Parasound 855A ..Any thoughts?

gshisme
gshisme Posts: 1,038
edited February 2005 in Electronics
I've been looking for a used 5 channel amp for some time now and came across a 855A. Question is, would there be a big improvement over the H/K 320 receiver's 55 high current per channel? The Parasound is high current 85 per channel. My speakers are RT55i's, 800i's and a 400i center. I sometimes worry that I am pushing the H/K just a little too hard and am losing some tonal quality not to mention the worry of damaging the speakers..although I have yet to 'clip' the H/K.

Any thoughts on this?

Greg
suds, suds and more suds!
Post edited by gshisme on

Comments

  • tonyv1
    tonyv1 Posts: 365
    edited February 2005
    I remember reading a review in S&V that the Parasound HCA-855A outperformed the amp section of a Denon AVR-5700 (that was their big boy then). I think it was in 2001, the same year I got a Parasound HCA-1500A and P/HP 850 for my stereo only rig.
  • gshisme
    gshisme Posts: 1,038
    edited February 2005
    I've found that there are three models. the 855, 855A, and a 855a(x). Forgot the last suffix but makes me wonder why the suffixs'. Were they fixes or just uprades. Just curious, as these amps seem to pop up on a regular basis on some websites.
    suds, suds and more suds!
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2005
    (A) indicates that the amp has a 12v trigger connection. Don't know what "x" means....
    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