📍*GET IT HERE: bit.ly/3DYmiK8, bit.ly/32xCdSd* ★ *QOTD: Are separate components still necessary when products like the Hint 6 exist?* ★ *CLICK 🔝 “SHOW MORE” in the description for answers to many of your questions* ★ *RULES: Please be respectful. NO OUTSIDE LINKS, URLs, email addresses, etc.*
Separates have been obsolete for me since my Dad brought home a Dual turntable and receiver combo way back in the early 70’s. Separates systems can wow, no doubt but that old law of diminishing returns comes into play pretty damned quickly for me when I look at the price tags of a separates system.
@phantasm1004 Well said. It comes down to being what I call “Audio Jewelry”. It looks nice and proves you can wire up boxes and follow a signal path but that’s about it.
Separates aren't necessary, but they do offer flexibility you don't get with an integrated. A high quality amp can be used for generations, but modern electronics on the pre-amp side have a much shorter refresh and upgrade cycle.
Retired audio/video manufacturer's representative here. Sold Parasound and other premium brands for many years and still own some of their equipment today. Fantastic sound for the money and excellent service that is rarely needed. I just got a Bluesound Node Gen 3 and buying the Denafrips Ares II to feed my new love for lossless streaming. I guess that means I still prefer some things to be separate but feel a proper integrated is comparable these days if not better for overall synergy with some systems. Really enjoy your videos and appreciate you both! Happy Holidays 🥳
So, Andrew & Kristi, you’ve just reviewed the integrated amp I’ve been listening to for the past year and a half. I managed to pick it up second hand, lightly used, for an excellent price, oh, and it is black. I enjoy it with my stereo setup, and I really haven’t notice the controls to be that cheap, except I quite like the feel of the volume control. For most everything else I use the remote control, which is well laid out and, especially great, backlit. I enjoy the sound, sound stage is papable, well defined, with great depth. It also scales with different speakers. The balance between highs, midrange, and bass is realistic. I like the bass with my big speakers, it is articulate, fast, and organic - easy to tell the difference between standup and electric bass. I think the audiolab and MF integrates are also great, I do enjoy the oomph the class ab amp can give the music when necessary. For the price this is a great deal. And no, we don’t always need separates when it comes to amplification. Keep up the great work, I enjoy your videos.
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE my Hint 6. The Black/Gold contrast does pop. It also disappears at low-light late night listening. And yes, Parasound is very, very proud of their volume control, but I've forgotten what that was. I just listen now. Please keep using the Hint 6 when you review speakers and other equipment!!!
Andrew and Kristi - just got home from having heart surgery and this was quite the treat to come home to. Thanks for doing what you do - it matters. Have a wonderful holiday
@xjester1975 First, I hope you're doing okay and that everything went smoothly. Second, allow me to say thank you. Thank you for tuning in. We love being a part of all of. your days, but if we can help make a difficult day better --or at least be a minor distraction, count us in. Be well and happy holidays! -Andrew
Excellent work Andrew! I was watching a few older videos the other day and realized you don't put the bloopers in anymore. I think we need those back especially for the until the very end club.
I had an issue with my HINT a few years ago. There was some scratching noise in the volume. I called Parasound and they were on it. Sent me a RMA and were very communicative. Wow! I even got an email from Richard (President/CEO) checking in if everything was going smoothly. Fantastic company. Right up there with Mark Levinson. I was missing jumpers and had some questions… and a Mark Levinson engineer contacted me and even sent me jumpers for free. Excellent support.
I am excited to see a monitor audio silver product on deck for review! I know you enjoyed the bronze 100, and 5.1 companions, so curious to see how you feel about a significant step up. I've run silver series towers for over a decade (RS6 and Silver 300 6g), so admittedly I'm a bit of a fanboy. Surprised you went with the dual 8" 500s, so interested to see how controlled they seem. Cheers!
Thanks Andrew for reviewing a Parasound product and pleased you were both over all happy with the Hint 6 and recognizing Mr. Curl. I am very much enjoying the Halo P6 preamp driving their A21 amp. Love the features, the sound of the phono stage and of course the ESS 32 Reference DAC when running Qobuz via USB from the laptop. The Martin Logan Classic 9's are also mated to these components from my brick and mortar dealer very close to me, and, like Kristy's preference, I purchased the Parasound in black, and yes, it does showoff the 'gold' lines integrated in the front panel (O:
Your videos are always great. I am impressed with Parasound gear. Would love to have you review their JC5 amp and their JC3+ or the more affordable JC3 Jr phono preamp as well.
I would have to say that when I first started off my audiophile journey in Keflavik, Iceland as a Former U.S. Marine my reference was the Technics SUV-8X and it went from there. I have now found because of the space that I currently have my reference now is the NAD C-368 BluOS. I also have to include that because I work from home that my desktop system is PARASOUND's Zamp v.3, Zpre3, Peachtree DAC iT x with Peachtree DS4.5 desktop speakers and two REL T/0's in stereo.
My local dealer hooked a Hint 6 up to a pair of Vandersteens and played them for me. I was seriously impressed. The combination was a sound I could have listened to forever. Nothing about it was fatiguing and the Hint 6 seemed to effortlessly drive the Vandies with ease.
Hello Texas! Love how Parasound successfully achieves the right balance of power and features. Integrated DAC, bass management, xlr connections, etc. Great value overall. Thanks for the video. Cheers from France!
Any of integrated products you discussed today will exceed the needs, and wants, of most potential buyers; however, I think separate components will continue to appeal to buyers who: 1. Llike mixing and matching components from different manufacturers. 2. Enjoy collecting audio gear. 3. Want to have the best of the best for it's own sake (regardless of ability to hear the difference or not). 4. Have huge rooms and/or exotic speakers that require vast amounts of power.
The input selector and subwoofer control is outstanding. This can easily be setup for a sub/sat system. The Parasound does this better than anyone I know. There is an occasional horror story of runaway volume control with this and the P6. Also consider Parasound service. 2 week turnaround is the average. No one touches this.
The best sound I've ever had was from a Parasound 5x200 A/AB 5-channel amp paired with a pair of B&W CDM1's. This was in 1997. I don't know how I ended up with this combination and even though I had a 5-channel amp, I basically used it for stereo listening. I do remember that on the back of the amp, there were individual volume controls for each of the 5 amps. I got incredible imaging; soundstage (height/width/depth); vocals were amazing. I think because the first 25 watts were Class A, that I was getting the sound I heard. This was 24 years ago. I have no idea what happened to that amp or the speakers, but I'd give anything to have that sound again. Nothing I've owned since has come close.
What a great review 👏thank you 😊 I have a parasound 2250v2 and aragon 24k preamplifier and I love it I would love to hear this amp in my system I don't have the money for just getting more amps thank you for giving such a great review
I can vouch for Parasound's customer service being 2nd to none. I had the P5 prior to the P6. The P5 developed a noisy (scratchy) volume control. It used an Alps potentiometer style control. Parasound paid shipping both ways and replaced the volume control. I spoke to Richard on the phone and via emails. Unfortunately, the noise returned after having the P5 back for about a year. This time, to my complete astonishment, Richard had a new P6 sent to me and I return shipped the P5. I told my local dealer about this and even though he always talked up Parasound for taking care of their equipment/customers, was equally impressed. I don't use a Parasound amp though. I originally had an old Adcom GFA-5500, but it was beginning to exhibit some whooshing noise in one channel and I got nervous about it failing. I managed to sell it and picked up a SET 120 amp from Van Alstine. The combo is sweet. Plenty of solid, deep bass.
