FS: Parasound JC1+ monoblock amplifiers

[Reg19]

Hello all.

Posting this here in case one of our members wants to acquire this at less than MSRP.

I’m selling my like-new condition Parasound JC1+ monoblocks for $8,800. I believe they retail for $17k a pair.

Currently, they are in my family room powering my Maestro Utopia EVO speakers. Drive them like a champ (1st 25W in class A - which covers probably 98% of my listening). Has toggle for low as well as high bias (I always leave it on high bias) and also for low vs high gain (I leave it on low gain so I can turn up the preamp volume).

I’ve used the following preamps with it - all with excellent results: the VAC Renaissance Mk V, the Audio Research REF6 and now the Holo Audio Serene KTE. My DAC is the Holo Audio May.

I have the original boxes. They are currently in Northern NJ - about 10 min drive from Audio Connection in Verona (in case a few members are familiar with that store).

Feel free to see my feedback (Reg19 on USAM).

Edit: reason for the sale - I’m moving my setup into a much larger room (going from 20x20x9 to 19x38x8.5) and am contemplating much more powerful, but more expensive amps.

 

[Reg19]

Just had a long listening session comparing my Pass Labs X600.8 monos (retail: $35k) with my Parasound JC1+ monos (retail: $17k). I wrote this down immediately afterwards so I don't forget anything. This is all completely unbiased. I apologize for my poor English here.

Holo May --> Holo Serene KTE --> X600.8 --> Maestro Utopia EVO

Some observations:

1. Pass specs are conservative. X600.8 can drive the Maestro Utopia better than the JC1+, especially in bass frequencies when we pump up the volume. I don't need REL S510 subs at all with the X600.8. With JC1+ - I don't need subs 95% of the time (depending on size, shape of room and how away the speakers are from the walls). Mind you - I had earlier found the X260.8 clearly deficient in this regard relative to the JC1+.
2. 'Size' of instruments seems more natural while listening to Jazz in X600.8.
3. However, overall upper bass and percussion impact is clearly better in the JC1+. Overall bass definition is better in JC1+. The impact of each note in the Moonlight Sonata is clearly better in the JC1+.
4. JC1+ is 'faster'.
5. Important: JC1+ has much better clarity - especially when volume is pumped up in higher frequencies.
6. JC1+ has lower noise floor.
7. Both played everything in 'Class A sweetness'. Both felt 'organic' (non-digital, even though I had a solid-state setup - albeit with my preamp running in Class A). In both, the notes were not 'thin' but instead they were 'full-fleshed'.
8. I prefer X600.8 with Jazz / easy listening.
9. I clearly prefer the JC1+ with classical music (in which both low noise floor, less distortion, and better imaging are key as there are so many instruments playing in unison). And with pop music (though I don't listen much in this category).
10. Both go well with my speakers. However, if I purchased higher end speakers (like the Wilson Audio Alexx V) or more resolving speakers (like the higher end Magico), I would definitely choose the JC1+ out of the two. While Pass Labs X600.8 have a differential-like design (think they call it Super Symmetry), I think they might be deliberately letting in more 2nd harmonic distortion as they want to voice their amps in that manner.

 

[Mr Peabody]

Just had a long listening session comparing my Pass Labs X600.8 monos (retail: $35k) with my Parasound JC1+ monos (retail: $17k). I wrote this down immediately afterwards so I don't forget anything. This is all completely unbiased. I apologize for my poor English here.

Holo May --> Holo Serene KTE --> X600.8 --> Maestro Utopia EVO

Some observations:

