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Parasound Halo A 21: Quiz time ... did he or didn't he listen to the review unit?

From the review of the 2-channel Parasound Halo A 21 power amplifier which might be of intererst to "... some of you out there who just cannot listen to low-priced mass-market audio components (Pioneer, yecch!) no matter how they sound ...", let's examine what he says in "The Sound" section of the review:

"Longtime readers of The Audio Critic know the drill that comes at this point: I repeat, for the nth time, that all amplifiers having high input impedance, low output impedance, flat frequency response, low distortion, and low noise floor sound exactly the same when operated at matched levels and not clipped. (Those who are unable to stomach this simple truth, proved over and over again in double-blind listening tests, should stick with Stereophile.) Of course, the Parasound A 21, with its very high output capability, will not clip at levels where most others do and therefore sounds better at those levels. The deep bass profits especially from all those watts, especially through inefficient loudspeakers. But those who expect the heavens to open up and the seraphim blow their trumpets when they turn on the new amplifier—any amplifier—that they just brought home from the store in their hot little hands will be sorely disappointed."

So what do you think?... did he listen to it or not? My guess is No on the assumption that the measurements were such that he had little expectation of anything interesting happening, e.g. little chance it would blow up!



No Guru, No Method, No Teacher


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