parasound jc 3+ phono preamplifierparasound jc 3+ phono preamplifier

Even years after its release, the abundance of ambience and micro-information that emerges from this LP continued to surprise and astound me. At that time Harry was still working full-time for Long Islands Newsday even as he was writing Issue 1 of TAS during his off hours. We strive for 100% customer satisfaction with every order and back it up with our 60-Day Satisfaction Guarantee. Some products overtly flaunt what they do in your face and it might be sexy, for a short period of time, and then it often digresses in vulgarity. *Ground shipping to the 48 contiguous states only (FPO/APO excluded). But Im just too excited about the product to not review it! I grew up Los Angeles in a house where music was constantly playing on the stereo (Altecs, if youre interested). With its discrete Class A input stage, it ensures the highest level of audio quality for your vinyl records. AudioFi (Malaysia), Check out the newest Music Direct catalog. He endowed the Junior with much of the sophistication I hear from my references. In other words, unless you're running full-range, ultradynamic speakers, you won't miss what the JC 3 hasn't got to giveand even then, I can confidently say that the JC 3 represents the best current value in a phono preamp that I know of, as long as you can live with the limitation of a choice of only two loadings, 100 and 47k ohms. A real step up!!!! For some strange reason, they all wound up sounding fairly neutral. Vishay-Dale resistors in the audio path, aluminum shielding separating the power supply from the audio circuits, a shielded toroidal transformer, and high-speed soft-recovery bridge rectifiers and common mode inductors further speak to the phenomenal build quality and technology invested in JC 3 Jr. I had a lot of gear coming in and out, including the LSA and the Gem Dandy. Please try again. Music Direct reserves the right to change the terms of this promotion or discontinue this offer at any time. Im not sure how it gets any better. Australian HiFi, "Excellent meticulous sound and super analytical prowess. Parasound is now shipping its John Curl designed Halo JC 3 Phono Preamplifier, a high-performance dual-mono phono preamp built with high quality parts, solid construction, and a very clean design. Mercy! WebMM or MC Compatible: The Parasound JC 3 jr phono preamplifier is compatible with turntables that are equipped with MM (moving magnet) or MC (moving coil) cartridges. When your order subtotal reaches $49 in the shopping cart the shipping charge for associated qualifying items will automatically be adjusted on your order. This is in and of itself no easy feat, as Ive been noticing with phono stages lately. In that pause, the Allnic's slower reaction time somewhat obscured the reverb. Further validation of the JC 3+s broader dynamic contrasts came during the Winter movement of Vivaldis The Four Seasons [Argo]. A mono switch, five-year manufacturer warranty, and our 100% Music Direct Satisfaction Guarantee heap on the spoils. Ive had several phono stages in that looked very similar to the JC 3+, that silver box with a nearly bare front panel. Parasound - A 51 5-Channel Power Amplifier . Im going to say that these are all the loading options I need. Like other Parasound products that are far closer to the state-of-the-art than the price would suggestthe big Halo monoblocks come to mindyou have to treat the JC 3+ as something of a gift, a product from a great engineering mind produced by a company that keeps impressing me over and over. The British have a saying, It does what it says on the tin. At first glance this would appear to be perhaps a slight against the JC 3 Jr., but its really a compliment. I grew up Los Angeles in a house where music was constantly playing on the stereo (Altecs, if youre interested). They included the high-output Grado Prestige Black2, an amazing deal at $75, the Clearaudio Essence mc ($1500), and Clearaudio Charisma mm ($2000), and the Sumiko Palo Santos Presentation mc ($4500). Parasound offers the JC 3 Jr. in silver and black; the black just speaks to me as svelte, simple, and almost, but not quite plain, and I love it for that. The Parasound excels at dynamics, partly in due to the supremely low noise floor, and it was particularly strong in the low bass. That Vendetta phono pre was sort of plain in a way, with its slim and relatively unadorned rack-mount chassis that inspired me to call phono preamplifiers little black boxes in my columns for many years. And the other aspect of doing what it says on the tin is making a product that you can set and forget, knowing the Parasound JC 3 Jr. is there providing an excellent foundation and is a cog in the proverbial audiophile machine that I dont have to chase down and tweak and worry about upgrading. Music Direct does not guarantee delivery within that specified time period. Moving-magnet gain has been increased slightly from 47dB to 48dB, but mc gain has actually been reduced from 68dB to 64dB so that very-high-output mc cartridges wont cause the JC 3+ to overload the inputs of some linestage preamps. WebParasound