Great start Sir, things I find helpful in reviews are: equipment used, speakers, preamp, etc. also, if you tried other combinations and reference points to competing equipment in the general price range. One of the other things that is useful is, who is this product for so for instance, maybe someone with a pair of inefficient speakers that have a low impedance or someone who listens to music in the 95 to 100 dB range. If I’m going to connect with a reviewer, I also like to see the listening space, Steve, Guttenburg, and Terrence from the British audio file allow the viewer to see the pros and cons of the rooms and set ups and this helps connect me with them. I look forward to seeing you in the future😊
Thanks for the review nicely done. I had the original JC1 in 2003, paid $6600 Canadian for a store demo pair. Years later, I sold them to a gentleman in Italy for more. Parasound support sent the fuses and instructions for the voltage change. They were outstanding amps and a crazy bargain. I can't believe what they are charging for the review amp. The design looks exactly the same after 20 plus years. Common Parasound, those screws on top are fugly, you need a complete design overhaul and modernization of tbe looks! I was considering buying the 2nd gen JC1's when they came out, but I could not pull the trigger on looks alone. I have the McIntosh MC1.25KW now, and they sound and look beautiful.
Love your taste in music and your description of what you heard, Robert. A suggestion: mention the price of the gear in the beginning of the video. I assumed that a Parasound mono amp would be much less than $15,000 and probably would have skipped over everything except the track you listened to if I knew t he amp was well beyond my budget.
I have no problem with expensive audio components. I own some myself. But 15k for a pair of these is absurd and its not even part of their premium line that John Curl designs. If they keep this up, people are going to have to settle for less expensive brands made in the US, Canada, UK, etc...
Great job, Robert! I've been waiting for some new stuff to come out from Parasound since the change in ownership. Looks like they are off to a good start and I'm glad to see JC still involved.
It would great if paramount would make a stripped down budget mono amp to go with the classic series, the cost of this equipment is out of most peoples budgets.
Priced in a similar range to the Rotel Michi M8 monoblocks I auditioned with a friend - he neded up buying the S5 stereo amplifier to match the P5 preamplifier.
Welcome. Just a thought - fail to understand why some reviewers (not you particularly) feel the need to literally explain all the inputs, outputs and whatever else, on the rear panel of amps, pre-amps, dacs and the like, when ALL the info is printed on the backplate and further explained in the owner / user manual. Surely it's familiar ground to all audiophiles. At the asking price for a pair of JCM250s, I'd rather a pair of the Kinki Studio EX-M7s with the EX-P27 pre-amp - that would leave the Parasound in its' wake with more than $5k to spare.
I like to see and hear about amplifier input/outputs and controls. Sometimes those details are what makes an audio product more flexible for use in a variety of systems.
It would be better if you looked at the camera and not shift eyes all around. Just to make the viewers think you are talking to them personally. Good luck and welcome to the club.🎉
I'm sure it's a terrific amp, and I will admit a preference for monoblocks (I own a pair of Mark Levinson ML-2s). *BUT* ... at this price point, I could easily invest in a Parasound JC-5 stereo power amp, get 400 watts per channel and outstanding performance. Thanks, but that's a hard pass for me.
Where does this amp fit in the Parasound lineup? Is it above the JC5? Wondering if these would be an upgrade sonically or about the same level of performance.
I have heard the JC5, and it is not an equal to the original JC1. I would hope these to be better than the JC5 by quite a bit. Maybe not ultimate power, but in sound. I am intrigued by their size, as the JC1+ is getting to be a bit big (weight), but you gotta love the power. I am hoping these are a JC1+ light. Which is what I would be looking for.
Wonder if there is any chance Darren Myers designed this, or had a hand in it? I know it’s a “JC” labeled model but perhaps that’s for equity sake. I don’t think this product is innovative enough to have been designed by Myers.
How much better is this 250 watt per channel pair at $15,000 than my TWO A21 Parasounds which JC designed and put out which I run bi-amped for 500 total per side and I paid $5000? I get 16 watts class A per side. Why does this amp actually look CHEAPER to my eye than my more massive A21s? Has anyone compared the sound quality of the two amp designs? I suppose the ability to run at one Ohm loads may be handy with certain impossible to drive loudspeakers but for 99% of us out here that will never be of use in real world conditions. I could be wrong but this amp seems to be a marketing change from Parasound's previous reputation of maximum bang for the buck. Not saying it is not a great amp and worth the money for certain buyers. And I love my own Parasounds and admire JC. But that is a whole ,lot of money for something without blue meters. Ha!
