Parasound A23

Mikey081057

I received an A23 today from this new company Audio Thesis... I had moved my A21 to my HT rig to drive the mains after upgrading my pre/pro to the AV7702. Right now the A23 is plugged to my p5 driving the sda's.

Going to let it burn in for a few days but it seems to have all you need to drive pair of SDA's.

Audio Thesis is a damn fine purveyor of audio goodness.

voltz

^^^^^
Oh Skip really does care about Audio and helping people! He is a step above many we have locally that are just pushers!

Enjoy your new amp Mike!

Mikey081057

voltz wrote: »

^^^^^
Oh Skip really does care about Audio and helping people! He is a step above many we have locally that are just pushers!

DSkip is DMan

chumlie

Does Mr. Skip have a web site.

Nightfall

chumlie wrote: »

Does Mr. Skip have a web site.

http://www.audiothesis.com/

msg

Good info, Mike. Is this with the 2.3's in your signature?

chumlie

Nightfall wrote: »

chumlie wrote: »

Does Mr. Skip have a web site.

http://www.audiothesis.com/

Needs work !!!
But when I buy my P5. Skip will be my 1st choice.

Mikey081057

msg wrote: »

Good info, Mike. Is this with the 2.3's in your signature?

Yes for now

Mikey081057

Some interesting listening observations. I let the A23 run all night.

The difference between the A21 and A23 in this room is negligible.

Can't turn the vol past 10:30 anyway.

Both amps can blow me out of the room.

So far very impressed with the little guy. Price point on the P5 and A23 make it goodbangforbuck.

It is heavier than it looks but nowhere near the A21.

msg

great feedback, Mike. I've been curious about the A23. given its specs, I'm always kind of surprised at its use. it just seems like something one would use with small very efficient speakers, but sounds like you're getting great results with larger speakers.

what size room are you running this in, and have you tried it with any of your LSiM yet? I'm specifically curious to know how the P5/A23 combo performs with 705's and 703's for music.

which source(s)?

Thanks Chuck, and I'll take my answer off the air.

Mikey081057

msg wrote: »

great feedback, Mike. I've been curious about the A23. given its specs, I'm always kind of surprised at its use. it just seems like something one would use with small very efficient speakers, but sounds like you're getting great results with larger speakers.

what size room are you running this in, and have you tried it with any of your LSiM yet? I'm specifically curious to know how the P5/A23 combo performs with 705's and 703's for music.

which source(s)?

Thanks Chuck, and I'll take my answer off the air.

The room is about 14 x 16... I've been using my Marantz SA8004 and my Bluesound Node with TIDAL streaming.

I didn't think it would have the ballz to drive the SDA SRS2.3 but it does it no sweat.

I haven't connected to the LSIM's yet but will soon.

EndersShadow

If I go with a AV7702 for my pre-amp when I upgrade I may need to source one of these if I decide to go more than 5 channels....

So its good to know its got nuts!

StevieB

DSkip wrote: »

Put it on the 2.3's. It should do absolutely fine.

Very ignorant question, should be ok with 2B's also?

Mikey081057

I am sure it would do fine on any Polk Speaker

StevieB

Thank you sir, had my adcom too many years. Time to try something new.

Mikey081057

Reach out to DSkip

Mikey081057

So got about 50 hours on this now and it has sweetened up a bit. I still cant get over how effortlessly it drives my sda's. My mind is spinning with options for this little gem of an amp including getting one more for to drive my atmos speakers in a 7.4.1 config. It hangs WAY ABOVE it's weight class.

msg

Hey Mike, any 'sperimenting with the 703's or 705's yet?

Mikey081057

msg wrote: »

Hey Mike, any 'sperimenting with the 703's or 705's yet?

Only get home to my lab-or-atory on weekends.... but i will...

halo

I had an A23 driving a pair of Von Schweikert VR2 back in '06.

The combination was alright but not compared to the Sanders Sound System ESL amp.

The Parasound is a very good amplifier, I think there were other factors at play (room acoustics, preamp, source, speaker positioning, etc.).

I'm thing about giving an A23 a try in my living room with my Energy RC70 with the Marantz NR1402 acting as a pre/pro.

I've also heard good things about the Peachtree amps and integrated amps (Peachtree Nova 125SE?).

Since the RC70 have such a laid back sound, I'd like to bring them forward a little. The HK AVR 340 drove them beautifully (letting it go and replacing it with the Marantz was not the solution I'd hoped it would be).

@Mikey081057 Since you have had experience with both amps I'm considering, I'd like to get your feedback,

motorhead43026

So Mikey, this A23 would take my SDA-2B's to a new level? Considering I am now powering them with a Marantz AVR, 120w per channel.

halo

motorhead43026 wrote: »

So Mikey, this A23 would take my SDA-2B's to a new level? Considering I am now powering them with a Marantz AVR, 120w per channel.

IMO, a dedicated amplifier is always superior to an AVR.

motorhead43026

I just purchased the Halo A23 as well from Audio Thesis. Looking forward to fondling it. That won't void the warranty will it?

tonyb

motorhead43026 wrote: »

I just purchased the Halo A23 as well from Audio Thesis. Looking forward to fondling it. That won't void the warranty will it?

No, but resale value will go down if you don't leave your clothes on.

OldSchoolPolk

The A23/P5 combo is on my short list, right behind college for the kids...

Mikey081057

So the comparison of the A23 and the Peachtree 123SE to me is this.

The A23 Paired with the P5 delivers a very smooth detailed "rich" sound at a much higher price point than the Peachtree. Currently I have the 125SE paired with my LSi9's and use it for 2 channel casual listening. The 125 is an integrated that delivers a lot of sound and convenience of inputs for the price. You would be pleasantly surprised to hear the 125 driving a tough load like the LSi9's which make it a nice little package.

Both run cool.

I would take the P5/A23 sound over the 125SE for sit down serious listening as it has much better imaging/soundstage.

But if your wondering if either lacks punch or power to drive your speakers i would say probably not unless you have some maggies or VERY difficult speakers.

YMMV

DForeman

Mikey,
I've been eyeing the A23/P5 combo for a while as well but not sure how the A23 will handle my LSi15's. I see you tried it with the LSi9's. Do you think the 15's would be too much to handle?

jimithng23

DForeman wrote: »

Mikey,
I've been eyeing the A23/P5 combo for a while as well but not sure how the A23 will handle my LSi15's. I see you tried it with the LSi9's. Do you think the 15's would be too much to handle?

Curious to hear feedback on this as well. I have the P5 and LSi15s, powered by an old but good Adcom 555 II.

I'm looking into options for replacing the Adcom and the A21/A23 are on the short list. Also looking to score a pair of LSi9s....but that's a topic for my own thread.

Kurt300

tonyb wrote: »

motorhead43026 wrote: »

I just purchased the Halo A23 as well from Audio Thesis. Looking forward to fondling it. That won't void the warranty will it?

No, but resale value will go down if you don't leave your clothes on.

(Note to self - disinfect anything you buy from Tony.)

DForeman

DSkip wrote: »

PS - either way you go, the A23 or integrated won't have issues with the LSi's. These are beefy amps with good power reserves. They'll laugh at the load the LSi's present.

Thanks DSkip - good to know. I've been using an Outlaw 200 WPC amp for 9 years now with the LSi15's and have always wondered what a different amp would sound like. It's more curiosity than anything - am not unhappy with the rig as it is. In general over the years here I've read how the LSi15's need power so with the A23 at 125W I'll need a "push" to try it out.

msg

OldSchoolPolk wrote: »

The A23/P5 combo is on my short list, right behind college for the kids...

your priorities are way out of whack.