Correction, the live versus recorded demo you heard was performed by Acoustic Research, not Audio Research. Edgar Villchur who was the founder of Acoustic Research invented the Acoustic suspension woofer, still IMO the best design (he was what I call an intuitive inventor. He was neither a scientist or an engineer and didn't fully understand how and why it worked.) He also invented the dome tweeter and dome midrange, as well as the first turntable that had a spring suspended sub-chassis for isolation. Later in the 1970s AR invented the use of ferrofluid for cooling tweeters. The original AR1 used an 8" Altec Lansing tweeter. In the mid 1950s recordings didn't have any signal over about 12 khz. Around 1960 AR introduced the AR2ax and AR3 which used the dome tweeter. 2Aa with two 5" Jensen cone midrange divers and AR3 had a dome midrange. AR2 series had a 10" acoustic suspension woofer, AR3 and all of its AR TOTL descendants had 12 inch acoustic suspension woofers which were interchangeable although manufacturing techniques changed from cast baskets, Alnico magnets and cloth surrounds to stamped baskets, ferrite magnets, and foam surrounds. Roy Allison who worked for Villchur invented the AR3a with an improved dome midrange and dome 3/4" tweeter. A later souped up variant of AR3a called AR LST incorporated four midrange domes and four tweeter domes and was also marketed as the Cello Amati by Marantz. Allison also researched and solved the problems of room coupling of bass drivers and eliminating the acoustic suckout at around 200 hz. Most of these innovations have been long forgotten and even the way dome tweeters are designed are very different today than the design of Allisons especially insofar as dispersion. Today's don't come remotely close and the ported speaker design is highly inferior to the acoustic suspension design. I had a run in with Curl probably around 15 years ago on another web site. In those days he posted but wouldn't respond to anyone who was not an electrical engineer. But he had to respond to me because I am (this is just a hobby for me, I work at far more serious endeavours.) He made an obvious technical blunder resulting from his inadequate knowledge of mathematics peculiar to electrical engineering in an exchange and when I corrected him he ascribed his error to me and my correction to himself. I took delight in taunting him about it referring to that thread for years. Turned out he was not an electrical engineer himself but had a background in physics and had taken some electrical engineering courses. As a result of that incident I lost all respect for him both professionally and personally. I haven't checked lately but on a DIY audio site he responds to anyone and he has several threads running about his "blowtorch preamplifier" (I don't think he ever revealed the circuit) each of which last time I looked probably 8 or 10 years ago ran over 100,000 postings each.
This was a phenomenal interview. Richard is truly an icon when it comes to the history of HiFi, and it was great to hear his story. I’m a proud Parasound owner which I run into a pair of Tekton Pendragon speakers. 👍 It’s a wonderful combination while not breaking the bank, and still getting top notch sound quality. Thanks very much, Greg!
Interesting interview, love the history Richard has and delivers it humbly. Just ordered my first Parasound power amplifier. Hats off to you Greg, great humor too!
I have purchased over 10 Parasound amplifiers and Preamps. I'm a bit of a tinkerer and due to the age of some of these units, I have had to replace components as a result. I have had such phenomenal experience dealing with Parasound and even emailing and communicating directly with Richard himself. Great company!
I'm happy to help. If you are a Parasound fan, you MAY want to check out E114: Parasound's New CEO, David Sheriff, and E116: The Evolving Parasound. Thanks for visiting the channel, and for writing...
I make no secret of being a proud and loyal Parasound owner, having owned and enjoyed an A21 and A51 for 14 years and for the past 2 years a JC5 (for me, a great stereo power amp at its price) Richards great sense of humour and his ability to tell a story commands attention. Such a pleasant demeanor. Nice mention of Pacific and CTC.... and of course the living legend that is John Curl. Greg I echo you in applauding Richard on the current range, even at the cost of a pair of JC1+ they're still a bargain for the performance and build on offer and the greatest flagship unit yet, I agree that they eat many of the considered competition and even others at higher price points... Smart business model with sticking to what Parasound does best, along with strong after sales care (which is beyond reproach) gives great customer confidence. Definitely an entertaining interview... Thanks 👍🏻
I've had an HCA-750A for a little less than a year and just acquired an HCA-1000A as an upgrade to pair with my PHP-850. I love the sound of the system, but the PHP-850 does seem to be noisier than my other preamps, especially the phono section, which has a surprising amount of background hiss. Do you notice that with yours? My other units are Monitor Series NAD and mid-80s H/K, all of which seem quieter.
i know im randomly asking but does any of you know a method to get back into an Instagram account?? I was stupid forgot the account password. I would appreciate any tricks you can offer me!
