High Points. Maak een luisterafspraak. It is odd how small changes can make a big difference, which will become a common theme as we wear on. Its replacement, the Halo A 21+, is priced a little higher at $2,995. You get a switchable phono stage, a headphone output and even tone controls. Everywhere you look across the audioscape, entropy has a way of tearing apart all that is good. Parasound however, pulled it off exceptionally. Selected the A21+ based on Kal’s review of the F228Be’s. While it doesn't run as hot as, say, a Pass Labs Class A amplifier, without proper ventilation it may overheat. Parasound Halo A21 $2495 An excellent Class AB stereo transistor amp, designed by the redoubtable John Curl, capable of 250Wpc into 8 ohms (400 into 4 ohms). Yet when it was time to forget all the mumbo-jumbo and just listen, the A21+ was several ticks closer to the M15 in overall capability than both the A21 and the MB100. Two-channel All material within this site is copyrighted and can not be reprinted or used in any form without our express written permission. Its replacement, the Halo A 21+, is priced a little higher at $2,995. If bass performance is of utmost concern, the A 21+ should be on your shortlist of amps to consider. Listening at levels louder than necessary through the largest and most capable loudspeaker in the bunch, the effect was accurately captured by the A21+. The amp in silver is nice to look at and 65lbs it is a beast that competes with krell and Levinson at a quarter of the cost. Diomede - Floor standing 4-way, dual 10" custom loudspeakers, Vegatrons - Floor standing 3-way 10" custom loudspeakers, Metals - Floor standing 3-way 8" custom loudspeakers, Tenacious 3 - Floor Standing 3-way dual 5" custom loudspeakers, RHTB - Stand Mounted 2.5-way dual 5" custom loudspeakers, "Esperanto Paralanto" - STand mounted 6.5" 2-way custom loudspeaker, Bricasti M1 DAC , Parasound Halo P6 Preamp/phono/DAC, Parasound Halo A21+ amplifier, Parasound Halo A21 amplifier, and Marantz SR7000 Reciever.Â. As a kid reading those Audio Advisor catalogs, you idolize them a bit and hope to have their gear one day. Anyone in the market for a stereo power amp would be well advised to consider the Parasound A 21+, especially those who believe that they must spend more." When you consider all that's included in the price, the A 21+ continues the high value proposition of its predecessor. There are knobs for gain, and small switches that allow selection of balanced/unbalanced inputs and bridged/stereo operation. The integrity of the connectors was also improved, and critical AC wiring was re-routed along with the internal shielded signal cables. It supplies a surprising amount of understandable technical information in regard to set-up and implementation. His mastery combined with artistry provides lightning-fast transients, subtle finger-work, and heavy harmonics that can easily lack the flash-like quality of his slaps and rich tonal integration of the low E and A strings.   Â. It separates left to right and front to back on the soundstage, gives each instrument enough air and clarity that they each occupy their own space. For the scope of this review and equanimity I will not be playing with the gain, it will be set to max and forgotten about. The New First Watt SIT-3 Stereo Power Amplifier by Nelson Pass! This played out time and time again from the talented Jazz drum solo by Brian Blaze in the Jousha Redman Quartet's "Slapstick" on Spirit of the Moment-Live at the Village Vanguard, to the all-out intensity Dubstep is well known for in "Centepede" off the album Rage Valley from Knife Party. Unboxing the brute that sits in Parasound's top-teir, "Halo" line took my six-foot-three 245 pound frame everything it had. The A21+ truly shined when paired with full-range, tonally neutral loudspeakers pushed by a quiet and dynamically capable front-end. Richard explained that the basic architecture and topology of the A21+ is similar to the A21, but not identical. For example: <0.2% to <0.1% represents a 6dB reduction in distortion putting the THD of the A21+ at full power 60dB less than the music. If the amplifier budget is endowed to the order several thousand or more, pick up the A21+ at $3150 USD and a pair of loudspeakers that will allow you to hear what this amp is capable of. The A21 will remain an heirloom piece in my own collection. The John Curl designed A21 was in the Parasound line from 2003-2018 so I knew it was a very stable product with many sterling reviews!!   