Parasound JC1+ or Michi M8's for Polk L600
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crazy098
Posts: 28
in Electronics
I'm going to be upgrading my amps in the near future and I'm having a hard time deciding between the Michi M8's or Parasound JC1+ monoblocks. Neither are available anywhere near me to demo. I'm currently using a pair of NAD 2200PE's in bridged mode that have been upgraded by Peter Williams at quirkaudio.com
-Summary of upgrades-
Schottky diodes and audio IC’s, have been incorporated into the NAD 2200
On the input board, C111-114- have been replaced with COG Ceramics and have added 47uf 50v in parallel with each of these using Nichicon PW or similar low impedance
C109, C110 replaced with 22uf Nichicon MUSE UES Bipolar
C107,C108- these were 820pf ceramics (circuit states 1000pf film)- so replaced these with WIMA 820pf 50v FKP.All other small value capacitors on the input board are replaced with WIMA FKP
Replaced the 2043DD IC’s with LM4562NA
On the main amp boards, C203, C204 replaced with Nichicon MUSE Bipolar 47uf
C215-218- These support the 18v rails that provide the power to the initial VAS stage of the power amplifier boards, replaced the original 2.2uf 50v with 470uf 50v I have settled on Nichicon HE
I now replace all the ceramic capacitors on the main amp board with FKP WIMA polypropylene
Power supply- 330uf are replaced with 470uf, all other with the same values using Nichicon PW, the 1uf and 0.47uf are replaced with KEMET polyester film.
Power amp- all are replaced with Nichicon PW except C223, C224, which are replaced by film, C311, C312, are Nichicon UFG and C203,C204- were ELNA Simlic II as mentioned, though now are UES MUSE Nichicon.
10,000uf 80v with Nichicon or equivalent
The 10000uf 120v are unobtainable, and the 160V versions are both expensive and don’t fit- so I now have settled on Nippon Chemicon 10,000uf 100v (125v surge) replacements
The Nippon Chemicon series capacitors have been discontinued, so I now use KEMET ALC for the 120v capacitors which are rated at 100v with 115v surge. The 80v capacitors are Nichicon, though I now uprate these to 12,000uf
The troublesome relays are replaced as is the bridge rectifier for the 18v rails
This results in excellent transparency and detail, more and firmer bass, better dynamics and measures well, the low frequency phase shift and roll off has been addressed with these further modifications though there is a small amount from about 50hz downwards on the normal input, though with the LAB inputs less so as expected. The overall THD is an order of magnitude better than the original specifications
-End of Upgrades-
The rest of my system:
Media PC running roon->HQPlayer->FMC mod (convert ethernet to fiber optic then back before going to streamer)
Preamp: Audio GD HE1 MK2
RPI as Diretta host
Streamer: Holo Red as Diretta target
Dac: Holo May KTE via USB to RED
2X Rythmik F18's
I'm looking for greater air around the instruments, improved transparency and micro detail retrieval. Right now it's good, but I feel it could be better and that the amps are holding me back.
Which monoblocks would you choose and why? @nooshinjohn I'd like to hear from you.
Thanks in advance
-Summary of upgrades-
Schottky diodes and audio IC’s, have been incorporated into the NAD 2200
On the input board, C111-114- have been replaced with COG Ceramics and have added 47uf 50v in parallel with each of these using Nichicon PW or similar low impedance
C109, C110 replaced with 22uf Nichicon MUSE UES Bipolar
C107,C108- these were 820pf ceramics (circuit states 1000pf film)- so replaced these with WIMA 820pf 50v FKP.All other small value capacitors on the input board are replaced with WIMA FKP
Replaced the 2043DD IC’s with LM4562NA
On the main amp boards, C203, C204 replaced with Nichicon MUSE Bipolar 47uf
C215-218- These support the 18v rails that provide the power to the initial VAS stage of the power amplifier boards, replaced the original 2.2uf 50v with 470uf 50v I have settled on Nichicon HE
I now replace all the ceramic capacitors on the main amp board with FKP WIMA polypropylene
Power supply- 330uf are replaced with 470uf, all other with the same values using Nichicon PW, the 1uf and 0.47uf are replaced with KEMET polyester film.
