Parasound Preamp

Thanks to everyone who replied,

My house was broken into the other day and getting some damage repaired is taking way to much of my time!

JD

I’m considering buying a Schiit Freya tube preamp as an option to the P5 I now use with an A21 amp.  I am curious about that “tube sound” others talk about. 

I own a new Hint Halo 6 and it is driving B&W 805d3. I agree it is very quiet. The HT bypass works well and plenty of inputs. I used it with a Denon 6300h, but now only using it alone. I think it sounds very good for the price. I believe the biggest problem we face is being able to listen to different amps with your speakers to really see if you are gaining anything. I am certainly not an expert. I also have a Classe setup and it is fantastic for music and HT. Might be able to pick up a very high quality used preamp for a few dollars. Good luck.

After purchasing the P6/A21+ combo, mainly based on features, looks, and the advice of someone I used to trust; I will most likely never purchase another piece of Parasound gear again.

The P6 pre in particular is boring, flat, and lackluster sounding. Def, mid-fi in my book. I A/B'd it directly with the Belles Aria pre and the Aria thoroughly embarrassed it. 

First look at the picture of inside of that preamp don’t give me any optimism. 

I have this preamp and use it with the Halo A21+.  I am very pleased with it.  The DAC is pretty good, although I use a separate Denafrips DAC.  The phono preamp is also good.  I do not use the subwoofer output. I use REL subwoofers and speaker outputs to the subwoofer.

I picked up an “Open box” deal awhile back. It’s a really nice pre, with good connectivity, and a descent DAC also. Very quiet background, nice remote and HT bypass. 
I have a Rel sub and have tested the sub-out with a longer balanced cable with impedance matching transformer at the sub end. Works like a champ, but I still prefer the Rel “high level” input. 
Any specific questions about this model?

I had that amp for 4 weeks - then sold at a big loss.  Awful phono pre, some of the knobs are very small - if you have big hands.  It will sound better that a marantz or demon.  Be warned that the warranty is not transferable - always a big red flag for me.  Rogue has some nice pre’s that are reasonably priced.  I have settled in on ARC.

Parasound is good equipment ... I have an old amp from Curl; quiet as mouse.

But best advice would be for you to look at Odyssey Audio ... I don't think there's a better buy in the whole audio universe than what Klaus is building in Indianapolis!!

https://odysseyaudio.com/

I have own P6 /Hint6 McIntosh C52 Michi P5 emotiva and Rotel RC1590 
P6/Hint6 is my favorite 
I have two set up Hint6 with cocktail Audio X45 and Hint6 with Cambridge Azur 851N in garage 
the WORST Preamp ever own is Emotiva Xsd 
for preamp duties there’s nothing better than P6/ Hint6 at the price range or even double triple 
the quiet preamp ever 
Michi P5 looks gorgeous but lot of noise and distortion at standby mode same on Rotel 
McIntosh C52 /601 mono blocks  boring sound sold them I prefer my A21+ / P6 over it 
Parasound need to update their chassis P6 looks too ugly but still better  than a lot of preamps out there though
i pay more for Hint6  to use as a preamp only because of  looks  
hint6 and P6 are technically the same 
the features on P6/hint is amazing 

P6 / Hint has 3 subs outputs best  HT bypass tone control subs and speakers high and low  frequency adjust option to run you speakers full range and lot more 
I’m using my own dac so I love them I pay 1200/2200 for them 
if Parasound updates the Chasis I will pay $2/$3k for them
one major downside to me is no software 😅😅😂
 I’m music lover not audiophile 😇☺️😉

Hello,
One more thing about the NAD658. For $1699 the BlueSound streamer is already included. So you are only spending $200 more but you are getting the streamer included in the deal. 

Hello,
I have not demoed this P6 preamp. But I have demoed the integrated Hint 6. It is loaded with features but just OK in its sound. I am not a big fan of Emotiva amps. But their full linear discrete preamp is really nice for less money than the Parasound. It has everything but the DAC. I have their older DAC. The XDA-2 gen 2 which you can find on the used market for less than $400. I believe this is what it sold for new.  Theses two pieces the XDA-1 or XDA-2 DAC and the XSP-1 preamp are awesome and the two together are loaded with features and fully balanced. I don’t like a DAC built into in a preamp because it gets upgraded all the time unless it can be upgraded later like NAD, Mac’s and Ayre. This DAC does not do MQA or above 24/192. I don’t care because most music content is under that. I use a BlueSound Node 2i as the streamer. If I want MQA I switch the preamp to the RCA connection. 99% of the time I am using the Emotiva DAC with a Nordost Silver Shadow digital RCA/BNC cable. I am upgrading my system to Ayre 5 series pre, amp. and DAC later on. Regardless of doing this I am keeping the Emotiva preamp and DAC as my secondary system. They both have good headphone amps. To me they are that good and worth way more than $1500. You can shave $400 off the preamp if you buy it used. Then take the money and buy the DAC you like with the features you like. Or maybe upgrade to a RME, Denifrips, or Topping for a few hundred more if you buy new. Unless you want to go high end on Parasound I would pass on them. Another option is the NAD 658. I am not a fan of integrated with the built in DAC but NAD has upgradable cards. So you can get a better USB or add BlueSound. I think this is $1699. Another really cool thing is it has Dirac room correction. It is way better than the Parasound P6 in my opinion along with a lot of reviewers. If you are in the Chicagoland area you can demo the NAD or Parasound so you can hear it in your home from this store. https://holmaudio.com/
I hope this helps. 

