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Reviewers Choice Award - Part-Time Audiophile
"Outstanding Product Award" - Hi-Fi News
A Chip Off the Old Monoblock
Parasound's Halo JC 5 distills the essence of two Halo JC 1 monoblocks into a single-chassis stereo amp with outstanding sound quality, power, and value.
The JC 5 is a 400-watt per channel stereo amplifier designed by John Curl that combines design elements of two top-of-the-line Halo JC 1 monoblock power amplifiers into a single chassis the same size as one JC 1. The JC 5 combines high power and ultra-high bias Class A/AB sonic quality at roughly two-thirds the price of a pair of JC 1s.
"The Parasound Halo JC 5 Stereo Power Amplifier is a winner. If you are looking for a beefy solid state power amplifier under $10k I suggest giving the JC 5 an audition. Highly recommended," notes Graig Neville in the April 30, 2021 issue of Part-Time Audiophile, which honored the JC 5 with its Reviewers Choice Award.
"It’s more than possible to have an absolute blast with this amplifier," raves James Parker atHi-Fi News, which gave the JC 5 its Outstanding Product Award. "Those who think nothing of using for parties the kind of five-figure system at the heart of which it will sit won’t be disappointed in the least - it will just keep on going as long as you can. However, there’s so much more refinement than that on offer here, and the JC5 will please even if you never explore the limits of its performance envelope."
An Enviable Heritage
The Halo JC 5 boasts an enviable heritage. The Parasound Halo JC 1 monoblock was designed by John Curl and introduced 16 years ago to instant international acclaim. It is acknowledged as the benchmark for amplifier performance and value. In 2003, Stereophile awarded it 'Amplifier of the Year' and has honored it as a ‘Class A Recommended Component’ twice a year for fifteen years - far longer than any other audio component.
"Hits a New Sweet Spot"
"The JC 5 is a remarkable amplifier that creates a new sweet spot in our Halo product family," said Parasound's founder and president Richard Schram. "Our customers often tell us they love everything the JC 1 offers, but they wondered if we could deliver comparable performance in a no-compromise stereo amplifier, while saving them money and space. We challenged John Curl to distill the essence of two JC 1 mono blocks into a single chassis, and the result has exceeded everyone's expectations."
Profoundly Powerful, Supremely Musical
The Parasound Halo JC 5 stereo amplifier is profoundly powerful and supremely musical. High bias class A/AB provides 12-watts-per-channel pure class A power and class AB effortlessly to its 400 watts per channel 8 ohm rating. The output stage employs 24 beta-matched, 15 ampere, 60 MHz bipolar transistors to deliver a formidable peak current of 90 amperes.
The power supply employs a 1.7 kVA shielded toroid power transformer with a premium H18 grade steel core. It has independent secondary windings for its dual-mono power supply. As with the JC 1, the input stage B+/B- rails are 10 V above the output stage rails to eliminate any chance of distortion caused by voltage sagging when the amp is under load. Independent power supplies for left and right channels input stages employ filter caps totaling 8,880 μF. Driver and output stages employ massive Rubycon filter caps totaling 132,000 µF.
Direct-Coupled Design
The Halo JC 5 is direct-coupled, protected by DC servo circuits to eliminate coupling capacitors, while extending bass response down to 5 Hz. Its balanced inputs use discrete circuits with Neutrik locking XLR connectors, and Vampire 24k gold-plated RCA input and loop output jacks. “Propeller” type 5-way speaker binding posts are 24k gold-plated and accept 7-gauge bare wire. They are custom-manufactured by CHK Infinium to Parasound’s exacting specifications.
The JC 5 is available in silver or black. Rack mount hardware for its four rack space chassis is included. Shipping weight is 95 lbs.