Â, It is difficult to pick out a handful of standout tracks on the A21+. Due to its design, the amp is always drawing power when turned on and needs to dissipate a lot of it as heat, so I suggest you place the amp in a well-ventilated area. Parasound JC2 preamp $4495 - Stereophile Class A rated. For the amount of real power the A21+ is capable of, it stands stout. The former tried and true, untouchable value and staple of their product line, the A21, had set the bar for value vs. performance in both the HiFi and Professional audio worlds. Instead of re-inventing this wheel, Parasound chose to refine it. The pipe organ hangs just a little longer than the rest of the orchestra at the end which creates a very tantalizing effect when reproduced properly. Unboxing and setting up the A 21+ may prove to be a difficult task for some. If your amplifier budget dictates $2000 USD on an amplifier, save a little longer and buy the A21+. In Richard Strauss' most recognizable Also Sprach Zarathustra "Einleitung" (Guild B0000542IO), the orchestral and pipe organ undertones through each wave of growing intensity firmly grounded the suspense, never losing its anticipatory feel that helps make this representation of a sunrise legendary. Build quality of the Parasound A 21+ is mighty impressive and handsome enough to fit into most décors. Crosstalk and signal-to-noise ratio see improvements too, now rated at 70dB and 115dB, respectively. Jaton CD1000B, Rega P1 Turntable and Carbon cartridge and a Windows PC. Note: Price changes effective January 1, … I have the A21 along with a Parasound Halo preamp for my 2-channel system for music - pure bliss. Power Output – Stereo Mode (0.1% THD) 300 watts x 2, 8 Ω both channels driven 500 watts x 2, 4 Ω both channels driven Power Output – Bridged Mode (0.1% THD) 1000 watts x 1, 8 Ω Bridged 4 Ω operation is not recommended I digress… some of the differences between the A21 and A21+ were detectable out of the gate, while others were more subtle. With its high-quality chassis, thoughtful circuit design, and excellent sound quality, the A 21+ offers an impressive value proposition. The Pragmatists at Parasound chose to re-spin the A21 amplifier into the A21+. Bass performance from the A 21+ is as good as I've heard from any amplifier near its price point and even competes with many amps costing far more. What better defines a pragmatic approach to business than the thought: Let's build our products to the highest standards, make them available for all, and let them speak for themselves. In comparison to the Halo A21 (A21 as we will know it) that normally resides in my equipment rack, the new embossed Parasound logo is very rich feeling when side-by-side with the glowing red plastic "P" on the A21. Class A operation often imparts a particularly sweet, smooth, and organic sound signature, and the A 21+ definitely qualifies for these sonic traits, with treble frequencies in particular rendered smoothly and grain-free. I haven't done the same review (Outlaw 100-watter vs the A51's 250) on my new speakers, but I'm happy to report that I love my new speakers (Focal BE 1027) and they have wowed everyone who has heard them. I love my A21, but looking down from the canopy of a Giant Sequoia, the A21+ offers more sonically speaking. These qualities were consistent using a swath of different loudspeakers too; Clear evidence that the A21+ is exceptional at handling the loads of just about any loudspeaker without issue. Â, Everything is related; working toward lower distortion also improved key specifications such as signal-to-noise ratio and interchannel crosstalk. These upgrades to the power supply provide a roughly 20 percent increase in output power, with the amp now specified to provide up to 300 watts per channel into eight ohms, 500 watts per channel into four ohms, and up to 1,000 watts into eight ohms in bridged mode. But what, exactly, do you get for that extra coin? Sonically it is so neutral it effortlessly presents what is there. With the inclusion of digital processing and bass management, the Halo P 5 is a bargain, competing with preamps costing many times more.  Â. Richard from Parasound was also kind enough to explain that over its fifteen plus year tenure the A21 never saw a price increase while the cost of components has significantly risen. Parasound Halo A 21+ Stereo Amplifier Reviewed. Speaking of: The new binding posts that are shared with their flagship stereo amp, the JC5, are fantastic. Refinement is where the A21+ puts real distance from the A21. The chassis is well built, however I lacked the availability of a gorilla to perform any real tests of its durability. The component under review, the $2000 Halo A 21 stereo amp, is slotted in further down the Parasound line.  