@Levi Demetrius Thanks for your reply. I got to the site through google and I'm trying it out atm. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
I'm sorry for my belated response. I definitely enjoyed reading your thoughtful description of your listening impressions regarding McIntosh vs. Parasound amplifiers. IMO, both brands are top performers and it comes down to personal preferences and tonal inclinations...the way we hear & feel music. I respect what you're saying and there are no buts about it. lol You have had experience with the older/classic Mac amplifier sound & I have not. I did a 2 hour critical listening test recently an all McIntosh amplifier rig with a small pair of Maggie speakers. I think that I mentioned I had purchased a used Mac Amplifier & Preamp...both are entry level and are still in production. I listen to a lot of vintage 70s, 80's & 90's acoustic-based folk-rock music. I listen to other acoustic-based music too..Chamber Music...Small Jazz Ensembles,etc. Many of those albums were well recorded with the technology that was available back in the day. Many are not great sounding by todays recording standards. They lacked the technology. However, many of these iconic records have been painstakingly remastered with digital technology and have been given a 'fresh lease on life'. The Steely Dan finely remastered Boxed Set called 'Citizen Steely Dan' comes to mind & highly recommended. My listening impressions of Mac vs. Parasound amps are as follows: McIntosh amps are slightly more relaxed & rounder in their presentation than is the Parasound & ,most importantly for me, a bit more forgiving for listening to all my, not so great sounding vintage AAD recordings. I can listen to them for many hours now with minimal ear fatigue. I can't do that with Parasound. In fact did, I did a listening test with my AV Installer, who is a fine recording mixer in his own right. We set up an amplifier switching device and we did an A/B listening test comparison between the Parasound JC2PB & the McIntosh C49 Preamplifiers. We had the same types of listening impressions...the Parasound sounded clean and more detailed...the Mac sounded bolder/fuller and overall more dynamic to our ears. The Parasound was brutally revealing... which in my case/given my listening proclivities, was not so great. I had to break frequently between CDs. This newish Mac Preamp did not skimp on revealing macro or micro details..just a bit less than the Parasound. I didn't feel like I was wanting for anything more. In terms of having a house sound that offers something for everybody', the Macintosh definitely won out. This surprised me because I had been a Parasound fan for 5 years prior to ever hearing a Mac amplifier. The Mac does a bunch of stuff really well..but perhaps not the best.. and I wasn't wanting for more. Perhaps this goes a long way in explaining why the brand is so popular & why owners stick with it. (brand loyalty) But which company gives me more amplifier for the money?...It's Parasound all the way. No contest. Regarding McIntosh vs. Parasound amplifiers...I'm also kind of cheating because Ihave my Parasound Halo P6 Preamp/DAC hooked up to my Mac Preamplifier, for a little more Oomph, and IMO, they sound like they're meant to be paired together. Audiophile purists would probably cringe but I love mixing these 2 epic sounds together. The overall sound is magical & way bigger than the sum of their parts. It's a beautiful synergistic relationship. lol You need to have good ears to capitalize on what you're dealing with here..what they're capable of doing together & I am blessed to have that gift. I have heard at least a hundred different slightly different iterations of their sound together. It's a blast to balance their house sounds & Integrate them into the rest of my audio system...to hear what they sound like together through my Mac Power Amplifier. I am also venturing a bit further out & employed the use of 2 vintage Bowers & Wilkins 7 Series Center Channel Speakers. Their vibrational characteristics are well isolated from each other. I power them with an old Pathos Integrated Hybrid Tube Amp & OMG, the center & center-right+left 3D image is enormous. It's my little wall of sound. lol I believe that I made a great decision for listening to all my vocal-centric music that I so frequently enjoy. I'm very vocally oriented. As a musician for nearly 30 years, I felt that my primary duty was to support the vocalists and augment the song... to bolster the arrangement & deliver it to the listener in some impactful & meaningful way. I think that my other 'secret weapon' are my acoustic room treatments. I decided to 1st properly treat my small multipurpose listening room with professional grade bass traps...before I upgraded to the Macintosh Amplifiers. I tend to save up and purchase the same products that my favorite record producers have chosen for their recording studios. If its meets their high standards for recording celebrity recording artists, then it is good enough for me in my little audio playback system. lol. One of my heroes in recording arts production is the record producer Gary Katz. His work with Steely Dan is legendary. I