Parasound vs Emotiva

I started out with Emotiva XPR-1 monoblocks in my home theater system.  I went through a big amp search to find a good sounding amp in my budget.  I tried several in my own own (ended up losing money).  I also went through and listened to a ton of amps at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest.  I tried Parasound JC1/A21, Bryston 7b3 monoblocks, Classe M300 all in my own system by buying these amps.  None of them really gave me the sound I wanted and I ended up going back to the Emotiva XPR-1 monoblocks (which I have since rebuilt and upgraded).

The Classe M300 were the biggest disappointment.  They sounded flat and sterile.  The Bryston had good resolution, but just did not have enough body and oomph to keep up with the Emotiva.  The Parasound appeard to be the solution, but in the end I determined the Parasound just did not have enough resolution because it rolled off the high frequencies.

Review is coming soon, sorry I've been on a buying streak. Tomorrow in fact I have a Schiit Lyr headphone amp and Lokius EQ to play with.

Thanks.

I just compared these two amps last week (A-300 Emotiva vs A 51 Parasound (my HT amp))with my paradigm studio 100’s. I played Agnus Obel - Familiar, you really here the difference when she sings the high notes. The A-300 butchered her singing with distortion. My wife couldn’t stand it, and told me to turn it down. When I played it with the Parasound at same volume my wife’s eyes lit up. It sounded so much more clear. That said I could hear no difference in the low and mid range, but I did not play many more songs.

I did not hear the roll-off at high end that people are talking about with Parasound, but then this is the most expensive amp I own.  Maybe I’ll here it on my next upgrade.

I’ll be delegating the A-300 amp to my outdoor speakers or selling it.

I have an A23+ and it just does everything right. It sounds correct to my ear in my calibrated audio system. It beat the living hell out of a $3000 Class D Gan amp. The Parasound A23+ had more impact, better mids, tighter bass and a sweeter top end ( the gan amp does has a smooth and grainless top end, but lacks bite). The A23+ will get you more emotionally connected with the music, ime.

Well, I bought headphone gear and that had me occupied for a minute. 

I just ordered CSS 1TDX with the high end crossover. Once I build em I'll put the Emo towers to bed and give both amps a fair shake and  proper review. But my entire system 2 desktop system will be in balance, the T zeros were the cheapest thing in it. Love them but the 1tDX will guaranteed blow them away.