Parasound Amps

[David_NC]

I've come across some used Parasound power amps. I'm not familiar with them and am curious as to how members here regard them. My current speakers are 4Ω, so the 2003 will give me more power on its own, but the 2125 allows for 4Ω in bridge mode giving even more power (if a second amp is used).

Parasound HCA-2003 (three channel)
Continuous Power Output:
220 watts RMS x 3, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 8 Ω, all channels driven
300 watts RMS x 3, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 4 Ω, all channels driven

Parasound 2125 (two channel)
Continuous RMS Power Output
20 Hz - 20 kHz, Both Channels Driven
125 watts x 2, 8 Ω
200 watts x 2, 4 Ω
200 watts x 2, 2 Ω
Continuous RMS Power Output
20 Hz - 20 kHz, Bridged Mono
400 watts, 8 Ω
400 watts, 4 Ω

Parasound HCA-1000A (two channel)
Continuous RMS Power Output
20 Hz - 20 kHz, 8 Ω, both channels driven
125 watts x 2, 8 Ω
200 watts x 2, 4 Ω
Continuous RMS Power Output
20 Hz - 20 kHz, Bridged Mono
400 watts, 8 Ω

Any feedback or experiences with them would be great! Thanks.

 

[xero-D-hero]

If it's power you need why not just look for a HCA-3500 ?
350wpc > 8 ohms & 500wpc > 4 ohms w/120A peak current.
There are also a few other HCA 2ch models that are 200wpc > 8 ohms and up as well.
And the new JC5 looks like a bit of a brute as well.

Just curious what speakers are they ???
Enquiring minds wanna know...



Bret P.

 

[David_NC]

If it's power you need why not just look for a HCA-3500 ?
350wpc > 8 ohms & 500wpc > 4 ohms w/120A peak current.
There are also a few other HCA 2ch models that are 200wpc > 8 ohms and up as well.
And the new JC5 looks like a bit of a brute as well.

Just curious what speakers are they ???
Enquiring minds wanna know...



Bret P.

Two reasons: cost and availability (of the HCA-3500). I don't find many for sale, and the few I have were way out of my budget. The speakers are ADS M12's. I've heard them referred as 'watt whores', and that's actually not a bad description. They are 4Ω, and the amp I have them connected to is something like 240 watts into 8Ω and 400 into 4Ω. I had them up pretty loud yesterday, and the clip LED's flickered a bit, so I know peaks were up there. I'd like a more musical amp than the QSC I'm currently using. It's not bad, but these speakers reveal its weaknesses more than my previous L780/2's did. One thing I like about the QSC is its plethora of protection circuits, including limiters, and ideally a next amp would have them. A 7200 would work well, too, but those damned reasons listed above apply here, too!

 

[Wes_in_VA]

I had an HCA 1000A and I kick myself for selling it. The sound quality even with speakers that didn’t need a ton of power was great and for those speakers that needed some “grunt” it drove them really well, too.
I think they’re a great value.

 

[xero-D-hero]

I don't find many for sale, and the few I have were way out of my budget.

Might help everyone here to fill us in on an appx. budget for this so we can give appropriate suggestions.

the amp I have them connected to is something like 240 watts into 8Ω and 400 into 4Ω.

Honestly,from what you're saying I dont think any of those three amps are gonna get you what you're after.
Even the 2125 bridged > 4 ohms is only putting out the roughly 400wpc you say you're putting to the M12 now w/the QSC amp.
And the HCA-1000A does'nt look like it can do 4 ohm speakers bridged,so the options are dwindling.

And the current specs on the 2125 (35A peak) show less peak current than the HCA-1000A (45A peak).
So that suggests the 2125 is not quite as strong an amp as the HCA-1000A.

The HCA-2003 has more peak current (60A peak) than either those two,but less wpc > 4 ohms than your current amp has (only 300wpc > 4 ohm).
And this amp cant even be bridged @ all IIRC.

I dunno what to say,it does seem to be a bit of a conundrum.



Bret P.

 

[David_NC]

Might help everyone here to fill us in on an appx. budget for this so we can give appropriate suggestions.

Honestly,from what you're saying I dont think any of those three amps are gonna get you what you're after.
Even the 2125 bridged > 4 ohms is only putting out the roughly 400wpc you say you're putting to the M12 now w/the QSC amp.
And the HCA-1000A does'nt look like it can do 4 ohm speakers bridged,so the options are dwindling.

And the current specs on the 2125 (35A peak) show less peak current than the HCA-1000A (45A peak).
So that suggests the 2125 is not quite as strong an amp as the HCA-1000A.

The HCA-2003 has more peak current (60A peak) than either those two,but less wpc > 4 ohms than your current amp has (only 300wpc > 4 ohm).
And this amp cant even be bridged @ all IIRC.

I dunno what to say,it does seem to be a bit of a conundrum.



Bret P.

I didn't explain all that well in my first post. The levels that I had it when the clip lights flashed was way louder than I'd ever listen to anything. I hate to even say how loud it was, but my Radio Shack level meter indicated 112dB... I only had it this loud for about 15-20 seconds, and that was enough! Normally, even when really loud, I don't use anything near 400 watts. In fact, the fan has switched to high only twice - once after extended fairly loud music when I was not in my usual seating location and when I had it at 112dB.
What I need now is cleaner, more musical amplification. Having 4 ohm speakers is both good and bad. It's nice when output power is higher in to lower impedances, but most bridgeable amps do so only for 8 ohm loads.
The reason I mentioned the Parasound amps is that there are a few of them available locally that seem to be well reviewed and priced decently. My actual price range is a bit difficult. I'd be far more inclined to spend more on an amp that was a really good deal vs less on an amp that has a lower price but is less of an amp, too, if that makes sense.

