High Quality Sound for a Mid-Fi Price
Written: Oct 27 '01
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Pros: Detailed, accurate and wide sound. Simple operations backed by a ten-year warranty.
Cons: May not fit all stereo racks due to depth of amp.
The Bottom Line: If you are looking for a 5 channel amp with an accurate, detailed sound with muscle, you need to listen to the Parasound HCA-1205A.
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| slbenz's Full Review: Parasound HCA-1205A 5-Channel Amplifier |
I was looking for a 5 channel amp to replace my AV receiver which was a Sherwood Newcastle R-945. Let me say up front that every amp I demoed had a much better sound than my AV receiver. With that said, I spent several weeks comparing 5 channel amps for home theater and two-channel stereo use, I decided to purchase the Parasound HCA_1205A. I compared other 5 channel amps from B&K, Arcam, Adcom, Sherwood Newcastle and Lexicon. My preference for sound is for accuracy or a neutral presentation. First, I listened to the Lexicon which was priced at $4000 as my reference sound. Many people I know usually describe the Lexicon as neutral in sound. Unfortunately, I was not willing to spend over $4000 for an amp. My budget was $1500 or less.
Using the Lexicon as my standard, now came the challenge to find an amp that came closest to this. I listened to the B&K line of amps and they all presented a warm and detailed sound similar to $3000 and up AV receivers. When I turned up the volume near maximum, the sound felt somewhat restrained similar to high-end AV receivers. Next I tried the Adcoms, again they presented a warm and detailed sound but there was some widening of the soundstage vs. the B&Ks. Also, when I turned up the volume on the Adcoms, there was no hint of a restrained sound. Next I tried the Sherwood Newcastle amp, this time a very warm sound that felt like the treble was somewhat masked by the mids and lows. Detail was excellent as well as the soundstage. I would recommend this amp for those who have bright sounding speakers. Turning up the volume, there was no hint of restrained sound.
Now trying the Arcam, their line of amps sounded more accurate and detailed than B&K, Adcom and Sherwood Newcastle. The sound was neutral and not warm with a detailed and wide soundstage. Turning up the volume, there was no hint of restrained sound. At the time, I thought, Arcam was it, until I heard the Parasound. Listening to the Parasound, truly amazed me. This amp by far came the closest to the Lexicon sound without the Lexicon price. This amp was accurate and not warm in sound. It has a very detailed and a large soundstage presentation. At times with my demo discs, the sound coming from the Parasound really sounded live.
It was good to know that Parasound backs their amps with a ten-year warranty. Only Bryston, I believe has a longer warranty (20 years) than Parasound. The others have 5 years or less. The Adcoms only have a one-year warranty. Now that I have purchased the Parasound, my B&W CDM Series speakers never sounded so good. My friends were right that my AV receiver was holding back the sound potential of my B&W speakers. My DVDs and CDs never sounded so good. This amp has enough power even for large rooms. Mine is 22'x 25'. The only downside to this amp is its depth at approximately 19 inches. That is about 2 inches deeper than the other amps. So measure your stereo rack before you buy this amp. Even on extended listening periods, this amp is only warm to the touch. My old AV receiver would be hot to the touch.
Another nice feature the Parasound has that not all of the amps I tested had is a volume control for each channel. It is only useful if you have a difficult room arrangement or were to bi-amp your speakers. My speakers have this available but I did not go this route. My advice when you go listening for a new 5 channel amp, please bring your favorite CDs and DVDs. It will make your shopping experience much easier. My last thought on the Parasound, if you want to move to the next level in sound, this amp is the way to go. Separates quality and sound for a mid-fi price. That is hard for any AV receiver to beat.
Pros:
High-quality build and ten-year warranty
Excellent detail and accuracy
Open and wide soundstage
Simple to operate
Volume control for each channel
Amp is only warm after extended listening
Price
Cons:
Need a very deep stereo rack for the amp to fit
My System:
Parasound HCA-1205A 5 Channel Amp
Parasound AVC-1800 AV Controller Preamp
Sony CD Megachanger
Panasonic DVD Player
JVC S-VHS VCR
B&W CDM7SE Front Mains
B&W CDMCSE Center
B&W CDM1SE Surrounds
Velodyne HGS-12 Subwoofer
MIT Interconnects
Mitsubishi 45" Rear-Projection Screen
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 995
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Epinions.com ID:
slbenz
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Location: Fremont, CA, USA
Reviews written: 102
Trusted by: 42 members
About Me:
Business consultant and volunteer mountain bike patrol officer.
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