This is the amp that was so positively reviewed in August's Stereophile. Before taking it home on loan, It was first demo'd in the shop with the Parasound 850 preamp, NAD cd player (basic model) and PSB Silver Stratus speakers. I compared it there to the same components with a NAD 114 pre and 218THX power amp, where I found the Parasound to be less detailed, with a smaller soundstage but not so shrill as the NAD was. I then had the HC 1000 on loan from a local store for home trial. After 5 days, faced with the choice to keep it or return it, I returned it.
After 5 days at home (where I partnered it with my Rotel cd player, and Kef 103/2 Reference speakers, connected with Kimber PJB), it sounded very pleasant, musical and acceptable, but it didn't give me a spark and still left me feeling that the bass was not well articulated. During complex musical passages it sounded cluttered, lacking resolution, but still always it made music. Compared to the Naim Nait 2 that I am seeking to replace, it was far superior in detail while retaining the Naim's musicality which I love, which for a combined price of $900 with the Parasound pre-amp is pretty good going.

The Stereophile review is likely to give this amp some sort of cult status, and I found myself reading and re-reading that review to convince myself that this amp would do it for me, but at the end ofthe day, I still felt that something (at times a lot) was missing, and that for a few dollars more (well a few hundred really) there was greater sonic satisfaction to be found. In such situations, I always trust my instincts. The mag mentioned the advantage of doubling this amp up with another one, each driving one channel, which might be a reasonable option but now the power amp combo hits the $1.1k mark where the competion in my view is starting to get much more intense (McCormack for example can be had for nearly that).

So back to the shop, where I swapped it for the NAD 218 (list $999, 200w, 60lb beast) to see how that works at home. Right now I have to say the nad, combined with the parasound pre-amp in the set up mentioned above, sounds much more in control, wider soundstage, better resolution and in my listening room has none of the shrill artefacts that I heard in the shop. I'll review that model more fully when I've listened for a week.

Clean sounding well controlled amplifier.

Sensitive to ground loop problems and poor AC power. Can sound exceptionally 3D with proper interconnects.

I purchased this amp used for $300 by winning an ebay auction. I hooked it up to my system which comprises of a Parasound PLD-2000 preamp, Panasonic DVD-120, Marantz CD67SE, Sound Dynamics Tower speakers, Panasonic VCR, Synergistic Research Alpha Sterling interconnects and Alpha speaker cables, Monster cable Z200 interconnect between amp and preamp.(sorry about the details folks). At first, the hum problem mentioned was evident, but I found that by replacing the HCA1000's power cord with a super heavy one and by putting in the cable TV cable cord a dual balun filter 75-300 to 300 to 75, I eliminated the hum completely. The amp sounds marvelous and so far I love it! At this price, at least what I paid for it, you can't really find a better solid state amplifier!

Similar Products Used:

Musical Fidelity X-50 mono amps

smooth, detailed sound, price

need good interconnects

went shopping to replace my aging Nad 3080. auditioned Arcam, Bryston, Rowland and the Parasound. The Parsound was close to the sonics of the others at a fraction of the cost. To boot , I bought a demo for $425 ! First I ran it just with an Adcom cdp, no pre-amp. The sound was detailed but a little on the thin side. I inserted my old Nad pre-amp into the system with MIT terminator 2 interconnects and what a difference that made!!The sonics are now warmer with more dynamics without losing resolution or detail. It's a very addicting and intoxicating system now. If you surround the HT1000 with the right gear you will be very pleased. A real audiophile bargain!!!
















first

Similar Products Used:

Nad, Sony

THX Certified
Bridgeable

Solidly built and great sounding amp pumping out 125 wpc into 8 ohms and 200 wpc into 4 ohms. I use it to drive a pair of Maggies and the sound is phenomenal. It has no problem whatsoever with the nominal 4 ohm load and has plenty of headroom. The sound is excellent throughout the entire frequency range... silky smooth highs and midrange, punchy bass. If you need more power, buy another and bridge them.. that'll give you a whopping 400 wpc. You'd be hard pressed to find a comparable amp in it's price range. On top of it all, it's THX certified.

Pretty Box

Noticable Humm

My primary Stereo consists of a Lexicon DC-1 processor, an Outlaw 750 AMP, JBL L-7 speakers Nordost bipolar speaker cable and DH-labs silver series interconnects. I am in the process of moving, so I hooked the Parasound (which had been in the closet powereing several pair of in the cieling speakers)to the L-7s to see what it would sound like. With no volume I noticed a humming from the speakers. The amp was plugged into a Monster power HTS 2000. I pulled all of the inputs out of the Parasound to make sure it was not something else causing the hum, it was the Parasound.

