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Parasound Uncompromised Quality

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  #1  
Old 09-01-2021, 07:30 AM
Josep Josep is offline
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Default Parasound Halo JC3+ vs Mcintosh Built IN phono

Hello,

this is my system:

VPI Prime + Cadenza Red
Mcintosh MA6700
Sonus Faber Olympica III

I would like to know what external phono preamp would improve the built in from the integrated Mcintosh.

i will try to demo but not easy, so maybe you guys already have some experience.

I was considering to spend around 3,000 USD and this Parasound seems quite right.

Thanks.
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  #2  
Old 09-05-2021, 03:47 PM
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I have a C2300 preamp. I first tried the Manley Chinook SE ($2400) but after some QC issues I felt there were too many tubes at work. The improvement was not that incremental to my senior ears. McIntosh makes some incredible built in phone stages. I then read Harry Weisfeld’s (VPI fame) review of the PS Audio Stellar phono stage ($2495 - $1795 after trade of product) and had to try one. It is staying for now - extremely quiet and versatile.
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Last edited by miner; 09-05-2021 at 04:38 PM.
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Old 09-06-2021, 07:23 AM
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Default Parasound Halo JC3+ vs Mcintosh Built IN phono

I had the parasound and loved it. Tremendous bang for the buck. I don’t know, but would be surprised if it was surpassed by the Macintosh built in.
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Old 09-06-2021, 07:00 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by miner View Post
I have a C2300 preamp. I first tried the Manley Chinook SE ($2400) but after some QC issues I felt there were too many tubes at work. The improvement was not that incremental to my senior ears. McIntosh makes some incredible built in phone stages. I then read Harry Weisfeld’s (VPI fame) review of the PS Audio Stellar phono stage ($2495 - $1795 after trade of product) and had to try one. It is staying for now - extremely quiet and versatile.
I have a C2300 as well. I'm using the built-in phono, but with a low-output moving iron cartridge (Grado Timbre) I have to turn things up much more than before with the Sonata cart I had before. Plus, the C2300's ground inputs are huge, and the spades on my tonearm cable don't fit around the poles. Maybe I'll look into the JC 3+ or the Stellar you mention. I'm sure neither is worse than the quite good phono stage on the 2300.

For what it's worth, The Mac MP100 phono preamp offers a "slight improvement in sound quality and functionality" over the C2300 phono stage (Mac's reply to a question I e-mailed them).
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Last edited by prepress; 09-09-2021 at 05:18 AM. Reason: added info
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Old 09-08-2021, 05:13 PM
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The recent Stereophile review of the MAC7200 thought quite highly of the built-in phono section. If your MA6700 has the same you might not find a 'big' difference. You could ask McIntosh about the phono-sections in the two pieces.
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Old 09-09-2021, 07:26 AM
Josep Josep is offline
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thanks for your answers.

At the end i need to demo in my system, otherwise too risky!
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  #7  
Old 09-09-2021, 09:09 AM
cleeds cleeds is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Josep View Post
... At the end i need to demo in my system, otherwise too risky!
+1!
That is hands-down the best way to evaluate audio gear, imo.
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