heard that he was using RealTraps BassTraps in his home recording studio and was hooked on their performance. I decided to take advantage of a sale RealTraps had and treated my room. They treated me great & were with me every step of the way...from selecting the traps & right through the install. Well, the sound of my system really improved..everything sounded tighter and clearer to my little set of critical ears. lol. It was if someone lifted a veil that was covering the music. Mad good. It was somewhat akin to installing a significantly better quality pair of speakers..It’s a big deal IMO. I don't for the life of me understand, from a musical perspective, why audiophiles pay umpteen 1,000nds of dollars on expensive audio gear and leave their rooms mostly untreated. It’s absolutely self-defeating if you have ears to hear the music..if you really love to listen to The Music abd Not Uour Gear..to be moved by a great musical performance. My little vintage system has been significantly changed for the better & its performance has really opened up. It can definitely move emotions...and it is many times simply inspiring to listen to. Well, I kind of selfishly hope that you're not overly busy so we can stay in touch. lol Be Well, David Stein-@theaudioanalyst
Delightful interview, thanks for this, both of you. I wish i had no issue of soldering on one of my JC1 after only 8 years, I will get it back tomorrow from service in Austria... So regarding customer service, when you happen to live far from the factory (in Europe for Instance) it is always trickier... I will probably go to an integrated to simplify my system, what about a boulder 866 compared to the JC1? would you have any advice or would you create a video around the best integrated with built-in dac? People about to welcome a kid for instance could be interested to reorientate their racks full of boxes. And thanks overall for you channel Greg.
Hello Jonathan. Thanks for this insight about service of a US manufactured product from Europe. As to excellent integrated's, I must admit that the Boulder gear just doesn't appeal to my sonic sensibilities. However I can recommend the WATT or HUMBOLDT from Audionet, or the I1 from CH Precision, all three of which I've had remarkably engaging first-hand experience with... Thank you so much for tuning in, and for your kind words on the content I offer here on the channel. Keep the music playing, and be well!
@@theaudioanalyst Thanks for your detailed answer Greg, that is interesting to read that about Boulder, amongst the ocean of praising review on the 866. Even though when i discussed with someone who knows well the boulder, he told me it was not totally reaches the midrange of the CH Precision I1 which is on paper absolutely ticking all the sonic/conception boxes except that the entrance ticket is too high... unless i find an unlikely cheap 2nd hand in Europe. And thanks for the ideas of the Audionets, i had totally missed the existence of the WATT. as per the T+A 3100 these are not reviewed a lot. So to simplify , i'd really like a built-in dac - so i could keep (for now) my trinnov amethyst for some active correction in my tricky room and the effects of my vivid G3 and the lateral bass drivers... I really liked the spec corp M99 that i listened to at friends places but no dac as well, so i am thinking also of the Mola Mola kula with the built-in dac... Parasound would, could, should also enter this market, no? :-) Anyways, thanks again for the channel, and take care !
@@jonathancopiatti8489 Thanks for YOUR response, which triggered my GLARING OMMISSION of the Kula from that original list... It is a SUPERB choice... Please see my take on the Kula on GTT Audio's Episode 43 - The Audio Analyst Visits the Mola Mola Kula - Link here... ruclips.net/video/x1lOOsAQkvU/видео.html Keep the music playing, and good luck!
I have a quick question about Parasound JC amplifiers. What would you say is the basic difference in sound between a Parasound John Curl (JC) designed amp or preamp and that of a modern day McIntosh? Thanks, Di-
Hello, David. While it may vary from model to model with the Mac lineup, I would suggest that the differences will be subtle overall. My recent exposure to Mac electronics has given me a new perspective on their performance, as they have embraced a much more "modern" sound than they had always championed in the past. However, take the comparison of the McIntosh MC611 monos (~$16,000/pr.) and the Parasound Halo JC1+ (~$20,000/pr.). While I find the Mac to be very powerful, with good bloom, definition, and detail, to my ears, the Parasound just brings more to the game - more control, on both the macro and micro scales, as well as more enhanced detail and resolution, which combine to deliver a remarkable degree of transparency that is just a bit more authentic and engaging than the Mac's bring to the game. Sorry McIntosh...these are ONLY my personal experiences...
What’s funny is I asked a local McIntosh dealer if we could AB Parasound to a McIntosh amp. They came up with a litany of excuses why it couldn’t happen. That’s when I realized Parasound had something special. I think they were afraid Parasound would embarrass them!
