one man garbage other men treasure - WOW!

cortico

Compared to most of you guys balls deep into the rabbit hole, I am perfectly aware that I am just skimming the surface.

I have been into vintage gear for too long, I own and restores a few Marantz amps from the 70's and really like their sound. Lately, I got myself interested in less older gear and got older Parasound HCA 1200II power amp and a PHP850 pre.

2 weeks later I got the PLP2000 pre, still ancient and outdated for most... but to me, this was like a revelation moment... my Marantz are blown away from the map!

Pretty cool and well-built and great sounding stuff, the specs are amazing and that preamp is an authentic work of art!

WOW!!!

Viking64

Off topic: What building is that in your avatar? It appears to be between Park Avenue and Madison Avenue, so it can't be Rockefeller Center as many would assume. My best guess would be "The Lincoln Building" A.K.A. "One Grand Central Place".

Tony M

Can you show us some pictures?

msg

Do you mean the PLD 2000?

We've talked about the older Parasound D/ACs, and I remember you modding the big brother, I think, to the D/AC-800 I use in a system. I'm with you on some of the older gear, too. I was reminded recently to not get too caught up in the gear, and remember to listen to the music. Still can't help enjoying the gear, too

verb

Always liked the vintage Parasound stuff. Congrats!

cortico

Viking64 wrote: »

Off topic: What building is that in your avatar? It appears to be between Park Avenue and Madison Avenue, so it can't be Rockefeller Center as many would assume. My best guess would be "The Lincoln Building" A.K.A. "One Grand Central Place".

Hey Viking64, keen eye! That shot was taken at 432 Park, amazing building. I had a job going on the top of that building...

indyhawg

Sweet view. I might be nervous getting on that ladder though.

msg

Were you walking steel?!?

cortico

msg wrote: »

Do you mean the PLD 2000?

We've talked about the older Parasound D/ACs, and I remember you modding the big brother, I think, to the D/AC-800 I use in a system. I'm with you on some of the older gear, too. I was reminded recently to not get too caught up in the gear, and remember to listen to the music. Still can't help enjoying the gear, too

Correct, PLD 2000 Line drive solid state preamp. I remember that conversation, I have bought and sold and regret a few different Parasound DAcs the 800, the 1100 and the 1600. They're all great, currently I have the 1100. I remember doing the upgrade that sold by the German folks but liked the sound stock better....

Here is a not updated pic, I will take a few more showing the PLD 2000 pre, and a pic I found the picture below online, looks really nice.

Yes, in the end is music what matters, important to keep that in mind!

Viking64

cortico wrote: »

Hey Viking64, keen eye! That shot was taken at 432 Park, amazing building. I had a job going on the top of that building...

Beautiful! I guess the B & W photo threw me time-wise. HAHAHAHA

I've read a few weeks ago that the apartments in the upper half of that building go for close to 100 million each!

I see that building every day. Check out my Google home page.

Viking64

msg wrote: »

Were you walking steel?!?

That's what I thought at first. It looks like baker staging/scaoffolding. I believe those windows go floor to ceiling. You can tell in the pic with the ladder that it was taken in an enclosed building.

cortico

haha, that's exactly it. Standing on a scaffold in front of it's massive 10'x10' windows

skrol

I got into the older Parasound gear about 5 years ago. I started with an HCA-800ii amp and CPT-600 pre-amp tuner. I reconditioned them with new caps and made some other upgrades. It has a sweet sound and nice dark noise floor. Then I found a broken HCA-1000A that I repaired, made some upgrades and tuning with the help of Mr John Curl over on DIYAUDIO.COM. Then I picked up a PLD-1100 and TDQ-1600. It is every bit as sweet as the previous but can better drive my LSi-15's. I eventually want to upgrade to an HCA-1200ii or HCA-1500.

The Parasound company is very cool. If you email them, you will likely get a response from Richard Schram who is the president and founder of the company. I'm hooked on Parasound now.

cortico

skrol wrote: »

I got into the older Parasound gear about 5 years ago. I started with an HCA-800ii amp and CPT-600 pre-amp tuner. I reconditioned them with new caps and made some other upgrades. It has a sweet sound and nice dark noise floor. Then I found a broken HCA-1000A that I repaired, made some upgrades and tuning with the help of Mr John Curl over on DIYAUDIO.COM. Then I picked up a PLD-1100 and TDQ-1600. It is every bit as sweet as the previous but can better drive my LSi-15's. I eventually want to upgrade to an HCA-1200ii or HCA-1500.

The Parasound company is very cool. If you email them, you will likely get a response from Richard Schram who is the president and founder of the company. I'm hooked on Parasound now.

Hey skrol, i remember your tread, it’s pretty cool that John Curl engages with people and gives guidance on that forum, I have followed s few treads.

The 1200ii sounds very nice, I am willing to step up to the 2200ii when the right deal comes across.

oldrocker

^^

First Parasound piece my wife got me, I had to call them with a question.

That Richard guy answered and was the nicest guy. Told me if I needed any additional help, don't hesitate to call...

honestaquarian

I used to sell Parasound and my first surround pre/pro was a Parasound. I also had one of their phono preamps hooked into that pre/pro.

honestaquarian

AVC-2500u
This was a heckuva good surround sound preamp/processor!

skrol

Forgot about the Parasound phono pre-amp. It was my first external phono pre and I was amazed at the difference, even compared to my Marantz integrated amp phono stage.

honestaquarian

I had to get the external phono preamp, because the AVC-2500 doesn't have one. I finally sold it all when I decided to get an Integra DTC 9.8 and wanted the newer lossless surround codecs like DTS HD-MA and Dolby True HD. As well as SACD DSD decoding.

steveinaz

Parasound offers stellar equipment at good prices. Build quality is excellent, and I haven't been disappointed in any Para stuff I have owned. I just recently replaced my 15 year old HCA-1500A with the A21 amplifier.

joecoulson

That A21 is a beauty

cortico

Today, I gave a serious listening to the PLD2000, wow!!! Amazing, this thing is a masterpiece!