2.1-channel integrated amplifier with high-resolution DSD DAC, MM/MC phono stage, balanced XLRs, analog bass management, home theater bypass, and 160-watts per channel of John Curl designed amplifier topology.
Parasound just released their new high-end 2.1-channel integrated amplifier and digital audio converter. The Parasound Halo Integrated Amplifier combines powerful John Curl designed amplifier topology with a sophisticated analog preamplifier and DAC making it capable of managing music sources ranging from vinyl records to the latest high-resolution DSD digital music files. The 160-watt per channel (240-watts @ 4 ohms) Halo Integrated Amplifier drives high-end loudspeakers with authority and accuracy, using the same Class A/AB circuits found in Parasound’s renowned separate power amplifiers. These capabilities are further enhanced with a home-theater bypass function, 2.1-channel analog bass management, a dedicated high-current headphone amplifier, and state-of-the-art integration technologies.
The Parasound Halo Integrated Amplifier uses the latest ESS Sabre32 Reference DAC to decode a wide range of digital music files via optical, coaxial, and USB inputs. The asynchronous USB 2.0 input supports PCM up to 384 kHz/32-bit, native DSD256 and DoP DSD bit streams. The coax and optical inputs accept PCM up to 192 kHz/24-bit.
“Creating the Halo Integrated amp required Parasound to virtually redefine what a modern integrated amp should be,” said Richard Schram, Parasound’s president and founder, “It was a given that its sound quality had to match our acclaimed Halo separates. Thus, its analog preamp stage was taken verbatim from our popular P 5. Its power amp uses the same John Curl circuit topology and high current design that has made our A 23 and A 21 power amps perennial favorites. We went to great lengths to eliminate the power supply contamination that compromises the audio quality in some of the most expensive integrated amps. Finally, newly released parts from ESS enabled us to leap ahead with an all-new DAC, allowing the Halo Integrated to provide flawless reproduction of the highest resolution digital audio.”
The Parasound Halo Integrated Amplifier uses the company’s classic Class A/AB, DC-coupled topology with a J-FET input stage, MOSFET driver stage and high-current output stage with 12 rugged Sanken bipolar output transistors. With its oversized shielded toroid power transformer, 40,000 µF filter capacity and enormous heat sinks, the Halo Integrated has power to spare to drive high performance speakers to their fullest potential. Its adjustable low pass and high pass crossovers and front panel subwoofer level control allows for seamless subwoofer integration.
The Halo Integrated has a balanced XLR input and XLR L, R and Sub preamp outputs. There are five line-level inputs, record/fixed level output, and a low noise MM/MC phono input with three loading options. Its unique home-theater bypass input circuitry enables a surround sound receiver or processor to utilize the Halo Integrated’s power amp to drive the left and right loudspeakers during surround sound listening while its subwoofer bypass inputs make it possible for subwoofer(s) to operate with surround sound and stereo listening.
Price and Availability
The Parasound Halo Integrated Amplifier is currently available in black or silver finish with a suggested USA retail price of $2,495.
Features
- ESS Sabre32 Reference DAC (ES9018K2M)
- Asynchronous USB 2.0 supports PCM up to 384kHz/32-bit
- Native and DoP DSD decoding
- Coax and optical accept PCM up to 192kHz/24-bit
- Analog bass management with high & low pass crossovers
- Home theater bypass input for surround sound integration
- Front panel subwoofer level control
- Dedicated high current headphone amplifier (TI TPA6120)
- Phono input for MM & MC with 100 ohm or 47kohm load
- Front panel Aux input with automatic +12 dB gain stage
- Bass & treble tone controls with relay bypass
- Back-lit remote control with discrete buttons
- 160 Watts x 2 @ 8 Ohms (RMS, both channels driven)
- 240 Watts x 2 @ 4 Ohms (RMS, both channels driven)
- Power amp circuit topology designed by legendary John Curl
- Direct amplifier input to bypass preamp section
- High bias class A/AB operation
- Oversized shielded toroid power transformer
- Dual-mono power supply and power amplifier
- 40,000µF power supply filter capacitance
- Matched JFET input stages and MOSFET driver stages
- 12 high voltage/high current bipolar output transistors
- Heavy-duty 24k gold-plated 5-way speaker binding posts
- Over temp and short circuit relay protection
Specifications
- Power Output – Both channels driven (0.05% THD, RMS, 20Hz – 20kHz)
160 watts x 2 @ 8 ohms
240 watts x 2 @ 4 ohms - Power Output – Both channels driven (0.9% THD, RMS, 20Hz – 20kHz)
180 watts x 2 @ 8 ohms
270 watts x 2 @ 4 ohms - Current Capacity – 45 amps peak per channel
- Frequency Response – 10Hz – 100kHz, +0/-3dB
- Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)
< 0.01 %, average listening levels
< 0.05 %, 160 watts x 2 @ 8 ohms - Interchannel Crosstalk
> 50dB at 20kHz
> 70dB at 1kHz - Signal to Noise Ratio – IHF A-weighted
Line in: – 103dB (input shorted)
Digital in: – 106dB - Amplifier Damping Factor – > 800 at 20Hz
- Preamp Stage Input Sensitivity – 300mV in for 1V at Pre Out jacks
- Total Preamp Stage Gain: 10dB
- Max Output Unbalanced: 7 V
- Max Output Balanced: 9 V
- Power Amplifier Stage Sensitivity – 1V at Bypass/Amp In for 28 V at Speaker Out
- Total Amp Stage Gain: 28dB
- Phono Stage Sensitivity / Input Impedance
MM: 35dB / 47kohms
MC: 52dB / 47kohms or 100 ohms - High & Low Pass Crossover Slopes – 12dB per octave
- Supported DAC Sampling Rates
USB: up to 384kHz / 32-bit PCM
DSD Native: DSD64, DSD128, DSD256
DSD over PCM (DoP) at 384kHz
Coax/Opt: up to 192 kHz / 24-bit PCM - Digital to Analog Converter
ESS Sabre32 Reference ES9018K2M
384kHz / 32-bit - USB 2.0 Controller – VIA VT1731, 384kHz / 32-bit
- Headphone Amplifier – Texas Instruments TPA6120A
- Output Impedance 10 ohms
- XLR Pin Identification
1 = Ground (Shield)
2 = Positive
3 = Negative (Return) - Input Impedance
Unbalanced: 24kohms
Balanced: 100kohms per leg - Output Impedance
Unbalanced: 100 ohms
Balanced: 470 ohms per leg - Dimensions
Width: 17-1/4″ (437mm)
Depth: 16-1/4″ (413mm)
Depth, with cables 17-1/4″ (437mm)
Height, with feet: 5-7/8″ (150mm)
Height, without feet: 5-1/4″ (133mm), 3U - Net Weight – 33 lb. (15kg)
- Shipping Weight – 45 lb. (20.4kg)
- Power Requirement
Standby: 0.5 watts
Idling power: 70 watts
Maximum: 750 watts - 110-125 VAC 60Hz or 220-250 VAC 50Hz
- AC mains voltage is set on rear panel
