Parasound HCA 3500 question
Comments
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Don't sell the 3500 short, it is not your Parasound standard fare. This amp has John Curls DNA all over it. It. All components are selected by John and are of the highest quality. It was manufactured to his standards, not Parasounds. To say it is of lesser quality than MF is not accurate.The best way to predict the future is to invent it.
It is imperative that we recognize that an opinion is not a fact. -
That 3500 sold anyway so it's a mute point now but it is interesting to hear what others think of it compared to other gear.
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I hate to sound like a broken record but that 2200 II is still sitting on US Audiomart for 750 plus shipping. I know its older and will need to go back to Parasound somebday, but I wonder how it compares to the 3500 other than current. Im also eying a McCormack DNA 1 and Butler 2 channel amp since I may be able to upgrade soon and want my next amp to be a keeper ie 5 or more years.....
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That's too bad, those don't come up often.The best way to predict the future is to invent it.
It is imperative that we recognize that an opinion is not a fact. -
$1300 + a recap gets you close to an A21 which is very solid. When I chose my A21 I tested it against a used HCA 2200A. SQ on the A21 was much more refined and made it the winner. Not sure how it stacks vs the 3500 but the Halo's sound great at their price point.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 | -
I hate to sound like a broken record but that 2200 II is still sitting on US Audiomart for 750 plus shipping. I know its older and will need to go back to Parasound somebday, but I wonder how it compares to the 3500 other than current. Im also eying a McCormack DNA 1 and Butler 2 channel amp since I may be able to upgrade soon and want my next amp to be a keeper ie 5 or more years.....
Since you mention McCormack, there's two McCormack DNA 500's for sale in my general area right now. I know those are supposed to be excellent amps but they are a little spendy at around 3k for either one. -
The HCA-2200II is head and shoulders above the standard HCA-2200.
The 2200 is Parasounds based on a John Curl design, the 2200II is a Curl design.The best way to predict the future is to invent it.
It is imperative that we recognize that an opinion is not a fact. -
I hate to sound like a broken record but that 2200 II is still sitting on US Audiomart for 750 plus shipping. I know its older and will need to go back to Parasound somebday, but I wonder how it compares to the 3500 other than current. Im also eying a McCormack DNA 1 and Butler 2 channel amp since I may be able to upgrade soon and want my next amp to be a keeper ie 5 or more years.....
Since you mention McCormack, there's two McCormack DNA 500's for sale in my general area right now. I know those are supposed to be excellent amps but they are a little spendy at around 3k for either one.
Those were like 7k new I think.The best way to predict the future is to invent it.
It is imperative that we recognize that an opinion is not a fact. -
7000k ? That's $7,000,000 LOLMy 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 | -
You missed my revision at 8:45......LOL.
The best way to predict the future is to invent it.
It is imperative that we recognize that an opinion is not a fact. -
Little bit a background info on my room
- There is a door opening to the right of the right speaker, so some type of balance control on the amp OR pre is a must. Right now I find myself moving the balance to the right 2 to 4 clicks, depending on the song, to even out the stereo effect
- Im sold on monitors for speakers and plan on adding a send REL t5 sub in the future. Given the room and portability, I dont see going to floorstanders for a long time.
- I would like to avoid a 'space heater' for an amp, since my room tends to hold heat very well. Im guessing most amo dont have this issue, even in class A, if they are driving my Totem Rainmakers (?) -
motorhead43026 wrote: »Don't sell the 3500 short, it is not your Parasound standard fare. This amp has John Curls DNA all over it. It. All components are selected by John and are of the highest quality. It was manufactured to his standards, not Parasounds. To say it is of lesser quality than MF is not accurate.
Ah, not true. The modified version of the 3500, the BBQ replaced 200 components with better ones. That's the amp which is not standard fare.
However, the comments were not about build quality, they were about sound quality and in that regard I too prefer Musical Fidelity.
Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
My remark meant to be higher quality not highest than Parasond products based on Curl designs. Wasn't that BBQ what later became the JC series.The best way to predict the future is to invent it.
It is imperative that we recognize that an opinion is not a fact. -
Yes, the stereo BBQ was the model for the JC1 mono blocks.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
I hate to sound like a broken record but that 2200 II is still sitting on US Audiomart for 750 plus shipping. I know its older and will need to go back to Parasound somebday, but I wonder how it compares to the 3500 other than current. Im also eying a McCormack DNA 1 and Butler 2 channel amp since I may be able to upgrade soon and want my next amp to be a keeper ie 5 or more years.....
Either the McCormack or the Butler would be my preference. Might lean a bit more heavily towards the Butler. Runs quiet and cool as a cucumber.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 -
Nope, it's been bought and paid for. Just waiting on him to ship nowI hate to sound like a broken record but that 2200 II is still sitting on US Audiomart for 750 plus shipping.
Marantz SR6012, Parasound HCA-2200II, LSiM705 L/R, S35 center (yeah, I know...), 2x PSW505 -
Let us know what you think....I will probably keep himming and hawing before I make a decision. It looks like you got a pretty good deal.
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I am definitely excited to see what my RTi's sound like with some real power behind them.
BTW, didn't mean to step on any toes here, I bought it before I came across this thread...Marantz SR6012, Parasound HCA-2200II, LSiM705 L/R, S35 center (yeah, I know...), 2x PSW505 -
