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How good is Empirical Audio's Parasound JC1 Mod?

Category: Amplifiers

I am looking for others that have had their Parasound JC1 modified by Steve Nugent at Empirical Audio. I just got mine back, and what a difference. I loved my JC1s, 2004 Amp of the Year. Now I am absolutely ecstatic... It’s like I went from an Audi TT to a Porsche 911. Same product family but a lot better… The result the most musical solid-state amp I have ever had in my system.

I have found that the JC-1 monoblocks stock sound a lot better than most amps in their price range, however there is a lot more performance potential locked-up in these amps. Their primary weakness is dynamics, particularly in the high frequencies. They also tend to be a bit muddy in both the midrange and highs due to their power delivery topology, even though they deliver the detail in spades right out of the box, or at least after a month or two of break-in. This muddiness can best be described as a bit of congestion or compression. They just do not open-up and envelope you in an unrestrained, spacious sound field.

The EA Turbomod removes all of these weaknesses. It transforms JC-1s into spectacular, breathtaking music machines. The soundstage doubles in width compared to the stock amp and the slam factor improves by an order of magnitude. The weight, authority, and richness of the music are improved dramatically. There is a spaciousness of the sound field that just immerses the listener. The focus of violins, violas, and cellos is razor-sharp, but with finesse and sweetness, not harshness. Transient response is improved so that percussion, such as drums, cymbals, bells and vibraphone, all have real attack, sustain and decay. Vocals are breathtaking – airy and articulate. The front-to-back layering is so detailed that the relative positions of different instruments can be sensed within a few feet. Most first-time listeners believe they are listening to surround-sound, when it is only 2-channel. Is it the best-sounding solid-state amp on the planet – I think so… But note that it took me about two weeks of break-in to get them to their peak performance.

p.s. Has anyone tried them in low level listening mode. I have and boy is it fun not to lose the detail at low levels.
nicholasz
drhst20
71 posts
 
As I have some street credit on audiogon, and as Nicholasz is new, let me speak a little on his behalf. I have been talking to Nicholasz and he is a wonderfully nice gentleman. As a new poster, I am sure he does not realize that he has broken some cardinal rules that you guys are going to pound him for.
1. Don't make your first post to Audiogon a review as it makes you look like a "troll"
2. Don't quote directly from the modders page. Write your own review with comparisons to other equipment you have heard.

That being said, again, he is a very nice guy who has shared his expereinces with me. He has a heck of an audio budget (much bigger then mine...can you say Talon Firebirds with Diamond Tweeter Upgrade) and seems to have at least as much expereince as I do listening to high end amps (Halcro and Boulder were I beleive what he mentioned in conversation). I have to admit, I find it all hard to beleive too, but I may take the mod leap and see what happens. If I do, I will let you know. So, the moral of the story is..go easy on him guys!!! BTW, I am on an amp hunt and am going to try the H20's prior to making a move to mod. I will report after I take a listen.

jafox
1,456 posts
 
I don't know if I would discredit a review from a new member just because this is that person's first post here. But reviews on products that compare to other products, in this case, a stock model vs. a modified model, without the comparison being made with the two products side by side, well ..... the comments have little merit.

The (perceived) sound of my system is clearly not consistent from day to day. Many members here have noted this is due to many factors: mood, AC power quality, room temp/humidity, etc. So based on this alone, there might be a few listening sessions in the week where the sound is absolutely phenomenol and other times, it's just not "there". I have heard huge differences in components that still were not as dramatic as these day-to-day differences in my system with no system changes. Maybe I just need to wait for my room to warm up from all the tubes so I can relax and be cozy and then be content. 8-)

So how someone can take delivery of a product and suddenly claim the updates "remove all of the weaknesses" is not easy to accept as the reference point is nothing more than an aural memory. And this is not anything against this particular review. This is one of the biggest issues I have with reviews here and in audio magazines.

John
drhst20
71 posts
 
John,

I kind of agree with you. If one has had a component for a long time (say a year), one tends to know the sound of that component (and their system) fairly well. In that case, the individual could send out that component, get it back two weeks later, and then make a fair comparison. However, if one is not very familair with a product, I 100% agree with you. I have certianly made mistakes where I listen to item A, then go listen to item B, and I find I prefer item B for verious reasons. Then I get item A and item B togther in the same listening session and am surprised that my first take was off.
kevziek
323 posts
 
I own JC-1's, and cannot agree with your assessment of them in stock form.

They are very dynamic, more than any amps I have owned. Not dynamic in the treble? This is not my experience at all. I have Von Schweikert VRjr's, and I play some very clean, top grade recordings of big band jazz at loud levels, and the brass just jumps with dynamics.

Midrange & treble are not constrained at all. Perhaps your associated equipment is deficient in these areas, and the mods were complementary to these deficiencies. My system is quite neutral, so I'm hearing the amps for what they are -- some of the finest solid state design out there. I don't believe in mods -- and you lose your tail if you sell moded equipment.
drhst20
71 posts
 
Kevziek,

Chill my man...I own them so I must like them. They are a great amp, irrepect of price, and a super amp at their asking price. For the record, I run Meitner gear (DCC2) and Von VR4 GEN III SE with Valhalla cabeling. All I am saying is that they are not perfect and that I have heard and owned amps in their price range that best them in one area or another. That is the way of our hobby. However, in my system, with my tastes, and given my expereiences, I tend to prefer more excitment up top and in the mids along with a little more snap. That is all. What I love most about them is their resolution. In that reguard they are the best amp I have ever owned and stand toe to toe with some of the best I have heard.
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