Help me choose Parasound or McCormack


I have a parasound p3 which I think is great. I just bought a mccormack sst1 and dac combo. I'm looking for a good 2 channel ss amp that can be had for less than $800. I'm leaning towards the Parasound Halo a23(~500) or a McCormack dna 0.5(~650).

Thanks.
jimluu

Showing 1 response by saygrr

I have had a number of amps in my system. Audio Research, B&K, MFA, Atma-Sphere, Odyssey, Krell and McCormack. Atma-Sphere is my favorite but at the time heat was a factor. The Odyssey I tried because I was setting it up in a friends system. Purchased off of Audiogon for about $700.I was very impressed. I have McCormack DNA-1s in my system. Mono blocked upgraded to the Platinum level with the Plitron transformers. These DNA-1s are better at imaging and have better tonality. The Odyssey was just as good if not perhaps a hair better than my DNA-1s when it comes to dynamics. The Odyssey was very quiet just like my DNA-1s.I do not remember what I have invested in the DNA-1s guessing about $5,000. I do not remember what model Odyssey it was. It was a stereo amp all of 50 pounds. Very nice looking. Blue logo light. Very nice binding post for speaker connections. I'm sure you would be happy with an Odyssey amp. The Odyssey amp I heard will deliver satisfying music in very very expensive systems.