Experience with Parasound JC-1?

Joey_V

Anyone here with experience with Parasound JC-1?

Before I spend or waste money on more costly amps - how is this venerable piece of equipment? Would like to pair it with the Strads.

What I am looking for is a tight vocal image and a bit forward in terms of location with regards to the plane of the speaker.

The best I heard on the Strads were the D'agostino Momentums... but I'm not really keen on that price of admission without a return policy.

tonyb

JC1's are nice bro, but if they hold the classic Parasound signature sound, not sure a good synergy is awaiting you. They tend to roll off a bit on the higher end if memory serves.

Belles 350a may be a good match, but I'm telling ya, don't discount the McCormacks. Buy a cheaper DNA1and see if you dig the sound. If not, sell it to me, if you do...go for the DNA 250 or 500 and have Steve McCormack work his magic on the upgrades.

Montoya

I'm running them on my Olympica III they have good synergy and depth of soundstage. Comparing them to Bryston amps which is all I have used previously in my system I feel they have a more romantic warm sound. Not much to say on power it's more than you will ever need. If I ever did upgrade it would be to Audio Research however with my grade of speakers it's not warranted but yours on the other hand in my opinion deserve a finer amp than the Parasound. Not saying they are bad in anyway but I think you will be happier with something higher up the line.

Joey_V

Skip
I may take you up on that offer someday soon

Montoya
How is tightness of the vocal image that you're getting on jc1?

Montoya

The vocals are very clean and tight no hint of exaggerated sibilance and no exaggerated mid bass on deep male vocals. Recently I have been demoing Dean Martin, Dream with Dean if you get a chance demo this album the vibrato of his voice when coming out of a great set of speakers is unreal. Another favorite that gives a clean presentation plenty of elocution to sample is Steely Dan, Babylon Sisters from the album Gaucho. This was one area Bryston & Rotel don't get right they both present exaggerated highs where the Parasound is just at the cusp enough roll off to be romantic but not enough to be called syrupy smooth. I'm using a matching JC-2 Pre. At one time I had a Bryston BP-17 & 4B SST the Parasound is what I upgraded to. The only time I ever want to upgrade is when I hear something that cost 3-4 times what I paid for my units.

Joey_V

Thanks Montoya, I kind of just want to buy a pair and try it out.... but I'd hate to hvae to pack it up and sell it if I don't like it.

Montoya

Music Direct offers a 60 day return on equipment they have a set of M8 monoblocks on clearance. I know its not Parasound but if I had a chance to demo these I would they also carry BAT sometimes they have demo items at really good prices.

Mikey081057

Might look at these: I never hear them mentioned at all of this site:

http://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649209589-mark-levinson-531-h-pair-mono-blocks/

voltz

I was drooling on those MF M8 Mono-blocks ...I also saw a demo from AA for M8 preamp too.

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=1MFM8PRE

tratliff

Joey - You might want to check these out. I know you had mentioned Macs in the past. Great seller. I have purchased many thing from him.

http://www.tmraudio.com/product/tmr-1376

Joey_V

Travis good find... Good find my friend

marvda1

here you go.
http://app.audiogon.com/listings/solid-state-parasound-halo-jc-1-monoblock-amplifiers-2015-08-25-amplifiers-95050-santa-clara-ca

Joey_V

marvda1 wrote: »

here you go.
http://app.audiogon.com/listings/solid-state-parasound-halo-jc-1-monoblock-amplifiers-2015-08-25-amplifiers-95050-santa-clara-ca

Too costly for jc1. Market value is 4500

Joey_V

I think I have made a decision. I am going to make a run for the classe m600 monoblocks.

Reasonable and not crazy cost.

I'm going to put the jc1 on back burner. Maybe next time for the smaller systems.

For now I think it is the classe. Then in the future I will get a boulder or a dagostino if I can. Then move the classe to the gameroom with the diamonds. And then the jc1 to whatever's in the family room.

Atleast that's how I have it in my head - let's see if it pans out.

Now... How to convince the wife.....

Joey_V

Figured classe and bw are a match made in heaven.

And I think that it might be a good match for the warmer Strads.

We will see. If this fails, at least I don't have to break my back shipping and selling it. Unlike if I bought a 200 lb boulder.

tonyb

Nice Joey, real nice. Haven't had an ear on Classe amps in a long time but from memory, a tad hi-fi ish for my tastes.

