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Parasound vs Emotiva

I'm currently running an Emotiva A300 into my near field desktop system consisting of an isolation transformer feeding a Gustard X26 Pro dac into a topping Pre 90 preamplifier into the bas X a300 into a pair of Emotiva T zero. The amp is high passed at 80 hz via my pair of Emotiva S8 subwoofers. The source is Playstation 5.

 

The system sounds incredible. Textured, resolute, musical, clear as a bell, tight as a drum, yet warm, it's very very nice I assure you! Dimensional, Soundstage, often times quite holographic.

 

My only gripe is the a300 doesn't command the low end or provide a lot of bass punch like my NC400 Ncores did. (Those amps were also flat out incredible but I dont have anymorr).

 

I have a Parasound A23+ on the way. It is 4 times the price of the Emotiva. Both class AB, both around the same weight, both around the same power rating.

 

I'm a little nervous because I am listening to my system right now and it just sounds so good. I'm expecting a stronger low end with the Parasound, but not sure what else to expect.

 

Guess we will find out in a few days!

borat-sagdiyev
213runnin
914 posts
 

I stand by my remarks, buying at the bottom of the marketplace will not give the best results.  I’ve owned many subs and amps and also products by Emotiva and Parasound.  YMMV. 

borat-sagdiyev OP
34 posts
 

Not to be a smartass, but you must have a $300,000 system if you are at "the top".

 

Kudos!

auxinput
2,920 posts
 

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.

borat-sagdiyev OP
34 posts
 

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.

jusfre
8 posts
 

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.

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