Hello DJ. Thanks for your thoughts here. Look, Mac CLEARLY has a following, and is known for a certain kind of sound. While that is not my cup of tea, it is an established, successful, and HIGHLY thought of brand. That said, this latest beastie from the mind of John Curl, built by Richard's team, REALLY has stepped up Parasound's game... I am madly in love with the Halo JC 1+, and there is nothing I've yet heard under about the $25,000 per pair range that I think I'd rather own.
I’m sure I’d agree with you 100% on the JC1+. Unfortunately, the A21+ is about as far as I can go to get approved by my wife. I’m getting it next week after vacation. Unfortunately I just purchased a pair of Klipsch RF7iii, but my Bel 1001MKv’s left channel went out so all I’ve heard the new speakers with is my old Adcom. I’ve heard the Revel F208s and they didn’t sound great on Mac gear, but I’m questioning whether they sound better than the RF7iii in my home.
I think the biggest question that could’ve been asked is what differentiates the Halo line from the JC line and how is the price difference justified. I’ve seen this question asked over and over on various forums and the answers are mostly speculative. Does he ever plan on building a tube amp?
Hello Mike. So this question doesn't have an answer because it's not a valid question...there is no JC line... Sadly, I can't imagine why that question would have been given credence anywhere else it may have been asked. In point of fact, ALL the John Curl badged Parasound (parasound.com/) products are included in the Halo line... See the four current Parasound lines... Halo (parasound.com/products.php?line=halo), ZoneMaster (parasound.com/products.php?line=zm), Z Custom (parasound.com/products.php?line=z), and the NewClassics (parasound.com/products.php?line=nc). Thanks.
Thank you for response. I should be more clear. What’s the difference between the JC series amps vs the A+ series amps. Although I never mentioned John Curls name, it is assumed that’s what the JC stands for.
I have heard from people that have demoed these new amps who own other amps costing around 150k for the pair. They were absolutely shocked at the performance of the new JC1+. COST VS PERFORMANCE IS UNMATCHED!
Leif, that was my take on them. They just do so much, so well, for such a reasonable price. Now, I'm not implying the $17,000/pair is cheap. What I am saying is that they have nothing to be embarrassed about when running with some electronics at twice their asking price. When compared with loftier entrants, their sins are all those of omission, not of commission.
Thank you Pete. You're in for a bunch more... I have some fun ones coming up, including Gayle Sanders of MartinLogan fame and now building the Eikon Image1 system, and one of the most engaging, knowledgable, and FUN designers alive, Andrew Jones... Stay tuned! 😁
I haven't heard a class D I have liked. Infact, I just replaced a class D in my system with a class A/B on my tweeters. The difference was night and day. I use class D for the PA for my band and they are ok for that but they still lack a lot. For the price, you can't beat them.
Um, I'm SURE you aren't really suggesting that I should consider doing a review on a forty-year-old (the Carver C-9 Sonic Hologram Generator was introduced in 1981) product?
"A idiot on fb complained about the service" well, i could do it to, iv contacted parasound 2 times, they answer, but never come back to me again to solve the issue. Im sure their service is good, but iv never had that experiance. But also, i would never own something else than parasound.
@@theaudioanalyst yes, but my case was not that important, just wanted som spare parts like screws etc. So not a foulty unit or anything:) but as I said in my prew post, i will never buy anything other than parasound. I was Lucky to finally afford the jc5 and im extremly happy with it.
What a great interview, and what a humble man Richard is. Thanks to both of you. Fun!
Correction, the live versus recorded demo you heard was performed by Acoustic Research, not Audio Research. Edgar Villchur who was the founder of Acoustic Research invented the Acoustic suspension woofer, still IMO the best design (he was what I call an intuitive inventor. He was neither a scientist or an engineer and didn't fully understand how and why it worked.) He also invented the dome tweeter and dome midrange, as well as the first turntable that had a spring suspended sub-chassis for isolation. Later in the 1970s AR invented the use of ferrofluid for cooling tweeters. The original AR1 used an 8" Altec Lansing tweeter. In the mid 1950s recordings didn't have any signal over about 12 khz. Around 1960 AR introduced the AR2ax and AR3 which used the dome tweeter. 2Aa with two 5" Jensen cone midrange divers and AR3 had a dome midrange. AR2 series had a 10" acoustic suspension woofer, AR3 and all of its AR TOTL descendants had 12 inch acoustic suspension woofers which were interchangeable although manufacturing techniques changed from cast baskets, Alnico magnets and cloth surrounds to stamped baskets, ferrite magnets, and foam surrounds. Roy Allison who worked for Villchur invented the AR3a with an improved dome midrange and dome 3/4" tweeter. A later souped up variant of AR3a called AR LST incorporated four midrange domes and four tweeter domes and was also marketed as the Cello Amati by Marantz. Allison also researched and solved the problems of room coupling of bass drivers and eliminating the acoustic suckout at around 200 hz. Most of these innovations have been long forgotten and even the way dome tweeters are designed are very different today than the design of Allisons especially insofar as dispersion. Today's don't come remotely close and the ported speaker design is highly inferior to the acoustic suspension design.
