2. amps-preamps
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Hafler vs Parasound

hey all, looking for some advice regarding power amps

for context I'm in my 20s and i've built a system from ebay and classifieds.. with a lot of luck. I'm all about bang for the buck performance and at this point I've got around 600 to play with

right now my system is as follows
speakers- NHT 3.3, Infinity Kappa 6.1
preamp- Integra research RDC7.1
source- PC lossless feeding usb to spdif, digital coax to the IR RDC7.1 apogee clock/burr brown dacs

I've been bi amping the NHT/Kappas using balanced from my IR pre/pro using a hafler 9505 250wpc for mids/highs and a beefy hafler p7000 350wpc for lows

I'm aware these power amps are 15+ years old, and I bought them used from a studio where they were used frequently, leading me to want to upgrade the capacitors as well as some other mods via musical concepts, for a pretty penny, and I want to explore my options

I've seen some parasound HCA1000a local to me on craigslist, 2 of them for a great price. these offer 125wpc @8 ohm, and 400w bridged. I see a lot of love for the parasounds especially in the bang/buck department. I would run these as mono blocks.

they are the john curl design, and I know there are good references for DIY upgrading and modding these units.

I would be completely overhauling both, I was just wondering which do you think would give me the better power amp performance

or maybe is it worth saving up for a bryston or other power amp? my goal was to spend around 500 to upgrade the older amps

I know the hafler amps are great, im just skeptical that upon upgrading I will not be happy with the results due to their pro audio roots compared to the parasound design for sound quality. thanks
nyhifihead

Showing 2 responses by nyhifihead

nyhifihead OP
6 posts
 
anyone with experiences with musical concepts hafler upgrades? 
nyhifihead OP
6 posts
 
thanks for responses.

@slaw yea I have the equipment upgrade bug.. I just know that my power amps are the weak link in my system

right now my listening space is a 26x20x10 part of an unfinished basement. its a WIP, I will have double 5/8 sheetrock with green glue ceilings next week, and the walls should be finished within the month

@adg101 sorry for confusion, the NHT 3.3s are my primary speakers, but I do listen to the Infinitys some times to listen.. i love that polydome mid

When I was deciding on power amps.. I did a bunch of research, I know pro amps can be considered harsh, but from what I found in research and my tests is that the MOSFET class AB hafler actually has a touch of warmth and doesn’t have that typical pro amp sound, much like bryston. the hafler transnovas were designed by jim strickland, of acoustat. From what I’ve read these haflers are like brystons, just a little less refined.

Everywhere I looked regarding the NHT 3.3 was that they benefit the most from active bi amping, and a LOT of power, 200wpc+

right now i’m halfway there, I have the bi amp setup. 9505 for mids/highs, p7000 for lows. But I am still using the passive xovers in the towers, which isn’t bad considering the low pass is 100hz.

my idea is to replace the 9505 with a more detailed/resolving 100-200wpc amp for the mids/highs of the NHT 3.3s, since upgrading the hafler doesn’t make sense. I will look more into the 4004, thanks for the recommendation

the p7000 350wpc @ 8 ohm really tames the 12" drivers in the 3.3, I dont think I would need a replacement for the sub 100hz section of the speakers

I also surprisingly don’t listen to music loud at all, I just like it to be full & complete. If anyone has any other comments or recommendations on my system its appreciated!





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