The remainder of the rear panel is intuitive and well laid out. The amp's overall sound quality is … The A21+ boasts 300 watts per channel into an 8 ohm load, 500 watts per channel into a 4 ohm load, and a monstrous 1000 watts per channel into an 8 ohm load when both channels bridged mono. Thank you, Parasound, for making the blue channel indicator lights as well as the back-lit power button tasteful in intensity so they are not distracting. Haal uw bestelling bij één van de 3 This would mean the distortion would fall in the <0.03% typical range at this volume level. It is worth reading cover to cover. With that said, I found the most impressive part about the A 21+ was how it handled the bottom end. This was an acceptable difference seeing as the A21 is a power house and the MB 100 was all about refinement. Follow Up: Zesto Audio BIA 120 Class A Amplifier, Burson Conductor Virtuoso and Timekeeper Virtuoso, The Parasound Halo Integrated Amplifier - Raising the Bar for Price/Performance. It's unlikely you'll find a pair of speakers the A 21+ struggles to power. Spoiler alert: This review continues that tradition of praise. As a previous long-time owner of the original A 21, I feel confident in saying the A 21+ does in fact sound similar. When I reached out to Parasound for some answers to all of this I was pleasantly surprised when the President and CEO Richard Schram personally took the time to answer. The XPA-1L was my first Emotiva amp. The Halo A21+, is a keeper. In fact, these are the same speaker terminals found on the company's more expensive JC 5 amplifier, though only a single pair of terminals is included per channel, so those looking to bi-wire their speakers will need to consider a different amp. Great review. While an average volume from your listening position of 90dB is quite loud, the A21+ would simply be purring along, nowhere near its maximum power. "Parasound has chosen to take a staple core product that has remained an exceptional value for over fifteen years, the Halo A21 amplifier, and re-spin it into the Halo A21+," reports Michael Zisserson at positive-feedback.com. Since the increase in power over the A21 is akin to adding another cup of water to what is already a sizable lake, I was very titillated by the reduction in distortion over the A21 that was stated to have <0.2% THD at full power. As the... CES Trends: MiniLED and is it Better than OLED? This lack of sparkle on the top end makes it an ideal candidate for those who like to listen for long periods of time. The Bricasti M1 DAC/Network Player runs directly to the amp via balanced connections, whereas the Rega P1 Turntable runs through a Sunfire Reference Signature preamp and into the unbalanced connections. These were the very qualities the Teddy Pardo MB 100 (Issue 88) possessed that helped it stay in the league of the A21 when I reviewed it. I could not make the A21+ less than enjoyable regardless of what I chose to play through it. Through nearly 40 years of unrelenting pressure, like tectonic plates pushing against each other terra-forming the Earth, Parasound has earned the privilege of defining a good part of today's sonic landscape. While this may not seem like much, whether having a relaxing Jazz listening session, or living through a dynamic orchestra piece that drops to a violin solo in pianissimo, I believe this class A power is largely responsible for the extremely black background and inner resolving power of the A21+. Introduction to the Parasound Halo A 31 Power Amplifier Parasound has been making their Halo line of products for quite a few years now, but they are not one to make updates for the sake of change. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As a final note: In a majority of cases, the gain settings on the rear panel should be set to maximum. Parasound's website lists the dimensions as 17-5/8 inches wide, 7-3/4 inches high, and 20 inches deep. Nonetheless, it is still very much a Curl design, with his customary J-FET input stage, MOSFET driver stage, and beta The amp is still offered in both black and silver finish options, and although at first glance the chassis appears unchanged, a few upgrades have occurred there as well. Using the Parasound amp allowed my speakers to portray every aspect that I had come to expect without adding any noticeable sign of distortion or flaw." Review after review, award after award seems to naturally follow a company who has put value without compromise first as defined by the very products they make. Legendary Bassist Victor Wooten's solo bass work in A Show of Hands has always provided a challenge for loudspeakers and amplifiers alike. Parasound has nothing to hide here as these are real numbers supported by A21+'s capability of delivering 60 amperes of current per channel, the ability to deliver this power through the amplifier's full band-width, and a low <0.1% Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) when driving the full audio band (20Hz - 20kHz) at rated power. On the A21+, the experience was simply the best I have heard it. So, depending on the power needs of your speakers and how hard you drive them, much of you listening will be done in pure Class A, with Class AB power provided only in particularly dynamic moments. This is not the case with Parasound. From that point onward, the amp switches over to Class AB operation. As previously mentioned, I am not convinced the raw power difference is the primary advantage over the A21, though