Thanks on the review enjoy even ones for items not in market for. You guys have me swinging between the audiolab and the ragnarock still have the zen in back of mind as well with my tekton lores. Thanks again
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Of course! It's funny, I think I watch so many of your reviews that my speaking cadence in my videos slides into "Andrew Robinson" mode every once and a while, haha
I totally agree with Kristi. I usually prefer silver and find drab black boxes quite boring. However, I also prefer the Black on this one. I love to a/b one of these against my Vincent integrated.
Hi Andrew Just bought the hint 6 and the sound is great .I connected totem forest signature speakers and enjoy this setup very much.Hope you will do sometime a review on these Canadian speakers .i follow your reviews and enjoy them very much.
The comment on knobs and controls is interesting because i find that this is an issue for most audio brands and offerings, almost regardless of price tag. There are still some brands that get this right, but it's almost as if the manufacturers know that most people are going to use the remote or an app... so they have no incentive to cater to the "few" people who still want the enjoyable tactile experience of a well made button or dial.
Interesting comment. I'm afraid you might be right. Investing in software and connectivity might be taking precedence nowadays. So sad. Nothing more satisfying than touching well done knobs like Naim Atom and mu-so series, lyngdorf, Luxman, etc. The right mix of heft and smoothness... It's an art really! 🙂
Good job today as always, Andrew and Kristi. Truth to tell, I'm still using the Conrad-Johnson pre-amp and amp that I purchased in 1991 along with the Snell Series EIII speakers, ditto, but if I wanted/needed to get new gear in, I would go with integrated, very likely something really easy such as the Cambridge Audio Evo 150. And a pair of Wharfedale Lintons, which I'm giving serious thought to purchasing in any case. Cheers!
Thanks for the review! I’m looking to replace my Hegel H200 for a Hint 6. Mostly for the feature-set. About comparing the prices of the Audiolab 6000a play and Parasound Hint 6: in the Netherlands (Europe) the Audiolab costs around €750,- (=$850,-) and the Parasound costs around €3500,- ($4000,-).
Nice review, I believe separates will always have their place to an audiophile. For most people the expense to performance ratio will result in them being perfectly satisfied with an integrated amp like the Parasound.
Separates may no longer be necessary, but I prefer them. I'm a gearhead. Give me a rack and fill them with nice, black boxes that produce mind-bogglong sound - and I'm in! My old rack system separates have been in storage so long now, they're out of date and need to be replaced with new, black, rack-mountable boxes. Let the acquisition begin!
I personally like separates, but that's just me. And I have a Parasound related question for you. I use a A23 and a A21 for my home theater set up. My speakers are not the most efficient. I have read in many forums that Parasound products run really hot. Mine does not run hot at all. When my son was home for Thanksgiving, we watched the last two Godzilla movies back to back, and its was loud. The Amps were barely Luke warm. Did you folks notice the Hint 6 running hot? I run a Marantz AVR as basically a Preamp Processor and it gets what I call, hot to the touch. Thoughts? Just curious. Great review! I love my Parasound Amps.
Many Paradound amps run pretty cool. A few of the Halo designs are highly biased into class A and CAN run pretty warm ( JC5, A21+, etc ) but they also have giant AL heatsinks, so depending on speaker loads, volume, & given space to breath they may not get all that hot.
As far as the whole "Separates vs. integrateds" issue... my take? Given the price points I live within, I'd have to say my answer is mostly no, they are not necessary. In fact, (although I am in the process of purchasing some monoblocks) I can easily see myself settling down with a really good integrated amp for the rest of my years. The ONLY thing I would probably be concerned about purchasing as an external to a good integrated is a really good phono preamp.
Just a side note here: there was an audio show in NYC in like...2017? John Strohbeen of Ohm Acoustics was showing off a pair of his Ohm speakers and driving them with a sub-$1000 stereo receiver from Outlaw Audio (RR-2160). Herb Reichert was at that show and was mightily impressed at how much great sound could be had for so little coin.
Very much enjoyed this thought provoking review. Thank you! To add my two cents ... I own the Hint 6 and very much like it's power output and relatively neutral sound reproduction. I have several sets of speakers that I rotate through and do not want coloration from the amp. I think this amp would go well with virtually any speaker type. I like the level of input versatility but would like to have an hdmi input. I prefer the silver color over the black as it stands out better from a distance and goes well with my other silver colored equipment. The plastic knobs are not a deal breaker to me as the other features, sound quality and versatility outweigh the subjective negativity of plastic knobs. Would I go with separates? Absolutely. Would I go with Parasound separates? Absolutely. In the next year or two? Absolutely! Thanks again for the review Andrew. I always enjoy hearing yours and Kristi's opinion on various gear.
Well it depends on what audio journey you want to be... If you just want to put it down and play , then go with all in 1. If you want to explore and maybe change up certain elements then separates. Also some don't have the space to accommodate lots of units. For me, at least the DAC part should be separate or have the ability to upgrade down the line as it is constantly changing and evolving, but from the looks of it the parasound has the option to swap it out.
Ok, I really want to be the guy who says “Nope, integrated amps have come so far that not only are separates not needed, but they are now inferior!” but, as I look at my own system, I’m basically using separates at the moment. I’m real big into blending my hifi and home theater set ups so even though I’m using an integrated amp, I have the volume maxed on it and use the two inputs to switch between stereo and multichannel. Even when an amp has a true pass through for HT, there are things which are just easier when going separates. Using active crossovers, mixing tube and solid state(I love running my HT on six watts of single ended tube power), amp placement and probably some other factors I’m missing at the moment. By and large though the average person and even the average hifi enthusiast can find real joy without going the separates route, but for weirdos like me, it seems there will always be a need to keep things apart.
Integrateds are perfect for great, no-mess sound. Separates are perfect for hobbyist 😂. I keep meaning to reduce the number of boxes in my system but every year I have more.
@@crh4878 currently, the ones I can afford :D The main portion of the system comprises of a Musical Paradise MP-301 amp driving a pair of Tekton Mini Lores. The 6.5 watts of the 301 drives the efficient Mini Lores just fine in my smallish room. Stereo sources are a NAD 533(A Rega 2 oem)and a digital front end with a Focusrite Scarlett 8i6 handling a computer and a Blu-ray player. Those two are controlled by a passive preamp that feeds into one input on the MP-301. The other input on the MP-301 is feed from an old Marantz SR5004 I found on eBay. That has that Blu-ray player and an Apple TV as sources. The amps in the receiver are busted so I have to use a little circuit board amp for the rears. I keep it a 4.0 system for simplicity.
Parasound in the Hint 6 put all the new refinements as for all the Halo series. For what I know an A23+ coupled with a P6 is far superior in HiFi quality, but yeah separates are more expensive. I own an A21+ and I LOVE it.
Good evening Andrew and Kristi, and Happiest of Holidays to you and your entire families. I have one question. I know that you two have given mad love and support to some of the RUclips Audiophiles, and you have gotten some work done by Just Audio who "JUST" happen to be in my backyard. I say all of that to ask you this have you ever looked into G-R Research and thought about them showing some love to a pair of speakers that you own and then hear the difference that it would make on some of the beautiful pieces that demonstrate and see if you hear the difference?
👍 Great review Andrew I love your unbiased opinions and your reviewing style , I to second the Outlaw Audio rr2160 it's a beast , would love to hear you and Christy's opinion on this product
Great review, guys! I'm glad you finally reviewed a Parasound product. I use two Parasound Model 275 v.2 power amps (mono) and a Parasound Model 200 Pre preamplifier in my system. I've had them a little over a year now, and love them. Obviously, I believe in separates, so they are necessary for me. The three components cost me less than the Hint 6, and have the same features, except for balanced in/outs. They make any speaker sound great! Keep up the great work...........
I wish it had some streaming capabilities, I had this for a couple of days. I ended up going with Hegel. Love that you reviewed this. What about Hegel?