1. Pass specs are conservative. X600.8 can drive the Maestro Utopia better than the JC1+, especially in bass frequencies when we pump up the volume. I don't need REL S510 subs at all with the X600.8. With JC1+ - I don't need subs 95% of the time (depending on size, shape of room and how away the speakers are from the walls). Mind you - I had earlier found the X260.8 clearly deficient in this regard relative to the JC1+.
2. 'Size' of instruments seems more natural while listening to Jazz in X600.8.
3. However, overall upper bass and percussion impact is clearly better in the JC1+. Overall bass definition is better in JC1+. The impact of each note in the Moonlight Sonata is clearly better in the JC1+.
4. JC1+ is 'faster'.
5. Important: JC1+ has much better clarity - especially when volume is pumped up in higher frequencies.
6. JC1+ has lower noise floor.
7. Both played everything in 'Class A sweetness'. Both felt 'organic' (non-digital, even though I had a solid-state setup - albeit with my preamp running in Class A). In both, the notes were not 'thin' but instead they were 'full-fleshed'.
8. I prefer X600.8 with Jazz / easy listening.
9. I clearly prefer the JC1+ with classical music (in which both low noise floor, less distortion, and better imaging are key as there are so many instruments playing in unison). And with pop music (though I don't listen much in this category).
10. Both go well with my speakers. However, if I purchased higher end speakers (like the Wilson Audio Alexx V) or more resolving speakers (like the higher end Magico), I would definitely choose the JC1+ out of the two. While Pass Labs X600.8 have a differential-like design (think they call it Super Symmetry), I think they might be deliberately letting in more 2nd harmonic distortion as they want to voice their amps in that manner.

Your observations go along with my own. I once had a Pass X250 I dropped a Mark Levinson in its place for audition and the difference in liveliness wasn't subtle. I still have a soft spot for Pass but prefer the Levinson for my listening. I listen to a variety of music including Rock and complex Jazz.

What do you plan to do? Sell both and search for an amp that can come close to doing it all? Even in the larger room I would think the JC1 would have enough power. The Focal are rated at 93dB. A friend has a very large room at least the size you will have and he powers his speakers with a 50 watt Esoteric Class A amp, although the bass has its own power and he has subs.

I'm not familiar with Holo May, using it over the preamps you listed is quite an endorsement.

 

[Reg19]

Your observations go along with my own. I once had a Pass X250 I dropped a Mark Levinson in its place for audition and the difference in liveliness wasn't subtle. I still have a soft spot for Pass but prefer the Levinson for my listening. I listen to a variety of music including Rock and complex Jazz.

What do you plan to do? Sell both and search for an amp that can come close to doing it all? Even in the larger room I would think the JC1 would have enough power. The Focal are rated at 93dB. A friend has a very large room at least the size you will have and he powers his speakers with a 50 watt Esoteric Class A amp, although the bass has its own power and he has subs.

I'm not familiar with Holo May, using it over the preamps you listed is quite an endorsement.

I plan on keeping the X600.8

I don’t want to paint all of Pass Labs with one brush. They have vastly different levels of amps and, perhaps, their recent series are better than those of the past. Even among the recent series, I’m assuming that the X, XA, and XS are at different levels.

Also: my observations were initial observations of the X600.8 that I wanted to note down on 1st listen (as my JC1+ experience is fresh in memory, having played those a few minutes prior). Obviously, I need to give myself time and give the amps time to settle in.

But, it is quite the truth that the JC1+, relatively, pushes beyond it’s cost level if compared to other monos with similarly large current delivering capability.

MY DAC is the Holo May (fantastic). My preamp is the Holo Serene KTE (also fantastic and cheap!). I prefer it to the ARC REF6 in my current setup. Both the Holo May and Holo Serene are Class A recommended components by Stereophile (if you trust those lists).

 

[Mr Peabody]

I plan on keeping the X600.8

I don’t want to paint all of Pass Labs with one brush. They have vastly different levels of amps and, perhaps, their recent series are better than those of the past. Even among the recent series, I’m assuming that the X, XA, and XS are at different levels.

Also: my observations were initial observations of the X600.8 that I wanted to note down on 1st listen (as my JC1+ experience is fresh in memory, having played those a few minutes prior). Obviously, I need to give myself time and give the amps time to settle in.

But, it is quite the truth that the JC1+, relatively, pushes beyond it’s cost level if compared to other monos with similarly large current delivering capability.

MY DAC is the Holo May (fantastic). My preamp is the Holo Serene KTE (also fantastic and cheap!). I prefer it to the ARC REF6 in my current setup. Both the Holo May and Holo Serene are Class A recommended components by Stereophile (if you trust those lists).

You own the 600.8 so this may not be news, I found my Pass amp sounded better after being out of standby for about 45 minutes. It's like the sound stage opens up and a better level of ease.