Solid State Preamp Reviews

Parasound Halo JC 2 line preamplifier Associated Equipment

Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment

Digital Sources: Ayre C-5xe, Pioneer DV-578A universal players; Mark Levinson No.30.6, Benchmark DAC 1 USB, Bel Canto e.one DAC 3 D/A converters; Logitech (Slim Devices) Transporter network music player with Apple Mac mini running OSX for media storage.
Preamplifiers: Mark Levinson No.380S, Ayre K-5xe.
Power Amplifiers: Parasound Halo JC 1, Musical Fidelity 550k Supercharger, Mark Levinson No.33H monoblocks; Boulder 860.
Loudspeakers: Sonus Faber Cremona Elipsa, KEF Reference 207/2, PSB Synchrony 1, Magico V3, Monitor Audio Gold Signature GS10.
Cables: Digital: Kimber Illuminations Orchid AES/EBU, AudioQuest OptiLink-5 S/PDIF. Interconnect (balanced): AudioQuest Cheetah, Ayre Signature Series. Speaker: AudioQuest Kilimanjaro. AC: PS Audio Lab, Shunyata Research Anaconda Helix Alpha, manufacturers' own.
Accessories: Target TT-5 equipment racks; Ayre Myrtle Blocks; ASC Tube Traps, RPG Abffusor panels; PS Audio Power Plant 300 at 90Hz (preamps only), Audio Power Industries 116 Mk.II & PE-1, APC S-15 AC line conditioners (not power amps). AC power comes from two dedicated 20A circuits, each just 6' from the breaker box, a power amplifier plugged into each.—John Atkinson

COMPANY INFO
Parasound Products, Inc.
950 Battery St.
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 397-7100
www.parasound.com
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
claud's picture
Submitted by claud on February 5, 2023 - 1:10am

JA: While it's clear that you were greatly (!!??)impressed with the Parasound JC-2 preamp's soundstaging (and I'm glad to see it mentioned the JC-2 may work best with "warm sounding power amps), I wish you had gone down the check list of performance parameters, like I believe he had during listening tests of other hardware. Perceived performance parameters like: Soundstage (extending in height, width beyond the speakers and behind them); Tonality (Lush, sweet, extended and full-bodied, but without overly relaxed or syrupy signatures);
Microdynamic detail; Highs: (Holographic, sweetly articulate and airy, without brittle or brightness); Midrange (Lush, three-dimensional and involving, perhaps as if voiced by a 300B SET amp's "midrange magic"); Lower Midrange to Midbass ( Robust and authoritative down to 70Hz, like an 845 tube amp). Imaging: (Lifelike spatial placement of vocals and instruments).

Overall, what remains the strengths and weaknesses of both of these preamps to your ears when playing most various types of music?

X