New Parasound Halo JC1+ monoblocks just released!!!

Hello Georgehifi- Thanks for your response. JC1+ indeed supports balanced inputs like the old JC1 but the circuit inside is not balanced which is where you get the most benefit out of a pure balanced design. Just having a balance input with a single ended circuit inside, at least in theory, doesn't have much benefit. More on this balanced design, people argue that if you are having a fully balanced upstream component like a Bricasti DAC or any other such products it sound the best when you connect it to a downstream component[s] like pre-amplifier and/or directly to a power amplifier which is also fully balanced. Does anyone have any comment on this design?

but the circuit inside is not balanced which is where you get the most benefit out of a pure balanced design.

Sorry indran didn’t read your post right on this. Indeed the voltage amplification section of the JC1 ’s old or new may not be balanced I don’t know, as I have no circuit diagrams on them.
But you’ll find that if model of Pass Labs you mentioned has a true balanced voltage amplification stage (not just a tacked on balanced to se), the output stage is still single ended, like just about every other amp.

Just having a balance input with a single ended circuit inside, at least in theory, doesn’t have much benefit.

Yes because to listen to the balanced input on those, it’s just more components (sometimes an opamp) then they run into the single ended voltage amplification stage anyway, so your better off just listening to it.

And like I mentioned, it’s only a noise benefit, if there’s no noise it’s just extra components in the signal path that aren’t needed.

Cheers George

BTW: Audiogon has kindly added to the threads 1st post, a link now to the Stereophlie review on these JC1+ beauties.
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/new-parasound-halo-jc1-monoblocks-just-released

Cheers George

Hi jaytor,
I have both JC5 and JC1s. The JC5 is generally more transparent and delicate in the mid/high, while the JC1s sounds a little bit "muddy". However, I am still keeping my JC1s because my Dynaudio speakers need high current and big power. The JC5 is unable to deliver enough bass on my speakers let alone control it, and the JC1s can do it much better.
 I think this result is reasonable for that John Curl has been improving the circuit over the years.

...However, the JC5 is a stereo amp, which I guess is relatively limited in delivering power and current comparing to monos, especially in low impedance.
Afterall, I am really expecting that the new JC1+ can combine the advantages of both. But $17k is not inexpensive. Just waiting for more feedbacks.:)