Hegel amps are superior and you pay a premium for that. The H190 has similar power and it’s a grand more. It also doesn’t have all the features, but obviously if you’re grading solely on sound Hegel is going to best Parasound easily.
Not bad. I got the new Beats Fit Pro buds and they are a great set of earbuds. With the M1 processor and other Apple features they also actually stay in my ears so they’re replacing my AirPods Pro. But enough about me. How’s your week, Kristi?
Good. Christmas is coming. You guys did well this year on you tube wirh a good balance of audio and HT stuff. I liked learning about the Cambridge vs the Parasound. Once you start reviewing 7k or 8k dollar receivers and speakers I kind of tune out. The appreciable difference then becomes more obsessive and ego based to me.
I just bought a pair of KLH Model 5 speakers. Now I'm looking for an integrated amp that pairs well with them. After watching reviews of the Model 5's, it seems most reviewers recommended matching them with a muscular sounding amp to bring out the best in those speakers. I wonder what you think would be a good match for the model 5's? Is the Parasound Halo Hint 6 a good choice or are there other options that may be a better choice?
Here’s what I think, you and your wife, are HANDS DOWN, THE BEST reviewers on RUclips IMO - that’s what I think. Oh, and BTW, was really into clothes in my younger years, I’m saying the Hint 6 has poor “hand.” 😉
I just almost bought one of these. I ended up going with the Rotel RA1572 MKII instead. Same/more functionality, $900 cheaper and looks better imo. I don't know if the Rotel is a better amp than the Hint 6 but it's fantastic and I love it.
For those wanting to know: I demo'd a Hint6 vs P6 and A23+ combo in house for a few weeks. The P6/A23+ combo is slightly better. It's not night and day difference, but when doing an A/B comparison you can hear the subtle differences. The main difference is the P6/A23+ combo plays at 3 or 4 db higher with the volume set the same on both units. The background seems just a little quieter on the P6/A23+ combo, giving it just a "Hint" more dynamics. I was able to snag both pieces on clearance from Crutchfield; but I see the Hint6 is marked down on their site too. I wouldn't lose any sleep over which is better. If you can grab either for around $2500 then you'd have a great deal.
I’m so glad you reviewed the Parasound! I currently have a 2125 v.2 and I’m thinking of upgrading to the A23+. I’m using a McIntosh C39 preamp. I’m curious- how much better is the A23+ than the 2125 v.2?
Ok this needs to be said!! I've been out of the home theater THING.. for around 10 years. Watching your videos inspired me to pick up a new Sony master series TV, replacing my outdated pre,-smart tv Samsung. Lol. Back to my point! You could review a turd and I'd be hooked in the first 30 seconds of the video, your description and thoroughness are unparalleled in my opinion, I catch myself watching videos on things that I have no interest in or knowledge of just to be listening/watching. Love love the videos thank you for your hard work! And the loving banter that is Kristi! And her key cannot be beat. I look forward to your videos? Thank you!
Well stay tuned @Chad Rector because Andrew reviews poo is coming in 2022 😂 In all seriousness, thank you. Thank you for your kindness and for acknowledging Kristi's contribution as well.
Separates for me. I got a P6 and A23+ for cheaper than I could get a Hint 6 at. And I honestly wish the P6 didn't have a built in DAC or phono preamp as I don't use them. Hint 6 is very nice though.
The Yamaha is expensive but when you open it up and see the engineering and how beautiful it is all laid out and the hi- end capacitors ect you can see the price differences and in twenty years the Yamaha will still be rocking like a tank ! You need to compare Yamaha with Luxman and Macintosh . You have to open them and look , compare their insides and build quality ect. These makers are much more expensive. The insides tells the real story. But if you are just wanting a good sounding stereo then there are thousands to choose from. You are right about saving money. Like you I’m a Rotel fan because I know you can spend lots of money but not get anymore sound. Lots of people play the let’s keep up with the Jones attitude, not the music.
Thanks for the well thought out comparisons. Really appreciated. I have been thinking about the A21+ but 72 pounds, man I don't know. Also looking at the Musical Fidelity M6s PRX As you can tell I am looking at a pure amp.
I agree with Kristi on the styling. I don't care for it but for once I had to overlook Parasound's design aesthetic when I bought the Parasound JC3+ phono preamp -- the sound was too good.
I agree 100% with Kristi on the look of the Parasound. To me it seems stuck in the 1990s. The inside of the product is superb, but the outside needs a major redesign. And I too can't stand black boxes, but in this case it does help the look at least a little bit.
I have the Parasound Halo A51 power amplifier running the main 5 channels coming out of my Marantz SR 8015. I found the bass had a lot of weight and speed when driving my SVS Prime Pinnacles full bandwidth with the subs off. I'm sure this another outstanding product from Parasound and likely has a better pre-amp section than my Marantz.
Another great one Andrew and Katie makes me want to buy this one although your other video review made me purchase the Cambridge AXR100. Maybe something to look forward to in the future to upgrade with. Keep the videos coming and i will keep watching.
Great review! I noticed you changed to the Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250 for your TT. What immediate changes did hear with the boron cantilever compared to the aluminum on the normal 2M Black? Keep up the great work!
I just picked up a John curl HCA-1205A 5 channel amp and it is by far the best amp I’ve ever had it sounds so good clear clean power and brings my svs ultra to life it’s magical I am converted parasound fan better than outlaw better than emotiva amps I’ve had before
I want to thank you and Kristi for the hard work you put into your channel. There is nothing better than driving home listening to your reviews after a late hospital shift. And coming from a fellowTexan at that. Austin was was my go to city living in Giddings a few miles away a few years ago before settling here in Katy. Having heard that you have a experience with Parasound separates, may I get your opinion regarding upgrading from a parasound new classic 2250 v2 (275 watts ) amp with 2100 preamp to the m5si integrated. The amp is powering the ls50 metas , connected to denafrips ares2 fed primarily by the node 2i streaming Qobuz. Is the musical fidelity a significant step up from the parasound separate? Thank you and keep up the great work. Cheers!
@@stephencosta6814 I’ve read all the comments but nothing mentioned about a comparison between the m5si and the parasound new classic amps/preamps specifically by Andrew.
Love this review, looked at the HINT series when I bought my first "serious" system, ended up with a Rotel 1572. BUT: I just tossed the integrated out and went all separates this year: PrimaLuna EVO 300 pre with upgraded tubes, PassLabs XA-25 power, HoloAudio May DAC L2, EAT eglo petite phono stage (for VPI superprime scout with Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC* cartridge). This combo is about $15-20K (without TT), so very different price point. If you are willing to spend north of $10K for the functionality of an integrated, then separates make a lot of sense. Below $5K, integrated for sure. Between 5 and 10, it depends. my 2c.
Most people use remotes to control their stereo., so why not put the money into sound quality, rather than knobs that not many people will use? This is why affordable audio sounds like ass these days. Too much of the budget is spent on things which don't add to the sound quality. Next to sound quality, the main reason I like Parasound is because they know how to cut corners (to stay within budget for the price point) which don't harm the sound quality. They are the best bang for the buck. Right in the middle of mass market and boutique. My JC1 mono blocks sound better than many very expensive boutique amps costs several thousand dollars more. The marketing is so tight these days that you can't have your cake and eat it too.
Are separates better? Depends on the speakers. Anything under at least $4k/pr I doubt you'll tell a difference. Higher end speakers you can easily tell the difference. The more separated out you get the lower the noise becomes. You just need a very revealing speaker to be able to hear those differences.
Hmm when I look at everything available that big Rotel 1595 mk2, would be the one I'd cross shop against this. That one has some network ability I think.