I had a run in with Curl probably around 15 years ago on another web site. In those days he posted but wouldn't respond to anyone who was not an electrical engineer. But he had to respond to me because I am (this is just a hobby for me, I work at far more serious endeavours.) He made an obvious technical blunder resulting from his inadequate knowledge of mathematics peculiar to electrical engineering in an exchange and when I corrected him he ascribed his error to me and my correction to himself. I took delight in taunting him about it referring to that thread for years. Turned out he was not an electrical engineer himself but had a background in physics and had taken some electrical engineering courses. As a result of that incident I lost all respect for him both professionally and personally.
I haven't checked lately but on a DIY audio site he responds to anyone and he has several threads running about his "blowtorch preamplifier" (I don't think he ever revealed the circuit) each of which last time I looked probably 8 or 10 years ago ran over 100,000 postings each.
This was a phenomenal interview. Richard is truly an icon when it comes to the history of HiFi, and it was great to hear his story. I’m a proud Parasound owner which I run into a pair of Tekton Pendragon speakers. 👍 It’s a wonderful combination while not breaking the bank, and still getting top notch sound quality. Thanks very much, Greg!
Parasound and Tekton here too! Excellent combination.
@@zackw4941 For sure! 👍🔊😊🎶
Interesting interview, love the history Richard has and delivers it humbly. Just ordered my first Parasound power amplifier. Hats off to you Greg, great humor too!
Glad to learn you enjoyed this one... Thanks for writing.
I have purchased over 10 Parasound amplifiers and Preamps. I'm a bit of a tinkerer and due to the age of some of these units, I have had to replace components as a result. I have had such phenomenal experience dealing with Parasound and even emailing and communicating directly with Richard himself. Great company!
Thanks very much for posting this conversation. There is just not enough information on the web about Parasound Amplifiers.
I'm happy to help. If you are a Parasound fan, you MAY want to check out E114: Parasound's New CEO, David Sheriff, and E116: The Evolving Parasound. Thanks for visiting the channel, and for writing...
I make no secret of being a proud and loyal Parasound owner, having owned and enjoyed an A21 and A51 for 14 years and for the past 2 years a JC5 (for me, a great stereo power amp at its price)
Richards great sense of humour and his ability to tell a story commands attention. Such a pleasant demeanor.
Nice mention of Pacific and CTC.... and of course the living legend that is John Curl.
Greg I echo you in applauding Richard on the current range,
even at the cost of a pair of JC1+ they're still a bargain for the performance and build on offer and the greatest flagship unit yet,
I agree that they eat many of the considered competition and even others at higher price points...
Smart business model with sticking to what Parasound does best, along with strong after sales care (which is beyond reproach) gives great customer confidence.
Definitely an entertaining interview... Thanks 👍🏻
I have a bunch of HCA amps and a PHP 850 preamp. Love my Parasound equipment.
I've had an HCA-750A for a little less than a year and just acquired an HCA-1000A as an upgrade to pair with my PHP-850. I love the sound of the system, but the PHP-850 does seem to be noisier than my other preamps, especially the phono section, which has a surprising amount of background hiss. Do you notice that with yours? My other units are Monitor Series NAD and mid-80s H/K, all of which seem quieter.
@@filmjazz I don't use the phono preamp. When I was, I don't remember it being that noisey.
Really great interview Greg, respect to Richard Schram and his contributions to the audio industry, and amen to the power of music!
i know im randomly asking but does any of you know a method to get back into an Instagram account??
I was stupid forgot the account password. I would appreciate any tricks you can offer me!
@Leland Misael instablaster :)
@Levi Demetrius Thanks for your reply. I got to the site through google and I'm trying it out atm.
Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Levi Demetrius it did the trick and I actually got access to my account again. Im so happy!
