@ja_kub_sz A good deal certainly never hurts! One great thing about buying used and smart is break in is done for you.
New Parasound Halo JC1+ monoblocks just released!!!
Those trying to get the old JC1’s cheaper may want to wait as these new ones should reduce the price of the old one used. And look at these babies do current
Old Model New Model
- 400 → 450 Watts @ 8Ω
- 800 → 850 Watts @ 4Ω
- 1200 → 1300 Watts @ 2Ω
- Peak current: 135 → 180 amps
- http://https//www.stereophile.com/content/parasound-halo-jc-1-monoblock-power-amplifier-0
- Cheers George
63 responses Add your response
@christianb5s4 wow Coda 16 is incredible. Was considering a Coda myself, but not the 16. I got a screening deal on my JC1+ direct from Parasound after they used the amps at a show. So new essentially, but absolute not new pricing. When I was talking to them they told me I could purchase the one they were showcasing and did just that. |
@ja_kub_sz For 2 channel listening, no subs yet. For the rest of the setup, Lumin U1 streamer w/ X1 PSU, Denafrips Terminator+ DAC, Pass Labs XP22 pre, various GIK room treatments, and very good cabling. It's a great system, but as we know, the curiosity of improvement is there. As it sits, I'm extremely happy with only certain areas that in my imagination could be improved slightly mainly in bit more midrange and a more refined high frequency response (but not veer into harshness).
Purely off price alone, the JC5 is the cheapest part of the whole system by quite a margin not that it necessarily means a lot. I'm also considering Coda 16 as another top amp contender. The challenge is in my area, all the dealers I've visited do not allow home demos no matter the brand. |
@christianb5s4 Kanta... Nice, yeah I wouldn't feel too compelled. Honestly the price difference of a JC5 to JC1+ being 7-10k... I would invest elsewhere (sub's/DAC) I did all of the above, DAC, amps, sub's, speakers, cables and power conditioner. So mine was kinda like an all in push since I have 3 systems now at my new house (possibly better off just with one dream system) with my one main system in a communal and large area and then my second system in my office/listening room, last one system in my workshop. Out of curiosity, what sub's and DAC are you running? |
@ja_kub_sz Well I have Focal Kanta 3s and spent a lot of time with Sopras, so similar house sound so your thoughts are even more helpful. Thank you for that, I guess the upgrade itch is always there to an extent hence my curiosity. |
Well I have a completely different system now and a new house, and I'm gonna be completing a tube based system end of month. But as far as the JC1+ go... I have them paired with my Focal Sopra No.3 in a large (18'x52') room. As for the JC5 vs JC1+... I'm of the opinion now that it's all about your speakers, room size and listening habits. If you have 90+db 8ohm speakers, listen at moderate sound levels, and have a small room, then JC5 would be all you need (95+% what the JC1+ offer for half the price). However if you have hard to drive speakers, and want the most out of them then JC1+. If I had my Sopra 3's with the JC5 I would just stayed put, I have 80 class A tube watts powering my Sopra's and they sound amazing, but again I have the Mola Mola Tambaqui now so that too changes things. All and all... I really would say JC5's and spending the difference in price on the Tambaqui would bring more audio nirvana then the JC1+ alone. |
@ja_kub_sz Hope all is well with you. I wanted to see if you ended up getting more time with the JC1+ and have feedback to share about the differences of those versus the JC5? |
We’ll I’m fresh off a two week trial of the JC5 (really like it), previously had dual mono Cambridge 851w’s and the JC5 was a jump up in detail, depth, width and microdynamics. Can’t say anything bad about, actually is an amazing amp. Wanted to run bi-amped dual mono JC5’s in hopes of greater sound stage separation and any other audible benefits (as with my 851’s) and at their price (10k) said "what the hell" and now have the JC1+’s set up. I’ve only had a chance to listen to 20 minutes of music, and broke down the JC5, so I can’t jump back and forth. What I’m noticing right out of the gates is the deep detail the JC1+’s give in there class A operation. Just so much depth and texture brought out that I seriously never picked up on, or maybe more easily pick up on now. However the power of the JC1+’s is kinda throwing me