All of the characteristics we look for in music reproduction come together in a convincing musical picture. Parasound Halo JC3 JR Phono Preamp - in perfect new condition except for two scratches on the top plate in the back (see pics). So this is a very big deal indeed. When I graduated from college, I rewarded myself with a pair of KEF speakers and a Denon Turntable and amplifier. For some strange reason, they all wound up sounding fairly neutral. I reviewed the silver unit. ", Enjoythemusic.com March 2019 "Largely due to Parasound manufacturing efficiencies, we were able to bring our price down by half. In most systems, the difference would be hard to distinguish. 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 backgrounds a prologue for the level of resolving power I later observed. The real advantages of a phono stage of this nature wont really be uncovered until you move to cartridges in and around the 1,000 point, but it will do a fine job across the various different types. Product: Parasound Halo JC3 Jr. United States. It is dead silent. (Selected on chassis bottom). Variable loading adjustment (MC) ", Secrets of HT and High Fidelity - April 2018 I reviewed the silver unit. Parasound Certified units are the only previously opened units that carry a Parasound factory warranty - one (1) year from date of purchase. The elegant power supply with Carl Thompson's circuit board layout and use of a common mode inductor and potent and well-shielded toroid power transformer makes for outstanding dynamics and extremely low noise. ", - Marc Phillips, Part-Time Audiophile, March 19, 2021, "The John Curl-designed Halo JC 3+ is the best commercially available phono preamplifer Ive used period. Parasound Halo Series JC 3 Jr. Phono Preamplifier. ", "It is dead silent. But I've priced the JC 3 Jr. to be a real steal at only $1,495, half the price of a JC 3+. ", "The Parasound Junior is, without a doubt in my mind, the best under-$2000 solid-state phono stage I have ever heard, or even know about," raves Robert H. Levi in Issue 93 of Positive Feedback magazine. All Rights Reserved. Using the Grado Epoch MI, the Stein Music Aventurin V6 Mk2 MC, and the London Reference MI, the Junior performed way beyond its price class. But just so, I would have expected a tiny bit more sparkle at the top. For others, its not enough. Also unusual are the low noise specifications.". David Gilmours lovely mellow and melodic album On an Island, features more than just his legendary guitar playing but some interesting sound effects that can be lost on an inferior phono preamplifier, not so with the Halo JC 3 Jr. Not only does the JC 3 grip the music, it pushes it forward, resolute and once again, articulate. >85dB, input shorted, IHF A-weighted These changes enabled Parasound to use a new low-profile Halo chassis that is less expensive to build. All of the characteristics we look for in music reproduction come together in a convincing musical picture. "It is dead silent. Having known the legendary John Curl's work since he did the JC2 Preamplifier for Levinson in 1972, a ground-breaking design for solid-state, and every bit as competitiveas the tubed ARC SP-3a-1 of the era, I fearlessly replaced my current mega phono gear, both tube and solid-state, with the ParasoundHalo JC 3 Jr.Phono Preamplifier, costing just $1495! ", "The JC 3 Jr. was one feisty chip off the old block," reports Neil Gader in the July/August 2018 issue of The Absolute Sound magazine. ", - Neil Gader, The Absolute Sound magazine, July/August 2018, "The JC 3 Jr. can best be described as a Goldilocks phono preamp just right in about every dimension. "A neat balance between fun and forensic makes for a long-term listening partner. In real-world priced systems its likely to max-out vinyl performance and keep you locked in to listening for years to come. Overall then, the JC 3 Jr. is not quite as good as the JC3+ but at half the price it comes surprisingly close." 2023 Galen Carol Audio. ", "Three grand is a lot to spend on a phono pre for some people. I didnt hear the JC 3 Jr adding a sonic signature, the essence of getting out of the way is what I did hear. Lightly used in a smoke free, animal free home. Gold Note PH-5 Phono Preamplifier PH-5 is a new generation phono stage and has all you need to . For the answer, just ask Parasound's president and founder Richard Schram. It has no pops or static, even switching every knob with gain up. ", audioFi.net (Malaysia) April 2018 I got the JC3 jr a few months ago, out the door it was about $1200. The smaller the board, the better, Schram says, so as to attract less noise than do larger boards, whose many copper traces can act as antennas. Neither overly euphonic nor too forensic, it remains enjoyably engaging at all times, yet largely agnostic about the music you choose to use. 1 = Ground (Shield) The stereo soundstage is well proportioned and clearly defined, with strong image location and a good sense of stereo width and depth. Its retail price immediately makes it a 'killer product.' "Overall then, the JC 3 Jr. is not quite as good as the JC3+ but at half the price it comes surprisingly close. Speaker Isolation, The Tweak That Actually Works. Her breathing, her sultriness matched the dreamy character of the instruments as well. - Robert Levi. Inside the Parasound JC3 Jr. Thirdly, the Halo JC 3 Jr is solid state, I would almost expect besides a lower noise floor, less distortion and more control. ", Hi Fi Review (Hong Kong) It is sophisticated. 50 dB: 3 mV for 1.0 Volt output Stein Music Stateline Phono 2 Signature with Power Supply. ", "The JC 3 Jr. was one feisty chip off the old block. Any fear I had that it would sound sterile, or clinical was out the window, evident playing womens voices, especially. Circuit topology is closely related, and circuit boards were designed by Carl Thompson, John's circuit board partner dating back to his legendary Vendetta phono stage. Net: 13 lbs. The mono button on front even changes color when engaged. 