Parasound puts the money where it matters (sound quality). In these days if you want solid metal knobs like in the 70-80s, then you need to pay much more money for very expensive boutique "jewlery". I don't want to pay thousands of dollars more for metal knobs, with the same (or almost as good) sound quality. It's a cutthroat business these days with internet advertising, so only the boutique companies can add more expensive jewelry knobs, because they charge way more than the equivalent sound quality is worth.
Great review guys. I’d love to hear your opinion on Sugden Amplifiers like the A21SE and the IA4. Any chance of trying to get one and do a review. Thanks.
I have to say I’m a big fan of you both. Great information every time. Question. I’m getting ready to pull the trigger on a pair of KLH Model 5 and was wondering where you would go in regard to an integrated. You have reviewed a lot of the ones I’m considering over the last few years, Technics GU700, Yamaha 1200/2200, Hint 6, and MF5si. The only one I’m considering that you haven’t reviewed is the Hegel 120/190. Would appreciate your thoughts on a favorite. Thx and Happy Holidays!
Great review. I actually have the current generation P6/A23+ combo and love it. The only reason I went that route over the Hint 6 is to facilitate an upgrade to the power amp down the road. But, TBH, I can't imagine I'd need to do that. The A23+ will drive pretty much anything and this rig sounds wonderful. I will say that I wasn't in love with the phono stage or the DAC. Both are good, but my Tavish phono stage (all tube) sounds far better to my ears, as does my Bifrost 2. Both are smoother/warmer which is my vibe. Other's may prefer the on-board phono/DAC for the opposite reason. I 100% agree with Kristi about the black - it looks tasteful but understated.
Thank you for the great review Andrew and Kristi, been waiting for this one since seeing the teaser shots in your prior posts. I was hoping you would have matched it to your Heresy's or Forte's as I am in the market for an integrated under 3K for my Cornwall IV's. With that said, I think I am going to have to find a way to demo the Hint6 and the Audiolab. Regarding you question of the day, I do not see a reason to go separates for my needs. The feature sets on some of these integrated units meet my needs and then some. Thanks again for all you do, love the channel.
I just accidentally found video from 2013 with Andrew Robinson in it. He looks like he is a teenager, although most likely mid 20s. :)) Its titled *Audio & Video Basics: AV Preamp/Processors* at _Emotiva Audio_
I have the previous model (halo) and love it. If you use Maggies (like I do LRS+) this is the one to get for the money in terms of power. Also the many inputs and great Phono stage (3 settings with 2 of them for MC!) throw this one over the top in terms of sound and value. I use a Denon DP 45F turntable with a Denon DL 103 MC Cartridge and that is the sweet spot for this amp!
Hello Kristi and Andrew, I like that the Audiolab 6000a can be either an integrated or a separate preamp. So I will say yes to separates but it's a personal choice depending on what you are trying to do. Great video review once again !!!!
For me the biggest issue is the look of it. Take a look at the Lyngdorf devices. Stunning look, awesome functionalities, great value for the pricepoint. That‘s the benchmark today.
I'm with Kristi's opinion, now days you don't need to have all your components separate, actually I think it's so much better to have it in one single component because that way you don't need to sync everything.
Back in 1986 my roommate brought home a Parasound DR 25 , Thorens TD 166 and Eagle bookshelf speakers ( made in Auburn Al) . This system was the one that triggered my addiction. I have these components today and Parasound will always have a special place in my audiophile heart:)
So now tricky question. Which would be a better amp . Iam down to two . Denon pma a 110 and this Hint 6 . Both have what I need , but there can only be one . Highlander pun 🎉
Andrew, I appreciate the review and your channel. I just purchased a pair of Focal Aria 948’s and have them powered by a SVS soundbase with a REL T9x sub as well but was looking to upgrade my amo and was thinking this would be a good fit. What are your thoughts and did it have plenty of power with the K2’s?
Hi never heard of parasound interesting to hear about new manufacturers. As to the question of the day I absolutely love my atom but I would consider separates in the future as an option, from what i've seen on forums people need seperates to be able to constantly "upgrade" lol
I picked up a NewClassic 275 v2 from parasound, at a more civilized price, and like it a lot. So far I have only used it with Emotiva T1 speakers. I like it a lot. And the combined price was reasonable.
Parasound A23+ is under consideration to pair with miniDSP device with Dirac. A Dirac review with different amps would be popular because no other reviewer has, as far as I've found. I'm very surprised about the equal recommendation for Hint 6 vs, Yamaha AS3200... Thanks
The MAC7200 IMHO is way better in term of sound, Constuction, finesse, resale value, and longevity. I sold my MA5300 for more then I originally bought it for brand new, 3 years ago, and purchased the MAC7200.
I've seen many comments here and other places that say there's no need for separates. Well, if you want to get nit picky there's no need for a $3000 integrated amp either. For most of us, most of the time, a good integrated is all we would ever need or want. I include myself in that bunch. Now, I do struggle to find a real sound reason to apply $3000 to, say $6000 or $7000 worth of separates to a total system that couldn't show the subtle improvements, if any, anyway. But when folks get extremely serious about the nth degree of sound quality then separates still have to potential to beat out even the best integrated amps. But I prefer a more simple setup and from what I have heard it takes a very large difference in price before separates definitely beat out good integrated amps. So for me personally I can attain the sound I want without going to separates. But you may not be able to do the same.
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Separates have been obsolete for me since my Dad brought home a Dual turntable and receiver combo way back in the early 70’s. Separates systems can wow, no doubt but that old law of diminishing returns comes into play pretty damned quickly for me when I look at the price tags of a separates system.
@phantasm1004 Well said. It comes down to being what I call “Audio Jewelry”. It looks nice and proves you can wire up boxes and follow a signal path but that’s about it.
With the continuing evaluation of digital formats, yes.
After owning the SU-G700 I can say no. It's totally not necessary to have separates.
Separates aren't necessary, but they do offer flexibility you don't get with an integrated. A high quality amp can be used for generations, but modern electronics on the pre-amp side have a much shorter refresh and upgrade cycle.
Retired audio/video manufacturer's representative here. Sold Parasound and other premium brands for many years and still own some of their equipment today. Fantastic sound for the money and excellent service that is rarely needed. I just got a Bluesound Node Gen 3 and buying the Denafrips Ares II to feed my new love for lossless streaming. I guess that means I still prefer some things to be separate but feel a proper integrated is comparable these days if not better for overall synergy with some systems. Really enjoy your videos and appreciate you both! Happy Holidays 🥳
So, Andrew & Kristi, you’ve just reviewed the integrated amp I’ve been listening to for the past year and a half. I managed to pick it up second hand, lightly used, for an excellent price, oh, and it is black. I enjoy it with my stereo setup, and I really haven’t notice the controls to be that cheap, except I quite like the feel of the volume control. For most everything else I use the remote control, which is well laid out and, especially great, backlit.
I enjoy the sound, sound stage is papable, well defined, with great depth. It also scales with different speakers. The balance between highs, midrange, and bass is realistic. I like the bass with my big speakers, it is articulate, fast, and organic - easy to tell the difference between standup and electric bass.
I think the audiolab and MF integrates are also great, I do enjoy the oomph the class ab amp can give the music when necessary.
For the price this is a great deal. And no, we don’t always need separates when it comes to amplification.
Keep up the great work, I enjoy your videos.
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE my Hint 6.
The Black/Gold contrast does pop. It also disappears at low-light late night listening.
And yes, Parasound is very, very proud of their volume control, but I've forgotten what that was. I just listen now.
Please keep using the Hint 6 when you review speakers and other equipment!!!
