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Peachtree Grand Integrated X1 vs Parasound Halo Integrated

I’ve been stalking the interweb for a used Parasound HINT to come around at a good price for a while now. Of course in the meantime I am obsessively looking at/ researching every other integrated and separates option known to man, but always seem to come back to the HINT - wins out for its price, HTbypass, bass control, universal respect and love. A Peachtree Grand has come up for sale at my same target price and I am also intrigued by its also stellar reviews, original $4500 price tag, 440w into 8, and seems to do everything I need. My lizard brain says get the $4500 flagship amp, but my gut says the Halo. What say you? Anyone ever compare hands on?  Will be driving my Kef LS50s in a medium/small living room.
aristokatz
erik_squires
16,291 posts
 
@stereo5

Are you sure JC designed the integrated? They often say they derived the amps from his work elsewhere, I haven’t seen him credited directly with it’s design. I could be wrong, I am not an expert in all things Parasound.

I know it’s weird, but the truth is the ICEPower 250ASP units I have sound very similar to some of the Paraounds. That's not to say the  total package of the Peachtree would sound the same.  Just talking about the amps.

Best,

Erik
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,441 posts
 
I believe I read it in one of the Audio rags, maybe Stereophile, TAS or Tone.  I do  remember reading it is a John Curl design.  I'm not a fan of Class D yet.  I have heard a few of them and find I get listener fatigue quite quickly.  I good friend of mine has a Peachtree integrated with a tube input stage and 225wpc.  He has it mated to a pair of Kef LS50 speakers.  The sound is nothing spectacular, although he listens primarily to small Jazz ensembles and he is happy with it.  I guess I am one of the old fashioned guys who likes heavy duty output transistors and class A/AB.
erik_squires
16,291 posts
 
@stereo5 Yeah, you have to be a little careful with that. They say on the Parasound website:

"Power amp circuit topology designed by legendary John Curl"

Which is easy to want to read it as "integrated amplifier designed by...." or  "amplifier modules designed by...." but I think both readings are slightly off the mark.  I read John Curl explaining this somewhere in regards to the difference between the JC mono-blocks and the A20.

Don’t get me wrong, I like all their amps. :) I believe what they really mean is that the amplifier modules used in the integrated are derived from work done previously by JC.  Otherwise they would say "power amplifier section designed by" or "integrated amplifier designed by..."

On a slight tangent, I did e-mail Peter Shram a while ago, and his feelings were that they were putting in a much nicer DAC in the integrated than in the P5. I have not however heard the integrated at all.

Best,


Erik
jl35
4,036 posts
 
there is the issue of circuit design, and quality of parts used...the older Parasounds stated Amp Designed by John Curl, the current ones do not...
erik_squires
16,291 posts
 
@jl35

True, but again, I go back to the sound quality. I'm sure the amplifier section in the HINT is excellent, but does the end user like it?

One thing about both the Parasound and B&O amps, is they are very neutral.  They don't  really add a lot to the sound. If you are looking for something to be euphonic or add extra richness, neither of those amps would do it.

That's why I'm very interested in knowing what the whole package does. The Peachtree adds tubes, the HINT I have no idea about.  I do like the sound, generally, of the P7 preamp, but I have no idea what is in the HINT. Is it like the JC Preamp? The P7? P5?  I'm just guessing.

At the end of the day, I think they could both be fine choices, but only a listening session would determine the right one.

Best,


Erik
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