Parasound vs. Krell for 2 channel


Hey there - primarily a HT guy here. lately I have been listening to much more music though. I got JTR speakers but I love their sound/fullness for music. I have been running a Krell Chorus 5200 for 3 years. Love it, but recently added side surrounds. Grabbed a stereo D-Sonic to cover me...and tried it for my LR. I personally thought it felt a little thin/weaker, so I decided to switch back to the Krell for LR. So, I'm wondering if I should just keep it as is, or try to improve my 2 channel a bit. Would a Parasound A21+ sound "better" than the Krell? I have heard the Parasound has great control of bass response in mains, and that many people love their sound. I heard one once w/ Martin Logans and loved it. I also wonder if having 5 channels in the same box isn't as effective. I thought about going Jc1 mono blocks, but I don't have the space. Sorry this was so Long winded, LOL. But to all you out there smarter than me - should I check out a Parasound or just stick w/ Krell? thanks!
ethos4lyfe

Showing 1 response by xcool

I've never heard the Krell, but I own the Parasound A31, and recently upgraded to JC-5.   I don't agree that some descriptions of Parasound's sound being dry.    I would describe it as neutral to slightly warm.

However, I agree that some people might find it 'boring' or 'uninvolved'.   I felt a little bit the same way when I was still auditioning the JC-5.  But then I started to really see that it is actually a nice attribute about Parasound.  It just gets out of the way and delivers that smooth sound every time.   The more I listen to it, the more I really appreciate that transparency, and with the JC-5, it's got nice tight bass and very smooth mids and highs, plus I love the sound stage and the spaciousness of the music.    Oh, and that low noise floor.

This is what so cool about this hobby.  Everybody has different taste, it really comes down to your personal preference.  Cheers!