplifier. (I suspect that the A23 could not handle the low impedances of the Vandersteens without distorting, which tells me that the power supply is an inadequate design)
I ended up buying a Bryston 3B-SST2 amplifier, which is absolutely wonderful!
The Vincent is almost as good, and was my second choice if I hadn't bought the Bryston.
1. I don't know. 2. Given that, I've heard good things about both. I lean towards Vincent since I'm already planning on getting that SP-331 - not right now, but this year. I got a Vincent preamp and am very happy w/ it. I've also heard good things about Parasound, and heard that just a few people find them a bit hard sounding. I hasten to add that I haven't heard them myself (refer to #1). Your Peachtree might be a little bit warm sounding (a good thing) and perhaps would mesh well w Parasound. 3. On the other hand, I have a glove.