Parasound C2 with the A52 or A51 or 1205A ???

[john4618]

I'm getting a Parasound C2 and want to know which amp to use, the A51 at 250 watts RMS x 5 –or- the A52 at 125 watts RMS x 5 –or- should I just use my 1205A that I already have ???

I can't demo these so I have some questions:

1. I’m told that my 1205A is a little too bright for the C2 vs. the A51 and A52 -– true or false ??? Will I really hear a difference between say the 1205A and the A52 ???

2. Is the A51 at 250 watts RMS x 5 an ‘overkill’ for my Klipsch RF-7's speakers, keeping in mind that the A51 is 2 times the cost of the A52 at 125 watts RMS x 5 ??? Will I really hear a difference between the A51 and A52 ???

Any and all comments appreciated.

[nicholtl]

Hey John, I can't comment on the 1205A although I have heard what you mentioned...that they're a tad bright when mated with the C2.

I have exactly what you have/are considering: the C2 as well as RF-7's, and I use the A51 and A21 to power them (7.1). They are in no way overkill. For one thing, more power and headroom is always better than less. For another, the RF-7's are rated at 250 watts max continuous, so the figures fit perfectly! The combination is truly magical. Despite Klipsch's high sensitivity rating, the C2 and A51 (even with my balanced XLR's which introduce a supposed +6dB gain) when paired with the Ref 7's are stunningly quiet, and music is spacious and alive.

All in all, if you got the cash, A51 hands down. That said, the A52 ain't no slouch either.

[Chris D]

John, I think my situation can help you. I went through the same thing last year. My speakers are all Klipsch Legend series, centered on the mains of KLF-30's. These are extremely similar to the RF-7's, which pretty much replaced the Legend Series.

Since Klipsch speakers are so efficient, I honestly believe that the A52 and A23 would have been entirely satisfactory for me. However, if you go through old threads here in Club Parasound, you'll find a very similar discussion I had about a year ago. Here's a few points that it came down to for me:

- More power will not only sufficiently drive speakers during loud or dynamic sound demands, it will also give a cleaner, more detailed sound, even during quiet times.

- Unless you have a lot more money than I do, this will likely be a very large purchase for you that you will make ONCE. You might as well get it right the first time, even if it is somewhat overkill.

So, I chose to splurge in this one-time purchase and do it RIGHT. I got the A21 and A51, and am completely satisfied. I would encourage you to do the same. HOWEVER, it really just comes down to whether that would hold enough value for you. Only you can make that decision. Yes, the 1-Series will be better for you than the 2-series amps. Is the little gain of the 1-series worth the significant extra cost to you? That's up to you alone.

As for the 1205 being bright with the C2, I haven't heard that. That's interesting--I would have thought that sonically the 1205 and A52 would have been very similar.




CHRIS
Luke: "Hey, I'm not such a bad pilot myself, you know"