Parasound , for the first time , is hiding data. I can't find any information regarding the transformer size or power supply capacitance. It's a really nice amp , but $15,000/pair is out of my price range.
$15k a pair! Glad you mentioned this at the end and not at the start or I would’ve switched videos.
Glad I seen your post , I'm off
it would have been nice to see inside this unit during the review..
Great start Sir, things I find helpful in reviews are: equipment used, speakers, preamp, etc. also, if you tried other combinations and reference points to competing equipment in the general price range. One of the other things that is useful is, who is this product for so for instance, maybe someone with a pair of inefficient speakers that have a low impedance or someone who listens to music in the 95 to 100 dB range. If I’m going to connect with a reviewer, I also like to see the listening space, Steve, Guttenburg, and Terrence from the British audio file allow the viewer to see the pros and cons of the rooms and set ups and this helps connect me with them. I look forward to seeing you in the future😊
Well, it's NOT for multiple passive subs. FAIL.
Its a mono block @roofpizza1250
Thanks for the review nicely done. I had the original JC1 in 2003, paid $6600 Canadian for a store demo pair. Years later, I sold them to a gentleman in Italy for more. Parasound support sent the fuses and instructions for the voltage change. They were outstanding amps and a crazy bargain. I can't believe what they are charging for the review amp. The design looks exactly the same after 20 plus years. Common Parasound, those screws on top are fugly, you need a complete design overhaul and modernization of tbe looks! I was considering buying the 2nd gen JC1's when they came out, but I could not pull the trigger on looks alone. I have the McIntosh MC1.25KW now, and they sound and look beautiful.
This product is praised to the limits.. It does everything, it seems.. I need to read another review of the same product to make sure.
Great review, I’ve been a parasound user for a long time!
Is this the new direction that Richard Schram promised when he took over the company? Raising prices seems to be their main motivation!
He also stated that parasound products were worth more then the previously priced. He raised the prices dramatically in the name of greed.
Love your taste in music and your description of what you heard, Robert. A suggestion: mention the price of the gear in the beginning of the video. I assumed that a Parasound mono amp would be much less than $15,000 and probably would have skipped over everything except the track you listened to if I knew t
he amp was well beyond my budget.
I have no problem with expensive audio components. I own some myself. But 15k for a pair of these is absurd and its not even part of their premium line that John Curl designs. If they keep this up, people are going to have to settle for less expensive brands made in the US, Canada, UK, etc...
Man, they couldn't use countersunk screws on the top cover...!?
Thirty grand for a pair of monoblocs, and they scrimp on the screws? What is this world coming to?
Great review. Thank you. However, at that price, I think I would just save up and get the JC1’s. That’s just me though.
A Parasound sound system was what got it all started for me in 1985
Welcome Robert to the TAS family!
Thank you for the welcome.
Great job Robert ! 👍
Great review! Thanks for sharing.
Hi Robert I was wondering what you use for a preamp when you review the JCM250 Monoblocks Thanks for your time
Nice review.. powerful and stable with gain adjustment.. price is the only issue for some..
Welcome Robert :)
Thank You
Well Done, Rob
Great job on your first review. Parasound makes great products. It could be helpful for us viewers to know what the accompanying equipment used was.
Robert’s reference gear is in the description.
Great job, Robert!
I've been waiting for some new stuff to come out from Parasound since the change in ownership. Looks like they are off to a good start and I'm glad to see JC still involved.
Parasound 👍🏻
Thanks for the review.
just an excellent review, thanks!
It would great if paramount would make a stripped down budget mono amp to go with the classic series, the cost of this equipment is out of most peoples budgets.
But why screw head on top visible, 🤔 🙄
Hi Robert my name is David I left you a Message last week on what preamp you used to review the JCM250 monoblocks I appreciate your time and response
Can you put in the specs in your headings
Priced in a similar range to the Rotel Michi M8 monoblocks I auditioned with a friend - he neded up buying the S5 stereo amplifier to match the P5 preamplifier.
