Got me a HCA-2200

[I-SIG]

Well, the searching and waiting is over.

I finally got my Parasound HCA-2200. I haven't had a good chance to listen to it, but I think I'm gonna like it. It is currently playing on repeat with a fan blowing to help get everything burned back in.

I'll give a better report this weekend sometime.

Wes

[Ceruleance]

welcome to the club

[dorokusai]

Wes - Nice to hear about your new gear, am looking forward to hearing your thoughts. It is a solid performer, the MKII was the first piece that began the John Curl dynasty at Parasound.

[fireshoes]

I need to get an amp. I heard cmy330go's LSi9's with Parasound Halo....holy crap!

[organ]

Sweet. How many watts/ch is it? What speakers will they be powering?

Maurice

[dorokusai]

Continuous Power Output - Stereo
250 watts RMS x 2, 20 Hz-20 kHz, 8 ohms
385 watts RMS x 2, 20 Hz-20 kHz, 4 ohms
385 watts RMS x 2, 20 Hz-20 kHz, 2 ohm
Continuous Power Output - Mono
750 watts RMS, 20 Hz-20 kHz, 8 ohm
1000 watts RMS, 20 Hz-20 kHz, 4 ohms
Current Capacity
50 amperes continuous
90 amperes peak
Slew Rate
>135 V/µsecond
Frequency Response
2 Hz-95 kHz, +0/-1.5 dB
Total Harmonic Distortion
< 0.05% at full power
< 0.009% typical levels
IM Distortion
< 0.03%
TIM
Umneasureable
Dynamic Headroom
> 1.5dB
lnterchannel Crosstalk
> 84 dB at 1 kHz
> 74 dB at 20 kHz
Input Impedance
100K ohms/RCA-unbalanced, 200K ohms/XLR-balanced
S/N Ratio
> 114 dB, input shorted, IHF A weighted
Damping Factor
> 1000 at 20 Hz
Dimensions
19" wide x 7" high x 15" deep
Weight
60 lbs. net
AC Power Requirements
1000 watts

[I-SIG]

Originally posted by organ
Sweet. How many watts/ch is it? What speakers will they be powering?

Maurice

Maurice,

Mark took care of the amp info. Thanks. :)

The HCA-2200 will be pushing a set of SDA-1C Studio's through some AQ CV-4. I have full CV-4 per terminal, so I have a decent size, quality pipe to push all those watts through!

Wes

[I-SIG]

Well, I think Ihave done enough inital listening to go ahead and make some remarks.

While, I have never doubted that the source makes a difference, but I was able to really notice this fact in my initial source selection to get the amp burned in again.

I started using about a 10-12 year old Kenwood changer mainly because it would just keep repeating all the CD's. When I sat down to listen a little, I thought I had made a major mistake on the amp.

So yesterday, I swapped back to my Onkyo DVD changer. HUGE difference. It was like I removed a pillow that was stuck in front of the SDA's! A decent soundstage returned and my highs came back as well.

Anyway, now that I'm back to the source I'm comfy with, I have to say that Ithink I really like this amp a lot. It seems to be exerting little effort, even at 95+ dB's.

The bass is great. Fuller, clearer, more precise and most importantly, a bit more "growl." I think it is able to get the SDA's to reach down at least another half-octave with good response. It also seems that as the volume increases or when there are more things happening in the bass region, it give more due diligence to everything that is going on. The Carver M1.0-t seemed like it would just focus more on the simple bass tones, and not give the kick drum or other things enough juice to keep them blended with the rest of the bass.

Mids are definitely clearer and more precise. However, some things don't seem as forward as ther were with the Carver, which I think once I'm adjusted, will be a better staged sound. For example, the snare drum seems bit farther back from the singer. Vocals are where I noticed the margest improved, mainly in clarity and precision.

The highs are improved over the Carver, but not the extent that mid and bass has improved. They seem to image better and are smoother, but I don't think the overall reproduction of the sound itself, is significantly better. Incrementally, for sure.

I guess that is enough for now. One thing that I did notice that I think is worth mentioning is that in some CD's that are not the greatest quality, recording-wise (like Ten from Pearl Jam), seemed to be markedly clearer and fuller with better imaging. Maybe this can be explained by my lack of expectation from these CD's? Anyway...

Wes