In Barn for Review: A Parasound Stack – JC 3+ Phono Preamplifier/JC 2 BP Preamplifier/JC 5 Stereo Power Amplifier

Power, precision, control. A Parasound stack.

As I continue down the road of reviewing separates from the same company, a lovely stack of Parasound awaits some Barn time.

Imagine an audiophile game show and the clue is — “He designs phono stages”.

I imagine the number one answer might very well be John Curl of Vendetta Research fame. Here’s J. Gordon Holt from his review of the Vendetta SCP-2 Phono Preamp in Stereophile (c.1995):

Few people in the audio business would deny that John Curl is an audio design genius—arguably the greatest one of our generation.

…at $1895, it is the most expensive stand-alone solid-state phono-preamplifier on the market.

My, how some times have changed as today’s most expensive phono preamps approach the $100K mark.

John Curl is all over the Parasound JC 3+ Phono Preamplifier, figuratively and literally, as he had more than a hand in its design. The JC3+ can handle the output from Moving Magnet (MM) and Moving Coil (MC) cartridges, offering adjustable input impedance for the latter by way of back panel mounted knobs. The rest of the business end of the JC3+ offers single-ended RCA and balanced XRL outputs, a screw-down Ground terminal, AC Polarity switch (Invert/Normal), optional 12V Trigger control, the power button and IEC inlet.

The unit’s spartan front panel has two backlit buttons on its far left and far right sides — On/Off and Mono (for playing mono records), respectively. Pretty straight forward.

The JC 2 BP Preamplifier houses a number of performance features hidden inside including dual-mono left & right channel circuit boards, hand-matched complementary FETs, direct DC servo-coupled design with no capacitors in the signal path, premium 4-gang motor-driven analog master volume control, separate TKD brand analog gain controls for L & R channel, and 3/8″ thick aluminum shielding around audio boards. To name just a few.

Thank goodness for photos and specifications (below), but as you can see, the JC 2 BP has you covered on the ins and outs including a pair of Inverted RCA Outputs that reverse signal polarity.

Woof! The JC 5 packs a walloping 400 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms upping the ante to 600 Watts per channel into 6 Ohms. The thing about power, this kind of power, is it doesn’t come in a cigarette pack-sized case. The JC 5 is big and heavy (73 lb.).

One thing each piece in the Parasound stack has in common is John Curl who sits on my list of favorite HiFi designers along with other luminaries.

Stay tuned for a full review on how this Parasound stack stacks up.

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Parasound JC 3+ Phono Preamplifier: $2999
Parasound JC 2 BP Preamplifier: $3999
Parasound JC5 Stereo Amplifier: $6499
Stack Price: $13,497

Company Website: Parasound

Parasound JC 3+ Phono Preamplifier Specifications

Parasound JC 2 BP Preamplifier Specifications

Frequency Response: 5 Hz – 100 kHz, +0/-3 dB
Distortion

THD: < 0.003% at 100 Hz
THD: < 0.005% at 20 kHz
IM: < 0.003%

S/N Ratio

> 116 dB, input shorted, IHF A-weighted
> 104 dB, input shorted, unweighted

Crosstalk

> 100 dB at 10 kHz
> 90 dB at 20 kHz

Gain: 14 dB, maximum
L, R Gain Control Range: – 10 dB
Input Impedance: Unbalanced: 30k ohms | Balanced: 30k ohms per leg
Output Impedance: Unbalanced: < 60 ohms | Balanced: < 60 ohms per leg
Input Sensitivity: 200 mV for 1 V output
Total Gain: 14 dB
Maximum Output: 8 V
XLR Pin Identification

1 = Ground (Shield)
2 = Positive
3 = Negative (Return)

AC Power Requirement

110 – 120 V or 220-240 V, 50 – 60 Hzs
(Set AC Voltage switch on rear panel)
25 watt standby; 30 watts when turned on

Dimensions

Width: 17 1/4″ (437 mm)
Depth: 16″ (406 mm)
Height, with feet: 5 7/8″ (150 mm)
Height, without feet: 5 1/4″ (133 mm)

Weight: Net: 24 lbs. (11 kg)
Shipping Weight: 36 lbs. (16.4 kg)
Rack Mount Accessory: HRA 3 (May be purchased separately)

Parasound JC5 Stereo Amplifier Specifications

Power Output – Both Channels Driven: 400 watts x 2, 8 Ω | 600 watts x 2, 4 Ω
Power Output – Bridged Mode: 1200 watts x 1, 8 Ω | Bridged 4 Ω operation is not recommended
Power measurement parameters are at 120 VAC: 0.05% THD, RMS continuous power, full audio band (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
Current Capacity: 90 amps peak, per channel
Slew Rate: > 130 volts per microsecond
Frequency Response: 5 Hz – 100 kHz, +0/-3 dB | 20 Hz – 20 kHz, +0/-0.25 dB
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): < 0.05 % at full power | < 0.03 % at typical listening levels
IM Distortion: < 0.04 %
TIM: Unmeasurable
Inter-channel Crosstalk: > 87 dB at 1 kHz | > 72 dB at 20 kHz
Input Impedance: Unbalanced: 33 kΩ | Balanced: 66 kΩ,(33 kΩ per leg)
Total Gain: 29 dB
Input Sensitivity for 28.28 V Output into 8 Ω: Unbalanced: 1 V | Balanced: 1 V per leg
S/N Ratio: > 116 dB, input shorted, IHF A-weighted | > 111 dB, input shorted, unweighted
Damping Factor: 1000 at 20 Hz
DC Trigger Requirements: +9 Vdc to +12 Vdc, 5 mA
Audio Trigger Requirements: 2 mV – 10 mV
XLR Pin Identification

1 = Ground (Shield)
2 = Positive
3 = Negative (Return)

Dimensions

Width: 17-5⁄8″ (448 mm)
Height without feet: 7-1⁄8″ (181 mm)
Height with feet: 7-3/4″ ” (197 mm)
Depth: 20″ (508 mm)
Depth with cables: 21-1⁄2″ (546 mm)

Net Weight: 73 lb. (33.1 kg)
Shipping Weight: 90 lb. (40.8 kg)
Power Requirement

Standby: 1 Watt
Idle (no music playing): 225 Watts
Typical listening levels: 400 Watts
Maximum: 1500 Watts