JC3 Phono Preamplifier | Reverb Similar Listings Audionote Kits L3 phono v2 $1,650 $150 price drop $1,500 Used Excellent Add to Cart Parasound P7 ANALOG 7.1 CHANNEL Preamp - HIGHLY REGARDED Audiophile Multi channel $1,075 $125 price drop $950 Used Very Good Add to Cart Reverb Bump Parasound P6 Black $1,100 $50 learn more. For me, the John Curl designed JC 3+ has consistently drawn forth a wealth of musical and sonic detail from a range of cartridges. Ive co-written bunches of songs, some published, some recorded. Commence your risk-free in-home audition today! A Closer Listen Not only did I use the Parasound JC 3+ to evaluate the performance of the two turntables (and, surprisingly, there is now a microphone due to my recent involvement with The Occasional Podcast), this was the phono preamplifier that sat in the system when I performed my very detailed comparisons of the Bryston 4B3 power amplifier with an older Bryston 4B-ST. I know a couple of people in the industry, people known for their love of vinyl, and they still use a Vendetta Research. But then theres just a little something more. I played records, I enjoyed how they sounded, and there were other areas of my system that needed attention. Designed by John Curl - creator of the legendary Vendetta Research phono preamp. This is [], Weve just received this press release from Audio Research about their new REF Phono 3SE! Theres a culinary contrast to the sound; the buttery goodness of vinyl with the hearty heft and dynamics and dare I say it, a slight sterility, of solid state that forms a marriage resulting in a sexy muse. Michell Orbe SE, SME V and Koetsu Rosewood Standard that I had at the time. I could really hear this with Tina Brooks' True Blue (LP, Blue Note/Music Matters MMBST 84041; the input resistance and transformer input turns were both set correctly to 30 ohm loading for the Ortofon A90.) Following graduation from UCLA I became a writing member of the Lehman Engels BMI Musical Theater Workshops in New Yorkworking in advertising to pay the bills. That brings me back to the Parasound Halo JC 3+, which is also designed by John Curl in collaboration with Parasounds engineering team. As a result the JC 3 was built with limited, switched-input load-impedance choices. Once it arrived at my house, I immediately plugged it in and tried to summon my memories of the original phono stage. All Rights Reserved. Please try again and contact us if this error persists. The Technics SL-1200 has always been known as a turntable amenable to tweaks, and a John Curl phono pre, like the Parasound JC 3+, should be the perfect tool for these experiments. So many products have a sound or character, and though the JC 3 Jr. does, it mostly gets out of the way and lets the turntable take the stage. Michael J. Galvin, Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity, Best of Award, "Parasound's JC 3+ Phono Amplifier is a masterpiece and its creators John Curl and Carl Thompson spared no expense to achieve sound quality and performance that is impeccable." Highly recommended." But this also serves as a platform for other comparisons between the two tables. Why? A Mono/Stereo switch on the front panel activates relays within each channel's gain/EQ module. To be sure, it lacks the full dose of hall ambience conveyed by the 3+ but Jr. taps an appreciable amount of front-to-back depth and dimension in its own right. WebRefined, powerful phono preamp. In 1995 I co-produced an award-winning short fiction movie that did well on the international film-festival circuit. In a short interview accompanying my original JC 3 review Curls remarks turned out to be prescient: Actually I think I underestimated the market. The Absolute Sound is the worlds preeminent source of expert reviews, features, and commentary on high-performance audio and music. Were talking about a slightly laid-back presentation that reveals a larger, deeper soundstage for you to explore. Tonal neutrality and presence are important to me but small deviations are not disqualifying. With high levels of the 3+s character coursing through its circuitry, Jr. established a sonic kinship that imparted a wide soundstage with noiseless, black-velvet backgroundsa prologue for the level of resolving power I later observed. Changing the loading is done via custom-made NKK selector switches with gold-on-silver contacts. Purchased Jan 2021 Not used for 6 months Returned to Parasound for testing I do not have a turntable to test so I wanted to be sure unit works 100% Works perfectly & have testing documentation from Parasound to prove so All original packaging Like New Condition The rear panel is where all the meat is provided with selections for voltage (for different countries), MM or MC, gain settings, etc. For my musical tastes, the Parasound JC 3 Jr. provided the perfect balance of what I am looking for in a phono stage. The ground shipping method used will be determined at Music Direct's discretion. Availability: Price Choose Options. And there was a slight veil around the bass-baritone soloist, which the 3+ did not have. Right now? My, how some times have changed as todays most