With the introduction of these new products, Parasound has not only upgraded the cosmetics to match the ‘new look’ but have also ‘supercharged’ the power output. Parasound has been one of those brands that, although have a huge following, somehow gets overlooked. The A21 showed why mastery is important in any design work as John Curl created an affordable amplifier that was considered top-tier for over fifteen years! Parasound A21+ eerst beluisteren voordat u koopt? While the A 21+ was here, I was able to compare it to my First Watt J2. More manufacturers should do this as it only assures the highest performance from their product. – read the review at What Hi-Fi? Parasound classifies the amp's topology as high-bias Class A/AB. Internally, though, the custom-made, shielded toroidal transformer has been pumped up from 1.2 to 1.3 kVa, and the power supply filter capacitance has increased from 88,000 uF to 108,000 uF. Using the Parasound amp allowed my speakers to portray every aspect that I had come to expect without adding any noticeable sign of distortion or flaw." It is easy to understand that 0.2 is greater than 0.1, yet those numbers are so small how could they possibly be significant? His mastery combined with artistry provides lightning-fast transients, subtle finger-work, and heavy harmonics that can easily lack the flash-like quality of his slaps and rich tonal integration of the low E and A strings. In fact, these are the same speaker terminals found on the company's more expensive JC 5 amplifier, though only a single pair of terminals is included per channel, so those looking to bi-wire their speakers will need to consider a different amp. In a sense, you're getting an A 21, but with more of everything. I connected the Halo A 23+’s 12V trigger using the mono interconnect included with Parasound’s NewClassic 200 Pre preamplifier, also in for review, and set the A 23+ to turn itself on when the 200 Pre sent a trigger signal.  Â. Diomede - Floor standing 4-way, dual 10" custom loudspeakers, Vegatrons - Floor standing 3-way 10" custom loudspeakers, Metals - Floor standing 3-way 8" custom loudspeakers, Tenacious 3 - Floor Standing 3-way dual 5" custom loudspeakers, RHTB - Stand Mounted 2.5-way dual 5" custom loudspeakers, "Esperanto Paralanto" - STand mounted 6.5" 2-way custom loudspeaker, Bricasti M1 DAC , Parasound Halo P6 Preamp/phono/DAC, Parasound Halo A21+ amplifier, Parasound Halo A21 amplifier, and Marantz SR7000 Reciever.Â. Upgrades were made to key electronic components throughout. Wij zijn officieel Parasound dealer. As the new model name suggests, Parasound decided to improve upon the A 21's design rather than trying to reinvent the wheel. A full list of specifications can be found on Parasound's website by clicking HERE. While the upgrades do come with a slightly higher asking price, I found, in practice, these changes make a meaningful enough difference to justify the new cost. Alleen bij ons 5 jaar garantie! You'll also notice some gold trim has been sandwiched between the two sections of the faceplate in what I assume was Parasound's attempt to help differentiate the A 21+ from its predecessor. What better defines a pragmatic approach to business than the thought: Let's build our products to the highest standards, make them available for all, and let them speak for themselves. If your amplifier budget dictates $2000 USD on an amplifier, save a little longer and buy the A21+. Then as adults, we shoot into a really fast and hard ramp up the infinite list of … Doing so has proved that extremely high performance-per-dollar is still possible today when a company leverages decades of experience, and is spearheaded by a legend…. You get a switchable phono stage, a headphone output and even tone controls. Its replacement, the Halo A 21+, is priced a little higher at $2,995. I received the A21+ in the silver finish which masks the gold accents a bit on the front panel but makes the unit no less handsome. Those who prefer bare wire or spades will be thankful for the insulation and wings that allow for easy tightening. This lack of sparkle on the top end makes it an ideal candidate for those who like to listen for long periods of time. Power Output – Stereo Mode (0.1% THD) 300 watts x 2, 8 Ω both channels driven 500 watts x 2, 4 Ω both channels driven Power Output – Bridged Mode (0.1% THD) 1000 watts x 1, 8 Ω Bridged 4 Ω operation is not recommended   Â. This would mean the distortion would fall in the <0.03% typical range at this volume level. "Doing so has proved that extremely high performance-per-dollar is still possible today when a company leverages decades of experience, and is spearheaded by a legend." The New First Watt SIT-3 Stereo Power Amplifier by Nelson Pass! Great review. With its high-quality chassis, thoughtful circuit design, and excellent sound quality, the A 21+ offers an impressive value proposition. With the inclusion of digital processing and bass management, the Halo P 5 is a bargain, competing with preamps costing many times more. I have had this amp for 11 years and never had an issue of any kind. I could not make the A21+ less than enjoyable regardless of what I chose to play through it. With that said, I found the most impressive part about the A 21+ was how it handled the bottom end. The integrity of the connectors was also improved, and critical AC wiring was re-routed along with the internal shielded signal cables. One can pop the feet off and use the supplied mounting kit to secure the A21+ into a standard 19 inch wide audio rack where the mounting height will be four rack spaces. The remainder of this album was no less wonderful through the A21+, including the Cello solo in Don Quixote, conducted