The S400 wasnt as accurate, but it provided a more natural presentation with a super-wide soundstage, a nice weight on the bottom end, and a super smooth treble. The Parasound amps bring out all of the rich detail in the recordings equally in the efficent Martin Logans and difficult to drive Maggies. The subwoofer outputs include both the aforementioned XLR output and a pair of RCA jacks with a shared crossover switch for full range or low pass and an adjustment dial for the low pass frequency filter cut-off. I gulped. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Theres no Bluetooth however, something Ive found to be pretty convenient on other integrated amps, but that isnt a deal-breaker. home theater bypass inputs for surround sound integration. An Audio Glossary": accuracy The degree to which the output signal from a component or system is perceived as replicating the sonic qualities of its input signal. Listening to Anatomy Of Angels from Jon Batiste, I felt like I could hear inside of the recording. The Halo Integrated uses the well-regarded ESS Sabre ES9018K2M DAC chip. If you are in Wisconsin, you can order one and demo one at University Audio In Madison, WI. My emotional response remained undiminished. This is a good performer. Parasound product lines include its top-of-the-line Halo audio components, the NewClassic series, and compact Z-series gear, as well as speakers and accessories. Its not often that such a fully-specified amplifier still delivers top-class sound quality. Does its new SU-GX70 Network Audio Amplifier compete with the competition from Cambridge, NAD, or Denon? . The amplifier is a hybrid class A/AB design that helps deliver the best sound at normal listening levels while delivering better efficiency at higher power levels. I heard several people roaming the hallwayson floors nowhere near the Parasound setup, by the waymarveling at the paring. The Journal of Affordable High-End Audio Budget Audiophile Magazine, Home Stereo System Buying Guide, Hifi System Advice, Tech News and Reviews, Best Headphones, Best Speakers. The Optical (Toslink), and Coax (RCA) accept PCM signals up to 24/192, and the USB does up to 24/96. Also on the front panel, starting from the left, are: a 3.5mm headphone jack, a 3.5mm Aux input for a portable MP3 player or mobile phone, and Bass and Treble controls and their defeat button. amzn_assoc_linkid = "51a20cc23a0762b96334f515b4af7646"; Im an audio writer who started as a young audio salesman/consumer electronics professional back in the late 90s. Its clear and consistent with the amplifiers performance through the speaker outputs. Parasound NewClassic 200 Integrated Amplifier Review Daniel Kumin | Mar 25, 2020 Performance Features Ergonomics Value PRICE $1,195 AT A GLANCE Plus Generous power from a super-slim chassis Bypass input for surround system integration Flexible, analog-domain subwoofer filtering Full-size, backlighted remote control Minus Would I buy the Parasound HINT 6 for headphone listening alone? What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. MORE: High-resolution audio: everything you need to know. Move up the frequency range and the Halo continues to impress. I found it a bit better suited to the big dynamics like the Beyerdynamic T1 and Sennheiser HD800 but it was still quite capable of driving most of my planar collection as well. The casework feels solid and general levels of fit and finish are good. i sold it and bought an ayre ax-5 twenty. Parasound Halo Hint 6 integrated amplifier | Stereophile.com It is part of my search for identity and comfort. published 17 October 16. Parasound's stereo amp shows the way. It was probably the most transparent amp I have listened to at this price range. Simple works. The first was launched as recently as 2016, to a great reception, and its replacement, the HINT 6 (3300/$2995), is on test here. Theres plenty of power and authority, coupled to a pleasing sense of agility. The headphone output is another well-engineered circuit. Has the goods, backed up by Stereophile measured test and reviews also by Absolute Sounds. Ive owned an A21 and P5 for 5 years. I decided to see how the Parasound HINT 6 compared to the Bryston separates in my two-channel system and also how it stacked up against my reference RME ADI-2 PRO FSRBE DAC and Pass Labs HPA-1 Headphone Amplifier. And despite what the purists say, on occasion, for example when playing a poorly engineered recording, they can be useful. Parasound HINT 6 Integrated Amplifier: Review - ecoustics.com This slim, two-channel module delivers a claimed 110 watts per channel into either 4-ohm or 8-ohm loads with typical class-D efficiency, pulling only a modest 50 watts from the wall. Not only did I barely have to turn the volume up, but the Klipsch sounded like different speakers; warmer, more mid bass punch, and far more finesse than I expected. Putting the A23+ on my list for my LRS. Beyond the noted hardware changes, the Halo Hint 6 remains mostly unchanged from the Halo Integrated. Here it delivers a large sound stage one thats impressively wide and layers it with skill. Loaded with features, dac, phono stages all remote and 5 year warranty. This amp is a beast, so if you are looking for an Amp/DAC combo in the 1k range, you owe it to yourself to give it a listen! The Hint 6 let the O/93s shine. Parasound Integrated Amplifiers - Overture Ultimate Home Electronics Parasound sent me the revised version, the Halo Hint 6, with a revised list price of $2995a $500 increase. It has four analog audio outputs, a front-lit LCD panel, remote bass and treble adjustments, and a default turn-on memory. I also own a pair of vintage Klipsch Heresy IIs and I wanted to see if the HINT 6 had the headroom to drive them with rock, heavy metal, and other complex electronic pieces that can really load the room. Great gear at reasonable prices. We like the Parasounds ability to follow individual musical strands, yet still be able to tie things together coherently. Home theater enthusiasts are not left out in the cold with the HINT 6; not only are there bypass input jacks to use the HINT 6 as a very powerful two-channel amplifier but also a way to connect your existing subwoofers to the HINT 6 and let the AVR do all of the decoding. Given that power, it produces such razor-sharp images that I hoped to buy a pairbut I was concerned that it and the Halo Hint 6 would be a