I have the baby brother the PLld1100 I feel that it has been a great preamp for me. I’m going to sell it, but it has been a tough decisions do so. Parasound is rock solid quality and sound.

Wonders continuing to not cease, I was recently gifted (not kidding...Really) with a Halo C2.  Yes, mind blown...

Having recovered....In Any HO, thoughts on strengths and weaknesses would be gratefully appreciated...*S*

Although I certainly don't have enough IC's to fill it's back panel, I think that I have enough about to try...*L*

(I noticed the 'uninvolving' comment; the only experience I have of that  nature occurs when I just don't like that bit of music due to taste....;)...)

I've got the Parasound "New Classic 200" pre (not integrated) going into a Parasound "Zone Master 2350" power amp. For my money (which is all of it  ..) sounds wonderful. Great soundstage, all over the place.  

If you don't need the sub out then you should try the Audio-GD R28 balanced preamp for around $1,500.00 or the Wyred 4 sound STP-SEpreamp, or even the Denafrips Athena or Hestia preamps.

I have owned the P5 and moved to the P7 for the 5.1 pass through. The 7 I thought sounds better than the 5.  Never heard the 6. The unit is a Swiss Army knife as far as features go. I love that I can use the sub with me setting for music and another for movies.  If you only need a pure pre maybe there is better. But does the money I paid I can’t beat it. I bought both used. Got all my money back on 5. And 7 I got delivered under 1k.  Super deal. 

I had the P6. It is a good pre to control all your gear. The sub outputs are very handy along with the tone control. The pono stage is good also. I traded and bought the P6 in black to go with my A21+ amp. It is a great pre and the dac is not bad. The balance out is what you need to build the rest of your system. But i fell for an AR Preamplifier and my Parasound is now setting on the shelf. PM me i work you a deal on mine.

I had one in my old system. Liked it. 

I guess that is why I didn’t like either one. 

The Parasound Halo integrated uses the exact same power supply and preamp stage as the P5/P6, lol.  In fact, the P5/P6 case is 2/3 empty to make space for the "amp" part of the integrated.

I had  Parasound P5 and found it to be very clean sounding, but it did not sound involving at all.  I sold it. Fast forward a few years and I bought a Parasound Halo Integrated amp and it was the same sound..  It sounded clean but very uninvolving.  I sold the Parasound and bought a Mac integrated. Now your talking. 

Parasound P6 uses op amp and a small switching power supply. Not to say the Zpre is any better as it also uses switching power supply. It’s not even close to the Halo JC2, which uses huge linear power supply and fully discrete FET analog stages.

The old P3 is the last "good" budget level Parasound preamp. The P7 is also good, but it’s a 7 channel analog preamp. Both would be used, but P7 is likely not going to be as old as P3.

WOW that took the all the air out of the room.. Better here than in his system I guess. Sure nice looking lots of options for sure. Heck I even liked the remote layout.. Simple but everything is there.. Not to simple..:-)

Regards

The parasound preamps are good performers but they don't Excel in any way except for features you may want to look at a nice used tube preamp

I would pass on it.

The Zpre is a great pre as is the P7.  The P5/6 not so much, especially for the cost.  Even if you aren't doing 5.1, the P7 is still a better pre.

Sure a nice looking full featured preamp. I have never been disappointed with Parasound, I purchased a ZPre3 a few years back what a little jewel.

Parasound has the good sense to have tone control.. I hope that hasn't changed.

I ran it in the Tape loop of a C20 (Samra special). I wanted a remote control, DAC and a sub out. It added ZERO floor noise to the system (my biggest concern).  The 300.00 usd I paid for it, I would have tripled it for the convenience.  After installing and using it on its own, and in the loop, what a great preamp and a small footprint too boot.. 

Their SS power amps have always been great sounding amp too.  I can't think of anything close for the money. Maybe some tricked out class ds or something.. BUT you have step WAY UP to get a bigger bang for the buck product. Period..

A preamp with built in crossover features for the subs and mains... You can direct couple a passive sub system (swarm or dba) and really gain a lot of bass driver cone control.. Almost servo like.. Who does that? Phono stage and load options for the cart. Lots and lots of goodies.

Heck I want one..:-)

Regards

I have its big brother--the JC2.  It is a fantastic preamp for the money (~$4k).  I'd expect the P6 to also be a strong performer in that price class.

I have not heard that particular preamp but I have experience with some older Parasound preamps. I would think in that price range it would be a solid performer.