Thank you so much you saved my ass !
@Leland Misael happy to help xD
Amazing interview and I’m honored to have been a fly on the wall enjoying it now 👍🏻
Thank you
The Factor, thank you so very much for tuning in... 😊
I'm sorry for my belated response.
I definitely enjoyed reading your thoughtful description of your listening impressions regarding McIntosh vs. Parasound amplifiers.
IMO, both brands are top performers and it comes down to personal preferences and tonal inclinations...the way we hear & feel music.
I respect what you're saying and there are no buts about it. lol You have had experience with the older/classic Mac amplifier sound & I have not.
I did a 2 hour critical listening test recently an all McIntosh amplifier rig with a small pair of Maggie speakers.
I think that I mentioned I had purchased a used Mac Amplifier & Preamp...both are entry level and are still in production.
I listen to a lot of vintage 70s, 80's & 90's acoustic-based
folk-rock music.
I listen to other acoustic-based music too..Chamber Music...Small Jazz Ensembles,etc.
Many of those albums were well recorded with the technology that was available back in the day. Many are not great sounding by todays recording standards. They lacked the technology.
However, many of these iconic records have been painstakingly
remastered with digital technology and have been given a 'fresh lease on life'.
The Steely Dan finely remastered Boxed Set called 'Citizen Steely Dan' comes to mind & highly recommended.
My listening impressions of Mac vs. Parasound amps are as follows: McIntosh amps are slightly more relaxed & rounder in their presentation than is the Parasound & ,most importantly for me, a bit more forgiving for listening to all my, not so great sounding vintage AAD recordings. I can listen to them for many hours now with
minimal ear fatigue.
I can't do that with Parasound.
In fact did, I did a listening test with my AV Installer, who is a fine recording mixer in his own right.
We set up an amplifier switching device and we did an A/B listening test comparison between the Parasound JC2PB & the McIntosh C49 Preamplifiers.
We had the same types of listening impressions...the Parasound sounded clean and more detailed...the Mac sounded bolder/fuller and overall more dynamic to our ears.
The Parasound was brutally revealing... which in my case/given my listening proclivities, was not so great.
I had to break frequently between CDs. This newish Mac Preamp did not skimp on revealing macro or micro details..just a bit less
than the Parasound.
I didn't feel like I was wanting for anything more.
In terms of having a
house sound that offers something for everybody', the Macintosh definitely won out.
This surprised me because I had been a Parasound fan for 5 years prior to ever hearing a Mac amplifier.
The Mac does a bunch of stuff really well..but perhaps not the best.. and I wasn't wanting for more. Perhaps this goes a long way in explaining why the brand is so popular & why owners stick with it. (brand loyalty)
But which company gives me more amplifier for the money?...It's Parasound all the way. No contest.
Regarding McIntosh vs. Parasound amplifiers...I'm
also kind of cheating because Ihave my Parasound Halo P6
Preamp/DAC hooked up to my Mac Preamplifier, for a little more Oomph, and IMO, they sound like they're meant to
be paired together.
Audiophile purists would probably cringe but I love mixing these 2 epic sounds together.
The overall sound is magical & way bigger than the sum of their parts. It's a beautiful synergistic relationship. lol
You need to have good ears to capitalize on what you're dealing with here..what they're capable of doing together & I am blessed to have that gift. I have heard at least a hundred different slightly different iterations of their sound together. It's a blast to balance their house sounds & Integrate them into the rest of
my audio system...to hear what they sound like together through my Mac Power Amplifier.
I am also venturing a bit further out & employed the use of 2 vintage Bowers & Wilkins 7 Series Center Channel Speakers.
Their vibrational characteristics are well isolated from each other.
I power them with an old Pathos Integrated Hybrid Tube Amp & OMG, the center &
center-right+left
3D image is enormous.
It's my little wall of sound. lol
I believe that I made a great decision for listening to all my vocal-centric
music that I
so frequently enjoy.
I'm very vocally oriented.
As a musician for nearly 30 years, I felt that my primary duty was to support the vocalists and augment the song...
to bolster the
arrangement &
deliver it to the listener in some impactful & meaningful way.
I think that my other 'secret weapon' are my acoustic room treatments.
I decided to 1st properly treat my small multipurpose listening room with professional grade bass traps...before I upgraded to the Macintosh Amplifiers.
I tend to save up and purchase the same products that my favorite record producers have chosen for their recording studios.
