New amp for Studio 100s....holy moly!! (1 Viewer)

[Daniel Levin]

I recently replaced my Parasound HCA1500 (205wpc) with an HCA3500 (350wpc). I finally got around to hooking the new amp up. My Paradigm Studio 100s suddenly came alive. The mids and bass are much better defined; the transients are faster. The 3500 is pure class A for the first 15wpc. The sound is clean and refined. There is no discernable noise floor. I was unsure whether the upgrade would be noticeable...it is one of my best!

 

[GregoriusM]

A friend of mine has HCA amps and swears by them. He's auditioned Parasound beside them, and notices quite a difference.

So much for the theory that the electronics don't have their own sound, eh? ;-)

 

[Paul Clarke]

He's auditioned Parasound beside them, and notices quite a difference.

The HCA3500 is a Parasound amp.
Congratulations Daniel. Glad to hear that you can easily appreciate the difference. There is no substitute for clean, massive available power.

 

[Darrel McBane]

Daniel,
Haven't you seen the charts that show db readings at 1 meter with 1 watt for your speakers? You shouldn't need more than 30 watts max to reach listening levels!
By the way I'm running 500wpc@6ohm to my main speakers.
Enjoy the new power.

 

[Shane Martin]

The HCA3500 is a Parasound amp.

They stopped making them a couple years ago. They are a beast.

 

[Paul Clarke]

Shane,
I know that...and I agree...it's a killer. I've yet to hear anything from Parasound I didn't like. I was wondering what Gregorius meant by his post.