the A21+ provides more audible control in the first two octaves (20Hz - 80Hz) over its predecessor. I connected the Halo A 23+’s 12V trigger using the mono interconnect included with Parasound’s NewClassic 200 Pre preamplifier, also in for review, and set the A 23+ to turn itself on when the 200 Pre sent a trigger signal. I currently run HP to Parasound A21 which power the Dalquist Ca2 modules. One of the biggest gripes owners had with the A 21's chassis was the plastic end caps found on the faceplate. Esperanto Audio Blue SPDIF, Tellurium Q Black XLR balanced interconnects, Audioquest Type 4 loudspeaker cables, Pangea AC9 power cable for the A21. In the End. It is worth a mention that when using a DAC such as the Bricasti M1 directly driving the A21+, there is a long-term benefit to proper gain adjustment. That said, I would recommend two sets of hands for the task. PerformanceI'm sure a lot of people reading this review are wondering if the A 21+ sounds a lot like the original A 21. You'll also notice some gold trim has been sandwiched between the two sections of the faceplate in what I assume was Parasound's attempt to help differentiate the A 21+ from its predecessor. Build quality of the Parasound A 21+ is mighty impressive and handsome enough to fit into most décors. Review: James Parker, Lab: Paul Miller | Dec 1, 2018 Parasound's Halo JC5 conforms to some of these stereotypes, but there's more to it than just slam There's nothing terribly unusual about a big, hefty US-made power amp: after all, it's almost an archetype of what we think the US high-end is … After 15 years of devoted service, Parasound has retired its beloved Halo A 21 amplifier. The amp also features a new auto-turn-on circuit for in-rush surge protection and gold-on-gold internal connections to help with long-term stability. The A 21 amplifier is loaded with usable … Small, but quintessential details like soundstage depth, focus, and texture seem to have received a significant boost. The former tried and true, untouchable value and staple of their product line, the A21, had set the bar for value vs. performance in both the HiFi and Professional audio worlds. Curl also took a hard look at the A 21's circuit design and made several modifications, all aimed at improving performance and increasing sound quality. The Halo A21+ (moving forward just the A21+) is dense. In practice, this means the amp is biased to output a little over six watts per channel of pure Class A power. "Classical Thump" blew me away thanks to the A21+'s control and accurate timbre. He tried the Classe amplifier which is a class D like the NAD and found the other 2 amps to be better match with the F228Be so I decided to go with the new Parasound It does soo many things excellently sound wise and for a very reasonable price. It's an easy piece to love. It's also bulky in size, measuring in at 17.6 inches by 7.75 inches by 20 inches. Specifically, the A 21+ offers more impressive dynamics, a more accurate stereo image, wider stereo separation, and I heard more impressive control over my speakers' drivers on a regular basis. The LED notification lights cannot be dimmed or turned off when the amp is operating. It is very satisfying to forget I was listening through an absolute powerhouse and when I desired a light touch for delicate music, it was there. Wij zijn officieel Parasound dealer. One can pop the feet off and use the supplied mounting kit to secure the A21+ into a standard 19 inch wide audio rack where the mounting height will be four rack spaces. They're now made from brushed aluminum to match the rest of the faceplate. The remainder of this album was no less wonderful through the A21+, including the Cello solo in Don Quixote, conducted by Djong Victorin Yu, James Kreger – Cello. When used in pro-audio applications, those setting up and balancing such systems already know what to do. It is easy to understand that 0.2 is greater than 0.1, yet those numbers are so small how could they possibly be significant? Parasound does not provide information on their use which is understandable since almost all pieces of home audio equipment run at output voltages where this matters little. For me, this glint is a far more significant representation that there was more to the re-spin than raw power. It is enough "more" to justify the significant price increase as the original A21 cost $2499 USD and the A21+ cost $3150 USD. Gratis verzending. Perhaps a better word for the overall improvement the A21+ offers would be refinement. As good as the A 1 series is, for those who want something better Parasound has … This effect was prevalent while cycling through loudspeakers, especially ones that were purposefully tuned in a certain manner for greater warmth, or apparent speed. For those who prefer bare wire or spades will be thankful for the A21+ 's control and timbre... 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