I could not really get past the hum. Connected to the Outlaw the L-7s are dead silent when nothing is playing. I guess that may have spoiled me.

Similar Products Used:

Outlaw 750

A very solid amplifier whose sleek black appearance belies its explosive fists and sensitive heart

Keeps me from my family and friends with its enticement to listen, listen, listen . . .

I think I am in love. From the minute I pulled this baby out of its double box and loosed it from its slumber, I have been in a state of sonic euphoria. Sweet, sweet sounds roll from the bouncing cones of my speakers and come to pluck all desire of doing anything else from my head. This amp has caressed me, lulled me, beat me, and mangled me all in one sitting. It does everything so well. Drums on the ultimately well-recorded CD ""Thar They Blow" by the Nuclear Whales (An amazing all-saxophone orchestra that records live to two tracks of musical perfection), snap and bloom like I never new possible on synthetic soundwaves. This amplifier has control and a red streak that will make you afraid but unable to run as you sit frozen in extacy. Buy one, plug it in, buy some nice speaker cable, and prepare to be in rapture.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha, Rotel, Arcam

Warmth, dynamics

Sensitive to ground loop.

First plugged in, very noticeable hum; called up dealer and they recommended getting a grounded plug adapter to lift the amp off ground. Went to RadioShack and bought the adapter, no more hum!
Great sound, drives the Maggie 1.6 perfectly. Loving every minute of it!

Similar Products Used:

Denon, Onkyo.

Cost sound quality

I purchased the HCA-1000 about 6 months ago. I absolutly love it. For the price there has to be no better amp. I run a pair of Paradigm Studio 60's, and they sound amazing. The bass amd low end controll are excellent. Mids and highs remained detailed. This amp does everything well, from bottom to top and thats what I like about it. This amp easily has the power to run my Paradigm's, as the speakers reach physical limits far before the amp does. Anyway a great amp for a great price.

Similar Products Used:

harman kardon reciever

strong chasis decent sound

no lower end control, weak base,

Well after reading many reviews in here, it is obvious that many here went from very low end equipment to fairly high end. That honestly is not a fair comparison. I started out with a 1975 Jvc 550 with 35 watts. This system when new went for around 500 dollars. Thats like spending close to a thousand today. But it was so old and fading fast, that my 300 dollar denon sounded great. ALways remember that performance of stereo equipment follows the dollar. IN other words, just because you think that your buying this 125 watt parasound doesnt mean your getting more for your money than a 50 watt arcam of which I own now. And by the way the arcam at 50 watts stomps on the parasound. Dont believe me, you really need to compare other high end gear with high end gear. Its amazing what you can find for near the same money or a little more. As for the parasound well all I can say is theres a lot of marketing going on here. If you read the spec sheets it is very high end especially when compared to the arcam. But you dont buy stereo equipment to read the spec sheets, you listen to it. And that is all that matters. Also I will point out that the parasound is pushed onto the market like feeble cattle. The only store in Seattle that sells it isnt even willing to demo the unit, nor do they provide returns. That not only doesnt do the product any justice, but makes me wonder how good this unit really is. Are they afraid that when people take it home and realize that its not all what they say youll return it like a normal person would? ALso do not demo gear just in the store. After all that cable they use is done going through speaker box controls and through the walls and through the 99 cent connections they use, wouldnt you think the sound quality will be lost? IT will. And finally do yourself a favor. Bring your own speakers, own music and use it for every system you test. Test always first at low volumes, that will show you just how much power it has. My arcam at the 7 oclock position produces more depth and volume than the parasound does at the 9 oclock position. Sorry parasound but your system is all hype.
John

Similar Products Used:

rotel 971, denon, arcam alpha 8

This amp is tremendous for the money. THough I concur that the midrange is a bit lacking, it's hardly noticeable and not really a major concern unless you are extremely picky about sonics. Its build quality is first rate, and it's relatively easy to get going (it's an amp, after all) Keep in mind that I own all Parasound components, so I am a bit biased, but as far as low-price higher-end equipment goes, they cannot be beat in my mind. And it does have a fantastic high-end reproduction, and I've been quite impressed with its bass response as well. If you've only got $500 to spend on an amplifier, strongly consider this one.