expensive phono preamps approach the $100K mark. This offer also excludes Oppo, demos, closeouts/sale items and freight shipped items. Simple concept. I should have given just as much credit to the Parasound in the PolyTable review, so Ill do that here. Grandview, WA, 98930. And on tracks like It Can Happen, I key on whether a phonostage can adequately resolve the layers of vocals and high-pitch harmoniesdetails that are easily smeared. The circuit design is of course done One thing Parasound refused to compromise is the amazing sonic character of the JC 3+, which is Inputs and outputs use Vampire brand 24k gold-plated RCA jacks. Hi-Fi News, Outstanding Product, "The soundstage was tight and honed, delivery was crisp, precise and accurate Vocals were nothing less than haunting, while the low-noise design offered a clean and open presentation." Please try again. The JC3+ DNA is apparent in the Jr.s circuit topology and many of its parts, including the fine Neutrik locking XLR jacks and Vampire 24k gold-plated RCA jacks. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness. If you don't like that, leave it wide open at 47k, which I believe is almost never correct. At $2350, the Parasound JC 3 is a remarkably fine phono preamp that easily held its own against the far costlier competition. But I am quite sensitive to treble over-reach, and find dry, hyper-detailed systems intriguing but inauthentic compared with the concert-going experience. Add the powerhouse flexibility, and it is out of this world!" A reference-level R-core power transformer, exclusive Vishay-Dale resistors in the audio path, 24k gold-plated copper traces on the phono module boards, and, yes, triple shielding (low-carbon mild steel partitions isolate the power supplies from the AC wires) further contribute to this flagship musical instrument's ability to help play vinyl LPs with jaw-dropping expressionism, emotionalism, spaciousness, imaging, transparency, and involvement. As for the wowing dynamics and taut, super-low bass extension you'll hear? AUDIO RESEARCH ANNOUNCES SPECIAL EDITION OF ITS REFERENCE PHONO STAGE PREAMP The Company Will Release an SE Performance [], Now Listen Here, a Harrisburg, Pennsylvania dealer located at the edge of several bedroom communities that serve the I-95 corridor between Washington, DC and Philadelphia proper, showed large atCapital Audio Fest 2021. Critically theres a subtle reduction of haze and veiling on top, which further sweetened Joni Mitchells folksy soprano during A Case of You from Blue [A&M]. So, what happens when Parasound taps Curl and his partner, circuit board designer Carl Thompson, to make lightning strike twice at a cost half as much as the JC 3+? WebParasound - JC 3 Jr. Phono Preamplifier Price $1,699.00 Add to cart Customers Also Viewed Overview Specifications Reviews () Q&A Downloads Description John Curl Balanced XLR outputs with premium Neutrik connectors, Vampire Depending on the time of day when you place your order, it will ship same day or next business day. Outputs: 1 pair balanced (XLR), 1 pair unbalanced (RCA). United States. 2250 McKinnon Avenue document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 The Absolute Sound. This phono preamp was beautifully packaged in heavy plastic in its blue velour bag along with two types of 12v trigger cables, a heavy duty power cable, and it's owners guide. The story goes that during the design phase of the original JC 3, Curl had rejected variable-load adjustment due to the added noise intrinsic in potentiometers. Perhaps its not pedigree, but price-to-performance ratio. The JC 3+ power supply has also been significantly upgraded with 47% larger, low-ESD power-supply filter capacitors for greater current reserves. For the vast majority of vinyl owners, Parasounds JC 3 Jr. will stand the test of time and be a willing partner to cartridge or turntable upgrades that might accrue along the way. As readers will recall, the original JC 3 clinched a Golden Ear Award not long after I reviewed it in Issue 215. Buy it, you'll be VERY happy. 2250 McKinnon Avenue Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. In the interests of transparency readers should know that the $2999 Parasound JC 3+ has been my reference phonostage since I reviewed it in Issue 245. Designer John Curl decided to keep the JC 3's design simple by choosing purity over adjustability. Im sure that when I conclude my time with them, Ill understand the Parasounds value in a more detailed context. He designed and built the electronics for Mobile Fidelity's SuperMaster and David Wilson's (of Wilson Audio) UltraMaster tape recorders, two of the three best analog recorders in the world. Its a prized possession, like an original Keith Monks record cleaning machine. - Precision RIAA equalization View similar gear from other sellers on Reverb. This offer also excludes Oppo, demos, closeouts/sale items and freight shipped items. For those with stable analog rigs who assiduously avoid the cartridge-of-the-week huntthe obvious choice is to stick to the Parasound original. You can review our complete return policy here. "The Halo JC 3+ phono preamplifier is