2. amps-preamps
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Is the move up to Parasound Halo A21 worth it?

Currently enjoying my B&W CM10s, Parasound A23 and P5. I really love the balanced, open sound that I'm getting from the current setup. However, there are a few areas where I'm seeking improvement. A wider soundstage and more engaging sound at lower than moderate volumes. And, a bit more bass, at any volume, won't hurt either.

I thought of moving up the Parasound chain to an A21, but I have no way of listening to an A21 prior to buying it. Has anyone else here moved from a 23 to 21? If so, did you think the move was worth the extra $$$$? Very interested in knowing what improvements people heard. And yes, I understand that room acoustics and treatments will give you a better bang for your buck. But, unfortunately, my setup is in the family room with very little flexibility. So it is what it is.

On an unrelated note, I was thinking of buying used (couple of current A21 listings here @ agon), but after you take into account shipping and paypal charges, the diminishing returns kick in. I'm struggling to see if net savings of around $500 (over a new one from audio advisor) is worth losing warranty, as Parasound warranty is not transferable. I'm sure these are highly sought after units and the premium is better than other comparative brands, but for me it's not worth the risk. So, I'm now thinking of getting a new one from audio advisor (no tax, no shipping charges) and have the peace of mind that comes with a full warranty.
128x128arafiq
snapsc
682 posts
 
The way I see it, all of the "equipment" plus the room work together (or against each other) to deliver a sound that you either like, or wish was better.  Once you start thinking that there might be something better, you have opened the door to lots of options to try.

I think that the A23 is a very good sounding amp, deep low end, smooth high end and pretty big soundstage.  You may well get a slight improvement from the A21....but I'm guessing you may find a larger improvement by going with a better DAC or a tube or tube hybrid preamp...Why?

Because a better DAC can easily give you a more engaging more detailed soundstage (the P5 DAC was decent in its day but nowhere near state of the art today)....and a tube or tube/hybrid preamp can really take your overall sound to the next level with much improved musicality and soundstage depth.

Audio Advisors gives you lots of option worth trying, all of which are returnable and many of which will give better results than upgrading to the A21.
jl35
4,084 posts
 
I’ll take your word bigdady...Parasound used to say amp designed by John Curl but later changed it to circuitry designed by John Curl...what’s the story with that ? I had heard that was due to using lower quality parts than the original designs...true ?
milpai's avatar
milpai
2,421 posts
 
+1 @bigdady76.The A21 Vs A23 was also discussed on some DIY forum. I had read that way back when I was researching on the A21.
milpai's avatar
milpai
2,421 posts
 
@jl35
You are correct. The original A21 had Elna caps, while the later ones do not. I believe that the internal pics of the A21 were initially on the company website, but not shown anymore. But the A21 is a fantastic amp for the money.
erik_squires
16,410 posts
 
So... these speakers are bi-ampable? 

May I suggest you use 1 A23 per side, and use the attenuators to set the relative level between the top and bottom sections? 

If it were me, I'd use that plus an outboard EQ on the bass section, but no one ever likes that idea. :) 

Best,

E
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