JC3+ Phono Amp

Thoroughly upgraded, the JC 3+ not only adds loading adjustments to the (now-discontinued) JC 3 but improvements to signal-to-noise, tweaks to the mm/mc gain stages, a beefier power supply, and a larger power transformer. With every rotation from an LP collection the JC 3+ conveys a heady mix of profound silence and kick-butt energy, a kiss of romance through the mids, and an ability to extract low-level information and define it in acoustic space.

John Curl's preamplifier achievements are legendary. The JC 3+ phono preamplifier expresses the character, verve and impact of all music genres with an insightful 'deep look' into the grooves of records. The JC 3+ is extremely satisfying and an outstanding value.

Parasound’s JC 3+ Phono Amplifier is a masterpiece and its creators John Curl and Carl Thompson spared no expense to achieve sound quality and performance that is impeccable.

Time has not dampened its sonic bona fides one iota. Its ability to see into a symphony orchestra and define each section is uncanny. Backgrounds remain eerily quiet, instrumental timbres ripe as plums, and channel separation exquisite.

Best Phono Stage.

The Parasound seems to infuse instruments with air and musical life. Soundstage depth cues seemed almost tube-like in their dimensionality, and instrumental and vocal layering often left me wide- eyed and slack-jawed. High-end sound reproduction doesn't get much better than this. Thoroughly and very highly recommended!

Outstanding-amongst the best. The soundstage was tight and honed, delivery was crisp, precise and accurate... forceful and exciting. Vocals were nothing less than haunting, while the low noise design offered a clean and open presentation.

This sturdy, well-built, and - at nearly 20 pounds - quite beefy unit, represents electronics wunderkind John Curl's latest thinking on affordable phono pre-amplification. The results are magical: impressively wide dynamics, superb neutrality, excellent detail retrieval, wide staging, holographic imaging, and more than a whiff of the air and ambiance one gets from great tube gear. In the real world, it doesn't get much better.

Parasound's uncompromising approach has resulted in a truly stunning piece of gear. I'm confident that how the JC 3+ breathes life and energy into music is exceptional. After you've experienced it, it seems impossible to take even the smallest of steps backward. It invigorates everything it touches.

The JC 3+ conveys a heady mix of profound silence and kick-butt energy.

Essentially, the JC 3+ is an unerringly clean and crisp, modern-sounding design, yet one that remains fully able to communicate the alluring sound of vinyl replay.

There is no shortage of phono stages on sale at the Parasound's price point, but the Halo JC 3+ stands out. A beautifully designed and built package, it boasts a good - if not totally comprehensive - range of facilities. Best of all is its superb sound quality; I have heard few better designs at any price, and the fact that it's able to achieve this for a sensible sum of money makes it an exceptional product.

I'm confident that how the JC 3+ breathes life and energy into music is exceptional. After you've experienced it, it seems impossible to take even the smallest of steps backward. It invigorates everything it touches. The extraordinary thing is that every time you listen, it feels special and reminds you that this strange alchemy called audio sometimes fulfills its promise.