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

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? 

Who would buy either Klipsch or Wharfdale speakers in the first place.  Maybe for home theater.
 

What an asinine statement. 

@ozzy62 That particular person makes a lot of those. But hey it takes all kinds. 

Just curious if Parasound ever shared what happened to make the amp blow up?  They seemed to be able to figure out it wasn’t your fault so thinking they must at least have an idea of what failed.  

What an asinine statement.

@ozzy62 - I have not heard those speakers, but assuming that if the amp is working correctly, then maybe there is some credence to Larry’s comment ?

If the OP had, or had not, heard the speakers before buying them… then it could/couldn’t be the speakers.

 

They sort of need to run their amp on some known speakers,
Or their speakers on a known amp… in order to detangle the mess of not knowing what is at play here.

Ideally they do this in another person’s come, so the AC cable and power conditioning crown, and room treatment brigade, do not derail the OP down another rabbit hole of cost and pate-rubbing.