Power amp- all are replaced with Nichicon PW except C223, C224, which are replaced by film, C311, C312, are Nichicon UFG and C203,C204- were ELNA Simlic II as mentioned, though now are UES MUSE Nichicon.
10,000uf 80v with Nichicon or equivalent
The 10000uf 120v are unobtainable, and the 160V versions are both expensive and don’t fit- so I now have settled on Nippon Chemicon 10,000uf 100v (125v surge) replacements
The Nippon Chemicon series capacitors have been discontinued, so I now use KEMET ALC for the 120v capacitors which are rated at 100v with 115v surge. The 80v capacitors are Nichicon, though I now uprate these to 12,000uf
The troublesome relays are replaced as is the bridge rectifier for the 18v rails
This results in excellent transparency and detail, more and firmer bass, better dynamics and measures well, the low frequency phase shift and roll off has been addressed with these further modifications though there is a small amount from about 50hz downwards on the normal input, though with the LAB inputs less so as expected. The overall THD is an order of magnitude better than the original specifications
-End of Upgrades-
The rest of my system:
Media PC running roon->HQPlayer->FMC mod (convert ethernet to fiber optic then back before going to streamer)
Preamp: Audio GD HE1 MK2
RPI as Diretta host
Streamer: Holo Red as Diretta target
Dac: Holo May KTE via USB to RED
2X Rythmik F18's
I'm looking for greater air around the instruments, improved transparency and micro detail retrieval. Right now it's good, but I feel it could be better and that the amps are holding me back.
Which monoblocks would you choose and why? @nooshinjohn I'd like to hear from you.
Thanks in advance
Comments
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What about a pair of Benchmark AHB2's?
The entire draw around them is their transparency and detail.
Can run them in bridged mono without the noise penalty and would have gobs of power.
https://benchmarkmedia.com/products/benchmark-ahb2-power-amplifier?currency=USD&variant=585555021&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google Shopping&stkn=4dacf9da22b9&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23088871591&gbraid=0AAAAADLq_pGUjLX4FW4BvBMpev_H0ypOw&gclid=CjwKCAjwspPOBhB9EiwATFbi5KleV_d2xWHVryd5anBen2ZQgoc4a7QN-j5U5IFHv5bcMxU6Ei3jIxoC22MQAvD_BwE -
I'm looking for greater air around the instruments, improved transparency and micro detail retrieval.
You should be looking at Musical Fidelity amps. -
I wouldn't go above the level of a Parasound JC5 for the L600s and even that's going to overshoot the speaker capabilities. Put the spare funds towards something else.
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There’s always a weakest link somewhere. Maybe he plans to upgrade from the L600s at some point, but wants to enjoy everything he can get from them in the meantime.
I say that mainly because my lowly RTA 15TLs have shocked me beyond belief in how they have responded as I’ve upgraded everything around them, substantially, in the past three years.
Brian -
I would highly recommend putting the Benchmark AHB2 amp on your list of potential candidates.
Give Benchmark a call & most likely Rory will pickup & will tell you everything about the AHB2.
I'll bet you that the L600 will be fine with a single AHB2 unless you have a very large room.
They also have a great 30 day in home trial period with free shipping both ways in case it needs to be returned. Can't beat that.
If you do give one a shot be prepared to finally hear what your front end is capable of. This bad boy does not color the sound at all.
If he does recommend two in bridged mono mode he'll explain how it's designed for that. They actually have better specs in bridged mono than stereo mode.
Where most A/B amps can't handle much more than 8ohm load in bridged mono mode (can't handle the feedback properly) the AHB2 can handle 8/4/2ohm load & will go into protection mode at 1ohm. That's how well designed they are. You will hear your system like never before.
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EVERY piece in the audio chain is colored. Full stop.This bad boy does not color the sound at all.