Andrew and Kristi - just got home from having heart surgery and this was quite the treat to come home to. Thanks for doing what you do - it matters. Have a wonderful holiday
@xjester1975 First, I hope you're doing okay and that everything went smoothly. Second, allow me to say thank you. Thank you for tuning in. We love being a part of all of. your days, but if we can help make a difficult day better --or at least be a minor distraction, count us in. Be well and happy holidays! -Andrew
Glad you are ok jester
Excellent work Andrew! I was watching a few older videos the other day and realized you don't put the bloopers in anymore. I think we need those back especially for the until the very end club.
I had an issue with my HINT a few years ago. There was some scratching noise in the volume. I called Parasound and they were on it. Sent me a RMA and were very communicative. Wow! I even got an email from Richard (President/CEO) checking in if everything was going smoothly. Fantastic company. Right up there with Mark Levinson. I was missing jumpers and had some questions… and a Mark Levinson engineer contacted me and even sent me jumpers for free. Excellent support.
That’s great to hear !
I am excited to see a monitor audio silver product on deck for review! I know you enjoyed the bronze 100, and 5.1 companions, so curious to see how you feel about a significant step up. I've run silver series towers for over a decade (RS6 and Silver 300 6g), so admittedly I'm a bit of a fanboy. Surprised you went with the dual 8" 500s, so interested to see how controlled they seem. Cheers!
I run the MA Silver 100 (7g), 50 (7g) and C350 (6g) in family room setup AWSOME setup. They sound better then the 6gs. 🦾
Thanks Andrew for reviewing a Parasound product and pleased you were both over all happy with the Hint 6 and recognizing Mr. Curl. I am very much enjoying the Halo P6 preamp driving their A21 amp. Love the features, the sound of the phono stage and of course the ESS 32 Reference DAC when running Qobuz via USB from the laptop.
The Martin Logan Classic 9's are also mated to these components from my brick and mortar dealer very close to me, and, like Kristy's preference, I purchased the Parasound in black, and yes, it does showoff the 'gold' lines integrated in the front panel (O:
Your videos are always great. I am impressed with Parasound gear. Would love to have you review their JC5 amp and their JC3+ or the more affordable JC3 Jr phono preamp as well.
I have been watching for about a month. I am enjoying the reviews and the fresh perspective.
Thank you so much Phil! Appreciate it!
I would have to say that when I first started off my audiophile journey in Keflavik, Iceland as a Former U.S. Marine my reference was the Technics SUV-8X and it went from there. I have now found because of the space that I currently have my reference now is the NAD C-368 BluOS. I also have to include that because I work from home that my desktop system is PARASOUND's Zamp v.3, Zpre3, Peachtree DAC iT x with Peachtree DS4.5 desktop speakers and two REL T/0's in stereo.
My local dealer hooked a Hint 6 up to a pair of Vandersteens and played them for me. I was seriously impressed. The combination was a sound I could have listened to forever. Nothing about it was fatiguing and the Hint 6 seemed to effortlessly drive the Vandies with ease.
I bet it was great!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews it was. I often wonder if I shouldn't have "gone that way"? It was a great sound at a price well below what I ended up with!
Hello Texas! Love how Parasound successfully achieves the right balance of power and features. Integrated DAC, bass management, xlr connections, etc. Great value overall. Thanks for the video. Cheers from France!
Thank you for watching!
Any of integrated products you discussed today will exceed the needs, and wants, of most potential buyers; however, I think separate components will continue to appeal to buyers who:
1. Llike mixing and matching components from different manufacturers.
2. Enjoy collecting audio gear.
3. Want to have the best of the best for it's own sake (regardless of ability to hear the difference or not).
4. Have huge rooms and/or exotic speakers that require vast amounts of power.
The input selector and subwoofer control is outstanding. This can easily be setup for a sub/sat system. The Parasound does this better than anyone I know. There is an occasional horror story of runaway volume control with this and the P6. Also consider Parasound service. 2 week turnaround is the average. No one touches this.
The best sound I've ever had was from a Parasound 5x200 A/AB 5-channel amp paired with a pair of B&W CDM1's. This was in 1997. I don't know how I ended up with this combination and even though I had a 5-channel amp, I basically used it for stereo listening. I do remember that on the back of the amp, there were individual volume controls for each of the 5 amps. I got incredible imaging; soundstage (height/width/depth); vocals were amazing. I think because the first 25 watts were Class A, that I was getting the sound I heard. This was 24 years ago. I have no idea what happened to that amp or the speakers, but I'd give anything to have that sound again. Nothing I've owned since has come close.
What a great review 👏thank you 😊 I have a parasound 2250v2 and aragon 24k preamplifier and I love it I would love to hear this amp in my system I don't have the money for just getting more amps thank you for giving such a great review
Parasound is legit. Well made, very powerful. Also a good fit for brighter speakers like Klipsch.
Very legit. Thanks for tuning in!
Do I smell a Monitor Audio Silver 500 7g review in the not so distant future 👀
I can vouch for Parasound's customer service being 2nd to none. I had the P5 prior to the P6. The P5 developed a noisy (scratchy) volume control. It used an Alps potentiometer style control. Parasound paid shipping both ways and replaced the volume control. I spoke to Richard on the phone and via emails. Unfortunately, the noise returned after having the P5 back for about a year. This time, to my complete astonishment, Richard had a new P6 sent to me and I return shipped the P5. I told my local dealer about this and even though he always talked up Parasound for taking care of their equipment/customers, was equally impressed. I don't use a Parasound amp though. I originally had an old Adcom GFA-5500, but it was beginning to exhibit some whooshing noise in one channel and I got nervous about it failing. I managed to sell it and picked up a SET 120 amp from Van Alstine. The combo is sweet. Plenty of solid, deep bass.
Thanks on the review enjoy even ones for items not in market for. You guys have me swinging between the audiolab and the ragnarock still have the zen in back of mind as well with my tekton lores. Thanks again
I have the Tekton lores and the audiolab 6000 a I have a Denafrapes Aries Dac the combination is simply beautiful
Always been curious about Parasound! Glad to see one in your trustworthy hands 👍
That's very kind of you to say. Hope we did the product justice.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Of course!
It's funny, I think I watch so many of your reviews that my speaking cadence in my videos slides into "Andrew Robinson" mode every once and a while, haha
I totally agree with Kristi. I usually prefer silver and find drab black boxes quite boring. However, I also prefer the Black on this one. I love to a/b one of these against my Vincent integrated.
Hi Andrew
Just bought the hint 6 and the sound is great .I connected totem forest signature speakers and enjoy this setup very much.Hope you will do sometime a review on these Canadian speakers .i follow your reviews and enjoy them very much.
The comment on knobs and controls is interesting because i find that this is an issue for most audio brands and offerings, almost regardless of price tag. There are still some brands that get this right, but it's almost as if the manufacturers know that most people are going to use the remote or an app... so they have no incentive to cater to the "few" people who still want the enjoyable tactile experience of a well made button or dial.
It's definitely a way to save, but at this price I want the complete experience.
Interesting comment. I'm afraid you might be right. Investing in software and connectivity might be taking precedence nowadays. So sad. Nothing more satisfying than touching well done knobs like Naim Atom and mu-so series, lyngdorf, Luxman, etc. The right mix of heft and smoothness... It's an art really! 🙂
Good job today as always, Andrew and Kristi. Truth to tell, I'm still using the Conrad-Johnson pre-amp and amp that I purchased in 1991 along with the Snell Series EIII speakers, ditto, but if I wanted/needed to get new gear in, I would go with integrated, very likely something really easy such as the Cambridge Audio Evo 150. And a pair of Wharfedale Lintons, which I'm giving serious thought to purchasing in any case. Cheers!
I believe your system would still sound better
Thanks for the review! I’m looking to replace my Hegel H200 for a Hint 6. Mostly for the feature-set.