If its meets their high standards for recording celebrity recording artists, then it is good enough for me in my little audio playback system. lol.
One of my heroes in recording arts production is the record producer Gary Katz.
His work with Steely Dan is legendary.
I heard that he was using RealTraps BassTraps in his home recording studio and was hooked on their performance.
I decided to take advantage of a sale RealTraps had and treated my room.
They treated me great & were with me every step of the
way...from selecting the traps & right through the install.
Well, the sound of my system really improved..everything sounded tighter and clearer to my little set of critical ears. lol.
It was if someone lifted a veil that was covering the music.
Mad good.
It was somewhat akin to installing a significantly better quality pair of speakers..It’s a big deal IMO.
I don't for the life of me understand, from a musical perspective, why audiophiles pay umpteen 1,000nds of dollars on expensive audio gear and leave their rooms mostly untreated.
It’s absolutely self-defeating if you have ears to hear the music..if you really love to listen to
The Music abd Not Uour Gear..to be moved by a great musical performance.
My little vintage system has been significantly changed
for the better
& its performance has really opened up.
It can definitely
move emotions...and it is many times simply inspiring
to listen to.
Well, I kind of selfishly hope that you're not overly busy so we can stay in touch. lol
Be Well,
David Stein-@theaudioanalyst
Delightful interview, thanks for this, both of you. I wish i had no issue of soldering on one of my JC1 after only 8 years, I will get it back tomorrow from service in Austria... So regarding customer service, when you happen to live far from the factory (in Europe for Instance) it is always trickier... I will probably go to an integrated to simplify my system, what about a boulder 866 compared to the JC1? would you have any advice or would you create a video around the best integrated with built-in dac? People about to welcome a kid for instance could be interested to reorientate their racks full of boxes. And thanks overall for you channel Greg.
Hello Jonathan. Thanks for this insight about service of a US manufactured product from Europe.
As to excellent integrated's, I must admit that the Boulder gear just doesn't appeal to my sonic sensibilities.
However I can recommend the WATT or HUMBOLDT from Audionet, or the I1 from CH Precision, all three of which I've had remarkably engaging first-hand experience with...
Thank you so much for tuning in, and for your kind words on the content I offer here on the channel. Keep the music playing, and be well!
@@theaudioanalyst Thanks for your detailed answer Greg, that is interesting to read that about Boulder, amongst the ocean of praising review on the 866. Even though when i discussed with someone who knows well the boulder, he told me it was not totally reaches the midrange of the CH Precision I1 which is on paper absolutely ticking all the sonic/conception boxes except that the entrance ticket is too high... unless i find an unlikely cheap 2nd hand in Europe. And thanks for the ideas of the Audionets, i had totally missed the existence of the WATT. as per the T+A 3100 these are not reviewed a lot. So to simplify , i'd really like a built-in dac - so i could keep (for now) my trinnov amethyst for some active correction in my tricky room and the effects of my vivid G3 and the lateral bass drivers... I really liked the spec corp M99 that i listened to at friends places but no dac as well, so i am thinking also of the Mola Mola kula with the built-in dac... Parasound would, could, should also enter this market, no? :-)
Anyways, thanks again for the channel, and take care !
@@jonathancopiatti8489 Thanks for YOUR response, which triggered my GLARING OMMISSION of the Kula from that original list... It is a SUPERB choice... Please see my take on the Kula on GTT Audio's Episode 43 - The Audio Analyst Visits the Mola Mola Kula - Link here... ruclips.net/video/x1lOOsAQkvU/видео.html Keep the music playing, and good luck!
I have a quick question about Parasound JC amplifiers.
What would you say is the basic difference in sound between a Parasound John Curl (JC) designed amp or preamp and that of a modern day McIntosh?
Thanks,
Di-
Hello, David. While it may vary from model to model with the Mac lineup, I would suggest that the differences will be subtle overall. My recent exposure to Mac electronics has given me a new perspective on their performance, as they have embraced a much more "modern" sound than they had always championed in the past. However, take the comparison of the McIntosh MC611 monos (~$16,000/pr.) and the Parasound Halo JC1+ (~$20,000/pr.). While I find the Mac to be very powerful, with good bloom, definition, and detail, to my ears, the Parasound just brings more to the game - more control, on both the macro and micro scales, as well as more enhanced detail and resolution, which combine to deliver a remarkable degree of transparency that is just a bit more authentic and engaging than the Mac's bring to the game. Sorry McIntosh...these are ONLY my personal experiences...