Hey Robert. Can't beat a nice monobloc. What speakers do you use in your test system? I think I missed you saying.
My reference speakers are the Magico S1 MK II. I also used the Dipytique DP107.
Very true thought. I also contemplated about that
Even if something is out of my price range, I like to know about it. Down the road, maybe, I can afford the product.
Welcome.
Just a thought - fail to understand why some reviewers (not you particularly) feel the need to literally explain all the inputs, outputs and whatever else, on the rear panel of amps, pre-amps, dacs and the like, when ALL the info is printed on the backplate and further explained in the owner / user manual. Surely it's familiar ground to all audiophiles.
At the asking price for a pair of JCM250s, I'd rather a pair of the Kinki Studio EX-M7s with the EX-P27 pre-amp - that would leave the Parasound in its' wake with more than $5k to spare.
I like to see and hear about amplifier input/outputs and controls. Sometimes those details are what makes an audio product more flexible for use in a variety of systems.
I wonder how these Parasound amps compare to the Simaudio M400, outside of price.
It would be better if you looked at the camera and not shift eyes all around. Just to make the viewers think you are talking to them personally. Good luck and welcome to the club.🎉
Good analysis 👍 👏
I'm sure it's a terrific amp, and I will admit a preference for monoblocks (I own a pair of Mark Levinson ML-2s). *BUT* ... at this price point, I could easily invest in a Parasound JC-5 stereo power amp, get 400 watts per channel and outstanding performance.
Thanks, but that's a hard pass for me.
Yes, but did he like it?
What happened to an demo?
This JCM250 is priced between the JC5 stereo amp and the Mono JC1+. How does it compare to those two other Parasound amplifier ?
Sir, what speakers did you test the amps with?
Did john Curl design these?
Superb review. Great job and welcome to RUclips
Where does this amp fit in the Parasound lineup? Is it above the JC5? Wondering if these would be an upgrade sonically or about the same level of performance.
I have heard the JC5, and it is not an equal to the original JC1. I would hope these to be better than the JC5 by quite a bit. Maybe not ultimate power, but in sound. I am intrigued by their size, as the JC1+ is getting to be a bit big (weight), but you gotta love the power. I am hoping these are a JC1+ light. Which is what I would be looking for.
Monoblocks are seldom built so short. How to accommodate a powerful transformer?
I have the PARASOUND JC5, couldn't afford the mono blocks.
Parasound styling is stuck in 1996
I'm glad for that, I've added the JC3+ recently and it matches up with my amp.
Wonder if there is any chance Darren Myers designed this, or had a hand in it? I know it’s a “JC” labeled model but perhaps that’s for equity sake. I don’t think this product is innovative enough to have been designed by Myers.
Outlaw audio sells similar monoblocks for $399 each.
…how similar is similar, really
How much better is this 250 watt per channel pair at $15,000 than my TWO A21 Parasounds which JC designed and put out which I run bi-amped for 500 total per side and I paid $5000? I get 16 watts class A per side. Why does this amp actually look CHEAPER to my eye than my more massive A21s? Has anyone compared the sound quality of the two amp designs? I suppose the ability to run at one Ohm loads may be handy with certain impossible to drive loudspeakers but for 99% of us out here that will never be of use in real world conditions. I could be wrong but this amp seems to be a marketing change from Parasound's previous reputation of maximum bang for the buck. Not saying it is not a great amp and worth the money for certain buyers. And I love my own Parasounds and admire JC. But that is a whole ,lot of money for something without blue meters. Ha!
Parasound , for the first time , is hiding data. I can't find any information regarding the transformer size or power supply capacitance. It's a really nice amp , but $15,000/pair is out of my price range.
Weird that those numbers are missing. Parasound doesn't seem to offer a compelling reason for the price of these.
Silly price for what you get. Id go pair of Schiit Tyrs for a quarter of the price.
Coda soooo much better 😊
Doug Dale is a Super Genius
$15k a pair?! 🤣
For that?! 😂
There must be some good stuff in the air in San Fran! 💨
😂
Good job 👏
Only one pair of binding posts? LOLZ.
It's a monoblock what would you expect?
50 uear audiophile. Do not buy.