About comparing the prices of the Audiolab 6000a play and Parasound Hint 6: in the Netherlands (Europe) the Audiolab costs around €750,- (=$850,-) and the Parasound costs around €3500,- ($4000,-).
Why don't you just get a new DAC? Hegel is probably superior.
Nice review, I believe separates will always have their place to an audiophile. For most people the expense to performance ratio will result in them being perfectly satisfied with an integrated amp like the Parasound.
Separates may no longer be necessary, but I prefer them. I'm a gearhead. Give me a rack and fill them with nice, black boxes that produce mind-bogglong sound - and I'm in! My old rack system separates have been in storage so long now, they're out of date and need to be replaced with new, black, rack-mountable boxes.
Let the acquisition begin!
I personally like separates, but that's just me. And I have a Parasound related question for you. I use a A23 and a A21 for my home theater set up. My speakers are not the most efficient. I have read in many forums that Parasound products run really hot. Mine does not run hot at all.
When my son was home for Thanksgiving, we watched the last two Godzilla movies back to back, and its was loud. The Amps were barely Luke warm.
Did you folks notice the Hint 6 running hot?
I run a Marantz AVR as basically a Preamp Processor and it gets what I call, hot to the touch. Thoughts? Just curious.
Great review! I love my Parasound Amps.
Many Paradound amps run pretty cool. A few of the Halo designs are highly biased into class A and CAN run pretty warm ( JC5, A21+, etc ) but they also have giant AL heatsinks, so depending on speaker loads, volume, & given space to breath they may not get all that hot.
As far as the whole "Separates vs. integrateds" issue... my take? Given the price points I live within, I'd have to say my answer is mostly no, they are not necessary. In fact, (although I am in the process of purchasing some monoblocks) I can easily see myself settling down with a really good integrated amp for the rest of my years. The ONLY thing I would probably be concerned about purchasing as an external to a good integrated is a really good phono preamp.
Just a side note here: there was an audio show in NYC in like...2017? John Strohbeen of Ohm Acoustics was showing off a pair of his Ohm speakers and driving them with a sub-$1000 stereo receiver from Outlaw Audio (RR-2160). Herb Reichert was at that show and was mightily impressed at how much great sound could be had for so little coin.
Agreed
Very much enjoyed this thought provoking review. Thank you! To add my two cents ... I own the Hint 6 and very much like it's power output and relatively neutral sound reproduction. I have several sets of speakers that I rotate through and do not want coloration from the amp. I think this amp would go well with virtually any speaker type. I like the level of input versatility but would like to have an hdmi input. I prefer the silver color over the black as it stands out better from a distance and goes well with my other silver colored equipment. The plastic knobs are not a deal breaker to me as the other features, sound quality and versatility outweigh the subjective negativity of plastic knobs. Would I go with separates? Absolutely. Would I go with Parasound separates? Absolutely. In the next year or two? Absolutely!
Thanks again for the review Andrew. I always enjoy hearing yours and Kristi's opinion on various gear.
Well it depends on what audio journey you want to be... If you just want to put it down and play , then go with all in 1. If you want to explore and maybe change up certain elements then separates. Also some don't have the space to accommodate lots of units. For me, at least the DAC part should be separate or have the ability to upgrade down the line as it is constantly changing and evolving, but from the looks of it the parasound has the option to swap it out.
Ok, I really want to be the guy who says “Nope, integrated amps have come so far that not only are separates not needed, but they are now inferior!” but, as I look at my own system, I’m basically using separates at the moment. I’m real big into blending my hifi and home theater set ups so even though I’m using an integrated amp, I have the volume maxed on it and use the two inputs to switch between stereo and multichannel. Even when an amp has a true pass through for HT, there are things which are just easier when going separates. Using active crossovers, mixing tube and solid state(I love running my HT on six watts of single ended tube power), amp placement and probably some other factors I’m missing at the moment. By and large though the average person and even the average hifi enthusiast can find real joy without going the separates route, but for weirdos like me, it seems there will always be a need to keep things apart.
Integrateds are perfect for great, no-mess sound. Separates are perfect for hobbyist 😂. I keep meaning to reduce the number of boxes in my system but every year I have more.
What components do you use to have both a good music and good home theater sound?
@@crh4878 currently, the ones I can afford :D The main portion of the system comprises of a Musical Paradise MP-301 amp driving a pair of Tekton Mini Lores. The 6.5 watts of the 301 drives the efficient Mini Lores just fine in my smallish room. Stereo sources are a NAD 533(A Rega 2 oem)and a digital front end with a Focusrite Scarlett 8i6 handling a computer and a Blu-ray player. Those two are controlled by a passive preamp that feeds into one input on the MP-301.
The other input on the MP-301 is feed from an old Marantz SR5004 I found on eBay. That has that Blu-ray player and an Apple TV as sources. The amps in the receiver are busted so I have to use a little circuit board amp for the rears. I keep it a 4.0 system for simplicity.
Parasound in the Hint 6 put all the new refinements as for all the Halo series. For what I know an A23+ coupled with a P6 is far superior in HiFi quality, but yeah separates are more expensive.
I own an A21+ and I LOVE it.
Good evening Andrew and Kristi, and Happiest of Holidays to you and your entire families. I have one question. I know that you two have given mad love and support to some of the RUclips Audiophiles, and you have gotten some work done by Just Audio who "JUST" happen to be in my backyard. I say all of that to ask you this have you ever looked into G-R Research and thought about them showing some love to a pair of speakers that you own and then hear the difference that it would make on some of the beautiful pieces that demonstrate and see if you hear the difference?
👍 Great review Andrew I love your unbiased opinions and your reviewing style , I to second the Outlaw Audio rr2160 it's a beast , would love to hear you and Christy's opinion on this product
Great review, guys! I'm glad you finally reviewed a Parasound product. I use two Parasound Model 275 v.2 power amps (mono) and a Parasound Model 200 Pre preamplifier in my system. I've had them a little over a year now, and love them. Obviously, I believe in separates, so they are necessary for me. The three components cost me less than the Hint 6, and have the same features, except for balanced in/outs. They make any speaker sound great! Keep up the great work...........
I wish it had some streaming capabilities, I had this for a couple of days. I ended up going with Hegel. Love that you reviewed this. What about Hegel?
Hegel amps are superior and you pay a premium for that. The H190 has similar power and it’s a grand more. It also doesn’t have all the features, but obviously if you’re grading solely on sound Hegel is going to best Parasound easily.
Morning everybody. How's everyone's week going so far?
Not bad. I got the new Beats Fit Pro buds and they are a great set of earbuds. With the M1 processor and other Apple features they also actually stay in my ears so they’re replacing my AirPods Pro. But enough about me. How’s your week, Kristi?
Come on Friday! Lol
Lovely profile pic!
One week until vacation...the countdown has begun!
Good. Christmas is coming. You guys did well this year on you tube wirh a good balance of audio and HT stuff. I liked learning about the Cambridge vs the Parasound. Once you start reviewing 7k or 8k dollar receivers and speakers I kind of tune out. The appreciable difference then becomes more obsessive and ego based to me.
I noticed the Apple TV and Apple Music shout out at the beginning. My family has been having lots of fun with that lately, the UI is really great.
I wish all integrated amps had the sub out function that the Parasound does. Honestly I think that should be standard in all integrated amps.
100% AGREE!
Also the low pass & high pass filters, extremely useful!
Nice review as always, thank you! Wich integrated amplifier do you think is better or wich you prefeer, This Parasound Hint 6 or the Rotel RA-6000?