115 VAC or 230 VAC 50 - 60 Hz, Dimensions Nothing to select inside! Burmester 100 phono. Works perfectly & have testing documentation from Parasound to prove so All original packaging. If you were going to spend about $1500-$2500 on a solid-state phono stage, Id say that the Junior is your entire short list. As Richard Schram puts it, "The ultimate electrical conductor achieves the ultimate transparency.". The front panel P logo illumination can be switched off with the JC 3+, since some people prefer not seeing it. ", - David Blumenstein, Dagogo, February 2019, "Excellent meticulous sound and super analytical prowess. Sure, there are preamplifiers costing just several hundred dollars but not with these features and this pedigree. Copyright 2023 Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity /, Show Reports, Film Festivals and Concerts, Kaleidescape Strato C Movie Player and Compact Terra Movie Server Review, madVR Envy Extreme Mk2 Video Processor Review, Secrets: Sonus faber Olympica Nova V Speaker review Update with Bench tests, Audia Flight Three S Integrated Amplifier and Acoustic Energy 320 Speaker Review, Polk Audio R200AE Bookshelf (Stand-mount) Speakers Review. Unbalanced: < 100 Yet the timbre for the piano was excellent. ", "makes me want to explore what more is indeed possible, what more can be extracted in the analog process. To keep the background black and silent I insisted on housing each channel in its own extruded aluminum enclosure, each further isolated from the power supply with 3/8-inch thick low-carbon mild steel partitions. Three gain levels He worked and saved to buy audio gear that I was able to enjoy. If you were going to spend about $1500-$2500 on a solid-state phono stage, Id say that the Junior is your entire short list. According to Parasound's founder and CEO, Richard Schram, the Halo JC 3 began as a phono-preamp retrofit for the JC 2 line stage, with separate small circuit boards for each channel. Accuphase C-37. Two features on the Junior that are only available on phono stages costing much more are the switchable gain stages of 40, 50, and 60dBs of gain in MM or MC mode, and a MC impedance adjustmentof 50-550 ohms in a continuously variable control (no stepped detents). Introduction Although John Curl is also touted for his Parasound amplifiers, his efforts with the original Halo JC 3 phono preamplifier were extraordinarily well-received and reviewed. Getting Vishay to make the pots wasn't an easy deal. It has my full recommendation. Purchased Jan 2021. I also considered the EAR, but my dealer quoted around $1800. 40 dB: 9 mV for 1.0 Volt output Designed to be optimized for moving-magnet and low-output moving-coil (mm and mc) phono cartridges, the gain circuits feature independent toggle control of gain, load impedance (variable or 47k ohm), plus a small knob for variable mc impedance. "It took me a while to persuade John Curl to make a free-standing phono stage for Parasound," Richard Schram reports. Digital - CD and SACD Players and CD Transports, Headphones, Ear Speakers, In Ear Monitors, System Enhancements, Tuning and Maintenance, Parasound Halo JC-3+ Phono Preamplifier for MM and MC, Variable MC Loading from 50 Ohms to 550 Ohms, Low-level circuitry housed in isolated sub enclosures, Selectable Gain of 40dB, 50dB, 60dB unbalanced, Selectable Gin of 46dB, 56dB, 66dB balanced, High-speed, soft-recovery bridge rectifiers. This piece was a store demo and rated as such. The soundstage was a bit smaller as well. In most systems, the difference would be hard to distinguish. Dan had sent him an E.A.R. Reviewers Choice with a bullet." At half the price of the JC 3+, how does the JC 3 Jr. sound? Its a good time to be shopping for a premium phono stage and if your vinyl habit has you looking beyond 1,200 or so, theres an increasingly meaningful step up in performance and features on offer over many low-cost models. Original owner - Purchased in April of 2019 from Audio Advisor. 20-20Khz, +/- 0.2dB, Total Harmonic Distortion ", Parasound Halo JC 3 Jr. Phono Preamplifier - Item # PAHAJC3JR, KLH Model Five Floorstanding Speaker (Each), Bluesound NODE (Gen 3) Wireless Music Streamer, Parasound Halo P 6 2.1 Channel Preamplifier & DAC, Copyright Audio Advisor, Inc. 1981-2023, Parasound Halo JC 3 Jr. The direct-coupled amplification circuits use DC servos rather than coupling caps. 8/10. Highly recommended. 2 = Positive (Selected on rear panel). Unbalanced RCA Inputs: For its analog inputs, the JC 3 jr phono preamplifier is equipped a set of unbalanced stereo RCA inputs . The Icon Audio PS1 MkII MM/MC phono preamplifier. The Jr. is intended to take as much of the flagship as possible and condense it down to a more affordable price point. At its price I am certain there is nothing on the market that can beat it! The new Halo Jr had a nice balance across the spectrum the mid-range especially taut. (8.6 kg), LP (Germany) February 2020 Not much to look at frankly, the SCP-2 was coveted for its low noise floor the essence of a phono preamplifier. 2023 Positive-Feedback.com. JC3 Jr Certified A JC3 Jr Certified A $1,484.00 $1,649.00 From $133.94/mo with View sample plans Color: Black Black Quantity Add to cart Guarantee safe & secure checkout Product Description Downloads This is significant because it means that the Halo JC3 Jr. is the most affordable creation from the designer. The brand has been around for decades and while still going strong, reliably and dependably, it manages to do so without a great deal of fanfare. I could do with a bit more lushness to the sound, a little more emotional engagement, perhaps some more fullness and body. It is sophisticated. The 50dB setting also works well with a Soundsmith Otello high-output moving-coil cartridge (HFC 434) suggesting that if you are in possession of such a design, this is a strong option. Balanced & Unbalanced Connectivity: The Parasound JC 3 jr phono preamplifier is outfitted with both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA connections. Now, Parasound has a new design that draws from the same creative genius while offering amazingly high performance from each piece we produce.".
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