 

[xero-D-hero]

if that makes sense

It all makes sense,it's just that amps like this typically are'nt what most would call "cheap".

I don't use anything near 400 watts.

What I need now is cleaner, more musical amplification.

You're still gonna need an amp with plenty of overhead even if you're not "cranking it" all the time.
So going with a bit lower wpc amp to get the "cleaner more musical" presentation for normal listening is a bit of self deception.
If the QSC struggled at any point,most any consumer amp is gonna struggle too,and likely at a lower SPL threshold.

One of the best consumer amps I can think of for something like this is the Sunfire 300/2.
And those usally go for somewhat more than many more common amps go for.

This deal sounds alot like the situation Infinity Kappa 9 owners face,as those are known as "amp killers".
Those are known to dip down to 1 ohm as SOP,so they too constitute a "tough speaker to drive".
My good friend w/the K9's used the Sunfire 300/2 and it did the job admirably.
And when he got some "better" amps he picked up a pair of Bryston 7BST monoblocks.
That Sunfire is 600wpc > 4 ohms,the Brystons are 800wpc > 4 ohms.

Point is,you're not the first one to face this dilema,and you wont be the last.
But for every choice we make (like buying a speaker we know is tough to drive) there often is a consequence (like needing $$$ amps).

I wish you luck on this,but it may be time to face the fact that there wont be an easy (or cheap) answer to this.
Just some some tough love my AK brother...

Bret P.

 

[xero-D-hero]

Oh yeah,,,fwiw another thought had occured to me (a dangerous thing right ?)...
It's too bad these were'nt equipped to be bi-amped (or even tri-amped) from the factory.
I say that as that could have been one option to deal with this sorta situation.

Now if you were'nt concerned about affecting the M12's originality,it still may be a solution.
Modding them to do such is'nt necessarily the hardest thing to do.

Either use an active crossover -or- a DSP unit and split off the woofers from the mids and/or tweeters and you should make things easier to deal with.
You'll need some means to level match things (level controls on amps or in the crossover),but that's part of bi-amping in general.

Then the whole amp situation becomes much more manageable.

Anyhow just a thought,figured I mention it as "food for thought".

HTH

Bret P.

 

[David_NC]

Well, I ended up with the HCA-1000A. After a rocky start, all seems well now. It’s a nice sounding amp that seems powerful enough so far (200 watts into 4 ohms). The highs are smoother, and the bass seems to be better controlled.
At any rate, it’s driving these watt-hungry ADS M12’s to 93dB just fine with power to spare. I’m not sure if it’ll do over 113dB like my previous amp does, but that’s ok; I’d like to preserve my hearing!

 

[David_NC]

Oh yeah,,,fwiw another thought had occured to me (a dangerous thing right ?)...
It's too bad these were'nt equipped to be bi-amped (or even tri-amped) from the factory.
I say that as that could have been one option to deal with this sorta situation.

Now if you were'nt concerned about affecting the M12's originality,it still may be a solution.
Modding them to do such is'nt necessarily the hardest thing to do.

Either use an active crossover -or- a DSP unit and split off the woofers from the mids and/or tweeters and you should make things easier to deal with.
You'll need some means to level match things (level controls on amps or in the crossover),but that's part of bi-amping in general.

Then the whole amp situation becomes much more manageable.

Anyhow just a thought,figured I mention it as "food for thought".

HTH

Bret P.

Old thread here, but I evidently never updated it. I did modify the M12's to be able to biamp them. The M12's sounded very nice on my Dynaco ST-70, but there was nowhere near enough power, as expected. I figured the best way to get the best of both worlds was a tube / SS combo, and it seemed I was correct. I used the ST-70 for 200Hz and up (the passive crossover point) and the HCA-1000 for the woofers from around 50Hz to 200Hz; an SVS sub handled bass below 50Hz. The crossover was initially a dbx 223XL but was upgraded to a DriveRack PA2.
The results were really impressive. I've used this setup in a much larger room here, and it's quite impressive. The M12's are great speakers, and the mix of SS and tube amps really made them shine.
I don't use this setup at the moment. The M12's are simply too big for my main listening space. I now use them in a larger room as the front L and R channels in a 5.1 setup, and they are excellent in that role, too. I swapped in a pair of restored ADS L1090/2's and power them with the Dynaco. I may end up bi-amping those too, as the Parasound amp is still sitting there in the rack. That won't be in the near future, as the Dynaco does well on its own with these. Just now, I switched over to the Parasound to compare to the Dynaco. Bass is definitely better with the high current SS amp, and the highs are detailed and spacious, if that makes sense. The bass is solid, too. The Dynaco seems to handle the mids a bit better and handles bass well enough (there's still a sub in the mix), but it just gives something to the reproduction that the SS amps alone don't do. It looks like I'll switch back to the Dynaco until I bi-amp the 1090's!

 

[Mamrak1]

I would be looking for a Parasound A21 amp instead of those others. The A21 is plentiful on the used market for starters. I would rather have a Halo amp.

 

[David_NC]

I would be looking for a Parasound A21 amp instead of those others. The A21 is plentiful on the used market for starters. I would rather have a Halo amp.

Yeah, be too. For the $170 I paid for this one, it was an easy decision. They are not even in the same class, though, and the A21 is over 10X the price and loads more power. The A23 is similar in specs to the HCA-1000A that I have.

 

[DeFriend]

David,

I use the HCA-1000 in bridged-mono to drive a 4 ohm nominal subwoofer (the one pictured to the left now has a different driver, facing upward) below 45 Hz.
I've never had the overcurrent/clipping lights flash, even at ridiculously high sound levels, but I also know that my subwoofer doesn't dip below 5-6 ohms in this limited frequency range.

I too purchased this because it was a bargain at well under $250.00