I just bought a pair of KLH Model 5 speakers. Now I'm looking for an integrated amp that pairs well with them. After watching reviews of the Model 5's, it seems most reviewers recommended matching them with a muscular sounding amp to bring out the best in those speakers. I wonder what you think would be a good match for the model 5's? Is the Parasound Halo Hint 6 a good choice or are there other options that may be a better choice?
What amp did you end up getting?
Here’s what I think, you and your wife, are HANDS DOWN, THE BEST reviewers on RUclips IMO - that’s what I think. Oh, and BTW, was really into clothes in my younger years, I’m saying the Hint 6 has poor “hand.” 😉
YES THEY ARE :-)
Any chance you can review the Hegel h190? Would love your opinion on that piece
Reviewers almost unanimously agree that it's one of the best receivers for its price. I think it's better than the Halo, and I've had both.
I just almost bought one of these. I ended up going with the Rotel RA1572 MKII instead. Same/more functionality, $900 cheaper and looks better imo. I don't know if the Rotel is a better amp than the Hint 6 but it's fantastic and I love it.
For those wanting to know: I demo'd a Hint6 vs P6 and A23+ combo in house for a few weeks. The P6/A23+ combo is slightly better. It's not night and day difference, but when doing an A/B comparison you can hear the subtle differences. The main difference is the P6/A23+ combo plays at 3 or 4 db higher with the volume set the same on both units. The background seems just a little quieter on the P6/A23+ combo, giving it just a "Hint" more dynamics. I was able to snag both pieces on clearance from Crutchfield; but I see the Hint6 is marked down on their site too. I wouldn't lose any sleep over which is better. If you can grab either for around $2500 then you'd have a great deal.
That was a great review guys. Thanks as always ❤️
Glad you enjoyed it
Can you try and review denon higher end amps like pma 1600ne or pma A110.
Not much you can find on those especially the 1600 on the review side.
are it possible to review Canton speakers are very popular in Europe and can't find an opinion on them, from a person whose opinion i appreciate?
I’m so glad you reviewed the Parasound! I currently have a 2125 v.2 and I’m thinking of upgrading to the A23+. I’m using a McIntosh C39 preamp. I’m curious- how much better is the A23+ than the 2125 v.2?
Ok this needs to be said!! I've been out of the home theater THING.. for around 10 years. Watching your videos inspired me to pick up a new Sony master series TV, replacing my outdated pre,-smart tv Samsung. Lol. Back to my point! You could review a turd and I'd be hooked in the first 30 seconds of the video, your description and thoroughness are unparalleled in my opinion, I catch myself watching videos on things that I have no interest in or knowledge of just to be listening/watching. Love love the videos thank you for your hard work! And the loving banter that is Kristi! And her key cannot be beat. I look forward to your videos? Thank you!
Well stay tuned @Chad Rector because Andrew reviews poo is coming in 2022 😂 In all seriousness, thank you. Thank you for your kindness and for acknowledging Kristi's contribution as well.
Separates for me. I got a P6 and A23+ for cheaper than I could get a Hint 6 at. And I honestly wish the P6 didn't have a built in DAC or phono preamp as I don't use them. Hint 6 is very nice though.
The Yamaha is expensive but when you open it up and see the engineering and how beautiful it is all laid out and the hi- end capacitors ect you can see the price differences and in twenty years the Yamaha will still be rocking like a tank ! You need to compare Yamaha with Luxman and Macintosh . You have to open them and look , compare their insides and build quality ect. These makers are much more expensive. The insides tells the real story. But if you are just wanting a good sounding stereo then there are thousands to choose from. You are right about saving money. Like you I’m a Rotel fan because I know you can spend lots of money but not get anymore sound. Lots of people play the let’s keep up with the Jones attitude, not the music.
Thanks for the well thought out comparisons. Really appreciated. I have been thinking about the A21+ but 72 pounds, man I don't know. Also looking at the Musical Fidelity M6s PRX As you can tell I am looking at a pure amp.
Always thought these looked really nice. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts!
Let us know what you think when you're done watching!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews sounds like a great piece but the silly issue of cheap knobs honestly makes me want to go M5SI instead
I agree with Kristi on the styling. I don't care for it but for once I had to overlook Parasound's design aesthetic when I bought the Parasound JC3+ phono preamp -- the sound was too good.
I agree 100% with Kristi on the look of the Parasound. To me it seems stuck in the 1990s. The inside of the product is superb, but the outside needs a major redesign. And I too can't stand black boxes, but in this case it does help the look at least a little bit.
I have the Parasound Halo A51 power amplifier running the main 5 channels coming out of my Marantz SR 8015. I found the bass had a lot of weight and speed when driving my SVS Prime Pinnacles full bandwidth with the subs off. I'm sure this another outstanding product from Parasound and likely has a better pre-amp section than my Marantz.
Running an A23+ with a Marantz 5014. Klipsch 600M’s for the fronts and a Rel H/T1013. Sounds sweet so far. My journey continues.
Another great one Andrew and Katie makes me want to buy this one although your other video review made me purchase the Cambridge AXR100. Maybe something to look forward to in the future to upgrade with. Keep the videos coming and i will keep watching.
Great review! I noticed you changed to the Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250 for your TT. What immediate changes did hear with the boron cantilever compared to the aluminum on the normal 2M Black?
Keep up the great work!
Hey that’s my integrated! It’s not best at everything but it does everything well enough! Thanks Andrew
It is a solid all-rounder.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I agree Andrew! Thanks for covering it. I am saving money for the anthem STR integrated.
I just picked up a John curl HCA-1205A 5 channel amp and it is by far the best amp I’ve ever had it sounds so good clear clean power and brings my svs ultra to life it’s magical I am converted parasound fan better than outlaw better than emotiva amps I’ve had before
I have the black version, and it is so beautiful and mature! Definitely elegant.
I think I would've visually preferred the black edition. It looks so pretty.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I did see both in person at the store while ordering it. It is definitely better looking in black and a lot more timeless.
I want to thank you and Kristi for the hard work you put into your channel. There is nothing better than driving home listening to your reviews after a late hospital shift. And coming from a fellowTexan at that. Austin was was my go to city living in Giddings a few miles away a few years ago before settling here in Katy.
Having heard that you have a experience with Parasound separates, may I get your opinion regarding upgrading from a parasound new classic 2250 v2 (275 watts ) amp with 2100 preamp to the m5si integrated. The amp is powering the ls50 metas , connected to denafrips ares2 fed primarily by the node 2i streaming Qobuz. Is the musical fidelity a significant step up from the parasound separate? Thank you and keep up the great work. Cheers!
I believe he already answered that question he said they are comparable just about to same
@@stephencosta6814 I’ve read all the comments but nothing mentioned about a comparison between the m5si and the parasound new classic amps/preamps specifically by Andrew.
Whoa.. I was just looking into the Hint 6... Perfect timing. Thanks!
I love mine. Sounds great and dead simple to use. Ideal offramp from the pairing games...
Love this review, looked at the HINT series when I bought my first "serious" system, ended up with a Rotel 1572. BUT: I just tossed the integrated out and went all separates this year: PrimaLuna EVO 300 pre with upgraded tubes, PassLabs XA-25 power, HoloAudio May DAC L2, EAT eglo petite phono stage (for VPI superprime scout with Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC* cartridge). This combo is about $15-20K (without TT), so very different price point. If you are willing to spend north of $10K for the functionality of an integrated, then separates make a lot of sense. Below $5K, integrated for sure. Between 5 and 10, it depends. my 2c.
Andrew, you're a lucky man, Kristi is so amazing!
