• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Parasound A21+ good bad ugly?

krautmaster said:
No local tech will even try to fix a HALO product, the circuit boards use too many surface mount bits and the output transistors and J-fets are unobtainium... when it goes bad it will be a boat anchor.
[...]
I would take a good hard look at this Advance Paris A-10 integrated amp for $3K... it has everything and a couple tubes in the preamp section... very highly reviewed (a couple guys on the forum have the bigger A-12 and love them).
Click to expand...

I really appreciate the info. I don't regret my Parasound NC200 integrated purchase at all, but I think I'd be pushing it "upgrading" to a doomed machine. Your account of cannibalism in Taiwan is horrifying, it almost sounds like one stands to get a (partly) used machine when ordering new, at some point...unless these repurposed parts are for repairs only.
Re: the Advance Paris: a tube pre- is of real interest, though also sounds like it it might be the proverbial slippery slope into rabbit warren. All the more catnip, that Paris!
 
krautmaster said:
No local tech will even try to fix a HALO product, the circuit boards use too many surface mount bits and the output transistors and J-fets are unobtainium... when it goes bad it will be a boat anchor.
View attachment 3715842


I would take a good hard look at this Advance Paris A-10 integrated amp for $3K... it has everything and a couple tubes in the preamp section... very highly reviewed (a couple guys on the forum have the bigger A-12 and love them).

www.worldwidestereo.com

Advance Paris A10 Classic Integrated Amplifier

Musical Evidence With Advance Paris’ new A10 CLASSIC amplifier, their goal was to offer an audiophile integrated amplifier inspired by the famous X-i1100, praised for its musicality and liveliness. The A10 is fully integrated into the future and easy to use. While its classic design remains...
www.worldwidestereo.com www.worldwidestereo.com
Click to expand...
The Advanced Paris is a great option!
 
I have 30 year old Parasound gear that has never had any issues. ANY! Well designed by John Curl with premium parts. I bought it all new in 1996.

My 3 year old Halo A23+ performs exceptionally well.

My P/LD 2000 preamp was bought used 3 years ago to take advantage of the balanced inputs on the A23+.
It has had 2 rectifiers replaced around 15 years ago, according to the original owner.
On the test bench last year, it performed perfectly.

I got rid of my McIntosh tube gear because the Parasound equipment sounds better, plain and simple.
 
True but not nearly as long of a run as the original…I have no idea what the new guy at Parasound is doing but i have a bad feeling he’s just selling off everything with nothing to replace it.
 
It's only a matter of time for they close shop. Compare them to Schiit or Emotiva. Parasound has put out zero innovative or new products in years.

I think the ship is sinking......

And I will be sad when they go. I'm still using a JC 3Jr and an old H/D-1100 DAC and love both of them.
 
odcics2 said:
I believe they quit making silver over a year ago. Nobody wanted it.
Click to expand...
Almost certain you are right about this, as I have vague memory of an email dispatch where they say as much; yet the silver was available on their webstore for quite a while, as recently as several weeks ago when I was STILL hemming and hawwing over buying a Hint. Backstock, maybe?
It's a non-issue for me now, I am afraid. I think my next step will be separates, probably using a Class D power amp. I am looking at some rather different options, like Emotiva's recent XSP-2 and the Luxsin X9, for preamps. Though that is probably OT for this thread....
 
I recently bought another P/LD 2000 preamp because I like the one that I have had for a few years. It’s all original and bench tested perfectly.
 
skinnypuppy said:
For what it’s worth as of today Parasound has discontinued the A21+.
Click to expand...
Many of the parts to build these are no longer being produced, so they are using up the last of their on hand parts to build the more expensive units like the JC5, but those too will be discontinued in the not too distant future.

parasound.com

HALO A21+ Power Amp

Feel every note with 300 watts per channel. The HALO A21+ delivers clean, effortless power for music and movies—refined, reliable, and built to perform.
parasound.com parasound.com
 
krautmaster said:
Many of the parts to build these are no longer being produced, so they are using up the last of their on hand parts to build the more expensive units like the JC5, but those too will be discontinued in the not too distant future.

parasound.com

HALO A21+ Power Amp

Feel every note with 300 watts per channel. The HALO A21+ delivers clean, effortless power for music and movies—refined, reliable, and built to perform.
parasound.com parasound.com
Click to expand...
Insider information?
 
odcics2 said:
Insider information?
Click to expand...
I had to have my A21+ repaired after I messed up and blew out 1/2 the outputs on the right channel. I had it repaired by TMR in Colorado (The Music Room) who did an excellent job. About two weeks after they sent the amp back they were removed from Parasound's Halo service centers because there are simply not enough of the unobtainium parts left to run multiple service centers. All Halo repairs were moved to just one service center, but there are still multiply service centers for their New Classics line of equipment that uses readily available parts (TMR included).

Bblurb from Parasound's website:

"Effective January 1, 2026, all non-warranty repair and out-of-warranty service for the following current Parasound HALO and JC models is performed exclusively at The Tone Garage:
A21+, A23+, A31, A51, A52+, P6, HINT6, JC1+, JC2BP, JC3+, JC5"
 
krautmaster said:
I had to have my A21+ repaired after I messed up and blew out 1/2 the outputs on the right channel. I had it repaired by TMR in Colorado (The Music Room) who did an excellent job. About two weeks after they sent the amp back they were removed from Parasound's Halo service centers because there are simply not enough of the unobtainium parts left to run multiple service centers. All Halo repairs were moved to just one service center, but there are still multiply service centers for their New Classics line of equipment that uses readily available parts (TMR included).
Click to expand...
And she’s still sounding great.. just listened to her this morning:) thanks again Krautmaster!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom