AudioAficionado.org  

Go Back   AudioAficionado.org > Manufacturers Forums > Parasound

Parasound Uncompromised Quality

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 12-08-2011, 01:49 AM
BillK BillK is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Colorado
Posts: 961
Default Anyone compared the sound of the PH-5 or PH-6 to the Parasound JC3?

The JC3 is supposed to be the new phono stage to beat in the price range of these pieces, but I'm not willing to order one from Audio Advisor to compare it to my PH-5.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 12-09-2011, 07:10 PM
Dafos Dafos is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: 14' N
Posts: 342
Default

Bill, I have not heard the direct comparison that you seek but allow me to share my opinion on this matter. I have owned both the ph3 and the ph7 and while both are excellent sounding units, I felt that their overall gain of 57db was a bit lacking particularly when used with very low output MC carts, meaning those with outputs in the area of .3mv and below and there are lots of excellent carts that belong to this group. When paired with low gain preamps such as ARC's own units, there were instances that I needed to jack the volume level to upward of 70% of maximum where I felt the preamplifier was no longer operating at it's comfort zone, sort of like a car engine revved beyond it's maximum torque range. On the other hand, the specs of the jc 3 show an overall gain of 68db, which, in my experience, is adequate to handle even very low output MC carts. Sonically, I'm pretty sure the jc 3, being John curl designed, should at least equal the performance of your ph 5. Whether or not its 11db of additional gain will benefit you is very system dependent, ie speaker efficiency, line stage gain, and most importantly, cartridge output. If you are satisfied with the performance of your ph 5 with your cartridge then there seems to be no reason for you to risk ordering the jc 3. On the other hand, given my systems specs, I definitely welcome that 11db of additional gain so I probably would order the jc 3 based on reviews and the fact that the man behind it's design, John Curl, is one of the more accomplished and respected phono stage designers in the industry. However, it must be noted that at it's MC setting, the jc 3 only offers a solitary impedance load setting of 100 ohms vs the ph 5 that I believe offers at least 5 different load settings. Many mc carts do benefit when loaded optimally and the jc 3's fixed setting of 100 ohms may not be the optimal choice for a given cart. In conclusion, given this wide set of variables, only you can decide whether to jump the gun on the jc 3 but if i were in your shoes, I would probably make the move since that additional 11 db of gain offers me the flexibility to use it with a wider range of excellent low output MC's.

Last edited by Dafos; 12-09-2011 at 07:19 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 12-09-2011, 07:23 PM
cmalak's Avatar
cmalak cmalak is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 7,602
Default

BillK...I believe Audio Advisor offers a 30-day money back guarantee, so you can alwys order it and give it a listen and compare it to our PH-5. If you do not think it is sufficiently better, than you can always return it. Dafos' analysis seems eminently reasonable to me as well.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Audioaficionado.org tested by Norton Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:19 PM.



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.10
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
©Copyright 2009-2023 AudioAficionado.org.Privately owned, All Rights Reserved.
Audio Aficionado Sponsors
AudioAficionado Subscriber
AudioAficionado Subscriber
Inspire By Dennis Had
Inspire By Dennis Had
Harmonic Resolution Systems
Harmonic Resolution Systems
Wyred4Sound
Wyred4Sound
Dragonfire Acoustics
Dragonfire Acoustics
GIK Acoustics
GIK Acoustics
Esoteric
Esoteric
AC Infinity
AC Infinity
JL Audio
JL Audio
Add Powr
Add Powr
Accuphase - Soulution
Accuphase - Soulution
Audio by E
Audio by E
Canton
Canton
Bryston
Bryston
WireWorld Cables
WireWorld Cables
Stillpoints
Stillpoints
Bricasti Design
Bricasti Design
Furutech
Furutech
Shunyata Research
Shunyata Research
Legend Audio & Video
Legend Audio & Video