Parasound JC1's vs. Sim Audio W10

Thanks for your input, Bob! I own a pair of JC1's and love them with my Magnepan's.

It's usually reported that most high-end companies do extensive listening to select parts, design, etc. How do long breakin parts factor into this process? It seems it would take an enormous amount of time to settle upon the best mix if you had to wait for parts to breakin this long? Do you limit the parts to a select few based on circuit analysis and/or experience?

Thanks,
Jordan

Hi Jordan......I spent a couple years updating the HCA-3500 before specifying parts for the JC-1s. I spent over ten years working out the passive parts for the CTC Blowtorch.......This included break-in of 30-60 days per change so lots of patience involved.......Circuit analysis is the job of the electrical engineer and voicing the circuit is a job for a listener........I have been taking notes for the past 25 years and keep a book of the changes I hear in parts, but, of course, have my favorites.......It is rare I run into trouble (going backwards) any longer, but I sure did twenty years ago.......It is an experience thing primarily and sure wish Curl could measure parts changes, but that is normally not the case........

I think that an amp that offers no feedback is far more accurate than one that doesn't. If your are seeking a very neutral amp that has the front end to support it, then I would strongly consider the Sim W-10's. I have heard that the Parasound is a good sounding amp, weather it has garnered the same International press as the Sim products is probably worth researching.I have had the pleasure of having a older W-5 in my system and was amazed at the sheer musicality that it offered.I also was shocked at the dynamics and the resolution it was capable of, it threw a soundstage that you could land the Enterprise on.The only concern is with the rest of your system, if it is on the hot side then you may not like what the Sim shows you.I hope that one day I may also own a powerhouse pair of monoblocks, since my speakers absorb quite readily. Hope this helps and good hunting-Dennis

Dennis - I have had and still own some NGF (no global feedback) amps, the CODA's. They are very sweet on the highs, but the JC-1's left them in the dust for detail, particularly with mods. The new Coda's are definitely better, because they are using better parts now (I heard them at CES). However, the Bass control of the JC-1's is hard to beat. NGF designs will never be capable of this. You really need NGF to get bass control and pristine, sweet highs are possible with it as well.

I think you maybe right on the bass control but the Sim would take the cake in detail and resolution.All the reviews by the press indicate that this is the most natural sounding amp.I know that these amps have been compared to 20 to 30,000 dollar Lamns and competed very well.As far as the Parasound is concerned, I don't have any experience with them.I did hear my friends Sim w-5 limited edition and it set a new standard for transistor amps as well as tubes. It had the liquidity of tubes and the slam and resolution of solid state.I think that it would be a horse race between the Parasound and the sim, however, the winner would probably be chosen according to ones personnel priorities( bass,detail,dynamics,resolution.That is was makes us all so special-Dennis