Decisions, decisions,decisions??????

Options
soundfreak1
soundfreak1 Posts: 3,387
in Electronics
Parasound A23 or parasound HCA1500A. I know the HCA series well but no experience with the halo series. Big wattage different but what abour the sound quality. Opinions requested.
Main Rig:
Krell KAV 250a biamped to mid/highs
Parasound HCA1500A biamped to lows
Nakamichi EC100 Active xover
MIT exp 1 ic's
Perreaux SA33 class A preamp
AQ kingcobra ic's
OPPO 83 CDP
Lehmann audio black cube SE phono pre, Audioquest phono wire (ITA1/1)
Denon DP-1200 TT. AToc9ML MC cart.
Monster HTS 3600 power conditioner
ADS L1590/2 Biamped
MIT exps2 speaker cable
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
    Options
    @DSkip has a lightly used A23 he might be willing to part with. Any of the HCA stuff pobably needs to be recapped at a minumum. The A23's a nice can fill a small to mid size room with Parasound.
    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • motorhead43026
    motorhead43026 Posts: 3,892
    Options
    I have owned both the last year. The HCA digs deeper and is a bit warmer. Can't go wrong with either one. I still have the 1500 and use it everyday.
    2 channel: Anthem 225 Integrated amp; Parasound Ztuner; TechnicsTT SL1350; Vincent PHO-8 phono pre; Marantz CD6005 spinner; Polk SDA2BTL's; LAT International speaker cables, ZU Mission IC's and power cables all into a PS Audio Dectet Power center.

    Other; M10 series II, M7C's, Hafler XL600 amp, RB-980BX, Parasound HCA-1500 amp , P5 preamp, all in storage. All vintage Polk have had crossover rebuilds and tweeter upgrades.

    The best way to predict the future is to invent it.

    It is imperative that we recognize that an opinion is not a fact.

    Imagine making politics your entire personality.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,906
    Options
    Depends on your preferences really. I would prefer the HCA series over the Halo for it's added warmth. Halo series to me is more detailed, neutral sounding.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • soundfreak1
    soundfreak1 Posts: 3,387
    Options
    My system is not "warm" very detailed so maybe the halo might be more to my liking. But the 1500 does do a fine job on the bass (350htz&down). But more detail is appealing
    Main Rig:
    Krell KAV 250a biamped to mid/highs
    Parasound HCA1500A biamped to lows
    Nakamichi EC100 Active xover
    MIT exp 1 ic's
    Perreaux SA33 class A preamp
    AQ kingcobra ic's
    OPPO 83 CDP
    Lehmann audio black cube SE phono pre, Audioquest phono wire (ITA1/1)
    Denon DP-1200 TT. AToc9ML MC cart.
    Monster HTS 3600 power conditioner
    ADS L1590/2 Biamped
    MIT exps2 speaker cable
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • motorhead43026
    motorhead43026 Posts: 3,892
    Options
    ^^Then go for the A21.
    2 channel: Anthem 225 Integrated amp; Parasound Ztuner; TechnicsTT SL1350; Vincent PHO-8 phono pre; Marantz CD6005 spinner; Polk SDA2BTL's; LAT International speaker cables, ZU Mission IC's and power cables all into a PS Audio Dectet Power center.

    Other; M10 series II, M7C's, Hafler XL600 amp, RB-980BX, Parasound HCA-1500 amp , P5 preamp, all in storage. All vintage Polk have had crossover rebuilds and tweeter upgrades.

    The best way to predict the future is to invent it.

    It is imperative that we recognize that an opinion is not a fact.

    Imagine making politics your entire personality.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • andrew82
    andrew82 Posts: 144
    Options
    @soundfreak1 I had an A23 for a while. It's a fantastic amp which will most definitely not lead you astray. I agreed with the comments on it being detailed, but I found it warmed up nicely paired with a Marantz component earlier in the chain. I've never listened to one of the HCA amps, so I can't offer any advice on that end.

    Not sure what you're driving with it, but it made my RTIA3's sing. Big time.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kharp1
    kharp1 Posts: 3,453
    Options
    soundfreak1 wrote: »
    My system is not "warm" very detailed so maybe the halo might be more to my liking. But the 1500 does do a fine job on the bass (350htz&down). But more detail is appealing

    Too much of the same type of sound can be a bad thing.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Upstatemax
    Upstatemax Posts: 2,623
    Options
    My HCA-1500A is still chugging along like a champ.

    My father is looking for a new amp and we listened to an A23 and the Rotel RB1582 MKII.

    We both liked the Rotel better. Warmer and better controlled soundstage. This was also hooked to an Oppo 105 that many consider bright and analytical.

    As others have said, match your equipment to avoid too much of one thing.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • soundfreak1
    soundfreak1 Posts: 3,387
    Options
    I've desided to just keep the 1500 until something further up the ladder comes along.
    Main Rig:
    Krell KAV 250a biamped to mid/highs
    Parasound HCA1500A biamped to lows
    Nakamichi EC100 Active xover
    MIT exp 1 ic's
    Perreaux SA33 class A preamp
    AQ kingcobra ic's
    OPPO 83 CDP
    Lehmann audio black cube SE phono pre, Audioquest phono wire (ITA1/1)
    Denon DP-1200 TT. AToc9ML MC cart.
    Monster HTS 3600 power conditioner
    ADS L1590/2 Biamped
    MIT exps2 speaker cable
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,522
    edited May 2017
    Options
    The Halo series is basically a rebadging of the HCA series. I better tell my 13yr old HCA amp it needs new capacitors....LOL
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • soundfreak1
    soundfreak1 Posts: 3,387
    Options
    I'm just using it for biamping my bass at 350 htz and down.
    Main Rig:
    Krell KAV 250a biamped to mid/highs
    Parasound HCA1500A biamped to lows
    Nakamichi EC100 Active xover
    MIT exp 1 ic's
    Perreaux SA33 class A preamp
    AQ kingcobra ic's
    OPPO 83 CDP
    Lehmann audio black cube SE phono pre, Audioquest phono wire (ITA1/1)
    Denon DP-1200 TT. AToc9ML MC cart.
    Monster HTS 3600 power conditioner
    ADS L1590/2 Biamped
    MIT exps2 speaker cable
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • soundfreak1
    soundfreak1 Posts: 3,387
    edited May 2017
    Options
    Used to have an recaped hca1200 driving RTA12C''S and it did a very fine job, then I found a krell amp and it was a whole new ball game.
    Main Rig:
    Krell KAV 250a biamped to mid/highs
    Parasound HCA1500A biamped to lows
    Nakamichi EC100 Active xover
    MIT exp 1 ic's
    Perreaux SA33 class A preamp
    AQ kingcobra ic's
    OPPO 83 CDP
    Lehmann audio black cube SE phono pre, Audioquest phono wire (ITA1/1)
    Denon DP-1200 TT. AToc9ML MC cart.
    Monster HTS 3600 power conditioner
    ADS L1590/2 Biamped
    MIT exps2 speaker cable
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter