Rational Exuberance

John Curl is a superstar high-end electronics designer. In the early 1970s, he worked his magic on the Grateful Dead’s concert and recording sound systems and later kept the Jefferson Airplane aloft, just before tackling film sound in Hollywood. All of that led to collaborations with high-end pioneer Mark Levinson; together they raised the stakes, considerably, with their legendary solid-state preamplifier, the JC 2, in 1974.

It didn’t matter that the product was two or three times more expensive than any other component in the nascent high-end market; a lot of folks who were lucky enough to hear it and afford it had to buy it. The JC 2 just had that effect on people.

Curl and Levinson were a volatile combination and soon parted ways. Over the next few years, Curl designed a long run of cutting-edge electronics. Then, in the late 1980s, he began what would become his longest working relationship with Parasound, where he’s had a hand in designing numerous preamps and power amplifiers. They’ve all been fine components; but, when I heard that Curl had finished work on an all-new Halo Series JC 2 stereo preamplifier for Parasound, I had to check it out. (It’s like hearing that Carroll Shelby built a new AC Cobra.) Parasound also sent along a pair of the matching Halo Series JC 1 400-watt mono power amplifiers. Even better.

With the JC 2 plugged in and warmed up, it’s immediately clear that Curl has learned more than a few tricks since the early days. The JC 1/JC 2 combo produces a remarkably detailed and shockingly realistic sound. I keep referring to Curl as the mastermind of these new designs, but he doesn’t work alone: Carl Thompson handles circuit board and layout design, and the late Bob Crump, an expert in electrical-component parts selection and implementation, also played an integral role on Curl’s design team.

The two JC components share the same industrial design, and there is no denying that their sculpted, brushed-metal faceplates, with swept-back curves and deeply channeled lines, are distinctive. The top panels, embossed with “Parasound,” are a nice touch, and build quality is rock solid. The front panels’ oval buttons are backlit in blue to create a halo effect. The JC 2’s remote control is a minimalist affair, although it does offer tuning buttons for Parasound’s Halo T 3 FM/AM tuner. The remote’s silver and grey plastic aesthetic does not match the components’ serious build quality, but it’s serviceable.

The JC 2 sports six line-level inputs, two of which are switchable for XLR balanced or RCA unbalanced connections. The main outputs are also available over balanced XLR connectors and unbalanced RCA connectors, and you get fixed-level RCA record output jacks for CD/tape recorder hookup. Conspicuous in its absence is a phono input for a turntable, but you can always connect an outboard phono preamp to the JC 2. In any case, Parasound’s parts quality is absolutely first-rate.

Parasound hasn’t forgotten custom installers and systems integrators. The JC 2’s RS-232 interface is compatible with Crestron, AMX, Control4, Niles, and Elan systems. Other facilities include four 12-volt triggers, a remote control repeater input, and loop-out jacks. The JC 1 power amplifiers can be “slaved” to turn on/off in tandem with the JC 2. Rack-mount kits are available.

The JC 1 is a seriously powerful amplifier. Its output stage employs nine pairs of high-current bipolar transistors with massive heatsinks to ensure long-term reliability. Each amplifier can deliver 400 watts to 8-ohm-rated speakers and 800 watts to 4-ohm models; if your speakers ever dip as low as 2 ohms, the JC 1 will happily serve 1,200 watts! That’s all very impressive; however, unless you listen at ferociously loud volumes, you will never come close to reaching those power levels. Most of the time, you’ll use 10 or fewer watts. That’s why Curl designed the JC 1 to run in what’s called “Class A” mode up to 25 watts, in order to produce the best possible sound quality. The only downside to Class A operation is that the amplifier generates a fair amount of heat (alternatively, you can switch it to produce 10 Class A watts for somewhat cooler operation). In any case, ventilation is required if you place the amps within a cabinet.

That said, the JC 1 sounds potent, even when you listen to it at merely a moderately loud level, and it maintains its composure at lease-breaking, call-the-cops volume. Which reminds me, I have been playing Spoon’s Gimme Fiction CD a lot lately, and the JC-1/JC-2 combo takes this Austin band’s music to another level. Their crazy rhythms kick harder, and I swear I can hear the band locking in like never before.

The JC 1/JC 2 sound strikes a keen balance between offering superlative resolution and sounding beguilingly sweet and natural. I find myself totally absorbed by CDs that previously bored me. Take Neko Case’s Fox Confessor Brings the Flood: It seemed like one of those records I should love, but I could never sit through it. Now, with the JCs, I’m floored by Ms. Case’s sultry pipes.

The electronics also give me a new appreciation for early period Rolling Stones, back when they were steeped in the blues. Jagger wasn’t yet the preening rock star, and the band’s roughened-up version of Lennon and McCartney’s “I Wanna Be Your Man” blows the Beatles’ version away.

The JC 2 is a stereo-only component, but the JC 1 monoblock amplifiers are equally at home in a stereo system or high-impact home theater (perhaps mated with Parasound’s C 1 or C 2 surround processor). If you are new to high-end audio, Parasound’s JC 1/JC 2 combination is a great place to start. It would be worth your time to experience them firsthand through a dealer. Bring along some of your favorite music, and be prepared to hear it like never before.

PRICES: JC 1, $3,500; JC 2, $4,000
CONTACT: 415.397.7100, Parasound.com