mismatch. The Preminger disc became muscular and dynamic, sax and cymbals more visceral. Minus Additional L and R pre-outs let you use this amp as a quality preamp if you decide to upgrade your amplification later. Latest Parasound Products reviews, products, news, advice, videos and more, from the world's no.1 technology buyer's guide - What Hi-Fi? amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; Here a 6.35mm jack would have been more appropriate as most headphones still ship with this size jack and the 6.35mm to 3.5mm adapters are generally lousy. First, I used the Kef LS50; then I finished my testing with the Buchardt S400. Both sounded amazing, but I liked its synergy with the latter more. I learned it from Goldilocks: not too warm, not too cool, not too bright or dull, nor too hard or soft, etc. This is a confident and enthusiastic amplifier, one thats as happy charging along with Stravinskys The Rite Of Spring as it is tip-toeing through Found Songs by Olafur Arnalds. Its packed full of useful features and is easy to match. Using Jasmine Audio's Turtle and Zu's Denon DL-103 MC cartridges, I played John Cage's Concerto for Prepared Piano and Orchestra, with pianist Yuji Takahashi, and Lukas Foss conducting the Buffalo Philharmonic (LP, Nonesuch H-71202). But! Thank you for signing up to What Hi-Fi?. Marleys vocals come through with subtlety and passion. Save 40 %. If the price of the HINT 6 had remained broadly similar, that wouldnt be an issue. This combo made a devilishly good pair, sweet-toned but with serious jump and juice. What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. However, if I was in the market for a high-end integrated amplifier that could replace a $4,000 set of separates and deliver a lot of power, reliability, an excellent feature set including a plethora of input/output options the Parasound HINT 6 Integrated Amplifier would be very high on my recommendation list. Parasound Halo Integrated: Price Comparison, We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices. This lack of a Parasound sound threw me off my reviewer game. In contrast to its MM stage's gentleness, the Halo Integrated's MC stage exhibited more punch and openness. This class D streaming amplifier can deliver 200 watts/channel. Streaming hi-res music from Tidal and Qobuz produced the anticipated result: clean, defined, highly dynamic sound with plenty of punch. The A23+ was an recent upgrade to a vintage amp that struggled to drive the bass in the LRS+. Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Model HINT 6 Halo Integrated Amplifier Parasound is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Build quality is as good as wed expect for the price. 10.0/10 What We Dig Amazing Transparent Sound Bulletproof Build Quality A Ton Of Useful Features What To Think About No DSD Compatibilty No Bluetooth or Streaming AMAZON As I said in my first impressions post, I initially came across the $1195 Parasound NewClassic 200 at this year's Rocky Mountain Audio Fest. Theres the usual trio of inputs USB, coax and optical with upper limits of 32-bit/384kHz for the asynchronous USB and 24-bit/192kHz for the other options. Parasound Halo Hint 6 integrated amplifier Ken Micallef | May 16, 2019 In his review in the November 2015 issue, Herb Reichert wrote that Parasound's Halo Integrated amplifier "has a recognizable sonic personality: easy flowing, mostly smooth, and decidedly mellow. Copyright 1999-2023 ecoustics | Disclaimer: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. ). Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Parasound Halo Integrated Amplifier . Parasound amps are also known for their depth and transparency, which is something lower-priced Class D amps like the NewClassic 200 are not known for. Product highlights: 110 watts x 2 channels into 4 or 8 ohms (20-20,000 Hz) at 0.05% THD. . Its as though the company has made a genuine attempt to build a high quality unit thats as flexible as possible. The new design is claimed to give improved channel separation and balance. (2023). The big primates get it all right: a wide, realistically layered soundstage in my small den, spot-on tonality and texture, very good resolution, an almost genteel (tweeters below ear level) but propulsive low end, and a beautiful way with voices. The rack sizing of the unit and availability of a rack mount is also a nod to pro-audio/custom design. So when, for the March 2019 issue, I reviewed the Spendor Audio Systems A7 loudspeaker, which requires more power than my 20Wpc Shindo Laboratory Haut-Brion amp can muster, I requested a loaner. Tonally, the Parasound HINT 6 is open and even-handed, and able to convey the different tonal textures of instruments well. Lucasfilm has used their products and even offered them screen credit for the first 3 Star Wars prequels. What little personality it had remained hidden, like a cat in the busheswhich made it easy to hear the sonic qualities of every associated component I used with it. In "I Won't Dance," Ella Fitzgerald's big voice was rendered large, with the rhythm section, strings, and brass panned hard left and right. Drums had more kick. It certainly is a value package though. This mighty Quad stand-mounted model ($999/pair) has a ribbon tweeter and I was concerned lest the focused power of the Parasound Hint 6 kick it too hard. They can be switched out of the signal path when not needed, giving a slightly clearer sound. The moving coil input (52dB of gain) has two cartridge loading choices 100 ohms and 47k ohms that offer a degree of fine-tuning we only usually find in dedicated outboard phono units. The NewClassic 200 just seemed to bring out the best of both speakers. The Roksan counters with better focus, greater authority and a more tactile handling of rhythms. It almost felt as if I were leaning into the Trondheim Soloists' performance of Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings in C. On his Some Other Time, Noah Preminger's tenor saxophone was downright creamy, with a warm burr that softened Billy Hart's mallet-generated cymbal crescendos. Class D amplifier design. Cage believed (as I do) that art continues to be vigorous and useful as long as it continues to be difficult and irritating. Integrated amplifier: This Parasound amplifier has ball-bearing volume control, increased phono stage . With DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/93s