a curve. My speakers are 103" (L) and 112" (R) from my listening chair, and had with the JC5 my R/L balance set to 2db favoring the right speaker. Sounded fantastic and had great center imaging. The JC1+ has my left channel speaker really jumping out and overly favoring the closer speaker. I didn’t even touch my speakers while setting up the JC1+’s, but way over powering left channel now. I listen at a 0db balance and really like what I hear (minus the left speaker dominance), but when I dial over the balance to a more neutral sound now at 4db favoring the right speaker, I feel the overall sound feels restrained and not as vibrant overall as it was in a 0db. I just need some more sit down time to really flesh it out more. Innuous Zenith3+Phoenix USB, Musetec MH-DA005, Technics SU-R1000, JC1+'s, JBL L100 75's, Dual KEF 12b subs |
...However, the JC5 is a stereo amp, which I guess is relatively limited in delivering power and current comparing to monos, especially in low impedance. Afterall, I am really expecting that the new JC1+ can combine the advantages of both. But $17k is not inexpensive. Just waiting for more feedbacks.:) |
Hi jaytor, I have both JC5 and JC1s. The JC5 is generally more transparent and delicate in the mid/high, while the JC1s sounds a little bit "muddy". However, I am still keeping my JC1s because my Dynaudio speakers need high current and big power. The JC5 is unable to deliver enough bass on my speakers let alone control it, and the JC1s can do it much better. I think this result is reasonable for that John Curl has been improving the circuit over the years. |
BTW: Audiogon has kindly added to the threads 1st post, a link now to the Stereophlie review on these JC1+ beauties. https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/new-parasound-halo-jc1-monoblocks-just-released Cheers George |
but the circuit inside is not balanced which is where you get the most benefit out of a pure balanced design. Sorry indran didn’t read your post right on this. Indeed the voltage amplification section of the JC1 ’s old or new may not be balanced I don’t know, as I have no circuit diagrams on them. But you’ll find that if model of Pass Labs you mentioned has a true balanced voltage amplification stage (not just a tacked on balanced to se), the output stage is still single ended, like just about every other amp. Just having a balance input with a single ended circuit inside, at least in theory, doesn’t have much benefit.Yes because to listen to the balanced input on those, it’s just more components (sometimes an opamp) then they run into the single ended voltage amplification stage anyway, so your better off just listening to it. And like I mentioned, it’s only a noise benefit, if there’s no noise it’s just extra components in the signal path that aren’t needed. Cheers George |
Hello Georgehifi- Thanks for your response. JC1+ indeed supports balanced inputs like the old JC1 but the circuit inside is not balanced which is where you get the most benefit out of a pure balanced design. Just having a balance input with a single ended circuit inside, at least in theory, doesn't have much benefit. More on this balanced design, people argue that if you are having a fully balanced upstream component like a Bricasti DAC or any other such products it sound the best when you connect it to a downstream component[s] like pre-amplifier and/or directly to a power amplifier which is also fully balanced. Does anyone have any comment on this design? |
How much of this balanced design with common noise reduction functionality leads to sonic benefit?Not much as I’ve found, only the noise "can" be a touch lower if the interconnects are unshielded or 10mts or more long. In fact many pieces of equipment’s with balanced inputs and outputs are fake and sound worse, being just balanced opamps in front of or after the main single ended amplification circuitry. And then 99% of amps are SE output anyway to the speakers the black "negative" speaker terminal is at earth potential so not being balanced output. The new JC1+ monoblocks have got balanced inputs. https://www.stereophile.com/content/parasound-halo-jc-1-monoblock-power-amplifier-0 Cheers George |
Hello All, I have great appreciation for Parasound/John C amplifiers. I am sure that the new JC1+ would be an outstanding amplifier. However none of the John C amplifiers are balanced design unlike Pass Labs and many other more expensive brands. How much of this balanced design with common noise reduction functionality leads to sonic benefit? Would that be a key criteria when you are evaluating a solid state amplifier? |
