Go Giants
Super Member
Good call on the cables. I'm using the brass ones that screw tight at the end.
The rca went into the jack ok...but the ends had become loose therefore not connecting. Tightened them down...all set now. Thanks!!!
Parasound Fan thread
- Thread starter joecoulson
- Start date
The rca went into the jack ok...but the ends had become loose therefore not connecting. Tightened them down...all set now. Thanks!!!
I have an older Parasound HCA-2003 amp with a Proceed AVP2 doing prepro duty.
I'm getting a RED overloaded text on the front screen.
Looking at getting some of the caps replaced and some other upgrades. I'm in Michigan.
Any recommendations for who does good modification work ?
Anybody used the ebay account user = tsipkin1307 ?
I'm getting a RED overloaded text on the front screen.
Looking at getting some of the caps replaced and some other upgrades. I'm in Michigan.
Any recommendations for who does good modification work ?
Anybody used the ebay account user = tsipkin1307 ?
absolve2525
Super Member
Yess! How did I not see this thread earlier! Lol. I have earlier HCA-1000A, HCA-750A, HCA-2200ii and enjoy them all.
I just sold off some of my Parasound Halo equipment: I had a JC2 BP preamp and a JC3+ phono amp... The JC2 had too much gain for my system and the size of my listening room, I just could'nt get it toned down enough to enjoy it. It would be perfect for someone with a large listening space that needs lots of volume, but I could never really turn the volume control up past the 9 o'clock posistion, even with the gain on my A21+ amps turned down to 1/2 way... it was just too loud for me.
The JC3+ was a marvelous sounding preamp when I used it with an Audio Technica OC9XML moving coil cartridge, but when I busted that ($600 down the drain) I switched to a moving magnet cartridge that has a replaceable stylus (AT VM740ML) so the JC3+ became "overkill"- lots of nice features that just weren't being used.
I'm back to using my Parasound P6 preamp and JC3 Jr. phono amp and am very happy with the sound, I have the gain on the A21+ amps turned all the way back up and they don't get as loud at 65 on the P6 volume control as the JC2 did at the 9 o'clock position... I guess that sometimes going all out for their top of the line equipment can be a mistake.
The JC3+ was a marvelous sounding preamp when I used it with an Audio Technica OC9XML moving coil cartridge, but when I busted that ($600 down the drain) I switched to a moving magnet cartridge that has a replaceable stylus (AT VM740ML) so the JC3+ became "overkill"- lots of nice features that just weren't being used.
I'm back to using my Parasound P6 preamp and JC3 Jr. phono amp and am very happy with the sound, I have the gain on the A21+ amps turned all the way back up and they don't get as loud at 65 on the P6 volume control as the JC2 did at the 9 o'clock position... I guess that sometimes going all out for their top of the line equipment can be a mistake.
I’m listening to my JC3 JR and A21+ combo right now (Schiit preamp) and it’s a great combo. I’ve also got the gain turned all the way up.
@krautmaster I guess that I don’t understand the 9 o’clock thing.
My owner manual for the HCA-1000A states to have the rear gain controls to max, which effectively gets them out of the circuit. That also is the THX setting.
It also states if the preamp has a balance issue at lower volumes you can cut some gain on the amp to compensate.
My normal listening level on my preamp is about the 7-8 o’clock position.
Was your balance off at low volume??
My owner manual for the HCA-1000A states to have the rear gain controls to max, which effectively gets them out of the circuit. That also is the THX setting.
It also states if the preamp has a balance issue at lower volumes you can cut some gain on the amp to compensate.
My normal listening level on my preamp is about the 7-8 o’clock position.
Was your balance off at low volume??
Ross6860
Super Member
Been running a JC2 BP for several years. No complaints, but I'm not a fan of the dual gain pots. How are you supposed to match them, by eye? I would have preferred a simple rotary switch and some precision resistors. I run either MAX or MIN gain because of that.
I assume you had the gain on the JC2 turned down as well?
I have to have the volume control at about 1-2 o'clock for LPs (Musical Phenomena phono-pre), About 12 o'clock for CDs. Running minimum gain on the JC2. This is playing comfortably loud (no fatigue, no complaints from others in the house).
I had the gain pots on the JC2 turned all the way down, and the gain on the A21+ amps set at 12 o'clock (1/2 way). I tried using XLR connections, but it was extremely loud. Switching to all RCA connections I was able to turn it up to about 9:30 before it got too loud. The JC2 BP was the quietest piece of equipment I've ever heard, I could turn the volume knob up to maximum and couldn't hear any noise from the speakers at all. Too bad it had soo much gain.
Ross6860
Super Member
That's one of my un-scientific test for a pre-amp. If I can crank it with no input and hear nothing, it passes.
FWIW - I also have a Topping Pre-90 that's also dead quiet through a Belles 150A Hot Rod (bedroom system). Kind of expensive for two inputs, but the size works for me.
I had no balance issues with it, just too much gain...the manual said to adjust the gain on the amplifiers so that you could set the volume on the JC2 to between 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock for NORMAL listening levels. Since it uses an old style carbon track/wiper volume potentiometer the best response should be around 12 o'clock, but the thing was louder than I liked just off of minimum, at 9 o'clock the house was shakin' and by 10 o'clock my eardrums wanted to burst.
My P6 uses an analog resistor ladder volume control which eliminates the issues of the old carbon track pots being noisy at low levels and maxed out by 1 o'clock. The P6 volume goes from 0 to 99, from 0 to 20 it raises the volume 1 db per numeral, from 21 to 60 it raises it 1/2 db per numeral (for "fine" adjustment at normal volumes) and from 61 to 99 it is back to 1db per numeral. My normal listening volume is 45 to 50, by 65 it is rockin' and over 70 it is just plain loud-- it works much better in my system/listening room than the JC2 BP.
I wouldn't have worried about it.
I tried doing that with amps/preamps in the past and there was no audible difference.
I'd rather have the full capacity of the amp available just in case you get those certain notes that requires all the power to not clip!
A simple triangle at the back of an orchestra requires instantaneous power to sound correct!
With amp gains turned down to anything but max gain, the system can be compromised.
If that means the preamp is at 7 instead of 9 for normal listening, so be it.
Of course, YMMV.....
The problem was without turning the A21+ gain half way down it was unlistenable... just way too much gain
Probably very late 90's to early 2000's-- Parasound's website doesn't even show it:
Discontinued Products (aka Vintage)
Listing of Discontinued Parasound Products. If name has Hyperlinks it will bring to product page.
parasound.com
