2. amps-preamps
  3. 181522-78474

Not sure what to think or do...

A few months ago, a 4 month old Parasound JC5 exploded and took out a speaker.  They were pair of JBL towers and they sounded fantastic with the JC5.  Parasound warranty replaced the amp with a new open box after determining I was not at fault.  Speakers were long out of warranty so I ended up taking the loss and purchasing new speakers.  I got a new set of Wharfdale Elysian 2.  They look great but everything sounds terrible with the new speakers and the new JC5.  Both the new amp and speakers have about 30 hours on them.  I dont think it is the speakers because I tried with a 8 year old A23 Parasound amp and they seems to sound a little better.  So either things havent broken/burned in yet or I just got some bad equipment.  I hear people tell me it takes 100s of hours, etc, but Im worried and dont expect that big of a change over time.  This has been a bad experience for me and I feel like giving up on the audio hobby.  $6k on speakers, $6k on an amp yet the acoustic panels on my Sony tv also sound just as good so Im confused.  

audioman2015
mulveling's avatar
mulveling
1,913 posts
 

Wouldn't be audiogon if we didn't have several thread derailments including elitism 🙄

curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
4,752 posts
 

@audioman2015 

I’m sorry you had the amp take out your speaker as it blew!  Like everyone else, I don’t understand why they didn’t give you a totally new amp and some coin toward a new set of speakers!

When I got my KEF’s they sounded sharp and harsh in the upper midrange. I played tunes about 15 hours a day for a couple of weeks and the sharp edge and the harshness is gone.

All the best!

dynamiclinearity
269 posts
 

Did you demo the speakers or buy them based on specs or good reviews? I you did and they sounded good on whatever amp you demoed them on, I'd look at the amp. Otherwise if you didn't hear them before purchase, speakers, including good ones, can sound very different and perhaps you really need the sound your JBLs gave you.

boxcarman
422 posts
 

If you also have any new interconnects or speaker cables, try swapping your old ones in and see if that is the problem.  Some brands of cables are notorious for long break-in times.

mofojo
2,301 posts
 

Once confirmed everything is hooked up correctly. I would turn it on a medium to highish volume and let it rip for 24 straight hours. At the end of that it’s pretty much is what it is. Not saying there will not be small changes over time but nothing substantial. Do you keep the Parasound turned on all the time? 

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