Advice needed on Amp


I have a modest system consisting of Wharfedale Jade 5s, Sim audio 230 HAD used as a dac an digital preamp, and a Parasound HCA 1500A Amp I purchased new years ago.  I use GIK corner traps and spme  side and rear wall panels because my listening room is small at 12 feet  by 15 feet. 

This system sounds nice but I would like to increase the level of transparency. I have a small budget of 2,500. It would seem to me that the weak link in my system is the Parasound. Ideally I should spend hours going round to audio shops auditioning equipment. Being a man of 68 years old this does not appeal to me.  I am hoping for some advice from you kind and wise souls to help this old man with a decision. 
At one time I had a subtational record and cd collection. Divorces and other bad choices leave me with Tdal and Hi Rez down loads as my sources for media. .

Thank You
128x128rhouse
I can recommend the Ohm Micro Walsh's as a great upgrade for your small room! They will work well with your present components and offer 3-d imaging with "you are there" realism! I own the larger Walsh's and would expect the smaller versions to have comparable sound quality!
Upgrade to a Parasound A21, get some OCC wire. Get some sorbothane footers for your equipment and put some acoustic panels on your walls to absorb early reflections (put some behind you as well). These panels are available at Home Depot now.
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Want another opinion? Get room treatments on the front wall (the wall behind the speakers that you are facing), the side walls, the ceiling, and the rear wall (the wall behind your listening seat). Jim Smith's book Get Better Sound will guide you.
I spent less than $1000.00 on room treatments and it gave me the biggest improvement in SQ. And that is comfortably well below your budget. 
The room dictates half of what you will hear.
Choose wisely.
I do have GIK Corner bass traps in the front corners and sound panels on the side and rear wall. I think I probably she treat the frant wall too, though it is wall to wall glass and I hate to kill the view. So be it.

If you don't have dedicated power lines and some good AC outlets I'd suggest starting there to hear what your audio components can sound like.

You could upgrade the amp to something like Parasound A21 (which would definitely be an improvement) at something like $1800 used.  This would definitely increase the resolution/transparency.  I would also look at your interconnects, as solid-core OCC copper (like Audioquest) can improve things.  Look at Music Direct because they have many on special closeout pricing (such as the Columbia or Colorado), or look for a used King Cobra.  Another option is Wire World interconnects, which are very nice, maybe like the Silver Eclipse 6 or 7.

Speaker cable - look for used Audioquest Rocket 44 or 88 (or anything above that).

The Jade 5 speakers can be bright/harsh sounding because of the aluminum done.  If this is a problem for you, maybe look for something different.  I have found that speakers that use Seas magnesium drivers are very high resolution and transparent (for midrange and early highs).  Something like Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Monitor.  Or look for a Salk speaker using the Seas Magnesium.

There are other speakers that uses Scanspeak drivers which can be said to be very high resolution and transparent.  Wilson Audio (super expensive) or Odyssey Audio.  In my listening, the Scanspeak are very transparent, but they have a harsh sound in the highs and I think they sound somewhat hallow.  You'll really have to listen yourself to decide if they are for you.

I would be careful with people's recommendations to add more sound panels.  You can experiment if you want, but you already have corner traps and some side wall panels.  There is a fine line with panels that can push the room into the "too dead" sound and then the high frequency excitement is lost.

No need to put panels in back of the speakers. The common description is "live-end, dead-end" one end of the room some be untreated (live) the other should have treatment (dead). Also, I don't believe Audioquest ever used OCC copper. They use something called "perfect surface" (?). Harmonic technology, Acoustic Zen, Wireworld and, recently, Shunyata all use OCC (single crystal) copper. BTW, Aluminum tweeters are not necessarily harsh.
Good luck with your quest...
I’m not entirely disagreeing with dweller since I believe in leaving areas in the room untreated, but a wall of glass is terrible for sonics. If your front wall was plaster or drywall, then maybe don’t treat it. You could help the imaging of the speakers by adding partially closed drapes or curtains, or by using 2 vertical absorbion/diffusion panels, (portable). If you can limit the reflection from the glass, you will get a more focused image.

Your weak link may be the amp, but can you tell us what cables you are using? (speaker, IC, and power).


I think you are correct about the glass being an issue and in need of treatment. When GIK first gave me advice on the room their design added some treatment there.
I just added anti cables as speaker wire. I am pleased with how they opened up the dynamics of the system . Pretty amazing actually.
I use straightwire as interconnects. I cant remember the model.
Finally I use the Audioquest Niagra,( the smaller one) for power.