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JC5 Stereo Power Amp
JC5 Stereo Power Amp
JC5 Stereo Power Amp
JC5 Stereo Power Amp
JC5 Stereo Power Amp
JC5 Stereo Power Amp
Parasound HALO A31 3-Channel Power Amp
Parasound

JC5 Stereo Power Amp

Model AJC5B · Series John Curl

Experience the flagship JC5. 400 watts of clean, musical power with stunning control and finesse—built for audiophiles who crave the best.

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At a glance

All specifications
Current Capacity
90 amps peak, per channel
Slew Rate
> 130 volts per microsecond
IM Distortion
< 0.04 %
TIM
Unmeasurable
Total Gain
29 dB
Damping Factor
1000 at 20 Hz
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Overview

Power That Moves You

Drop the JC5 into your system and the room changes. Bass hits deeper without bloat, vocals float free of the speakers, and big crescendos stay calm and composed—power with finesse that makes everything feel more alive.

Designed by John Curl, the JC5 focuses on what matters: high‑bias Class A/AB with the first 12 W in pure Class A, 400 W x2 into 8 Ω (600 W x2 into 4 Ω), a 1.7 kVA toroidal transformer with 132,000 µF of storage, and 90 A peak current with safe handling of 1.5‑Ω impedance dips.

Praised by reviewers

“By any measure, the Halo JC 5 is a superb power amplifier.” — SoundStage! Hi‑Fi.

“A well‑mannered big amplifier… capable of handling dips down to 1.5 Ω.” — Hi‑Fi News.

“A stunning performer with great musicality and none of the sterility of more analytical amps.” — Home Theater Review.

Awards & Recognition

Hi‑Fi News — Outstanding Product. (2018)

SoundStage! Hi‑Fi — Reviewers’ Choice. (2019)

Home Theater Review — Best of 2018.

Highlights

  • 400 watts x 2 @ 8 Ω RMS, both channels driven
  • 600 watts x 2 @ 4 Ω RMS, both channels driven
  • 1200 watts x 1 @ 8 Ω, in bridged mode
  • Circuitry designed by legendary John Curl
  • Ultra-high bias Class A/AB operation
  • 12 watts per channel of pure Class A power
  • 90 amperes peak current per channel
  • Stable with speaker impedance dips to 1.5 Ω
  • Balanced inputs with discrete circuits
  • CHK Infinium, custom 5-way speaker binding posts
  • Neutrik locking XLR input connectors
  • Vampire gold-plated RCA input & loop output jacks
  • Direct-coupled signal path, no capacitors or inductors
  • DC Servo and relay protection circuits
  • AC turn-on inrush surge protection with relay bypass
  • Dual-mono input stages with ±110 volt DC rails
  • JFET input stage, MOSFET driver stage
  • 24 beta-matched 15 ampere, 60 MHz bipolar output transistors
  • 1.7 kVA shielded toroid power transformer with independent windings for each channel
  • Independent power supplies for left & right channel input stages, driver stages, output stages
  • 8,880 µF Nichicon Gold Tune filter capacitors for input stages
  • 132,000 µF Rubycon filter capacitors for output stages
  • Full power is rated all the way down to 5Hz for unrestricted low-end bass
  • Harris hyper-fast soft-recovery bridge diode rectifiers
  • Automatic turn-on by 12 V trigger or audio sensing
  • 4 rack space chassis with rear carry handles
  • Rack mount hardware is included