I wonder if echohifi will be carrying these. Would be interested in bringing my modded JC1s for comparison with JC1+. I always found non-modded JC1s to be a bit dark with rolled off upper end. It is like listening to speakers with speaker grilles vs without when you compare non-modded JC1 to Empirical Audio modded JC1. I am not sure why Parasound advertise 25W of class A. Reading the Stereophile review the stock bias settings were significantly lower than recommended by John or Tony at Parasound. I don't push the recommended range on my set and I am in 55W and 58W of class A bias on my samples (assuming 8Ohm load). They do run hot though and in hot summer days that can be a problem (nice to have low bias mode when you need it). Last time I checked the bias settings I forgot to measure them in low bias mode, but they are probably half of power of high bias mode which is enough for many. I would be curious seeing how they measure. If I had a sample available I would have measured them on Audio Precision myself. |
I bought a JC-5 a few months ago after auditioning the JC-1. I found the two amps to have a very similar sonic signature, but the JC-5 was slightly cleaner sounding.Wondering if you asked the shop demo'er if the JC1's were in high or low bias mode, as I found high bias was much sweeter and transparent in the upper-mid/highs on the Wilson Alexia's, yet still retained the same hammer like impact and definition in the bass as low bias mode did. Cheers George |
I bought a JC-5 a few months ago after auditioning the JC-1. I found the two amps to have a very similar sonic signature, but the JC-5 was slightly cleaner sounding. The speakers I was using were fairly easy to drive, so the added current capability of the JC-1 didn't come into play. Both amps could easily drive the speakers to high volumes. I've owned a dozen or so fairly high end SS amps from Levinson, Krell, Pass and Bryston over the years, and I'd say the JC-5 is easily in the same class or better. However, the other SS amps are not recent models - mostly from the 80's and 90's. Based on my experience with the JC-5, I would expect the JC-1+ will be an outstanding amp, particularly for speakers that are more challenging to drive and need the high current capabilities. |
w1000iYou need to do more research, the best sounding amp around have very little feedback. Designers like John Curl, Nelson Pass, Dan D’agostino, Gryphon ect ect ect use as little negative feedback as they can, sometimes even only using just local feedback instead of global. This little feedback always sounds better if the design is a solid design to start with, instead of having feedback higher just so the amp can be cleaned up and can then get better advertised THD figures and lower output impedances. Cheers George |
Actually the Curl Thompson Crump CTC amp the Bar-B-Q was for sure the best Curl amp - the heroic monster amp that just preceded the JC-1, which were “bang for the buck” amps as opposed to an all out attempt. I suspect the same can be said for the CTC Blowtorch preamp. I was a participant in the exhibits at CES with Curl and Crump for the Bar-B-Q, Blowtorch and the debut of the JC-1s the following year. I isolated the Blowtorch and JC-1s as well as the number cruncher DAC. |
Without sharing the other amplifiers included in this evaluation I’ve given one of the other amps, as the Gryphon. No need to belittle the ones that were easily beaten by giving their names just because they couldn’t match it against the JC1’s into the Wilson Alexia’s one of the hardest speakers to drive, which demand large amounts of current without an amp becoming stressed. These amps that were beaten, in their own right, and kept within their driving ability limits are all good amps, (as many members here own them) just not as good as the JC1’s into the Alexia’s Cheers George |
A great design does not guarantee a great implementation. The JC1’s were the only thing to to drive and make the Wilson Alexia’s sing beside the Gryphon Antillion Without sharing the other amplifiers included in this evaluation to the resultant gold-star awarded JC1’s, the comment above is of little value. |
