I spoke with Richard Schram in 2008 (via a couple Emails) about Parasound making some integrateds and even threw in my very humble two cents for ideas as to basically combining certain models of their preamps with certain models of their power amps such as the P3 preamp with the A23 power amp or the P7 preamp with an A21 power amp. I even suggested their own version of the giant Krell FBI integrated using the JC2 preamp on top of basically two JC1 mono blocks in one big honkin' chassis like the Krell. Hey, in Manhattan you can't have a sprawling ranch home so you have to build upwards ... like Krell did. They could have an entry level model, an upgrade / middle level model, and the butt kickin, no holds barred, high end model. I know ... silly me. I guess I'm just dreaming again. But it would be cool.
He said that he has been trying to get John Curl to design and build a phono preamp first and then they might get around to making an integrated, so I have my work cut out for me. I know they built their reputation on separates offering very high performance for the dollar and that they may be inherently opposed to the idea, but it would be well received. (IMHO). Even with Vincent Audio, they divide the chassis areas using metal plates or sheets to keep out noise, etc. which could be done by Parasound if they chose to ... like the way they did in the JC2 preamp. Perhaps they could use such dividers not just on the horizontal plane but also like floors or ceilings in a sense to separate levels vertically to have the preamp on top and the power amp sections on the bottom if space would be a problem. Just my ideas ... I know it doesn't mean that you (or they) like them though.
I'd like to see that.
I'd like to see a DAC/preamp combo from Parasound as well
and/or am intergrated with modular design, plug in DAC and/or plug in phono preamp
and/or plug in electronic cross over with cross over point control and low pass phase adjust from 0 to 270 degrees.
If you get the HALO JC2 preamp section and put a couple of ICE Power modules it'd rock the audio market. Since they run cool , are quite small and powerful as hell, it'd be a formidable piece of gear.
BRsound, before the JC 1 ever saw the light of day the designers looked into ICE modules, but they quickly ruled them out because the sonic performance was bad. They were not willing to compromise.
I think some of the other suggestions may have merit. Time will tell. Right now they are in production of the new JC 3 phono stage, which I hope are ready to start shipping soon. It will be interesting to A/B it against the Vendetta Research phono stage here.
Brian Walsh
Essential Audio ~ Chicago area ~ 773-809-HIFI (4434)