Better Amp: Acurus A250 or Parasound A23?

KLJTech · 21st July 2010, 04:09 PM

My Acurus A250 died a while back after a power outage and IF it's the two large caps that need to be replaced its over a $100. I can get a new Parasound A23 at dealer cost and wondered if I'd be better off with the new amp then my Acurus even if I was able to fix it?

I've seen that the A23 has received many great reviews but also read on these forums that Mr. Curl didn't have direct input on that amp (I thought he had from seeing the ads in Audio Advisor) like he did on others in the Halo line. Of course just the fact that its uses his design should mean that it’s a very nice amp for the money.

Money is tight and I want to make the right decision, I also can get one of Music Hall's integrated amps at dealer cost but I've used separates for so long I assume (maybe I'm wrong) that they would sound better.

My speakers are B&W CDM 1NT's, Magnepan 1.6's and Velodyne sub. This is my office system and I switch up which speakers I'm using in here every once in a while and whichever I'm not using in here are moved to the living room.

Thanks in advance for any feedback.
Kevin

billbillw · 21st July 2010, 05:14 PM

Comparing the A250 to the Parasound A23 is kinda like apples and oranges. The A23 has roughly half the output power of the Acurus. I'd go through that Acurus and fix the problems. It would be much cheaper and you'd still have a very powerful amp. I have the schematics for the A250 if you need them. They are fairly simple circuits and should be easy to troubleshoot.

KLJTech · 21st July 2010, 05:27 PM

When I bought the Acurus it was used in a large living room in my house, I now live in an apartment and I have to listen to music at a much lower sound level than before.

I'm mainly concerned about sound quality rather than just the wattage. I know the wattage of the two amps but I've never heard the A23 but I've only read good things about it.

I used the Acurus daily for 17 years so it has served me well, I just wanted to know if the Parasound is a better sounding amp. If the Acurus is not only more powerful but better sounding than the A23 then it changes things.
Thanks.

KLJTech · 21st July 2010, 05:48 PM

I probably should phrased the question differently, I just would like to know which is the better sounding amp not the more powerful.

billbillw · 21st July 2010, 06:53 PM

Well, power is a factor in how an amp sounds. It depends greatly on the speakers you mate them with. If you have efficient speakers, you probably don't need all the power the A250 has to offer, and the A23 will sound smoother and more detailed. If you have something that is tough to drive, the A23 might be straining in the peaks and the A250 would sound better.

So, what speakers you working with?

KLJTech · 21st July 2010, 06:59 PM

My speakers are B&W CDM 1NT's, Magnepan 1.6's and Velodyne sub.

Am I reading it correctly (probably not) that the Parasound A23 rated at 125 watts uses the same size transformer as the 250 watt Acurus?

21st July 2010, 04:09 PM	#1
KLJTech diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2010	Better Amp: Acurus A250 or Parasound A23? My Acurus A250 died a while back after a power outage and IF it's the two large caps that need to be replaced its over a $100. I can get a new Parasound A23 at dealer cost and wondered if I'd be better off with the new amp then my Acurus even if I was able to fix it? I've seen that the A23 has received many great reviews but also read on these forums that Mr. Curl didn't have direct input on that amp (I thought he had from seeing the ads in Audio Advisor) like he did on others in the Halo line. Of course just the fact that its uses his design should mean that it’s a very nice amp for the money. Money is tight and I want to make the right decision, I also can get one of Music Hall's integrated amps at dealer cost but I've used separates for so long I assume (maybe I'm wrong) that they would sound better. My speakers are B&W CDM 1NT's, Magnepan 1.6's and Velodyne sub. This is my office system and I switch up which speakers I'm using in here every once in a while and whichever I'm not using in here are moved to the living room. Thanks in advance for any feedback. Kevin

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21st July 2010, 05:14 PM	#2
billbillw diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Georgia	Comparing the A250 to the Parasound A23 is kinda like apples and oranges. The A23 has roughly half the output power of the Acurus. I'd go through that Acurus and fix the problems. It would be much cheaper and you'd still have a very powerful amp. I have the schematics for the A250 if you need them. They are fairly simple circuits and should be easy to troubleshoot.

21st July 2010, 05:27 PM	#3
KLJTech diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2010	When I bought the Acurus it was used in a large living room in my house, I now live in an apartment and I have to listen to music at a much lower sound level than before. I'm mainly concerned about sound quality rather than just the wattage. I know the wattage of the two amps but I've never heard the A23 but I've only read good things about it. I used the Acurus daily for 17 years so it has served me well, I just wanted to know if the Parasound is a better sounding amp. If the Acurus is not only more powerful but better sounding than the A23 then it changes things. Thanks.

21st July 2010, 05:48 PM	#4
KLJTech diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2010	I probably should phrased the question differently, I just would like to know which is the better sounding amp not the more powerful.

21st July 2010, 06:53 PM	#5
billbillw diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Georgia	Well, power is a factor in how an amp sounds. It depends greatly on the speakers you mate them with. If you have efficient speakers, you probably don't need all the power the A250 has to offer, and the A23 will sound smoother and more detailed. If you have something that is tough to drive, the A23 might be straining in the peaks and the A250 would sound better. So, what speakers you working with?

21st July 2010, 06:59 PM	#6
KLJTech diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2010	My speakers are B&W CDM 1NT's, Magnepan 1.6's and Velodyne sub. Am I reading it correctly (probably not) that the Parasound A23 rated at 125 watts uses the same size transformer as the 250 watt Acurus?

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