Used these amps for years,they are excellent.
What’s funny is I asked a local McIntosh dealer if we could AB Parasound to a McIntosh amp. They came up with a litany of excuses why it couldn’t happen. That’s when I realized Parasound had something special. I think they were afraid Parasound would embarrass them!
Hello DJ. Thanks for your thoughts here. Look, Mac CLEARLY has a following, and is known for a certain kind of sound. While that is not my cup of tea, it is an established, successful, and HIGHLY thought of brand. That said, this latest beastie from the mind of John Curl, built by Richard's team, REALLY has stepped up Parasound's game... I am madly in love with the Halo JC 1+, and there is nothing I've yet heard under about the $25,000 per pair range that I think I'd rather own.
I’m sure I’d agree with you 100% on the JC1+. Unfortunately, the A21+ is about as far as I can go to get approved by my wife. I’m getting it next week after vacation. Unfortunately I just purchased a pair of Klipsch RF7iii, but my Bel 1001MKv’s left channel went out so all I’ve heard the new speakers with is my old Adcom. I’ve heard the Revel F208s and they didn’t sound great on Mac gear, but I’m questioning whether they sound better than the RF7iii in my home.
I think the biggest question that could’ve been asked is what differentiates the Halo line from the JC line and how is the price difference justified. I’ve seen this question asked over and over on various forums and the answers are mostly speculative. Does he ever plan on building a tube amp?
Hello Mike. So this question doesn't have an answer because it's not a valid question...there is no JC line... Sadly, I can't imagine why that question would have been given credence anywhere else it may have been asked. In point of fact, ALL the John Curl badged Parasound (parasound.com/) products are included in the Halo line... See the four current Parasound lines... Halo (parasound.com/products.php?line=halo), ZoneMaster (parasound.com/products.php?line=zm), Z Custom (parasound.com/products.php?line=z), and the NewClassics (parasound.com/products.php?line=nc). Thanks.
Thank you for response. I should be more clear. What’s the difference between the JC series amps vs the A+ series amps. Although I never mentioned John Curls name, it is assumed that’s what the JC stands for.
I have heard from people that have demoed these new amps who own other amps costing around 150k for the pair. They were absolutely shocked at the performance of the new JC1+.
COST VS PERFORMANCE IS UNMATCHED!
Leif, that was my take on them. They just do so much, so well, for such a reasonable price. Now, I'm not implying the $17,000/pair is cheap. What I am saying is that they have nothing to be embarrassed about when running with some electronics at twice their asking price. When compared with loftier entrants, their sins are all those of omission, not of commission.
Great interview Greg!
Excellent interview! Learned a bunch about Parasound.
Thanks for taking the time to watch, my friend!
Love it. Your interviews are by far the fave part of the AA series.
Thank you Pete. You're in for a bunch more... I have some fun ones coming up, including Gayle Sanders of MartinLogan fame and now building the Eikon Image1 system, and one of the most engaging, knowledgable, and FUN designers alive, Andrew Jones... Stay tuned! 😁
I haven't heard a class D I have liked. Infact, I just replaced a class D in my system with a class A/B on my tweeters. The difference was night and day. I use class D for the PA for my band and they are ok for that but they still lack a lot. For the price, you can't beat them.
AWESOME!!!
I like Greg sneaking sips off that Martini lol
Hey Leif, I wasn't sneakin'! It's just that particular camera setup, along with the name tag under my image, kind of made it harder to see... 😁
lol..I love the Martini.
As do I! 😉
Hi Greg, can you make up review of Sonic Holographie: Bob Carver's C-9?
Um, I'm SURE you aren't really suggesting that I should consider doing a review on a forty-year-old (the Carver C-9 Sonic Hologram Generator was introduced in 1981) product?
"A idiot on fb complained about the service" well, i could do it to, iv contacted parasound 2 times, they answer, but never come back to me again to solve the issue. Im sure their service is good, but iv never had that experiance. But also, i would never own something else than parasound.
Hello, Crysis. I have to say I'm surprised to hear this. Most everyone I've heard from sings nothing but their praise...
@@theaudioanalyst yes, but my case was not that important, just wanted som spare parts like screws etc. So not a foulty unit or anything:) but as I said in my prew post, i will never buy anything other than parasound. I was Lucky to finally afford the jc5 and im extremly happy with it.
Best value under 25k? even better than a pair of Mola Mola Kaluga's?
please use a back pillow to arch your back so it doesn't look like you have a pillow around you.
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