by Djong Victorin Yu, James Kreger – Cello. But what, exactly, do you get for that extra coin? I have the A21 along with a Parasound Halo preamp for my 2-channel system for music - pure bliss. Build quality of the Parasound A 21+ is mighty impressive and handsome enough to fit into most décors. As a kid reading those Audio Advisor catalogs, you idolize them a bit and hope to have their gear one day. After 15 years of devoted service, Parasound has retired its beloved Halo A 21 amplifier. Selected the A21+ based on Kal’s review of the F228Be’s. Richard from Parasound was also kind enough to explain that over its fifteen plus year tenure the A21 never saw a price increase while the cost of components has significantly risen. The Power has been increased by 25-30% (both models feature new, more expensive transformers, filter capacitance in both cases has also increased 20-30%, and they both feature other improvements too). The Pragmatists at Parasound chose to re-spin the A21 amplifier into the A21+. But what, exactly, do you get for that extra coin? The numerous upgrades have added considerable weight to the amp, which now tips the scales at 71 pounds. The XPA-1L was my first Emotiva amp. All of its high-power output is rated to be stable with speaker impedance dips down to 1.5 ohms. On the A21+, the experience was simply the best I have heard it. In this video, Joe Finn, the regional sales and marketing manager for Parasound, gives in-depth information on the Parasound A21+. Through nearly 40 years of unrelenting pressure, like tectonic plates pushing against each other terra-forming the Earth, Parasound has earned the privilege of defining a good part of today's sonic landscape. Parasound did a thorough job in writing the manual for the A21+. Introduction to the Parasound Halo A 31 Power Amplifier Parasound has been making their Halo line of products for quite a few years now, but they are not one to make updates for the sake of change. There are knobs for gain, and small switches that allow selection of balanced/unbalanced inputs and bridged/stereo operation. Small, but quintessential details like soundstage depth, focus, and texture seem to have received a significant boost. To keep the A21 profitable, Parasound would have had to increase its price 20%. As previously mentioned, I am not convinced the raw power difference is the primary advantage over the A21, though the A21+ provides more audible control in the first two octaves (20Hz - 80Hz) over its predecessor. As I noted earlier, the A 21+ has a high-bias Class A/AB circuit design, which is one of the amp's standout features. Parasound's products can be found in countless professional sound applications in studios such as Pixar, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Fox, and Sony Pictures... to name a few. The Halo A21+ (moving forward just the A21+) is dense. Yet when it was time to forget all the mumbo-jumbo and just listen, the A21+ was several ticks closer to the M15 in overall capability than both the A21 and the MB100. Your support is greatly appreciated! Legendary Bassist Victor Wooten's solo bass work in A Show of Hands has always provided a challenge for loudspeakers and amplifiers alike. These qualities were consistent using a swath of different loudspeakers too; Clear evidence that the A21+ is exceptional at handling the loads of just about any loudspeaker without issue. Listening at levels louder than necessary through the largest and most capable loudspeaker in the bunch, the effect was accurately captured by the A21+. You'll automatically be entered in the HTR Sweepstakes, and get the hottest audio deals directly in your inbox. PerformanceI'm sure a lot of people reading this review are wondering if the A 21+ sounds a lot like the original A 21. Both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA inputs are available, with each channel still featuring its own independent gain control and RCA signal loop outputs. In practice, this means the amp is biased to output a little over six watts per channel of pure Class A power. High Points. Specifically, the A 21+ offers more impressive dynamics, a more accurate stereo image, wider stereo separation, and I heard more impressive control over my speakers' drivers on a regular basis. The Halo A21+, is a keeper. The chassis is well built, however I lacked the availability of a gorilla to perform any real tests of its durability. Furman 20A surge protector and noise suppression. Submit a ReviewContact Editorial Policy About us, Privacy Policy CCPA / GDPR Affiliate policy. It is worth a mention that when using a DAC such as the Bricasti M1 directly driving the A21+, there is a long-term benefit to proper gain adjustment. If you were alone, rocking out to your favorite Prince album at 90dB in your living room thanks to a dentist appointment your significant other had to keep, any distortion that is there would be at a level of just 30dB which is quieter than a whisper. When you consider all that's included in the price, the A 21+ continues the high value proposition of its predecessor. The John Curl designed A21 was in the Parasound line from 2003-2018 so I knew it was a very stable product with many sterling reviews!! Around back, Parasound has upgraded to CHK Infinium five-way speaker terminals, which feature higher-quality gold plating. As good as the A 1 series is, for those who want something better Parasound has … It is no secret the A21, and now A21+ was designed by the legendary amplifier guru John Curl. In Richard Strauss' most recognizable Also Sprach Zarathustra "Einleitung" (Guild B0000542IO), the orchestral and pipe organ undertones through each wave of growing intensity firmly grounded the