San Francisco –
Parsound has added a three-channel amp to its flagship Halo series and plans
four half-rack-size audio components intended for tabletop use.
The three-channel
amp is the THX Ultra2-certified Parasound Halo A 31, due in April at a suggested
$3,000.The high-bias Class A/AB amp features pure Class A operation up to 7
watts per channel and delivers 250 watts per channel into 8 ohms and 400 watts
into 4 ohms, all channels driven.
It is said to be sonically
identical to the company’s Halo A 51 and Halo A 21 amps, rated respectively at
5×250 watts and 2×50-watts, respectively, into 8 ohms. It’s designed for multiple
applications. In one scenario, it would power two surround speakers and one
center-channel speaker in a home theater system while a separate two-channel
amp or pair of monoblock amps are dedicated to the left-right front channels,
which can also be used for two-channel music listening.
The amp can also
be used to create a home theater system without surround channels, or it could
be used with a second three-channel amp to power a 6.1-channel home theater.
It turns on
automatically when it senses an audio signal or receives a 12-volt trigger
signal. XLR balanced inputs are included along with RCA single-ended inputs. The
front panel is anodized aluminum. The A 31 uses no capacitors or inductors in the
signal path.
In its Z series of
half-rack-width audio components, the company is adding four models designed
specifically for tabletop or desktop use. They will be available in silver to complement
black Z series half-rack-width components intended for rack mounting. Those
models come with rack ears and could be used to create a multizone audio
system.
The four new
models are the $350-suggested Zamp v.3, $400 Zcd CD player, $400 Zpre2 preamp,
and $450 Zdac digital-to-analog converter, all due in the spring.
All are one
IU-rack tall at 1.5 inches (2 inches with feet), a half IU rack wide at 9.5
inches wide, and 10 inches deep.
The Zamp v.3 amp
is rated at 2×45 watts into 8 ohms, 2×60 watts into 4 ohms, and 90 watts
bridged into 8 ohms. It features automatic turn-on/off via 12-volt triggers or
audio signal sensing with adjustable sensitivity. It also offers level controls
for each channel and headphone jack.
The Zcd plays MP3
files from a USB stick or CD-R disc, features NTSC composite-video output to
display MP3 metadata on a TV, analog volume control for direct hookup to an
amp, simultaneous fixed-and variable-level analog outputs, rear-panel 3.5mm
stereo input for portable MP3 players or smartphones, optical and coaxial
digital outputs, three turn-on options (manual, 12-volt trigger, AC), 12-volt trigger
output to turn on a power amp, rear-panel IR input and RS232 serial port, and
included remote control.
The Zpre2 stereo
preamp features bass and treble controls, RS-232 serial port, and automatic
turn on/off via 12-volt-tigger.
Details of the
zDAC weren’t available.
In its rack-mount
Z series, the company offers seven models and is adding two more. The two new
models are the Zcd, due in February, and the Zdac, due in March/April. They’ll
join the Zamp v.3, Ztuner V.2, Zpre2, Zbreeze cooling fan, Zselect speaker
selector, Zphono preamp, and Zphono USB, a preamp with USB output to transfer
vinyl to a PC’s hard drive.