Specifications

Specifications

Power Output – Both Channels Driven
400 watts x 2, 8 Ω 600 watts x 2, 4 Ω
Power Output – Bridged Mode
1200 watts x 1, 8 Ω Bridged 4 Ω operation is not recommended
Power measurement parameters are at 120 VAC
0.05% THD, RMS continuous power, full audio band (20 Hz - 20 kHz)
Current Capacity
90 amps peak, per channel
Slew Rate
> 130 volts per microsecond
Frequency Response
5 Hz - 100 kHz, +0/-3 dB 20 Hz - 20 kHz, +0/-0.25 dB
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)
< 0.05 % at full power < 0.03 % at typical listening levels
IM Distortion
< 0.04 %
TIM
Unmeasurable
Inter-channel Crosstalk
> 87 dB at 1 kHz > 72 dB at 20 kHz
Input Impedance
Unbalanced: 33 kΩ Balanced: 66 kΩ,(33 kΩ per leg)
Total Gain
29 dB
Input Sensitivity for 28.28 V Output into 8 Ω
Unbalanced: 1 V Balanced: 1 V per leg
S/N Ratio
> 116 dB, input shorted, IHF A-weighted > 111 dB, input shorted, unweighted
Damping Factor
1000 at 20 Hz
DC Trigger Requirements
+9 Vdc to +12 Vdc, 5 mA
Audio Trigger Requirements
2 mV - 10 mV
XLR Pin Identification
1 = Ground (Shield) 2 = Positive 3 = Negative (Return)
Dimensions
Width: 17-5⁄8" (448 mm) Height without feet: 7-1⁄8" (181 mm) Height with feet: 7-3/4" " (197 mm) Depth: 20" (508 mm) Depth with cables: 21-1⁄2" (546 mm)
Net Weight
73 lb. (33.1 kg)
Shipping Weight
90 lb. (40.8 kg)
Power Requirement
Standby: 1 Watt Idle (no music playing): 225 Watts Typical listening levels: 400 Watts Maximum: 1500 Watts

Downloads

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Awards and press

11

  • The JC 5 is truly a chameleon in a neutral system. What I will say is that the JC 5 brings more realism to the table, and it expands the envelope of the dynamic range on really good recordings that contain a lot of dynamic range. The soundstage with the JC 5 becomes bigger in all dimensions with increased spatiality of sounds within the expanded boundaries of the soundstage.

    Positive Feedback, June 2023

  • Just one step down from the highly regarded Halo monoblocks, the Parasound JC 5 is a dual mono design "from the transformer windings on." We found this stereo power amplifier to sound good, first and foremost, with a midrange quality that's rare among solid state amps at this price point. "Inherently neutral, accurate without being dry, no solid state etching or harshness whatsoever, and imaging and soundstage that could compete with similarly priced tube amps." A Reviewer's Choice winner.

    PARTTIME AUDIOPHILE BEST AMPLIFIERS, SUMMER 2022 GUIDE—Parasound Halo JC 5

  • The Halo JC 5 stereo power amplifier was developed in collaboration with legendary audio designer John Curl. It is designed without compromise for exacting musical reproduction. With its exquisite performance and compelling value, the JC 5 is the new 'amplifier benchmark.'

    Input Audio March 2022

  • Many components come along that sit well in our systems and become an integral part of them, even increasing our joy in what we are hearing. However, on rare occasion, we unbox and plug in a piece that truly elevates our entire listening experience—this sums up my time with the Parasound JC 5.

    Positive Feedback, January 2022

  • ... I can confidently say that you would have to throw down for much more to better the subjective sound quality. Your entire system—from sources to wiring to speakers—would also have to be exemplary to even match this amp's pedigree and performance. This behemoth is worthy of unqualified admiration; highly recommended.

    AudioXpress, October 2021

  • Everything about this 400W into 8Ω and 600W into 4Ω with 12W of pure Class A transitioning into Class AB oozes thoughtfulness and attention to detail

    Part Time Audiophile, April 2021

  • My initial impressions listening to the DeVore Fidelity O/93 speakers powered by the gobs-O-music power delivered by the Parasound Halo JC 5 are, in a word, effortlessness.

    Twittering Machines, April 2021

  • Having heard the JC 5, I realize that it's worth every penny. Its sound delighted me in ways that few other components ever have. By any measure, the Halo JC 5 is a superb power amplifier. I can't recommend Parasound's Halo JC 5 highly enough.

    SoundStage! HI-FI January 2019
  • HomeTheaterReview.com - Best of 2018 - December 2018

  • This is one fast, hard-hitting amplifier with superb grip on speakers. The JC 5 will please even if you never explore the limits of its performance.

    Hi-Fi News (UK) December 2019 - Outstanding Product Award

  • The JC 5 plays whatever you want the way it was meant to be played. For Parasound to have such stringent design criteria on the JC 5 is impressive indeed. Like its big brother, the original JC 1, the Parasound JC 5 is a stunning amplifier.

    Home Theater Review November 2018

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