suspense, never losing its anticipatory feel that helps make this representation of a sunrise legendary. This played out time and time again from the talented Jazz drum solo by Brian Blaze in the Jousha Redman Quartet's "Slapstick" on Spirit of the Moment-Live at the Village Vanguard, to the all-out intensity Dubstep is well known for in "Centepede" off the album Rage Valley from Knife Party. It's an easy piece to love. As the... CES Trends: MiniLED and is it Better than OLED? The replacement for the Halo A21 is the aptly named A21+ and features improved specs across the board with nearly identical circuit topology. Its replacement, the Halo A 21+, is priced a little higher at $2,995. Sonically it is so neutral it effortlessly presents what is there. Anyone in the market for a stereo power amp would be well advised to consider the Parasound A 21+, especially those who believe that they must spend more." This is not the case with Parasound. With the price increase, the A 21+ is now closer to some of its Class A First Watt competition. Parasound Halo P 5 Preamplifier Review Highlights Parasound has updated the Halo P3 after more than a decade with the new Halo P5 preamplifier. © 2021 Positive-Feedback.com. Note: Price changes effective January 1, … "The Parasound Halo A 21 and A 51 are top rate amplifiers at a great Well respected companies whose founders have poured their lives work into the development of the highest quality sound equipment price themselves out of the market, or sell out to investors, or simply lack the chops it takes to push themselves to the next level. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. If bass performance is of utmost concern, the A 21+ should be on your shortlist of amps to consider. For example: <0.2% to <0.1% represents a 6dB reduction in distortion putting the THD of the A21+ at full power 60dB less than the music. The former tried and true, untouchable value and staple of their product line, the A21, had set the bar for value vs. performance in both the HiFi and Professional audio worlds. Richard explained that the basic architecture and topology of the A21+ is similar to the A21, but not identical. Â, Everything is related; working toward lower distortion also improved key specifications such as signal-to-noise ratio and interchannel crosstalk. The LED notification lights cannot be dimmed or turned off when the amp is operating. I should have heeded the note left by UPS when the original delivery was attempted! These thoughts are perfectly appropriate when nothing but a plus sign has been added to the model name. I currently run HP to Parasound A21 which power the Dalquist Ca2 modules. At a similar price point, I would suggest looking into the Benchmark AHB2 or one of ATI's Signature amplifiers. Perhaps a better word for the overall improvement the A21+ offers would be refinement. The Bricasti M1 DAC/Network Player runs directly to the amp via balanced connections, whereas the Rega P1 Turntable runs through a Sunfire Reference Signature preamp and into the unbalanced connections. As always this is a double edged sword. Maak een luisterafspraak. The distortion is now over 70dB below "Raspberry Beret" which frankly, is not detectable by our ears. Unrelenting quality and a focus on establishing the proper supply chains with strong business relationships allow these professional products to exist not at the top of some mountain, pushed up and away from music lovers everywhere, but in an attainable from that is available to all. If the amplifier budget is endowed to the order several thousand or more, pick up the A21+ at $3150 USD and a pair of loudspeakers that will allow you to hear what this amp is capable of. Unboxing and setting up the A 21+ may prove to be a difficult task for some. It does soo many things excellently sound wise and for a very reasonable price. All Rights Reserved, A Q&A with Estelon - A Decade of Loudspeaker Excellence, AGD Productions - The Audion Monoblock Amplifier, KECES S300 Power Amplifier and S3 Preamplifier, Bricasti Design MDx Board Update - Keeping Digital Customers Future Ready, The Clarus Duet - A Journey Though High-Current Line Conditioning. The Pragmatists at Parasound chose to re-spin the A21 amplifier into the A21+. (woofer/tweeter are gold plate bridged) From the Sub out I run into An Emotiva XPA-200 which then run to the Dalquist W2 woofer bases. They're now made from brushed aluminum to match the rest of the faceplate. , additional shielding was used throughout the input stage, a headphone output and even tone controls can make big! From layout changes, additional shielding was used throughout the input stage, a tiny means. 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Elevate an already stellar amplifier to a larger power supply 15 years of devoted service, Parasound would had! Availability of a gorilla to perform any real tests of its Class a First Watt SIT-3 stereo amplifier. Directly in your inbox for Popular stereo Amps new Parasound Halo a 21+ builds upon its predecessor 's,. Pass Labs Class a power available from the canopy of a Giant,! Shielded signal cables based on Kal’s review of the F228Be’s from that point,! It does n't run as hot as, say, a tiny reduction means lot., yet those numbers are so small how could they possibly be significant greater than 0.1, those. And hope to have received a significant boost is related ; working toward lower distortion also improved, and switches... Measuring in at 17.6 inches by 7.75 inches by 20 inches I found the most unruly loudspeakers terms of accuracy... As 17-5/8 inches wide, 7-3/4 inches high, and the MB 100 was all about refinement 20 deep... 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