That might be a welcoming trait for the warmer Strads as you suggested. Though many have said the 600's shined on the B&W's, and that's a bit of a stretch from the SF sound.....imho anyway.

In any event, as always let us know how they sound once you get them in the door. Seems 300 hours are in order to break them in, but you know we impatient bastages aren't going to wait that long for a review.

marvda1

i would go ayre over classe.
http://app.audiogon.com/listings/solid-state-ayre-mx-r-monoblock-power-amplifiers-220-240v-freeship-worldwide-2015-08-25-amplifiers-91770-rosemead-ca

Joey_V

marvda1 wrote: »

i would go ayre over classe.
http://app.audiogon.com/listings/solid-state-ayre-mx-r-monoblock-power-amplifiers-220-240v-freeship-worldwide-2015-08-25-amplifiers-91770-rosemead-ca

Heard ayre next to classe.

Classe to me was cleaner in terms of background.

Full ayre vs full classe to me, the classe was somehow better sounding. I had them turn off the ayre system.

Joey_V

DSkip wrote: »

I'd go Plinius over classe.

Owned the plinius sa102... Good but noisy.

Joey_V

Best amp is probably a toss between dagostino and boulder...

But classe to me is up there. Let's do a trial atleast

Easy to buy and easy to sell.

Figured if it doesn't work, it's a good easy brand to toss around

haimoc

Joey_V wrote: »

DSkip wrote: »

I'd go Plinius over classe.

Owned the plinius sa102... Good but noisy.

Are you sure Plinius is "noisy", or it was just your previous amp!!

marvda1

Joey_V wrote: »

DSkip wrote: »

I'd go Plinius over classe.

Owned the plinius sa102... Good but noisy.

what type of noise?

[Deleted User]

Classe and B&W should not be a surprise. They are attached at the hip and everywhere else.

Get a Hugo DAC and some neutral solid state monos.

Cary is not a good fit, which is obvious. Sell it to Tony and get something that works for your setup. Haha

txcoastal1

Joey, If you are interested and have not made a decision I can bring my XA30.5 so you get a taste of the Pass flavor (when I come for Skips meet) though I think the 60.5/8 would be better. It runs my MD2's and Halen's had it on his CP777's. Both of our Ushers are 4ohm and have no problems running them.

If I come up sooner to survey the next Buc-ee's before then I can drop it off and pick up when I go to see Skips or vice versus.

I think the SLP-05 is fine in the mix, just need to work on the amps.
You can also borrow my Chord QuteEX dac.

Let me know and we can make it happen.

[Deleted User]

Ron. Let him try the wyred DAC too. I would still abandon the Cary for his setup. Chord is no joke. REDBOOK it is hard to beat.

Joey_V

Of course Marvin, I will preface I haven't heard the new MXR twenty... I did a version of the twenty and those Ayres did sound very good through Rockport Aviors.

But the classe is very good as well.

[Deleted User]

Joey,

Texans got you covered. Wanna do the Tango? Hehehe

Halen

Joey_V

haimoc wrote: »

Joey_V wrote: »

DSkip wrote: »

I'd go Plinius over classe.

Owned the plinius sa102... Good but noisy.

Are you sure Plinius is "noisy", or it was just your previous amp!!

Relatively. Noise in terms of the black background. They are not as quiet as classe in comparison. The class A bias however is nice.

Joey_V

txcoastal1 wrote: »

Joey, If you are interested and have not made a decision I can bring my XA30.5 so you get a taste of the Pass flavor (when I come for Skips meet) though I think the 60.5/8 would be better. It runs my MD2's and Halen's had it on his CP777's. Both of our Ushers are 4ohm and have no problems running them.

If I come up sooner to survey the next Buc-ee's before then I can drop it off and pick up when I go to see Skips or vice versus.

I think the SLP-05 is fine in the mix, just need to work on the amps.
You can also borrow my Chord QuteEX dac.

Let me know and we can make it happen.

Therein lies the problem.

Pass goes up in price in 2 days. Either I commit to pass xa100.8 or not and go for classe m600.

Joey_V

Found this, thd (distortion) measurements

Classe m600



Plinius sa103 at class a bias


This kind of goes with what I heard.

brianle

If you like Pass Labs, I have the xa100.5 for sale lol