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Powerful 'Little Brother' of the John Curl-Designed JC1+ Monoblock
The Parasound Halo JCM250 is an uncompromising mono power amplifier that sets new standards in power and fidelity at anywhere near its price point. Offering 250 watts at 8 ohms and up to 800 watts at 2 ohms, it delivers exceptional audio performance.
The balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA inputs ensure compatibility with various audio sources. Its dual-mono design with two transformers provides exceptional channel separation and sonic accuracy. The direct-coupled design, without capacitors in the signal path, preserves signal integrity and enhances transparency. Experience unparalleled compact power and fidelity with the Halo JCM250 mono power amplifier.
A Chip Off the Old Monoblock
Parasound's signature Halo monoblock power amp is the JC1+, a brute of a component that also has a velvet touch when needed to give you the total listening experience. For some folks, the JC1+ is just a little too much amp. It weighs in at 83 lb. and delivers power levels up to 1300 watts (at 2 ohms RMS).
Chances are you are looking for a performance level approaching the JC1+, but you don't require that much power. And you also may wish to keep your component weight and demand to your pocketbook lighter. In that case, the JCM250 turns out to be the perfect mono amp for you and scads of other audiophiles in search of flagship-level audio excellence. Think of it as the 'little brother' of the JC1+.
The JCM250 shares many of the attributes of the JC1+, including circuitry designed by the legendary John Curl, ultra-high bias Class A/AB operation, Bybee Music Rails™ active high frequency noise filters, a direct-coupled signal path with no capacitors or inductors in the audio path, a FET input stage and MOSFET driver stage, and independent power supplies for the input stage, driver stage, and output stage. And that's just a brief overview of shared features.
Upgraded Power Delivery
The John Curl-designed driver stage employs a new cascode circuit design for greater open loop bandwidth and superior linearity. Full power is rated all the way down to 2Hz for unrestricted low-end bass.
With a power delivery of 250 watts RMS into 8 ohms, 450 watts RMS into 4 ohms, and 800 watts RMS into 2 ohms, supported by a peak current capability of 100 amperes, the JCM250 elicits magnificent performance from the finest speakers. The first 5 watts in Pure Class A will truly make your speakers sing. In fact, just as with the JC1+, you don’t know how good your speakers can sound until you treat them to the JCM250.
Unique Technology Delivers Enormous Sonic Benefits
Unique technology 'firsts' originally developed for the JC1+ endow the JCM250 with enormous sonic benefits. These include Bybee Music Rails™ in the input stage. Because even miniscule amounts of input stage noise will degrade sound quality, Curl specified the addition of Music Rails. These are sophisticated active B+ and B- high frequency filters that scrub away every last vestige of power supply noise. As a result, music reproduction is amazingly lifelike and totally authentic to the source material.
The input stage ± 112V power supply rails are totally independent from the main power supply. This banishes input stage distortion that occurs when the rail voltages sag. The input stage voltage remains constant, no matter how hard its output stage is working. This averts a deficiency inherent in nearly every other amplifier. Additionally, the custom-built R-core transformer powering the input stage reduces pollution caused by noise carried on the AC power line.
No-Compromise Approach from Input to Output
No-compromise components have been used throughout the construction of the JCM250. Just like the JC1+, it employs FR408, a superior circuit board material for optimum propagation of high frequencies for the most natural musical reproduction. Until its incorporation in the JC1+, FR408 was used primarily in super computers and aerospace electronics.
Furthering the outstanding sonic purity, the input-driver circuit board is well shielded from internal currents. Premium REL and Nichicon Muse capacitors use a proprietary design which 'immunizes' them from micro vibrations that degrade the sound quality of other caps. The JCM250 relies on 24k gold-on-gold internal connectors for the audio interconnects between the input/driver stage and output stage. This avoids oxidation, so that the audio signals remain pristine year after year.
Advanced Technology and Features
A new wider open loop gain cascode driver stage in the achieves greater linearity. A fast start bias circuit enables the JCM250 to sound its best within minutes after turn-on, while a bias level selector switch enables the JCM1 to run cooler with virtually no compromise in performance. A two-position gain switch selects 23dB or 29dB gain to optimize performance with high gain preamps and high sensitivity speakers.
Premium Neutrik 24k gold-plated balanced locking XLR and Vampire unbalanced RCA output connectors facilitate bi-wiring. Dual CHK Infinium, custom 5-way speaker binding posts allow easy bi-wiring.