the pinnacle of phono preamplification, offering exceptional performance and versatility. Simple concept. We struck up a decades-long friendship that ultimately turned into a writing gig that has proved both stimulating and rewarding. Hes been focusing lately on using parts that lower the noise floor. Decrease Quantity of Parasound Please try again and call our phone number if the issue persists. Its retail price immediately makes it a 'killer product.'" (My first outboard phono stage, from LFD, was also a mystery boxthere wasnt even a logo or a model designation on the front panel.) The combination of the beautiful and pristine pressing and the faithful preservation of the original sound almost tricked me into believing I was listening to the master, all silence and unbridled dynamics. The JC 3's midbass attack was timbrally and texturally idealfor instance, with "Green Shirt"'s rolling bass lines (from a superb reissue of Elvis Costello's Armed Forces, LP, Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-331). Graced with elegant looks and housed in a strapping chassis, JC 3+ also proves a master of connectivity. The differences are supposed to be primarily cosmetic, but I now have a pretty cool A/B rig for investigating the rumor that one is somehow better than the other. The Dynavector 105 was another, along with the cart that is my favorite so far with this unitthe Zu modified Denon DL-103. Music Direct will not charge additional shipping for any back orders items. My love of music largely predates my enthusiasm for audio. In this setting the JC 3 Jr.s character added a slightly darker element to the string sections and a more forgiving top end. The Parasound JC 3's bass was also tight and punchy, and came very close, but it couldn't dig to the very bottom, where the XP-25 did go when the music called for itas the Big Joe Turner track "Down Home Blues," from Kansas City Here I Come (LP, Pablo 2310 904, recorded by Allen Sides at Ocean Way in 1984) did. PARASOUND. Shipping carrier. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Absolute Sound team is proud to highlight Martin Logan and Paradigm, known for loudspeaker innovation. It's impossible to overstate the virtues, integrity, engineering, versatility, and value of the Parasound JC 3 Jr. MM/MC phono preamplifier. LP (Germany), "With the JC3 Jr, you are going to hear everything the recording engineer has captured in the groove, and nothing more. As a budding vinyl novitiate, Ive been exploring modestly priced phono stages to pair with my Rega P3. "The Halo JC 3+ phono preamplifier is the pinnacle of phono preamplification, offering exceptional performance and versatility. At that time Harry was still working full-time for Long Islands Newsday even as he was writing Issue 1 of TAS during his off hours. In soundstaging Jr. didnt quite gather in all of the ambient cues to deliver back-of-the-hall dimensionality, but was very good, nonetheless. Brand New Parasound JC3+ Phono Preamplifier Black Color Retail: $3,200 Free shipping Yamaha R-S700~Black Natural Sound Stereo Receiver 100WPC in 8 ohms w/phono input I wouldnt rule out the possibility. Being an optimist, I think Ill take that as a yes. At least, I sure hope so. To opt out, click unsubscribe in our emails. The Parasound JC 3 Jr. phono preamplifier is a real-world bargain!" Sign up for early Sale access plus tailored new arrivals, trends and promotions. Music Direct reserves the right to select the carrier and ship method within the terms of this offer. Balanced XLR outputs with premium Neutrik connectors, Vampire 24k gold-plated RCA jacks, impedance adjustment knobs, and turn-on options switches (manual or auto) make everything easy and accessible. Customers can choose an alternative expedited shipping method but it will not qualify for this free shipping offer. I say this not because Im partial to Parasound products in general, but because I flat out believe there is no better phonostage on the market within shouting distance of its price. Feb 19, 2015 (Edited) My Parasound Halo JC3+ arrived today. Turning to numbers the moving coil signal-to-noise ratio is improved from 75dB to 87dB, A-weighted. Curl's longtime collaborator, and a visionary of his own right, Carl Thompson laid out the circuit board. - Dual-mono design This is Parasound's best phono stage, and it's an improvement over its predecessor, the JC 3, which was itself famously well-regarded in high-end audio circles. Especially noteworthy was the piano placement. The R-core transformer for the 3+ also gave way to a more prosaic toroidal variant, as did the independent power supplies (Jr. uses a single PS) and larger filter caps for each channel, and lastly the internal AC line conditioner. As a side note, in my exchange with Richard Schram I had to ask whether he now considers the Parasound phonostage lineup complete or whether there might be something new in the offing. Curls wand-waving not only resulted in loading adjustments but a chassis full of other improvements as well. Purchased Jan 2021. He designed the JC-1 head amp and JC-2 preamplifier sold under the Mark Levinson name some years ago." As