Whatever buddy. John Curl’s best amp to date was the original Parasound Halo JC1 monos, till these even beefier Halo JC1+ monos came along. You say they "sound ok" and are "a lot of bang for buck" quite a massive understated that I and the others believe that were there. The JC1’s were the only thing to to drive and make the Wilson Alexia’s sing beside the Gryphon Antillion, without hearing them I'd dare say the new JC1+'s could equal or maybe better the Gryphon Antillion |
I'm not negative towards Parasound. Within a particular price range I think Parasound is great. I've heard the JC5 and thought it was very good and offered a lot of bang for the buck. One of the best system I've heard had Gryphon amplifiers and the other had Absolare mono-amps. I simply go by what I hear/prefer regardless of manufacturer. |
My mission isn’t to deceiveNeither is mine mate, I told it how it was heard by 6 very experienced listeners. BTW this isn’t the first time you’ve been negative or put **** on Parasound products, seems in your posting history you have a thing against Parasound components, amps, pre’s and digital, yet you keep buying them, so you say. |
"And sorry in Australia when something is "unanimously considered superior" heard between 6 audio reviewers/audio manufacturers in an a/b, we usually use terms like "it blew it away". Reviewers/audio manufactures have a different mission. They often use hyperbole and flowery words to exaggerate differences. As an end user that has no skin in the game, my only obligation is to tell the truth based on what I hear. My mission isn’t to deceive, exaggerate, or sell components. I don’t think a reviewer’s opinion is any more valuable than anyone else’s. I have enough experience that I don’t rely on a dealer or manufacturer to tell me what I hear or dictate my preferences. |
I’m not a shill for anythingget a grip, read my post above yours, before going off half cocked, I apologized to you. I got you wrong with "ricevs" who gets tweak1 to shill his Class-D’s. And sorry in Australia when something is "unanimously considered superior" heard between 6 audio reviewers/audio manufacturers in an a/b, we usually use terms like "it blew it away". |
georgehifi, My father owns a record store and I've been into music my entire life. I've been an "audiophile" for over 30 years. As I try to grow as a person and "audiophile", my goal is to be a little more measured regarding what I post. I'm not a shill for anything, I no longer use hyperbole to describe differences between components, and try very hard to be more descriptive when describing differences between components. When "we" say something destroys, blows away, without being descriptive, we shortchange the individual and our hobby. The truth is at a certain level it comes down to preference, more so than one component totally destroying the other. e.g. I listened to a pair of Magico M2 with the same components that I have. The room certainly impacted the sound, but despite being twice the price of my speakers, they didn't destroy them. They present details differently and the soundstage was pushed back more, but it wasn't like I heard something that I've never heard. |
georgehifi, "And they’ll blow away just about anything as well, maybe but for a Gryphon Antillion Evo, which I heard an a/b with and were just a little better on the Wilson Alexia’s, and those Antillions are not budget priced at all." With very few exceptions, based on my experience I just don't agree that any amplifier truly blows away another amplifier. Yes, easily discernable audible differences, but blows away very rare. |
Well one could always buy a pair of the old ones used, they get around $3-$4k a pair depending on condition. And they’ll blow away just about anything as well, maybe but for a Gryphon Antillion Evo, which I heard an a/b with and were just a little better on the Wilson Alexia’s, and those Antillions are not budget priced at all. |
To be honest the Ampzilla was a classic desig y the late great Jim Borgiano, which was ,is noticably better then the paramount just read the reviews, it was over $10 k, Underwood wally has them. On close out $5 k new delivered. You will find Nothing close for this money ,and the matching preamp just as good. |
17k, for non-bespoke amps made offshore? Not that Taiwanese hi-fi is not good, but that price point will dis-qualify most of the buyers who would be chasing the JC-1 in my opinion. Wasn’t the original advantage around Parasound to offer great bang for the buck by manufacturing off-shore according to the US design? |
