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Parasound JCA100 Tribute monoblock power amplifier Page 2

Setup & listening
Like the Halo JC 1+, the JCA100 has single-ended RCA and balanced XLR input jacks, along with pass-through output jacks. The two amplifiers share the same two pairs of high-quality loudspeaker binding posts, switches to set the voltage gain to 29dB or 23dB, and to select Normal or Low output-stage bias.

The JCA100 operates in class-A up to its full power into 8 ohms when its bias is set to Normal, which is how I used them. (Parasound said that with the switch set to low, the JCA100 delivers up to 15W in class-A.) It runs hot. To allow sufficient ventilation, I…

Parasound JCA100 Tribute monoblock power amplifier Specifications

Sidebar 1: Specifications

Description: Solid state, class-A monoblock power amplifier. Inputs: 1 single-ended (RCA), 1 balanced (XLR). Outputs: 1 single-ended (RCA), 1 balanced (XLR) pass-through loop for multi-amping; 2 pairs five-way binding posts. Power output: 100W into 8 ohms (20dBW), 200W into 4 ohms (20dBW). Class-A output power: 100W into 8 ohms (Normal bias). Frequency response: 20Hz–20kHz, +0/–0.25dB; 2Hz–120kHz, +0/–2dB. Slew rate: >130V/µs. Voltage gain: 29dB or 23dB, switchable. Input impedance: 50k ohms (unbalanced), 100k ohms (balanced). Input sensitivity (for 100W into…

Parasound JCA100 Tribute monoblock power amplifier Associated Equipment

Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment

Digital sources: Roon Nucleus+ file server; Ayre Acoustics C-5xeMP universal player; PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream MKII D/A processor; MBL N31 CD player/DAC; Ayre Acoustics QA-9 A/D converter.
Power amplifiers: Parasound Halo JC 1+ monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: GoldenEar BRX; KEF LS50.
Cables: Digital: AudioQuest Vodka (Ethernet), AudioQuest Coffee (USB), DH Labs (1m, AES3). Interconnect: Ayre/Cardas (balanced). Speaker: AudioQuest Robin Hood. AC: AudioQuest Dragon Source & High Current, manufacturers' own.
Accessories: 24"-high, single-…

Parasound JCA100 Tribute monoblock power amplifier Measurements

Sidebar 3: Measurements

I measured the performance of one of the Parasound JCA100 Tribute's with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system. I preconditioned the amplifier by operating it at one-eighth the specified power into 8 ohms for 30 minutes with the bias of the output stage set to Normal. At the end of this time, the temperature of the side-mounted heatsinks, measured with an infrared thermometer, was 111.1°F (43.9°C) and that of the top panel 95.0°F (35.0°C). An amplifier with a class-A output stage runs hottest when idling, so I remeasured the temperatures the next day, after the…

Audiovector R 3 Arreté loudspeaker

My first encounter with an Audiovector loudspeaker was at the 2019 Toronto Audiofest. Driven by colorful (both sonically and visually) Alluxity electronics, the R 3s sounded pure and very fine. As I sat listening to the R 3 Arretés, the R 8 Arreté, their big brother, sat quietly in the corner, seemingly pleased with the performance of its smaller sibling.

I ended up reviewing the R 8 instead of the R 3, which in retrospect hardly seems fair:It was the R3 I heard that day, the R 3 that attracted my attention and got me interested in the brand. I didn't hear a peep from the R 8 Arreté—…

Audiovector R 3 Arreté loudspeaker Page 2

Listening
Audiovector specifies a frequency range of 23Hz–53kHz for the R 3 Arreté—quite a boast for a speaker so small and light, though it was clear from my auditioning that it is capable of surprising in-room low-frequency extension. When, at the very end of the review period, I listened to some warble tones from the Stereophile Editor's Choice CD, the R 3s set me straight: The 40Hz tone was reproduced at full volume. The 31.5Hz tone was down by about 6.5dB, according to the SPL Meter app on my iPhone. The 25Hz tone was down 12dB—easily audible. I could hear the top part of the…

Audiovector R 3 Arreté loudspeaker Specifications

Sidebar 1: Specifications

Description: 2.5-way bass-reflex loudspeaker in a wood-veneered high-density fiberboard cabinet, open-back tweeter, and downfiring port. Driver complement: One "Arreté" AMT tweeter with "S-stop filter"; one 6.5" midwoofer and one 6.5" woofer with carbon-fiber/aramid fiber/ synthetic wood resin cones. Crossover frequencies: 320Hz, 2.9kHz. Frequency range: 23–53kHz. Sensitivity: 90.5dB/W/m. Nominal impedance: 8 ohms. Power handling: 350W.
Dimensions: 40.7" (1034mm) × 9.45" (240mm) × 14.2" (360mm). Weight: 49.9lb (22.67kg).
Finish: African Rosewood, Black…

Audiovector R 3 Arreté loudspeaker Associated Equipment

Sidebar 1: Associated Equipment

Analog sources: Pure Fidelity Harmony turntable with Origin Live Encounter Mk4 tonearm, Pure Fidelity Stratos MC cartridge.
Digital sources: Roon Nucleus+; MacBook Pro; Mytek Brooklyn Bridge (original version).
Preamplification: EAR 834P phono preamplifier.
Amplification: First Watt F7 (used with Mytek Brooklyn Bridge as preamp).
Integrated amplifier: Pathos InPol Remix MkII.
Cables: Interconnect: Mix of AudioQuest, Audio Note, The Chord Company. Speaker: Auditorium 23. Digital: AudioQuest, generic.
Accessories: Butcher Block…

Benny Audio, Thoress, Java, AudioSolutions

Benny Audio, founded in 2017 and based in Gliwice, Poland, produces massive turntables that recall TechDas and Acoustic Signature. BA’s flagship Odyssey model, including 14" tonearm with direct wiring and power supply (€24,000), drew every eye in their Munich room as it spun vinyl with muscularity and deep-earth, saturated tone.

As founder Tomasz Franielczyk told Analog Planet editor Mike Mettler, the Odyssey table “is the result of over seven years of research and experience. It is a turntable built from scratch. The main objective was to create a turntable that would surpass its older…

Korf Audio

Austrian analog manufacturer Korf Audio introduced their new flagship series of ceramic tonearms, the TA-AF series, at High End Munich, including the TA-AF9 “premium tonearm” (€3200) on static display at their booth. The TA-AF9 was also live on a TechDAS V turntable in the Engstrom room.

“Drawing inspiration from aerospace technology,” the Korf press release stated, “this new series features ceramic parts and aerospace-grade flexure bearings for a realistic vinyl record playback of incomparable smoothness and depth.

The Korf products showed exceptional…