it turned out there are lot more positives to the JC 3+ than variable loading. John Curl is all over the Parasound JC 3+ Phono Preamplifier, figuratively and literally, as he had more than a hand in its design.. Michael Fremer, Analog Planet, "Essentially, the JC 3+ is an unerringly clean and crisp, modern-sounding design, yet one that remains fully able to communicate the alluring sound of vinyl replay." Customers can choose an alternative expedited shipping method but it will not qualify for this free shipping offer. We strive for 100% customer satisfaction with every order and back it up with our 60-Day Satisfaction Guarantee. Something went wrong. Add 6dB if you run balanced outputs. I have a feeling that if John Curl started making Vendetta Research phono stages again, just like the originals, he could charge a lot more than $3000. The back panel includes a set of balanced and unbalanced outputs and a set of unbalanced inputs. Average ground delivery time ranges from 7-14 business days. My love of music largely predates my enthusiasm for audio. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we dont use a simple average. This plug will only fit into a grounding power outlet. San Francisco, CA 94124 I never felt that the Parasound was doing that. John Curl and Parasound have even gone to the trouble of isolating the AC wires and the power supplies with low-carbon mild steel partitions., The new Parasound JC 3+ also features several important changes from the earlier versions of the JC 3 such as 24-karat gold traces on the phono board for improved conductivity, and small tweaks to the basic circuitry that further the cause of an even lower noise floor. The Hana SH was one, where I used the moving magnet setting to great effect. And what a glorious screech can be produced by this mechanical and archaic system! WebParasound Halo JC 3+, Phono Preamplifier : Class A "Construction quality is first rate, top-shelf parts are used throughout. A phono stage has to strike the right chord of elegance and suppleness balanced with authority and strength. Schram says the passive parts used in the JC 3's RIAA equalization circuit are identical to those used in the Vendetta, which cost $3000 in 1992. That said, the JC 3 Jr. was one feisty chip off the old block. We also have a variety of resources available to customers including: In the event you receive a defective or damaged product you can exchange or return items within 60 days. This offer cannot be applied to previously placed orders. At $2350, the Parasound JC 3 is a remarkably fine phono preamp that easily held its own against the far costlier competition. To understand how they did it I needed to speak with Parasound chief Richard Schram. Thats the first word that popped into my head when I thought about writing this review. This initially became evident when I reviewed their Halo P6 Preamplifier, and the phono stage in that unit blew me away. No questions have PARASOUND JC 3+ Phono Preamplifier User Guide October 15, 2022 Leave a comment Home Parasound PARASOUND JC 3+ Phono Preamplifier User Guide JC 3+ Phono Preamplifier User Guide Contents hide 1 Important Safety Instructions 2 INTRODUCTION 3 Unpacking Your JC 3+ & Placement Guidelines 4 AC Voltage This was a fascinating analog rig, one Id seriously consider buying. - MM/MC cartridge compatibility", Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest news. It was built from a kit and has an upgraded 24 step WebOnly Authorized Parasound Dealers sell new, "The Halo JC 3 Jr. phono preamplifier offers high-performance phono preamplification for vinyl enthusiasts. If you continue to see a shipping charge on your order, please check the exclusions listed below. Works perfectly & have testing documentation from Parasound to prove so All original packaging. As I followed the backing accordion during Ill Be Seeing You from Ricki Lee Jones Pop Pop [ORG], the + kicked low-level transparency up a notch with a heightened resolution of dynamic gradientsmicro and macroand cleaner transient behavior. Those dynamics also contributed to an overall sound that was open and clear and so revealing of the tiniest of details. Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them. Price of my new McIntosh tube preamp leaves me having to part with this , even though there are a few trade offs. WebThe JC 3+ now features independent, variable-load fine-adjustment capability for moving coils in each channel, ranging from 50550 ohms using Vishays special low-noise dual For others, its not enough. 8/10. Curls application of choice go-fast bits-and-tweaks adds up to speed and resolution improvements of consequence. In fact, I swore I read it somewherethe Parasound Halo JC-3+ is a modernized version. Web1-888-955-6000. It simply stays out of the way of the music, and thats what its supposed to do. (Note: more often than not I choose 100 ohms for my LOMC cartridges.). There's no need to beat around the bush: The Parasound JC 3+ is one of the most acclaimed, finest-engineered, impeccably built, highest-value, sense-invigorating, surgically precise, crisp, and dead-quiet MM/MC phono preamplifiers ever made.