Most people use remotes to control their stereo., so why not put the money into sound quality, rather than knobs that not many people will use? This is why affordable audio sounds like ass these days. Too much of the budget is spent on things which don't add to the sound quality. Next to sound quality, the main reason I like Parasound is because they know how to cut corners (to stay within budget for the price point) which don't harm the sound quality. They are the best bang for the buck. Right in the middle of mass market and boutique. My JC1 mono blocks sound better than many very expensive boutique amps costs several thousand dollars more. The marketing is so tight these days that you can't have your cake and eat it too.
Are separates better? Depends on the speakers. Anything under at least $4k/pr I doubt you'll tell a difference. Higher end speakers you can easily tell the difference. The more separated out you get the lower the noise becomes. You just need a very revealing speaker to be able to hear those differences.
Andrew, How do you like the Mac 7200 receiver? is that a loaner or yours?
Stay tuned for our full review.
I think the feel and the look are very important. I will never buy something for 3k with cheap feel. That's just me
Hmm when I look at everything available that big Rotel 1595 mk2, would be the one I'd cross shop against this. That one has some network ability I think.
Parasound puts the money where it matters (sound quality). In these days if you want solid metal knobs like in the 70-80s, then you need to pay much more money for very expensive boutique "jewlery". I don't want to pay thousands of dollars more for metal knobs, with the same (or almost as good) sound quality. It's a cutthroat business these days with internet advertising, so only the boutique companies can add more expensive jewelry knobs, because they charge way more than the equivalent sound quality is worth.
Love my P6, awesome feature set and performance in my system. Especially the subwoofer bypass feature!
Howie day... man now this was a trip down memory lane :) thx for that for reminding me of him.
Would love for a review of the PARASOUND HALO JC5
Great review guys. I’d love to hear your opinion on Sugden Amplifiers like the A21SE and the IA4. Any chance of trying to get one and do a review.
Thanks.
I have to say I’m a big fan of you both. Great information every time. Question. I’m getting ready to pull the trigger on a pair of KLH Model 5 and was wondering where you would go in regard to an integrated. You have reviewed a lot of the ones I’m considering over the last few years, Technics GU700, Yamaha 1200/2200, Hint 6, and MF5si. The only one I’m considering that you haven’t reviewed is the Hegel 120/190. Would appreciate your thoughts on a favorite. Thx and Happy Holidays!
I can say that all of your potential picks mate well with the Model 5.
That McIntosh is starting to look comfortable.
Oh it's very comfortable. 😜
@@andrewrobinsonreviews carful, you'll be building the emerald city in the spare room.
Never mind the sound (great of course), it’s still a beauty. Timeless design dna.
It is a nice design, for sure!
Great review. I actually have the current generation P6/A23+ combo and love it. The only reason I went that route over the Hint 6 is to facilitate an upgrade to the power amp down the road. But, TBH, I can't imagine I'd need to do that. The A23+ will drive pretty much anything and this rig sounds wonderful.
I will say that I wasn't in love with the phono stage or the DAC. Both are good, but my Tavish phono stage (all tube) sounds far better to my ears, as does my Bifrost 2. Both are smoother/warmer which is my vibe. Other's may prefer the on-board phono/DAC for the opposite reason.
I 100% agree with Kristi about the black - it looks tasteful but understated.
Thank you for the great review Andrew and Kristi, been waiting for this one since seeing the teaser shots in your prior posts. I was hoping you would have matched it to your Heresy's or Forte's as I am in the market for an integrated under 3K for my Cornwall IV's. With that said, I think I am going to have to find a way to demo the Hint6 and the Audiolab.
Regarding you question of the day, I do not see a reason to go separates for my needs. The feature sets on some of these integrated units meet my needs and then some.
Thanks again for all you do, love the channel.
Thank you Robert.
I just accidentally found video from 2013 with Andrew Robinson in it. He looks like he is a teenager, although most likely mid 20s. :)) Its titled *Audio & Video Basics: AV Preamp/Processors* at _Emotiva Audio_
I was 32, but thank you for the compliment.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews You are welcome young man! I remember when I was 32... back in 1984! Yikes! :)
Great review! I did not know much about Parasound before this review.
Thanks for watching! Hope you found it helpful!
I have the previous model (halo) and love it. If you use Maggies (like I do LRS+) this is the one to get for the money in terms of power. Also the many inputs and great Phono stage (3 settings with 2 of them for MC!) throw this one over the top in terms of sound and value. I use a Denon DP 45F turntable with a Denon DL 103 MC Cartridge and that is the sweet spot for this amp!
Morning ..... I look forward to your review of the silver 500 😊😊😊
Stay tuned...
@@andrewrobinsonreviews i'm always tuned 🙂
Hello Kristi and Andrew, I like that the Audiolab 6000a can be either an integrated or a separate preamp. So I will say yes to separates but it's a personal choice depending on what you are trying to do. Great video review once again !!!!
For me the biggest issue is the look of it. Take a look at the Lyngdorf devices. Stunning look, awesome functionalities, great value for the pricepoint. That‘s the benchmark today.
I'm with Kristi's opinion, now days you don't need to have all your components separate, actually I think it's so much better to have it in one single component because that way you don't need to sync everything.
Back in 1986 my roommate brought home a Parasound DR 25 , Thorens TD 166 and Eagle bookshelf speakers ( made in Auburn Al) . This system was the one that triggered my addiction. I have these components today and Parasound will always have a special place in my audiophile heart:)
i have a feeling like you guys are apologizing for being nitpicky. But I mean for that price you have to be! ...Great review, I enjoyed it!
So now tricky question. Which would be a better amp . Iam down to two .
Denon pma a 110 and this Hint 6 .
Both have what I need , but there can only be one . Highlander pun 🎉
Andrew, I appreciate the review and your channel. I just purchased a pair of Focal Aria 948’s and have them powered by a SVS soundbase with a REL T9x sub as well but was looking to upgrade my amo and was thinking this would be a good fit. What are your thoughts and did it have plenty of power with the K2’s?
Hi never heard of parasound interesting to hear about new manufacturers. As to the question of the day I absolutely love my atom but I would consider separates in the future as an option, from what i've seen on forums people need seperates to be able to constantly "upgrade" lol
I picked up a NewClassic 275 v2 from parasound, at a more civilized price, and like it a lot. So far I have only used it with Emotiva T1 speakers. I like it a lot. And the combined price was reasonable.
Parasound A23+ is under consideration to pair with miniDSP device with Dirac. A Dirac review with different amps would be popular because no other reviewer has, as far as I've found.
I'm very surprised about the equal recommendation for Hint 6 vs, Yamaha AS3200... Thanks
I gotta say, having stereo sub outs with an sub level knob on the front is a big draw for me.
It's a GREAT feature!
THAT is a great feature. Not enough on its own to sway my purchase but something that makes me ask why everyone doesn’t do it?
@Sean Vedell I couldn’t agree more. I sure wish it were commonplace in the hifi world.
The MAC7200 IMHO is way better in term of sound, Constuction, finesse, resale value, and longevity. I sold my MA5300 for more then I originally bought it for brand new, 3 years ago, and purchased the MAC7200.
💯 Percent
I've seen many comments here and other places that say there's no need for separates. Well, if you want to get nit picky there's no need for a $3000 integrated amp either. For most of us, most of the time, a good integrated is all we would ever need or want. I include myself in that bunch. Now, I do struggle to find a real sound reason to apply $3000 to, say $6000 or $7000 worth of separates to a total system that couldn't show the subtle improvements, if any, anyway. But when folks get extremely serious about the nth degree of sound quality then separates still have to potential to beat out even the best integrated amps. But I prefer a more simple setup and from what I have heard it takes a very large difference in price before separates definitely beat out good integrated amps. So for me personally I can attain the sound I want without going to separates. But you may not be able to do the same.
Go price the parasound P6 and the Halo 23+ then price the hint 6... hope that explains it better to you